Bucket List Destinations – November – New Zealand
We’ll be starting in the North Island and as I travelled there last year you can read more about my highlights here: https://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/liz.penn/Profile-Blog/NZNorthIslandHighlights
In a week I’d suggest flying straight up to the Bay of Islands to start with some Maori culture in relaxing surroundings before heading back to Auckland for a night or two, then Lake Taupo or Rotorua via Hobbiton if it’s of interest and then looping back to Auckland via Waitomo if you fancy a glow-worm caving experience.
From Auckland fly down to Christchurch on the South Island which is where you’ll spend the rest of your stay. On arrival you have a couple of hours’ scenic coastal drive up to Kaikoura for some whale-watching – here you can see sperm, pilot, killer and humpback whales, as well as various dolphins and fur seals – book in for a slot on your arrival day if possible in case the weather isn’t ideal and the tour gets postponed. The reason that makes this spot ideal for all the marine wildlife also attracts large numbers of seabirds and fish, so a great spot for nature lovers of all kinds.
From Kaikoura you could head north to Marlborough’s wine region, Nelson’s art galleries and Abel Tasman Park for walking and/or kayaking between campsites but on our journey we’re heading across to the west coast via the TranzAlpine railway, considered to be one of the world’s great train journeys as it crosses the Canterbury Plains, followed by the valleys and gorges of the Waimakariri River before climbing into the Southern Alps.
On arrival into Greymouth you’ll head south to base yourself at the Franz Josef Glacier. 12 kilometres long and fed by a massive 20 square kilometre snowfield at the top of the Southern Alps, the glacier features ice pinnacles as high as multi-story buildings, deep crevasses and stunning, pristine blue ice. One of the most popular ways to explore this incredible environment is heli-hiking, taking a helicopter onto the glacier and then a guided walk through some of the most stunning ice formations. After all the excitement a great way to relax is in the hot pools, set in dense rainforest where you can soak up the atmosphere or enjoy a massage.
Next up you’re heading to Wanaka, travelling with the coast on one side and the mountains on the other before skirting Mount Aspiring national park. Break up the journey with one of the walks that can be found just off the highway. I know I would be making a beeline for Puzzling World but that’s just me, normal people would probably be more interested in Wanaka’s lakeside setting with a range of outdoor activities to rival its bigger cousin down the road – Queenstown. Of course, time allowing it would be ideal to visit both, with a side-trip to Arrowtown, an old gold-mine settlement where you can try your hand at panning for the precious stuff.
Queenstown is world-renowned for being a major draw for adrenalin junkies; home to a wide range of variants on the original bungee jump, other extreme activities include jetboating, white-water rafting, river surfing, mountain biking, gliding and skydiving. If none of that appeals, then there are some more leisurely options such as winery tours and river cruises. The Skyline Gondola will give you a bird’s eye view of Queenstown and the surrounding scenery of lakes and mountains.
Once you’re over your adrenalin rush we’re heading to Te Anau – this is the jumping off point for famous Milford Sound and the more remote and therefore much quieter Doubtful Sound, three times the length and ten times the area of Milford Sound, you’ll need to take a tour to visit but if you have the time it is definitely worth it. Overnight cruises or kayaking adventures help get you closer to the wilderness.
If you happen to have plenty of time and a desire to see Kiwis in their native environment you could head to Bluff on the south coast and from there take a ferry or fly to Stewart Island where the native birds easily outnumber the human population. Due to the lack of predators you’ll also find plenty of other birds including penguins and mammals such as fur seals. As the weather can be variable it’s recommended that you stay for a few nights.
From the south head over to the Otago Peninsula on the east coast if you’re in need of more native fauna – here you’ll find more penguins, albatross, seals and sea lions, as well as the university town of Dunedin for restaurants and nightlife, making it a good place to base yourself. Take the coast road up to Oamuru and stop off at the Moeraki Boulders, perfect spheres dotted along a stretch of beach. After the photo ops head inland to Twizel or Lake Tekapo to soak up the mountain scenery and lake views before heading up to Christchurch and bringing an end to your New Zealand adventure.
There are literally hundreds of ways of seeing New Zealand depending on your interests, so please get in touch to find out how I can put the perfect trip together for you.