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Two months driving around New Zealand
Laid out before you is our two month voyage around New Zealand's stunning Islands. Beginning in Auckland and ending in Auckland. Our trip took us down one side of the North Island then all around the South to back up North to finish the other side. Below is a travel guide with our trip tucked in between!
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Getting your own wheels is by far the ultimate way to travel around this amazing country. There are buses between cities and towns and a very limited train network. However there is no better way to get around than having your own wheels. Go where you want, when you want, stay where you want, stop where you want, sleep where you want!!
The North Island Generally a warmer climate than the south. Home to volcanoes, Geo thermal wonderlands, stunning beaches, crystal clear water, huge trees, vast wineries, rolling hills and of course home of Frodo and the gang The South Island An outdoor adventurers dream, spectacular landscapes await you around every turn. Hiking and mountain bike tracks that run the length of the country. Hugh alpine peaks, glaciers, huge fjords, pristine beaches, Gigantic unspoiled national parks, lots of native wildlife around too Auckland |
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The Largest City in New Zealand. Auckland is a modern cosmopolitan city, also the home of the huge Auckland Sky tower which offers amazing 360 degree view of the city and waterfront, and yes you can jump off it. There is plenty to see and do here, some beautiful off shore volcanic islands to explore by bike. Lots of cafes, a great museum and a wonderful marina. Everywhere in the city is walkable, but if your heading a little further out, the bus is the best way to get around. Do try to check out
Auckland War Memorial Museum. The museum is set amongst large parkland with mature trees and gives fantastic views over the city and its islands. The museum exhibits a large collection of Maori and Pacific Island artifacts, there is even an entire Maori building inside built in 1870s. As well as many culturally significant exhibits there are lots of natural history specimens and a great interactive earthquake and volcano section.
ARRIVAL As usual we spent the day walking everywhere, seeing and doing as much as possible. Auckland's Pasifika Festival was on the next day. A festival celebrating all things related to the Pacific Islands, food, dance, music and culture. FOOD, this makes going compulsory! We went, we ate, we learned, expanded our travel bucketlist by a few tropical pacific islands...and got sun burnt. Fruitless in our internet search for campervans we took to the streets of Auckland to find some camping wheels. Eventually we found success, with a prematurely returned standby vehicle or some such. We hired the van for fifty days and were to pick it up after the weekend :D |
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Our New Home |
Bay of Islands
Russell - Once affectionately known as 'The hell hole of the Pacific'
by sailors past. An old shore leave destination for sailors, whalers and traders, during the 19th century. Now Russell is a sleepy, historic, quaint little seaside town, the only extreme things happening here are super drippy ice cream cones or a latte overdose.
Take yourself for a walk up Topeka Point for great panoramic views of the tranquil, turquoise bays and hills surrounding the town. Lots of boat trips and fishing trips leave from the jetty if you fancy a trip around the bay.
Paihia Just across the water from Russell. This little town offers many water based activities, including sailing, fishing, swimming with dolphins and sea kayaking. A great place to stay and use as a base for exploring the Bay of Islands
by sailors past. An old shore leave destination for sailors, whalers and traders, during the 19th century. Now Russell is a sleepy, historic, quaint little seaside town, the only extreme things happening here are super drippy ice cream cones or a latte overdose.
Take yourself for a walk up Topeka Point for great panoramic views of the tranquil, turquoise bays and hills surrounding the town. Lots of boat trips and fishing trips leave from the jetty if you fancy a trip around the bay.
Paihia Just across the water from Russell. This little town offers many water based activities, including sailing, fishing, swimming with dolphins and sea kayaking. A great place to stay and use as a base for exploring the Bay of Islands
At this point we are thinking will we have enough time to see all the highlights properly with the time we have. We want t see the places properly, do walks, hikes and enjoy New Zealand, not only drive around it. So we are looking at the map, We would like to drive all the way up to the tip of the North Island, right up to Cape Reinga, but can we afford the time....? What if we dont have time to see Milford Sound because we went to see a light house hmmmm.. We decide on making sure we see and do the big must see's and must do's then everything after that is a bonus. So with that, the next day we made our way to Rotorua to see (and smell) its geothermal wonderland of steaming streams and boiling mood pools!
Champagne Pool, Wai-o-Tapu
Rotorua
You may be struck by the smell of rotten eggs as you roll into town, don't worry its (probably) not you. The whole town sits on a huge bubbling steaming thermal zone. Do take a walk through the park in the town, its free and you will see a lot of hot pools, boiling mud, and plenty of clouds of smelly steam wafting around. Check out Wai-O-Tapu, this park has some of the best thermal formations to be seen and home of the famous 'Champagne Pool'
Wai-O-Tapu Definitely a must do, It is paid admission and it is worth paying for. Wai-O-Tapu is home to some spectacular volcanic creations. It is here you will find the 'Champagne Pool'. A hellish, steaming, colorful hot pool hissing and bubbling away. You can get right up close, feeling the heat and steam in your face. Another highlight is the vibrant sulphuric green pool called The Devils Bathtub. At 10.15am each day you can witness a short presentation and see the eruption of the Lady Knox geyser reaching some 20m high. A great day of exploring and witnessing up close the geothermal wonders of the area.
Waimangu - Waimangu Volcanic is valley, is as the name suggests, a valley, that is volcanic. There are walks from 45mins to 4 hours walking the length of the valley down to the lake. You can take your self on a self guided walking tour of the natural wonders the park has to offer. Offering a much more personal and natural experience than Wai-o-Tapu. There are no big crowds, or bus loads of tourists, just a steady trickle of people amid a large, quiet steaming forested valley. Your walks will take you through lots steaming landscape, hot rivers, wonderful forest and natural scenery. There is a little shuttle bus that runs up and down the length of the valley, so you are not under pressure to cut any walks short. Definitely a highlight of the area.
You may be struck by the smell of rotten eggs as you roll into town, don't worry its (probably) not you. The whole town sits on a huge bubbling steaming thermal zone. Do take a walk through the park in the town, its free and you will see a lot of hot pools, boiling mud, and plenty of clouds of smelly steam wafting around. Check out Wai-O-Tapu, this park has some of the best thermal formations to be seen and home of the famous 'Champagne Pool'
Wai-O-Tapu Definitely a must do, It is paid admission and it is worth paying for. Wai-O-Tapu is home to some spectacular volcanic creations. It is here you will find the 'Champagne Pool'. A hellish, steaming, colorful hot pool hissing and bubbling away. You can get right up close, feeling the heat and steam in your face. Another highlight is the vibrant sulphuric green pool called The Devils Bathtub. At 10.15am each day you can witness a short presentation and see the eruption of the Lady Knox geyser reaching some 20m high. A great day of exploring and witnessing up close the geothermal wonders of the area.
Waimangu - Waimangu Volcanic is valley, is as the name suggests, a valley, that is volcanic. There are walks from 45mins to 4 hours walking the length of the valley down to the lake. You can take your self on a self guided walking tour of the natural wonders the park has to offer. Offering a much more personal and natural experience than Wai-o-Tapu. There are no big crowds, or bus loads of tourists, just a steady trickle of people amid a large, quiet steaming forested valley. Your walks will take you through lots steaming landscape, hot rivers, wonderful forest and natural scenery. There is a little shuttle bus that runs up and down the length of the valley, so you are not under pressure to cut any walks short. Definitely a highlight of the area.
Tsssssss...Hot!
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The Devils Bath Tub
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Wai-O-Tapu
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Driving in to Rotorua, we were immediately descended upon by its infamous perfume. A thick nasal filling eggy sulphur smell, like a constant stream of potent ass clouds filling up our van. Once we checked into our campsite we took a walk to the nearby park in the town. Walking along the streets provided a few interesting sights. Workers doing roadworks with steam coming from the hole, peoples houses with pipes spluttering hot water into the air above their house. Apparently a large steaming hole can open up in your back garden at a moments notice. Hmmm that's odd, anyway...off to the park. In the park there are lots of hot thermal pools, boiling mud and even some hot pools to dip your feet in. The park is free and there is lots to see, really cool if you have never seen anything like it before. If you are sensitive to egg smells and steaming egg smells it is perhaps best to avoid smelling for your entire stay.
The next day we went to Wai-O-Tapu to see its amazing geothermal wonderland. A fascinating place, we got there early to beat the crowds, we managed a bit of a walk around before having to make our way to see Lady Knox Geyser blow.located a few mins down the road from the main center. During the lady Knox presentation you will be told all about the area, its discovery and how the whole geothermal thing works before witnessing Lady Knox erupt! Then back to the main area. There are plenty of walks inside, we walked them all, some twice, as a big bus full of Korean tourists arrived and filled up some view points on our first time round!
Once we were finished we drove to Waimangu. We spent hours walking and exploring the length of the valley just making it to the end and making the last shuttle bus back. Possibly worth spending an entire day here, there is a lot to see, and many hikes to do
Waimangu Volcanic Valley
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Hot rivers flowing through the valley
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Inferno Crater, Waimangu
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Up early the next day, i shared my breakfast with some local Pukekos and their little babies, a few ducks, and we soon were on the road to Taupo. We planned on a day or so in Taupo and then onto Tongariro National park, home of Mt Doom! We arrived in Taupo, checked out their famous Mcdonalds in a plane and went to the visitors center. We asked about some stuff to do, where to go, and she told us the weather in Tongariro is about to change, the next day or two will be fine but after that there will be a week of windy rainy crapness. She recommended we drive straight to Tongariro and make the most of out time there before the weather changes and forces closures of Chair lifts and walking trails! So we ran out the door and drove straight to the National Park! Grabbed a campsite in Whakapapa and made our way to the Chair lift!
Tongariro National Park
Tongario National Park
Tongariro National Park is New Zealand's Oldest park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Recognized both for its outstanding volcanic scenery and deep Maori cultural connections. Home to the three volcanic summits of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu
Mt Ruapehu has two of the largest ski fields in New Zealand, New Zealands highest cafe, and during the warmer months, chairlifts making the walk to the summit much easier and shorter!
Mt. Ngauruhoe is New Zealand's newest and historically most active volcano.
The famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing tracks over the volcanic massif of Mt Tongariro.
Viewed as one of the worlds best day hikes,
Tongariro National Park is New Zealand's Oldest park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Recognized both for its outstanding volcanic scenery and deep Maori cultural connections. Home to the three volcanic summits of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu
Mt Ruapehu has two of the largest ski fields in New Zealand, New Zealands highest cafe, and during the warmer months, chairlifts making the walk to the summit much easier and shorter!
Mt. Ngauruhoe is New Zealand's newest and historically most active volcano.
The famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing tracks over the volcanic massif of Mt Tongariro.
Viewed as one of the worlds best day hikes,
We arrived with enough time to catch the chair lift up Mt Ruapehu and walk up to the summit. PHEW! The skies were clear, we could see all over the park and the summits of the other Volcanoes. After enjoying the views we briskly walked back down the mountain to catch the last chair lift down (don't wanna miss that one!) Cooking dinner in the camp kitchen later we seen a sign telling us we were camping in the path of lava and mud flows of an active volcano, so make sure you hear the alarm if it goes off, hmmm.... That night the lashing rain and wind came, we had wanted to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, but not in lashing rain and parts were closed, so we thought maybe on the way back if we have time, next stop Taranaki!
Chair lift of DOOM....(You can see Mt Doom from up here)
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Valcanoness, Tongariro National Park
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The next morning we took a drive around the National Park to see as much as we could before making our way to New Plymouth. Being the adventurous type we took the Forgotten World Highway, on old contour hugging road, full of mystery and intrigue. The roads surface is questionable at times, going from, road to gravel, to dirt to road again and back to gravel. Passing the odd camper heading the opposite direction gave me hope the rest of road was driveable....or did they turn around hmmm! Driving the Forgotten World Highway you pass many historic settlements not to mention beautiful scenery. One place Whangamomona, A tiny township that declared itself a Republic in 1989. Republics need presidents and at one stage a goat held office here, i like their style.
New Plymouth
Black volcanic beaches and Mt Taranaki. Often shrouded by cloud Mt Taranaki is a perfect cone volcano offering many hikes around its surrounding parkland. Sadly we couldnt see anything even resembling a volcano while there. It was too cloudy, misty and a little rainy. Many people said 'Yeah its like right there' but it was nowhere to be seen! The drive to New Plymouth was worth going by itself. Taking the Forgotten World Highway is an incredible journey that winds its way through rugged and remote bush country, through little tunnels, beautiful scenery and historic settlements before turning off through lush farmland to the Taranaki Coast and finishing in New Plymouth. Approached from either Stratford or Taumarunui the journey is well worth it. |
Disappointed in our lack of volcano spotting in New Plymouth, we explored the town and walked along the seafront. With no sign of the weather changing, the north island was gone from having the biggest drought in years to having constant rain for the foreseeable future.. and the weather all over the south island glorious we decided next day wellington and to the south!!
Wellington
Known as The Windy City.. and with good reason. Wellington is built on a large bay ringed by mountains. It is a lively cosmopolitan city with an energetic arts scene. The city is almost a collage of modern New Zealand on one plate. You've a slice of stunning scenery, a vibrant multicultural city center sauce, served with a buzzing arts scene then add a sprinkle of boutique shops and trendy cafes, this is Wellington, the wind comes later..
Being a city surrounded by hills and mountains there are naturally many viewpoints dotted around the place for you to take in the beautiful view and a face full of wind.
Te Papa Museum One of the best museums i have been in in a long time. Located down at the waterfront, the museum exhibitions are spread over six floors. There are some fantastic exhibitions focusing on Maori culture, past and present. New Zealand's nature, and landscape is firmly in the spotlight also. A really interesting place and completely free!
Known as The Windy City.. and with good reason. Wellington is built on a large bay ringed by mountains. It is a lively cosmopolitan city with an energetic arts scene. The city is almost a collage of modern New Zealand on one plate. You've a slice of stunning scenery, a vibrant multicultural city center sauce, served with a buzzing arts scene then add a sprinkle of boutique shops and trendy cafes, this is Wellington, the wind comes later..
Being a city surrounded by hills and mountains there are naturally many viewpoints dotted around the place for you to take in the beautiful view and a face full of wind.
Te Papa Museum One of the best museums i have been in in a long time. Located down at the waterfront, the museum exhibitions are spread over six floors. There are some fantastic exhibitions focusing on Maori culture, past and present. New Zealand's nature, and landscape is firmly in the spotlight also. A really interesting place and completely free!
Don't worry there is a lot more of the fantastic North island to come below, including seeing wild Orca whales from the coast, digging for hot water on the beach, and much more!
Crossing the waters
To get from the North Island to the South Island and vice versa you must cross the Cook Strait on either a Bluebrdge ferry or Interislander. Leaving from Wellington arriving in Picton taking around three hours.
Both are similarly priced unless your campervan company slides you a few coupons off. The major difference is just the timings so have a look at both companies and see what departure time suits.
Both are similarly priced unless your campervan company slides you a few coupons off. The major difference is just the timings so have a look at both companies and see what departure time suits.
The Boats in Picton
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Entering the South Island
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Queen Charlotte Sound
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We got the Bluebridge ferry from Wellington as we had a couple of coupons off the fare. The trip takes about three hours and somewhat had free wifi. The voyage gets immediately jaw dropping as soon as the south island comes in sight. The ship winds its way though the beautiful fjords and mountains, past isolated bays, little islands and rugged coastline eventually arriving at Picton
The South Island
The south island contains a lot of wow!'s, the scenery is unbelievably spectacular. Magnificent natural beauty lies all around the whole island. Each region, each town, each turn offers something amazing to see.. We start in Picton and do a loop the loop around the island back to Picton!
We drive our van off the boat and head to the nearest iSite to get all the local scoup on whats here, where to go, and get a few tips on the area. Picton is a nice little town, but what surrounds it is a lot nicer. We stock up on food and fuel, and take a drive around the hills, stopping constantly at all the viewpoints, taking in all the wonderful views and an obscene amount of photographs! We eventually make camp in Havelock just down the road from Picton..
Picton
The gateway to the south island, and a beautiful area to spend a few days. Take your self to Pictons iSite and grab a bunch of free maps and guides for the area. Explore the Marlbourough Sounds, an all you can eat buffet for the eyes! Take your time driving up Queen Charlotte Drive, roads are narrow and windy, well worth explor Picton has a 24hr fuel and lots of cafes, restaurants and shops. There are campsites in Picton and neighbouring little towns.
The gateway to the south island, and a beautiful area to spend a few days. Take your self to Pictons iSite and grab a bunch of free maps and guides for the area. Explore the Marlbourough Sounds, an all you can eat buffet for the eyes! Take your time driving up Queen Charlotte Drive, roads are narrow and windy, well worth explor Picton has a 24hr fuel and lots of cafes, restaurants and shops. There are campsites in Picton and neighbouring little towns.
From Havelock we make our way through the scenic hills and valleys north to Abel Tasman National Park and Golden Bay. Mostly taking scenic drives and doing short return walks along the fantastic coastline. A area known for its perfect sandy beaches, and isolated bays. We camped in near the beach in Pohara under a blanket of stars.
Abel Tasman National Park
A beautiful coastal national park offering golden sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, perfect for kayaking. Some Beaches are only reached by boat or by hiking. There are many tour companies offering lots of different trips, both fully guided or just a drop off pick up service
- Abel Tasman Coast Track. A 50km hiking track taking 3-5 days to complete. There are several crossing that are dependent on the tide so check check with the local Department of Conservation site,(DOC site or iSite for tide times.
- Abel Tasman Inland Track. A 3 to 5 day walk through the hills in the middle of the park.
Tata Beach, Golden Bay
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Wanui Bay
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We thought of driving all the way to the south islands most northerly point, Farewell Spit, it looks like a giant Kiwi's beak on a map, The area is a large nature reserve with loads of birds, accessible by 4x4 tours with some small walks. But we decide to head southwest, making our way to Westport following the beautiful, meandering Motueka River. The Moteuka Valley highway hugs the river until you join State Highway 6 and deviates west winding up and over some glorious scenic mountains. It was here i came across some crazy people on either independent or organised motorcycle tours. Flying around blind bends on the wrong side of the road, more than a couple of times i had to react quickly due to a couple of brain cell deficient people either racing to keep up with each other, or forgetting what side of the road doesn't case death. So perhaps beware along this stretch..didn't happen anywhere else, maybe just a once off...but more a six times one off here..
Nice horseshoe bend, following the Motueka River (Van Balancing precariously on a wedge of land beside me)
Making it to Westport without a motorbike embedded in the front of our van we found a campsite and went off exploring. There are a number of coastal walks here with the main ones around Cape Foulwind's attractive lighthouse. You can drive to a car park near the light house and take a walk up the hill, giving you nice views over the craggy coastline. You might get to see one of the country's friendly little inhabitants here, the Weka. A smart, flightless and inquisitive bird, many are found strolling around here. Cape Foulwind is also home to a fur seal breeding colony. About an hour walk away along a well maintained path, or you can drive if you haven't got the time / lazy..
Cape Foulwind Lighthouse
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Pancake Rocks
Roughly half way between Westport and Greymouth is Punakaiki, home of the Pancake Rocks, and yes there is a cafe selling pancakes right beside them. The Pancake rocks are an unusual rock formation. Formed from a process that started millions of years ago at the bottom of the sea. Brought to the surface over time by earthquakes. There are plenty of short walks around the rocks, there are also blowholes and view points to see. Nice stop along a beautiful stretch of State Highway 6.
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Up early we left Westport and headed south along State Highway 6. This section of the highway is known as the 'Coast Road'. The road travels along the edge of the mainland winding around rocky out crops and ferny forests. There is along of stunning viewpoints along the way. Halfway between Westport and Greymouth is Punakaiki. Home of the Pancake Rocks. We just had enough time to run around, see all the rocks, blow holes and view points, snap some pictures before the clouds burst and lashed upon us! We hid under a giant fern before hopping back in our van and making it to Greymouth for lunch! ( Cheap coffee+sausage roll/Pie=daily afternoon ritual. Not a whole lot going on in Greymouth, we were eager to get to the juicy stuff. Glacier country! We made our way south towards Franz Josef..
Glacier Country!!
Franz Josef Glacier, View from walking up the valley
Franz Josef Glacier
New Zealand's most famous and highly regarded glacier. Unfortunately many budget travellers will be priced out of getting their feet on the ice itself, as the glacier is only accessible by helicopter tour or 'Heli hike'. However there are great walks through the valley past lots of waterfalls leading up to the base of the glacier that you can do yourself. If you wanna get on Franz Josef's ice Check out franzjosefglacier.com for trip prices and availability. A cheaper and for me better option is a short drive to Fox Glacier. Where you can access the ice on foot. You still need to be guided and part of a tour but the price is almost halved.
New Zealand's most famous and highly regarded glacier. Unfortunately many budget travellers will be priced out of getting their feet on the ice itself, as the glacier is only accessible by helicopter tour or 'Heli hike'. However there are great walks through the valley past lots of waterfalls leading up to the base of the glacier that you can do yourself. If you wanna get on Franz Josef's ice Check out franzjosefglacier.com for trip prices and availability. A cheaper and for me better option is a short drive to Fox Glacier. Where you can access the ice on foot. You still need to be guided and part of a tour but the price is almost halved.
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Steaming glacial river
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When we pulled in to Franz Josef, went to our campsite and started on dinner. For some reason an odd dinner pattern of corn on the cob, hot dogs and potatoes had developed.We would often be sharing the camp kitchen with some Italians or French people making their own pasta from scratch or pizza's from nothing. Making fantastic gourmet meals alongside our shameful, depressed undercooked potatoes and limp hotdogs. We would retreat in embarrassment to the corner of the kitchen and eat our 'meal'' in shame and dwell in our culinary shortcomings. This was one such occasion, i was browsing some leaflets on glacier treks in the kitchen, when my jaw hit the floor and a single, yet loud, expletive fell out. F**K!!... I hadn't realised hiking on Franz you needed helicopters and bags of cash to spare. Trips being around $800 dollars for the two of us to walk on the ice...well that's not going to happen! So the next day we did a bunch of walks in the valley. Walking as far up as possible to the base of glacier. Once done we headed down the road to Fox Glacier. At Fox, the glacier is accessible by foot, and much much cheaper. So we booked ourselves on a glacier hike for the next day..exploring the little town and returned to our camp kitchen for more spuds and corn!
Fox Glacier
Yes i have tasted both..
A much more accessible and cheaper option for going glacier hiking than at Franz. To get on the ice you must be part of an organised tour and accompanied by a guide. We went with
Fox Glacier guides who were great. We had our own boots and gear, but if you don't have your own they will supply you with all you need. Check out their site for prices and trips available to find one that suits you. You can do unguided walks up to the base of the glacier yourself, but nothing beats getting up on the ice itself! Standing on top of the glacier looking back down the valley is a great experience. Once you get back down there are plenty of cafe's willing to put cakes in your face
Fox Glacier guides who were great. We had our own boots and gear, but if you don't have your own they will supply you with all you need. Check out their site for prices and trips available to find one that suits you. You can do unguided walks up to the base of the glacier yourself, but nothing beats getting up on the ice itself! Standing on top of the glacier looking back down the valley is a great experience. Once you get back down there are plenty of cafe's willing to put cakes in your face
After a long day on the ice, walking, climbing, slipping and sliding we absorbed some coffee and cakes in a local cafe before we hit the road to head south on State Highway 6, ending up in Haast for the night. Before heading on to Wanaka the next day.
Wanaka
Mt Aspiring National Park
My god what a beautiful place. Wanaka is a small town nestled amongst alpine hill's and mountains, on the cusp of the crystal clear waters of Lake Wanaka. Almost a parallel universe Queenstown, both are gateway towns to adventure, activity, and stunning scenery, but differing completely in attitude. Wanaka is a peaceful, laid back place, maintaining its small town charm and not giving in on selling its soul to the tourist dollar. Its one of my favorite places in New Zealand, surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in New Zealand!
Lake Wanaka and my favorite tree
Try to give yourself enough time to enjoy this place and do get out and explore, driving in from Haast your mind will be blown with so much jaw droppingly gorgeous scenery, your brakes and camera buttons will be worn out. Similarly the other side of town heading to Queenstown, simply stunning! Take a drive up to Mount Aspiring National Park. The road does turn to gravel and dirt but it is amazing up there, icy blue rivers, stunning mountains and snow capped peaks are all here waiting for you! I would say parts of the road are impassable after heavy rains so if that's the case find out at the iSite in town before you head up! At the end of the road there is a car park, picnic area and toilets. The trip to here is great by itself but you can take many walks from here if you have the time. The scenery is stunning and well worth exploring!
Beautiful Lake Hawea, on the way to Wanaka
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Hmmmm.....ONWARDS!!!
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Mt Aspiring National Park
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WOW!! Driving in to Wanaka from Haast is really amazing. The scenery is breath taking. Mountain's, valleys, rivers and lakes all await you around each bend, stealing your breath and dropping your jaw. There are plenty of pull in's along the way to take photos and short walks. Not a section of road to be rushed, give your self plenty of time to admire this little journey. We pulled in everywhere, slowly stop starting our way through the gorgeous scenery eventually winding our way into the little township of Wanaka. Arriving in late afternoon we went and secured a campsite for the night. We were camping beside a bunch of Canadian friends traveling together who invited us over for a couple of drinks. We got chatting, shared our mutual fondness for potatoes. That is the Irish and the residents of Prince Edward Island! Turns out he had a van full of St Patrick's day gear which he gratefully bestowed upon us, big Leprechaun hats, shamrock chains and banners, he also gave us some 'I Love Canada' badges'. We have vowed to come visit them on their Island! The next morning up bright and early, we went off exploring the area..
Serene rural landscapes surrounding Wanaka
The scenery around here is really some of the best in New Zealand.. We took a drive towards Mt Aspiring National Park, the road passes by so much natural beauty. There are many road side stops offering short return walks, up a hill or down to a lake. Really worth spending a day soaking up the surroundings here. The road eventually leads to a small picnic area beside near the National Park. The road that continues on turns to gravel and dirt, with several warning signs about vehicle damage possible and so on, it was also getting late.. We decided if we are going to take a chance on a dodgy road...we best do it in the morning! So next day we drove back up and took the dirt road. The road twists and turns, hugging a beautiful little river. Some sections of the road pass over small fordsm and things can get quite bumpy in a few little parts, but all in all the road was fine and our little van has no problems! The scenery slightly goes up a notch the further you travel down this little road. Mt Aspiring's snow capped peak comes into view, a large glacial blue river flows past as you wind through beautiful scenic valleys. It is here i got the greatest shock of my life...Passing probably one of the most scenic farms i have ever seen. I pulled over to take a photo of a bunch of cows standing around with the mountains behind them..hmm i'l get a lil closer, so i went right up to the fence..took a pic or two, went to take another and ZZZZAAAAAAAP!!! It took me a second to realise what had happened. F##K! Damn electric fence!!! Damn cows! no warning sign anywhere! Thank god i wasnt taking a pee! Anywho with my picture of a cow, we carried on.. below some pics driving to Mt Aspiring National Park
We reached the end of the road, had a but of a picnic, lazed around soaking up the scnery and took a paddle in the freezing cold river..On the way back to town we got stuck in a sheep traffic jam..'Ah this is like driving around the country back home!'...Back to our Campsite and to Queenstown tomorrow!!
Queenstown
Queenstown
The adventure capitol of New Zealand. Queenstown is surrounded by wonderful mountain scenery and lapped by the crystal clear waters of Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown is a major resort town attracting adventure seeking tourists from all over the globe boasting hundres of activities to get that adrenalin pumping, there's Skiing, jet boating, skydiving, bungee jumping, hiking, mountain biking and lots and lots more. So if you really really want to jump, or fall off something really high this is the place to come. During the Winter Queenstown is a major center for snow sports in New Zealand, with world class ski fields all over the place. If you need a little time out from trying to kill yourself with out dying, you can take a cruise on board the hundred year old TSS Earnslaw, an old coal fired steamboat that puffs up and down Lake Wakatipu, or catch the cable car for great views over the city, great both day and night! If you are after a relatively easy day hike or mountain bike ride check out Rock Peak just outside town. If you are driving from Wanaka to Queenstown you can do it on your way. You get rewarded with amazing views at the top! Another beautiful little area not to be missed is Glenorchy. Take delightful scenic drive along Lake Wakatipu to Glenorchy for some majestic lake and mountain views. Isengard, Lothlorien and Amon Hen for The Lord of the Rings trilogy were all filmed in the area! There are lots of hikes around Glenorchy too. One of New Zealand’s Great Walks, the Routeburn Track, is nearby featuring soaring mountain peaks and jewel like lakes as part of a 3-4 day hike.
En route to Queenstown you pass a lot of spectacular scenery, and many pull in's for view points and short walks. We as usual stopped at nearly, if not all of them. One great one was the trail to Rock Peak. There is a large pull in along the Crown Range Road with a big car park, view point and signs.So you cant miss it. The trail is suitable for mountain bikes too. The walk from the car park to Rock Peak summit is just over three kilometers taking around 50mins one way. We took the walk up braving a bit of wind and were rewarded with fantastic views towards Queenstown and back around the valley. Planes were flying in below us to land at Queenstown airport. Back down we went and drive into town. We got to the campsite and only four sites were left. Queenstown is a very busy place attracting loads of people all year round, so maybe book ahead for you camper here to avoid dissappointment. Campsite was expensive too $50 for a powered site.
Near Rock Peak, just outside Queenstown
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TSS Earnslaw puff's up and down Lake Wakitipu
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Lake Wakatipu,
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We spent a couple of days in Queenstown. Took walks around the lake side. Did the Obligatory cable car up the mountains beside the town. great views over the town both day and night and explored the surrounding area. We took a drive to Glenorchy alongside the immensely and impressively beautiful Lake Wakitipu. We were in search of some Lord of the Rings filming locations that were in the area. Some you needed to take a helicopter to see but others you could drive too. We stopped off in Glenorchy for lunch and drove around some dusty bumpy gravel roads through fantastic scenery in search of the movie filming locations.. which we possibly found..or didn't couldn't be sure, took plenty of photos anyway! Onwards to Milford Sound!!
Milford Sound
Milford Sound is a steeply cut fjord within the boundaires of Fiordland National Park. Possibly the most famous attraction in New Zealand, and the wettest! Milford Sound gets a lot of rain so don't forget your umbrella! This large amount of rain brings with it a large amount of waterfalls both temporary and permanent. The fjord is best seen by boat trip which sails you the length of the fjord out to the Tasman Sea and back again, bringing you up close to huge towering waterfalls, Sheer cliff faces and if you are lucky maybe some seals and dolphins! I would recommend staying in Te Anau a night and then driving to Milford early in the morning to avoid the bus loads of people that arrive from Queenstown and beyond at noon. The road to Milford itself passes through lush unspoiled mountain landscapes, with many roadside scenic spots, like the Mirror lakes, waterfalls and forest walks. Allow yourself about 2 hours to drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound. Fill up on fuel in Te Anau also!
Boat trips range in price and length. There are even a couple of over night cruises available. It is well worth it and a really enjoyable way to get out and see the sound! Keep your eyes peeled on the drive in, you be lucky enough to spot New Zealand's most cunning little inhabitant in the forest...the Kea!
Boat trips range in price and length. There are even a couple of over night cruises available. It is well worth it and a really enjoyable way to get out and see the sound! Keep your eyes peeled on the drive in, you be lucky enough to spot New Zealand's most cunning little inhabitant in the forest...the Kea!
We drove to Te Anau the next day. A small down on the edge of Lake Te Anau. There are plenty of water activities here and around Lake Manapouri, not to mention many forest walks and hikes in the area. We explored both towns and lakes, Te Anau and Manapouri. If you plan on going to Doubtful Sound, which is a longer and more remote fjord than Milford Sound . With no direct road access, the only way you can to get to Doubtful Sound is by a cruise across Lake Manapouri and a coach trip over Wilmot Pass. We debated which Sound to see, but Milford being cheaper we left Doubtful until the next time. Te Auau is about 75km from Milford Sound. The journey itself in not to be over looked, there are many roadside stops along the way, from the beautiful Mirror Lakes, to forest walks and waterfalls. You might even see a couple of Kea birds along the way too. The drive takes about 2hrs including stops. We took a slow drive to Milford in the afternoon, enjoying the journey up, we booked a boat trip for the following morning so we could drive straight there without stopping and beat the crowds that arrive later from Queenstown and beyond. Around mid-day this windy road gets busy with tourist coaches so its bet to leave early and avoid these.
Getting a boat trip really is the best way to appreciate the fantastic and dwarfing scenery. The boats bring you upclose to towering waterfalls and sheer cliff faces. The boats travel the length of the fjord out to the open sea, turn around and travel back, with trips lasting around 2 hrs. Definitely well worth it. We had a glorious sunny day and only got wet from the waterfalls but apparently that is a rare thing as Milford is the wettest pace in New Zealand getting loads of rain most of the time, so bring that umbrella!
The Kea The world's only alpine parrot. They are found in mountainous regions in the south island. This fella is a fun loving mischievous little guy. Known for there high intelligence and practical jokes. Often mountain climbers gear might go missing as they camp overnight. Hikers bags might get opened up. During winter many Kea's enjoy nothing more than sliding down rooftops in the snow, running back up and sliding down again. They have been found using sticks to set off pest traps so they can eat the bait! One of their legendary jokes happened to so mountain climbers attempting to summit Mt Sealy. They hiked to Mueller Hut and camped for the night. Attempting the summit the next day, they were up at 4am ready to g..but couldn't leave! A cunning Kea slid the bolt across the door on the outside locking the climbers in. After an hour or two the climbers got the door open but it was too late for there climb.
Leaving Te Anau our next stop was Invercargil. We were going to meet up with a good friend we met while travelling across Tibet together in August 2011. We have made many great friends while on the road and it was great to be able to cross paths again.After we arrived in Invercargil we took a drive to Bluff. The most southerly point of the south island. We met up with our good friend in an Irish bar that night for a couple of Guinness's, and spent the following night at his place having a good catch up, swapping stories, travel photos and downing a few beers. Not to mention sleeping in a real bed! The next day we had to move on and explore the rugged south coast, The Catlins, and one amazingly mischievous, confusing yet brilliant Gypsy bus...
The Catlins
The Catlins is a huge highlight traveling along the southern coast. The coastline is rugged and beautiful, crammed with extraordinary wildlife, some even quite rare like the yellow eyed penguin or hectors dolphin. If you want to see some sea huge lions basking in the sun make a stop at Waipapa lighthouse. Try not to walk on top of them as they can be nestled in amongst the long grasses! For a chance to see some yellow eyed penguins and hectors dolphins make a stop at Curio Bay or better yet spend the night. Just a little up the road from Curio bay is a small beach with a viewing platform to sea the penguins. Best viewed just before sunset as they return home from a hard days fishing. Please don't approach them or use flash photography as you will scare them off from one of the very few places in the world were they can be viewed living in the wild
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Curious?
Says the inviting sign..Living in Papatowai in the Catlins is a highly talented man with a slight mad scientist vibe. This friendly genius sits in his work shop creating an endless amount of crazy little inventions, whacky wind up contraptions, some brilliant, some hilarious some large, some tiny and an some bit confusing! The Lost Gypsy Caravan is a must see for anyone with a sense of humour, loves creativity and enjoys the unexpected! Ps i dare you to press the door bell on the way in... :) |
We made our way along the rugged windswept coast checking out the sights. We stopped off at Waipapa lighthouse, a favorite hangout out for some larger than life sea lions. We had a look at the tiny little visitor center and got blown along down the path to the lighthouse. We passed a lady telling us that we were in luck and there are a couple of sea lions lying around on the beach. So off we went, w walked around and couldnt see any thing until... WOW!! what the hell, hidden in the long grasses we nearly walked upon a giant sea lion fast asleep, and just beyond him were a couple more, and even more on the beach itself. They didn;t seem to care that we were gawking at them and one who looked at us just flopped back on his side, yawned, had had a nap. We were eager to try and get a glimpse of the rare yellow eyed penguin. They are found in little colonies around the coast of New Zealand and one of the best places to see them was near Curio Bay, also the home of the rare hector dolphin! So off we went! We spent the night at Curio Bay campsite, first time i have even made dinner inside and old water tank! I would approach this campsites facilities with a sense of humour. The kitchen is in a water tank and also the toilets are watertanks! We roamed around the park with a pot in search of the kitchen for a while before we cautious oped the door of this small round tank and discovered it was in fact the kitchen! We got chatting to a couple of girls who were hitch hiking their way around New Zealand. Hitch hiking is still popular with some travelers here, obviously you save a lot on travel expenses but its not for me. I would often see a couple on the side of the road, probably there hours, in the rain, stressed out with no means to get to where they wanna go until someone gives them a lift. Our van was small with only two seats, but i still don't think i would pick up a couple of soggy wet strangers! Anyway next day we got to see some penguins! and lots of dolphins playing in the waves at Curio bay, which was great. Next stop Dunedin!
Dunedin is the second largest city in the south island. The name comes from the old Gaelic name for Edinburgh, with 'Dun' meaning fort or castle. The city is proud of its strong Scottish heritage with some of the streets still named after streets in Edinburgh! Otago Peninsula is a very pretty little piece of coastline. There are plenty of little quiet bays and rugged headlands coupled with a little sleepy town or two. There are a couple of campsites out here too. At the end of the peninsula, at Taioroa Head where you will find The Royal Albatross Colony, the world's only mainland albatross nesting site. The birds are best seen on windy days, as they use the power of the wind to soar around. You can of course see these huge birds flying in and around the colony and out to sea without having to pay in, but the visitors center offers a great learning experience into the lives of these special animals. You may be lucky enough to see chicks in there nest too. There are guided tours daily and it is well worth going in. Dont be too upset if you can't afford to go in, we got the best pictures of these huge birds outside the center!
We got to Dunedin and decided to stay out on Otago Peninsula. A nice little spot home to a special and very large animal the Royal Albatross. |
Moeraki Boulders
The Moeraki Boulders are unusually large and spherical boulders lying along a stretch of Koekohe Beach about 40km from Oamuru |
The tour takes you to a shelter were you can see the nesting sites, and if you are very lucky like us, you might get to see some not so little chicks sitting around, a wonderful experience and well worth getting the tour. The next stop on out trip would see us making our way to the mesmerizing Lake Pukaki. We make a quick stop of to see the unusual Moeraki Boulders near Oamuru before deviating of into some hills and mountains in search of some Maori cave art. As we got lost in the mountains we met a nice farmer down a remote mountain dirt road. He told us all about a new milking machine he invented and invited us up to his house to see it, but we were pressed for time couldn't help thinking about our imminent kidnapping! He kindly drew us a crude map to the cave art and off we went. The drive towards the southern alps is incredibly scenic, we got to Twizel with just enough time to get to Lake Pukaki for a glorious sunset..
Lake Pukaki and Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest peak
Lake Pukaki
One of the most jaw dropping scenic landscapes i have ever seen. The viewpoint here is extremely impressive, especially when the lake is calm, it becomes an epic glacial blue mirror, reflecting the magical scenery and skies giving you a truely awe-inspiring New Zealand experience. We stayed a night or two in Twizel, allowing us to see the lake a couple of times a day, morning and evening seeing it in all its glory. There are a couple of nice drives around the area. Also a couple of Lord of the Rings filming locations! Most of the hiking and adventurous activities are centered around Mt Cook Village.
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Mt Cook
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is an exceptionally beautiful place to visit. You don’t need any great skills to get up close to the dramatic mountain scenery here.There are various alpine walks beginning near the village, from half day walks to multi day trips! The village, which is pretty much the visitors center, campground and a hotel. The village as you can imagine is quite expensive for water and food etc so stock up beforehand. There is also a campground just outside the park which is a bit cheaper. We managed to all the day walks,
Hooker Valley Track A popular walk that takes you up the Hooker Valley, across some swing bridges and up to the base of hooker glacier, lots of great views along the way. Takes about 3-4 hours return, starting from the visitors center. The glacier and valley are pictured above. If you cant manage to do the whole thing don't worry just go and take a shorter walk!
Sealy Tarns This walk is gives you spectacular views of the Hooker Valley, Mt Cook and the neighbouring peaks. The walk takes you up some 1800 steps. Through wild flowers and small bushes. The views are amazing and i definitely recommend it. Takes about 3-4 hours return. We were also nearly passed out by some local pensioners so its suits all ages!
Hooker Valley Track A popular walk that takes you up the Hooker Valley, across some swing bridges and up to the base of hooker glacier, lots of great views along the way. Takes about 3-4 hours return, starting from the visitors center. The glacier and valley are pictured above. If you cant manage to do the whole thing don't worry just go and take a shorter walk!
Sealy Tarns This walk is gives you spectacular views of the Hooker Valley, Mt Cook and the neighbouring peaks. The walk takes you up some 1800 steps. Through wild flowers and small bushes. The views are amazing and i definitely recommend it. Takes about 3-4 hours return. We were also nearly passed out by some local pensioners so its suits all ages!
Mueller Hut -3 Hrs one way
This day hike is absolutely fantastic. If you love having legs of jelly and not being able to move the next day, this is for you! Making it up to the hut gives you a 360-degree panorama over the southern alps and their glaciers, ice cliffs and vertical rock faces. You will hear and see dramatic ice falls and avalanches. You can stay over in the hut, just book in the visitors center. There is cooking facilities and water. Amazing sunrises and sunsets occur up here. Or just make it a day hike. Take the Sealy Tarns trail all the way to its view point. Then follow the orange markers in the ground up the hill. The route is steep at times and will have how scrambling over some loose rock and large boulders. When you get up to the ridge, take a little break and a whole bunch of photos of the amazing view infront of you! The hut is about another 30min walk from here. Once you reach the hut you will be greeted by a park ranger who mans the hut (outside winter months). Take your time descending back down. It's coming down when most people take less care, it is quite easy to take a wrong step on the loose stones, last thing you want to do is fall off a mountain!
This day hike is absolutely fantastic. If you love having legs of jelly and not being able to move the next day, this is for you! Making it up to the hut gives you a 360-degree panorama over the southern alps and their glaciers, ice cliffs and vertical rock faces. You will hear and see dramatic ice falls and avalanches. You can stay over in the hut, just book in the visitors center. There is cooking facilities and water. Amazing sunrises and sunsets occur up here. Or just make it a day hike. Take the Sealy Tarns trail all the way to its view point. Then follow the orange markers in the ground up the hill. The route is steep at times and will have how scrambling over some loose rock and large boulders. When you get up to the ridge, take a little break and a whole bunch of photos of the amazing view infront of you! The hut is about another 30min walk from here. Once you reach the hut you will be greeted by a park ranger who mans the hut (outside winter months). Take your time descending back down. It's coming down when most people take less care, it is quite easy to take a wrong step on the loose stones, last thing you want to do is fall off a mountain!
Tasman Valley
On the other side of the Hooker valley is Tasman valley with its own set of short enjoyable walks. Take the scenic Tasman Valley Road to the Blue Lakes car park and shelter.
Blue lakes and Tasman glacier
Start from the Blue Lakes shelter and walk up past the small lakes to a viewpoint, there are good views of the lower Tasman Glacier and the mountains at the head of the valley. Continue onwards to reach the source of the Tasman river, the Tasman Glacier lake. In summer you can see lots of big chunks of ice floating around in the lake and if your lucky chunks of the glacier cracking off and plunging into the lake. Takes about an hour
On the other side of the Hooker valley is Tasman valley with its own set of short enjoyable walks. Take the scenic Tasman Valley Road to the Blue Lakes car park and shelter.
Blue lakes and Tasman glacier
Start from the Blue Lakes shelter and walk up past the small lakes to a viewpoint, there are good views of the lower Tasman Glacier and the mountains at the head of the valley. Continue onwards to reach the source of the Tasman river, the Tasman Glacier lake. In summer you can see lots of big chunks of ice floating around in the lake and if your lucky chunks of the glacier cracking off and plunging into the lake. Takes about an hour
Hike in pictures to Mueller Hut!
The next day after spending the night in Twizel we took a drive up to Mt Cook village. The road is riddled with amazing photo stops! We aren't in any hurry so we stop a lot and soak up the views. We just want to go to the visitors center and find out about some of the day hikes and check the weather conditions on the mountains.We wanted to do Mueller Hut the next day but there was some bad weather rolling in but it should be cleared up by the following day. So we spend the next day or two doing all the short walks to the glaciers and take some scenic drives around the area before returning bright and early to take on Mueller hut! We stayed just outside Mt Cook so we could arrive as early as possible. There was a lot of cloud and it was very dull, but we pressed ahead and approached the first of the next 1800 or so steps! We ascended quickly, (at least we thought we were quick, there was a bunch of local pensioners right on out tail!) The next thing you know, our heads are above the clouds! There is glorious clear blue sky above..all around are mountain peaks floating on a bed of white fluffy clouds. When the steps ran out the trail turned to a steep uphill scramble over loose gravel and boulders. Eventually we made it to the top where we were rewarded with spectacular panoramic views over the southern alps, mt cook, and all the valleys, glaciers and snow falls you could want.
Once at the hut we were greeted by a friendly ranger who showed us around. We took a well deserved rest and tucked into our lunch. After some lounging around and absorbing the views we descended back down the steep ridge. The beginning of the 1800 steps came into view, both a welcome and unwelcome sight..They are an end to the sliding on loose stones but bring on the wobbly legs! We meet the hitch hikers we met in the water tank kitchen from Curio bay on the way down ( That awkward moment when you meet a hitch hiker the second time without offering a lift and convincing yourself your van is too small)
We eventually make it down, and clamber back into our van. making our way to Lake Tekapo for the next night or two...'AHH The pain!!' My god.. the next day neither of us could walk properly, getting in and out of the van was indeed a painful, sliding maneuver. The hike to Mueller's hut took its toll on muscles everywhere! The next couple of days were spent walking slowly and oddly..
Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo is a must stop for all night sky lovers! The small village is part of a gold rated international Dark Sky Reserve. It is one of the best places in the southern hemisphere to gaze at the night sky. A favorite among photographers is nabbing that milky way shot beside the Church of the Good Shepherd located in the village. Mind where your feet are plodding around down here at night. There is usually plenty of frozen night photographers hidden in darkness, very easy to stand on them and their gear! By day the village and its surrounding landscape is completely stunning, the lake can be unbelievably calm, mirroring its gorgeous surroundings perfectly. There is camping and hostels here. It really is worth coming here for that night sky!
After our hiking around Mt Cook we drove to Lake Tekapo to relax by the beautiful calm lakeside. We arrived late as we got sucked into watching every last moment of a glorious sunset over lake pukaki and the southern alps. For some reason, i dont know why, we got up an left for Christchurch the next day. When we got to Christchurch we were like 'Why did we leave?! Driving in to Christchurch it was evident the sheer scale of destruction caused by large earthquakes the years before. There was lots of road closures, diversions, detours and roadworks. Parts of the city center was extremely hard hit and many areas are still not open. We drove out around the banks peninsula, it just looked like a really interesting place to explore when you see its volcanic shape on a map. The scenic drive winds around hills, mountains and farmland. We made our way to the little french village of Akaroa for a look around and spend the night. We wanted to go back to lake Tekapo so we got up early next day we drove back! The lake was extremely calm, like a gigantic mirror.. We lazed around the lakeside during the day. playing with ducks and skimming stones. Once the sun went down, the most spectacular blanket of stars unraveled across the sky. We went out to find a really dark place outside the village, and by chance ended up down down by the Church of the Good Shepherd. The stars were unbelievable, and such an amazing place to capture them. At first we thought we were the only people there..As we circled the church, taking some pics, we could hear the sound of several camera shutters, see the twinkling reflection of lenses scattered around the grass and bushes and just barley made out the out lines of the many other photographers that were trying to capture this magical scene. After a couple of hours looking in awe and slightly numb from the cold we went back to the campsite for the night and left for Christchurch the following day
Christchurch
Akaroa jetty
The largest city in the south island. The city is still recovering from the devastating earthquakes that hit in 2010 and 2011. Many attractions and hotels in the city center are yet to reopen.
International Antarctic Centre
Visiting the International Antarctic Center will allow you to take an epic and slightly chilly journey through Antarctica without ever leaving Christchurch. Both modern and past voyages are laid out before you through interactive exhibits and experiences, not to mention your chance to feel the frosty winds of a simulated snow and ice storm! Brrr
Akaroa is a small french settlement nestled among rolling volcanic hills and secluded bays on the banks peninsula. The small town is still deeply connected to its french roots, with many street names still of french origin. The 84 km drive from Christchurch will wind you around the volcanic peninsula, weave you through beautiful rolling hills and farmland before spiraling down to the waters edge. A nice place to spend the night.
International Antarctic Centre
Visiting the International Antarctic Center will allow you to take an epic and slightly chilly journey through Antarctica without ever leaving Christchurch. Both modern and past voyages are laid out before you through interactive exhibits and experiences, not to mention your chance to feel the frosty winds of a simulated snow and ice storm! Brrr
Akaroa is a small french settlement nestled among rolling volcanic hills and secluded bays on the banks peninsula. The small town is still deeply connected to its french roots, with many street names still of french origin. The 84 km drive from Christchurch will wind you around the volcanic peninsula, weave you through beautiful rolling hills and farmland before spiraling down to the waters edge. A nice place to spend the night.
Coming back to Christchurch a second time we stayed near the beach and had a quick look around the city. The following day we took the immensely scenic drive from Christchurch to Greymouth via Arthurs Pass. This stretch of highway is crammed with natural beauty and little walks. Our first stop was Castle Hill. Big giant unusually shaped rocks on top of a hill just off the highway. We took a ramble around and a little climb to the top of a few boulders before heading off winding our way though valleys, waterfalls and gorges, taking in all the views and walks along the way. We spent the entire day enjoying the journey, arriving in Greymouth late in the evening
The Banks Peninsula,
The Great Alpine Highway
King of the castle and hill, Castle Hill
The Great Alpine Highway is a major east west highway connecting Christchurch to Greymouth. This 255km stretch of state highway 73 brings you through beautiful, dramatic scenery. You will cross river plains, squeeze through gorges and weave your way around the southern alps. There are many pull ins for short return walks to see impressive waterfalls, and spectacular rock formations. Start early and spend the day enjoying this incredible drive and all it has to offer.
Highlights include
Castle Hill Don’t miss the ancient monolithic limestone rock formations at Castle Hill. Huge strange rock formations just begging to be climbed. They are loved by rock climbers with or without ability! Amazing views and interesting photos from these rocks!
Arthurs Pass is a small little township tucked away in the southern alps along state highway 73. There are a range of hikes and trails for day trippers and over nighters alike
Highlights include
Castle Hill Don’t miss the ancient monolithic limestone rock formations at Castle Hill. Huge strange rock formations just begging to be climbed. They are loved by rock climbers with or without ability! Amazing views and interesting photos from these rocks!
Arthurs Pass is a small little township tucked away in the southern alps along state highway 73. There are a range of hikes and trails for day trippers and over nighters alike
- The Devils Punchbowl (1 hr return) Walk to the base of this 130m pounding waterfall through alpine forest.
- The Grand Tour (4-6hrs return)
This walking route joins together the following walks - Bridal Veil walk, Bealey Valley track, Arthur's Pass track, Dobson Nature walk, Temple Basin track and the Punchbowl Falls walk. It will take you through a wide variety of landscapes, and give you the best overview of the area.
We drive to kaikoura via Lewis pass from Greymouth. Its a beautiful drive, one worthy of its own day to enjoy the beautiful landscapes and sights along the way. When we arrived in Kaikoura, we went to the visitors center to find out prices and check what the recent whale sighting's were like. We were a little put off by the high price of the whale watching trips, compared to ones we have done and seen elsewhere. So we decided against it and went off exploring the surrounding area. Before setting off the next day we stopped off at the seal colony just outside town. There was loads of them, and lots of little cubs chassing each other around. We head north travelling through beautiful vineyards near Blenheim and make our way to Nelson lakes. My god the amount of sand flies here! Poor weather rolled in. So we made our way to Picton for the night. The following day we drove around Queen Charlotte drive, a beautiful drive the length of the fjord, lined with little peaceful bays and scenic lookouts. We leave for the North Island the next day!
Kaikoura
Is a town on the east coast of the south island, famous for its spectacular marine wildlife and nearby mountains. Local tour operators offer the chance to watch whales, dolphins, sea-birds and many other species of marine life everyday, either by boat or by air. We found prices a little expensive for whale watching with prices from $145NZ. Probably maybe worth it if you haven't seen whales before as it is a magical experience to see these majestic large creatures in their own wild environment. But we have seen them a couple of times in Australia (and cheaper, and even for free from the coast both in New Zealand and Australia) so we decided against paying $300 for the two of us and explored the town and coast.
Getting up at the crack of dawn, we catch the morning ferry back to the north Island. While working in Melbourne we made a lot of new friends, one of which was a Kiwi. He had not been home for a while, so we decided to go drive up to his house and send him a pic of us outside! After we spend a while getting loston the country back roads of Masterton we drove to the coast and spent the night at Castlepoint
Back to the North island
Hawkes BayHawkes Bay is an area along New Zealand's east coast. The region is world famous for it's high quality and award winning wines. With this brings many wine tours and wine orientated excursions. Even if you are not into wine, the vineyards that cover the landscape are simply stunning to see. The coast is lined with lots of nice beaches and fun seaside towns.
A nice place to stop in Hawkes Bay is Napier. Billed as one of New Zealand's most attractive cities. Also known as 'Art deco city' Napier is home to a large amount of beautiful art deco buildings. Rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1931 leveled the town. The town has a nice seaside resort feel, with palm tree lined streets and a well developed marine parade with gardens and cafes
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The east coast of the north island enjoys a warmer sunnier climate than the rest of the country giving the area fantastic ability to produce high quality fruits. And one of its most famous is grapes. There are 100's and 100's of Vineyards here. Making for great scenic drives anytime of year. We drove the length of Hawkes Bay surrounded by warm Autumnal colours, row after row. We're not wine drinkers so we just sailed through drinking in the views instead, eventually winding up in Mt Muanganui.
Mt Muanganui
Located on a narrow peninsula in Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty area of New Zealand is Mt Muanganui. A favorite summer holiday destination for foreigners and locals alike. The little town offers world class surfing and beaches on one side and a calm sheltered bay on the other. At the end of the peninsula is a tall extinct volcano of the same name, Mt Muanganui. There are trails leading to the top, a gentle climb suitable for all. The views at the top give fantastic views all around and down the peninsula. If you are super lucky you might get to see one of the local's visit the bay,the magnificent Orca Whales. The whales frequent the area so keep your eyes peeled! Below are some pics we took standing on the coast!
We arrived in Mt Muanganui late in the evening so we booked two nights to be able to have enough time to relax and enjoy the place. The next morning we took a stroll around the bay and base of the extinct volcano when we spotted a large fin in the bay. We watched for a few minutes...Shark?...Dolphin....Whale?
We were told it was a dolphin, so we took a pic and carried on. All of a sudden groups of locals and tourists alike ran and hugged the coastline. It was a large pod of Orca whales visiting the bay. There was loads. Even a little calf swimming along with his mammy, while the rest puffed clouds of water into the air and chased a very afraid bunch of sting ray around. It was a thrilling experience, we watched them for their whole visit. After we could spot the final puff of water on the horizon we walked to the summit of Mt Muanganui. Easy walk with great views of the area..
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Still buzzing the following day after our chance visit by such beautiful marine giants we continued onward towards the Coromandel, But not without first making a small detour to Paeroa. Home of the Paeora soft drink and its giant bottle monument in the town! After leaving Paeroa we passed through Karangahake and its stunning gorge. We stopped off to explore some of the old gold mine tunnels and buildings at Karangahake reserve. The old mine was set amongst the beautiful gorge scenery of rivers, cliffs and forest. We took the Windows walk, which brought us over suspension bridges, up through some ferny forest to some old pump houses and old rail cart tunnels. The trail soon brings you through spoky loooong dark tunnels. You need a torch walking along here as you cannot see your hand in front of your face. We walked through a few and came across plenty of glow worms along the way. We eventually emerged out of a tunnel and walked along the river back to our van, making our way to the beautiful Coromandel. staying at hot water beach!
Go go go! we were up early the next day to make our own hot water spa on hot water beach! Not having much tools for digging in our van, we brought our biggest pot! When we got to the beach we found many more people. Some with big proper shovels digging massive holes for their whole family. We teamed up with a couple from French Polynesia and starting the hunt for hot water! We eventually found a bubbling hot spring close to the lapping waves. Our precious sea walls that ringed our spa kept getting washed away by the waves, luckily the tide way out and we could eventually build a big hot pool! We joined forces with an English couple beside us to create an even larger pool for us all to enjoy, until we were invaded by kids! All hot spa'd out we hop in our wagon and take off exploring the rugged coast, little bays and the rolling hills of the Coromandel. Spending the night in the sleepy little town of Coromandel...
The Coromandel
The Coromandel is a well loved and renowned region of north eastern New Zealand, crammed with rugged coastline, rolling hills, beaches with hot water, sleepy towns and general helpings of natural beauty. The area is withiin easy reach of Auckland lying about 1 hr 30min drive away. Making it a local get away for many Kiwi's. The pacific coast offers those that can surf plenty of top places to ride the waves. Whangamata is the country’s best known east coast surf town. Come, slow down, a just to Coromandel time.
Some highlights include
Some highlights include
Cathedral Cove
Definitely one of the most dramatic and picturesque spots to visit on your Coromandel trip. This impressive natural arch links two secluded little beaches through a gigantic cavern carved through a white rocky headland. The beaches are perfect for swimming and snorkeling. There is plenty of shady spots too, the perfect place for a picnic while you are out exploring this beautiful area. |
Hot Water Beach
As the name would suggest, yes it is a beach and there is hot water! Located between Tairua and Whitianga lies a long white sandy beach, hot water beach. How? Why!? Deep underground thanks to some geothermal volcanic stuff there is a flowing river of heated water. This water surfaces and bubbles out under the sand along the beach. People come with all sorts of digging implements, spades, pots & pans and dig them selves there own little hot water spa. Some of the hot springs are really hot so watch were you put your foot! Best to come about 2 hours either side of high tide. Come early to make enough time to dig and enjoy!! Car park and campsite nearby. |
Karangahake Gorge
Located at the southern limits of the Coromandel is Karangahake Gorge. This beautiful place is on State Highway 2 between Waihi and Paeroa. This area was home to a gold mining boom in the late 19th century. Many remnants of this era are still found tucked away down short walks in the area.
Karangahake Windows Walk This 1hr round trip walk is a lot of fun. You guide yourself around some historic sights, and through many old pitch black mining tunnels. You might even see some glow worms inside! In some parts large windows are carved out of the cliff face to allow light in and give you great views, but you will need some sort of torch to help you see where you are going! Nice enjoyable place, great if its raining while your there as you will be mostly covered!Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway
2 hrs one way This walk follows the railway line through the gorge and then opens out alongside the Ohinemuri River. You will be brought past many historical mining sites and be surrounded by gorge'ous scenery.
Located at the southern limits of the Coromandel is Karangahake Gorge. This beautiful place is on State Highway 2 between Waihi and Paeroa. This area was home to a gold mining boom in the late 19th century. Many remnants of this era are still found tucked away down short walks in the area.
Karangahake Windows Walk This 1hr round trip walk is a lot of fun. You guide yourself around some historic sights, and through many old pitch black mining tunnels. You might even see some glow worms inside! In some parts large windows are carved out of the cliff face to allow light in and give you great views, but you will need some sort of torch to help you see where you are going! Nice enjoyable place, great if its raining while your there as you will be mostly covered!Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway
2 hrs one way This walk follows the railway line through the gorge and then opens out alongside the Ohinemuri River. You will be brought past many historical mining sites and be surrounded by gorge'ous scenery.
When we first picked up our van many weeks ago, we went north from Auckland to the Bay of Islands. We found ourselves having to decide on whether or not to spend the extra day or two driving up to Cape Reinga at the expense days we might need later on in the trip. But now that we are back in the north island we have the extra days we need to go back up north and see the final part of this outrageously beautiful country! So leaving Coromandel we wind through the green hills backed by vivid blue sea. With a quick stop at the country's only Tibetan stupa, at Mahamundra we make our way to Auckland and once again pass over the big harbour bridge and head north. We drove as far as Whangarei. Where we stayed in the same campsite we did the first time. The lovely lady who worked there remembered us well from before. The first time we were there she talked about her Irish ancestry, she now had old birth certs and stuff to show us. Onwards to the far north!!
Cape Reinga
Cape Reinga is the very northernmost accessible tip of New Zealand. Stand high upon the rugged peninsula jutting out to the open sea..See the two oceans meet, The Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Discover ‘the place of leaping’, where Maori spirits begin their final journey. Just beyod the lighthouse, clinging to the rocks in an ancient pohutukawa tree, believed to be around 800 years old. Maori legend tells us this is where Maori people take their final steps down the roots of the pohutukawa tree to the spiritual world. Other than the lighthouse and a sign that tells you how far you are from everywhere there is just you and the scenery. Just north of Kaitaia, there nearest town to Cape Reinga lies the huge
Te Paki sand dunes. These dunes are truly epic. You can hire a sand board and slide down the huge sand mountains! definitely well worth a look |
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Te Paki Sand Dunes
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Sand boarding on the dunes
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Epic sand dunes of Te Paki
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We drive into Kawakawa on our way north to Cape Reinga. A small little town with famous toilets. Designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser the famous public toilets attract many tourists who are often lingering around outside with cameras, taking pictures of the colorful artistic design as you emerge from doing your business. The town also boasts an old vintage railway line and steam engine that huff's and puff's it's sway down the main street. Nice little lunch stop on our way to the far north. We arrive at Cape Reinga and stand for a while on top of the hill over looking the lighthouse, the two meeting seas and the last few inches of New Zealand. We walk down the trail, reading the signs and find out more about the huge Maori significance of the area. After we absorbed the views of the rugged coast, huge skies and tales of Maori legend we drive little south and took the turn to the epic Te Paki sand dunes. Wow these things are huge. It's almost like being in a desert. Huge sand mountains as afar as the eye can see.. We scrambled up the dunes near the many people using body boards to slide down. From on top of some of the highest dunes we could see the sea and an almost untamed wild coast. After playing in the dunes we continued south staying at a campsite along 90 mile beach. The next day we went exploring the Waipoua Forest. Home of some gigantic Kauri trees!
 Tāne Mahuta, Lord of the Forest
Waipoua Forest
Found in the Waipoua forest in Northland are some giant remnants of an ancient and gigantic Kauri tree forest. Home of the 'Lord of the Forest' Tāne Mahuta is one of the largest trees you will ever see. Located just 5mins from the roadside. Tane Mahuta is 4.4m in diameter and estimated to be around 2000 years old. Another beautiful giant to see is Te Matua Ngahere Or 'Father of the Forest' – which is estimated to be between 2,500 and 3,000 years old lies another 15 minute in to the forest. The drive on State Highway 12 brings you right through the heart of Waipoua forest. All the giants and their relatives are reached by short leisurely walks along well maintained paths in to the forest. |
90 Mile Beach
Officially a highway, this 90 Km stretch of sandy adventure is located on the far north west coast of New Zealand's north island. The route is only suitable for 4wd vehicles or those trying to murder their car. Most rental companies forbid driving on the beach as many cars have met their demise along the way, But their are plenty of places to come and see the beach, or you can get one of the many 4x4 tours that drive up the beach |
And so the next couple of days we make our way south back to Auckland and return our van. She served us well. We coverd some 10,000km without a hitch. We were sad to see her go... We dropped our stuff off at our hostel and went out and about in Auckland. The year before while in Thailand we met a Welsh guy, we quickly became good friends and went on to travel Myanmar together too, and just before we came to New Zealand we met up in Brisbane too. He was now in Auckland beginning the start of his New Zealand adventure. So we all met up in Auckland's hippest strip, Ponsonby Road for a great reunion over food and drinks. We spent an unforgettable 2 months driving around this truly beautiful country, A time we will never forget ...and will long to return..