Southern Summer Sojourn (February) 11 Days

Kiwis love their summer holidays and this journey gives you the opportunity to join us in enjoying the unsurpassed magnificence of New Zealand in the summer time. Bring your camera and plenty of film and get ready for an unforgettable journey.

This 20 day trip explores a great many of the delights of the South Island and even Stewart Island, from the comfort of airconditioned buses, planes, boats, steam trains and of course thoroughly pleasurable walks.

From the garden city of Christchurch we guide you through the wine regions of Marlborough and onto the beautiful beaches of Nelson and the Abel Tasman National Park. The naturally rugged, bush clad West Coast gives way to magnificent glaciers before taking us onto the world famous adventure capital, Queenstown. Fiordland does not disappoint with deep lakes and bush clad towering peaks. Stewart Island provides the peace and solitude to explore its natural beauty. Travel through Otago gives the opportunity to see many rare forms of wildlife up close and enjoy the sweet air emanating from the orchards in Central Otago.

It will be our pleasure to share our great Kiwi summer holidays with you.

 

Day 1 - Christchurch Garden City

We spend the day in the largest city in the South Island, and known as the ‘garden city’, Christchurch.

• The Canterbury Museum is in the heart of the city and the perfect place to gain an insight into the natural, historical and cultural aspects of New Zealand. The museum also has an extensive section on all things Antarctica.
• The Botanic Gardens are a short stroll from the museum and covering 30 hectares the gardens are home to one of the finest collections of exotic and indigenous plants to be found anywhere in New Zealand.
• During the day, there will be a briefing to ensure you get maximum enjoyment from your South Island adventure.
• Take the opportunity from the free time allotted here to do any last minute banking or shopping.

Tonight we stay in Christchurch

 

Day 2 - Kaikoura Whale Watching

Today is a treat for lovers of all things to do with the sea.

• A drive north takes you through the Waipara Valley wineries, the rich farmlands of North Canterbury to the rugged cliffs that signal the entrance to the small but activity-packed Kaikoura.
• Kaikoura is New Zealand’s whale watch capital. Weather permitting; take the opportunity to go by boat to see whales in their natural environment as well as dolphins and fur seals.
• No visit to Kaikoura is complete without sampling the range of seafood fresh off the fishing boat and served in the many restaurants, cafes and fish & chip shops dotting Kaikoura. A meal of fish & chips is an iconic New Zealand pleasure.

We spend the night in Kaikoura

 

Day 3 - Blenheim & Nelson Wine Tours

• Today is for wine and food lovers with a journey through the celebrated Blenheim wine region and ending in sunny Nelson.
• Heading north we take in the rural sophistication of Blenheim and the Wairau Valley with its many world class vineyards and orchards.
• We sit down to a sumptuous lunch at a winery giving you the opportunity to sample some of the fine local food and wine. Then sit back and enjoy the leisurely ride to Nelson, the sunniest town in New Zealand.

Tonight we stay in Nelson

 

Day 4 - Nelson Arts & Crafts

Nelson is not only famed for its sunny weather, stunning mountains and clear beaches but also as the home of a thriving arts and crafts community.

• Time for a leisurely day strolling around some local arts and crafts boutiques. This is an ideal opportunity to purchase some genuine New Zealand crafts for you, or as a gift.
• Work off lunch with a short walk up a local hill. Church Hill is the geographic centre of New Zealand. Church Hill is also steeped in history with the feature of a Cathedral with its origins dating back to early colonization and made using locally sourced Takaka marble.

Tonight we stay in Nelson.

 

Day 5 - Abel Tasman National Park

New Zealand is famous for its natural scenic wonders and today you will experience one of the South Island’s finest examples. The Abel Tasman National Park covers over 22,500 hectares and is renowned for its sparkling, pristine waters fringed by golden beaches, untouched native bush and rocky outcrops.

• The promise of the morning spent on a boat trip to Anchorage will be enough to rouse any traveler.
• After the boat trip we walk the track back south to Marahau. This walk takes about five hours on a very well maintained track and travels through untouched native bush, bays of white sand and blue waters.
• Dinner is in the township of Motueka, Kiwi style, with a meal cooked on the barbeque using the finest local produce.

Tonight we stay in Motueka.

 

Day 6 - Farewell Spit

Today we drive over Takaka Hill (Marble Mountain) which affords dramatic mountain, wilderness and ocean views and travel through the magnificent Golden Bay region.

• An unforgettable visit to the Waikoropupu Springs (Pupu Springs). These are the largest fresh water springs in the Southern Hemisphere and exquisitely crystal clear (second clearest in the world, second only to Antarctica). Viewing platforms allow you to catch a glimpse of life under the pure waters.
• The white, sandy Wharariki Beach will astound with its sea tunnels, seal colonies and native birdlife. If that is not enough, marvel at the Archway Islands, massive, rugged outcrops of rock emerging from Golden Bay.
• Our final adventure today is a trip along Farewell Spit is at the northernmost tip of the South Island to the historic lighthouse. This 35 kilometre sand spit is the longest natural sandbar in the world and has been named a Wetland of International Importance due to the large number of different species of wetland birds. This area is very special and only accessible to approved operators.

Tonight we stay in Takaka a small but lively town at the heart of Golden Bay.

 

Day 7 - Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

• Crossing back over Takaka Hill we begin our journey south to the West Coast. We travel through a land rich in gold and coal mining history but still boasting pristine, virgin rainforest and the remarkable, bush clad, swift flowing Buller Gorge.
• We stop at Charleston, which was home to a huge goldrush in the 1860’s. Here you gain a sense of the drama and fear the early settlers would have experienced at this time.
• Remember your camera tonight. The evening starts with a glass of wine on the beach at Punakaiki and a walk to the remarkable Pancake Rocks, which are stratified rock formations emerging from the violent sea. With the addition of booming blowholes, this will be a sunset you will always remember.

Tonight we stay at a Punakaiki tavern where you will experience the famous West Coast food, personalities and charm.

 

Day 8 - West Coast & the Glaciers

A scenic journey through the heart of the West Coast, bordered on one side by the wild beaches of the Tasman Sea and the other by native bushland and the mighty Southern Alps. A day that gives you the opportunity to shop, see landmarks of geographic significance and see one of New Zealand’s most famous glaciers.

• We stop in the township of Hokitika, where you have the opportunity to view Jade (pounamu) carving by local Maori, exquisite examples of glass blowing and other local arts and crafts. Make sure you stock up here on any shopping items to last the next few days as we head to more remote regions tomorrow.
• Traveling south we see a number of lakes formed during ancient periods of glaciation and the Alpine Fault Line where the Pacific and Australian move past and toward each other, which helped rewrite our understanding of the formation and development of the planet.
• Cutting a dramatic river of ice through valleys and almost to the sea, we end the day with a visit to a lookout over the Franz Josef Glacier.

Tonight we stay in the Fox Glacier township.

 

Day 9 - Aoraki Mount Cook

Start the day with a pre-breakfast walk to the mesmerizing Lake Matheson famous for its reflecting the stunning mountain and bush vistas. Add to this, views of New Zealand’s tallest peak, Aoraki Mount Cook and you could not find a more appealing way to work up an appetite for breakfast.

• Breakfast is in a café looking out towards the mighty Southern Alps before we travel up to the Fox Glacier for a walk up to a safe lookout near its terminus. Looking around you will experience the uniqueness of the location with temperate rain forests a short walk away yet you are still only a short distance above sea level.
• The rest of the day is time free for you to enjoy the amazing environment as you please. We suggest doing some of the many walks in the area or for the more adventurous a helihike, which involves flying by helicopter up onto the glacier. There you spend about two hours exploring the surreal landscape of crevasses and icefalls with an experienced guide. Or just sit back and relax in one of the most scenic spots in the world.

Tonight we stay in Fox Glacier township.

 

Day 10 - Queenstown

We say goodbye to the glaciers and journey south into the rainforests of the Southern West Coast before crossing the Haast Pass. This road connects the West and East Coasts and was only completed in 1965. We then journey on to the scenic wonders of Central Otago.

• Entering the setting for much of the Lord of the Rings films, Central Otago’s dry tussock country provides a total contrast to our previous days. A stop at Wanaka’s Puzzling World challenges the senses. We take a stroll into town to the Wanaka waterfront then board the bus.
• Crossing the steep and rocky Crown Range we coast into world famous Queenstown, renown for it’s unsurpassed scenery and adventure capital of the Southern Hemisphere.
• Traveling up the mountains via gondola, our evening meal is at the pinnacle at the Gondola Restaurant. Try not to be distracted from your meal by watching the sunset in this glorious setting.

Tonight we stay in Queenstown

 

Day 11 - Te Anau, Fiordland

There are few better ways to wake up than in the stunning surrounds of Queenstown. Have the camera at the ready today for a trip to delightful Arrowtown before journeying on to Te Anau, the gateway to magnificent Fiordland.

• A gentle start to the day with an early morning visit to the Queenstown township. We then board the historic SS Earnslaw, a Qieenstown icon, for a two hour cruise complete with sing along accompanied by an onboard pianist. We cross Lake Wakatipu surrounded by awe inspiring alpine scenery to Walter Peak Station, which is a high country farm on the banks of the lake.
• Queenstown is also famous as the home of the bungy jump. Take the opportunity to do it yourself or live vicariously by watching others challenge fears and phobias.
• Lunch is in picturesque Arrowtown, which is steeped in history and had its beginnings in the heady gold rush of 1862.
• The remainder of the day is spent traveling to Te Anau, the hub of Fiordland.

Tonight we stay in the lakeside town of Te Anau

 

Day 12 - the Southern Lakes

Water is the theme of the day with a visit to our second deepest lake and deepest fiord. Make sure there is plenty of film in the camera.

• The day begins with a very short bus trip before boarding a boat and traveling down Lake Manapouri, which is home to a large number of sandy coves and over 30 islands nestled amongst the bush clad ranges.
• Next is a bus trip to remember over Wilmot Pass, which takes in truly breathtaking views of lush valleys, untamed mountain landscapes and cascading waterfalls.
• All aboard for the second scenic cruise of the day on Doubtful Sound. At 421 metres the mysterious Sound is the deepest of our fiords. The Sound plays home to rich flora and fauna including penguins and seals, and is dotted with grand waterfalls.
• On returning to Manapouri we take a tour of the West Arm Power Station, which is the largest underground power generator in the Southern Hemisphere.

We return to Te Anau for the night

 

Day 13 - Stewart Island

Very few people, including New Zealanders have the opportunity to visit New Zealand’s third largest and largely untouched island, Stewart Island at the very south of New Zealand – next stop Antarctica!

• Traveling south we stop in Invercargill, which is New Zealand’s southern most town and the setting for the movie ‘The World’s Fastest Indian’.
• From here we fly to Stewart Island and the settlement of Oban, meaning ‘many coves’ in Gaelic and home to less than 400 permanent residents. With 85% of the island as a national park you will be able to experience the peace and natural abundance with raw untouched flora and fauna.
• Famed for it’s Blue Cod, fish lovers won’t find any fresher than here.

Tonight we stay in Oban.

 

Day 14

Walking, a boat trip and relaxation sounds like the perfect way to spend the day, and fortunately for you, that is what is in store today.

• Eat a hearty breakfast and pack your camera as this morning we take a walk for several hours along a well formed track. Expect a journey dotted with beautiful bays and inlets complete with lush, pristine native bush and abundant birdlife.
• The return trip is by a short boat trip over freezing but clean and clear waters back to Oban.
• This afternoon the time is yours to roam and explore the island as you choose free, or just relax breathing in the crisp, clean Stewart Island air.

Tonight we stay in Oban.

 

Day 15 - the Catlins

Heading north to the mainland via plane, we discover some of New Zealand’s natural history at the Southland Museum in Invercargill before heading into the rugged but wildlife abundant Catlins area.

• The Southland Museum is famous for being home to 40 of New Zealand’s only living native dinosaurs in the form of Tuatara. Tuatara are an endangered species and has its origins dating back 200 million years ago. The museum also features many other fascinating natural and historic displays.
• Driving past lush pastures, wild forests, sandy beaches and rugged seas we enter the Catlins area whose coast is battered by the mighty Southern Ocean.
• Here you may see yellow-eyed penguins, Hooker sea lions, elephant seals and New Zealand fur seals in their natural habitat. Plus abundant sea and forest birds and even a brave surfer or two.

Tonight we stay in Owaka

 

Day 16

Wildlife was the focus yesterday. Today is about discovering natural treasures formed many millions of years ago.

• We visit a petrified forest (estimated at 160 million years old) before exploring some wonderful sandy beaches with stunning cliff features. If we have time we may even visit New Zealand’s own Niagara Falls!

Tonight we stay in Owaka

 

Day 17 - Dunedin

Departing the peace and solitude of the Catlins we head up to the city of Dunedin, our oldest city with a strongly Scottish heritage. Dunedin is also famous for its architecture, proximity to some rare and amazing wildlife and active student population.

• We visit the Taiaroa Head, which is the only mainland nesting area in the world for the Wandering Albatross and the Armstrong Disappearing Gun, which was built to stave off a feared attack by the Russians in 1880.
• We make a visit to Olveston House (built in 1904-05) and captures a more privileged family life in New Zealand in the early 1900’s.
  The day is finished with a relaxing stroll through Dunedin central and the opportunity to admire the architecture. Then the time is yours to choose to do a number of walks close to the city or just relax.

Tonight we stay in Dunedin

 

Day18 - Central Otago

A train trip takes us to the heart of Central Otago which was built on the gold rushes of the 1800’s. Despite the dry, semi-desert status of the area, this part of New Zealand is famous for its many orchards, which being summer, will be laden with apples and stone fruits as well as thriving farmlands.

• Board the Taieri Gorge Express and enjoy the thrill and nostalgia of the age of the steam train as it passes the spectacular Taieri Gorge, past thriving farmlands and through hand carved tunnels.
• We are back to more modern transport as we board the bus and travel into the Central Otago region. Here we journey into the regions past gold mining glory days with a visit several historic sites.
• Kiwis are famous for their ingenuity and next we stop at the factory where one of our pioneers designed and built many innovative and indispensable gadgets that are now integral in modern farming life.

Tonight we stay in Alexandra

 

Day 19 - MacKenzie Country

We leave Central Otago and head north. Gradually the arid, desert-like landscapes give way to view of lakes, green pastures and the Southern Alps.

• After crossing the deolate beauty of the Lindis Pass we will visit the natural wonder of the Clay Cliffs with its towering spires and narrow ravines.
• We head into the magnificent MacKenzie Basin region where we will view New Zealand’s latest most expensive and most controversial hydro project.
• We stop for the night in Twizel. A town nestled in amongst stunning iridescent blue hydro lakes and the Southern Alps, Twizel was originally built for the workers employed on massive hydro projects in the area

Our final night together is spent in the Twizel

 

Day 20 - Canterbury Plains

This is the final day of our journey together, crossing through the final part of the magnificent MacKenzie Country and onto the Canterbury Plains and Christchurch.

• We begin our last morning together with a truly spectacular start with a visit to the Old Mountaineer Café at the Mt Cook Hermitage for views of our tallest peak, Aoraki Mt Cook.
• We then travel out onto the Canterbury Plains, overlooked by the Southern Alps, which supports thriving farmlands, both agricultural and pastoral.

We arrive at our final destination, Christchurch, mid-afternoon