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New Zealand: recommended routes

Auckland - Wellington

Day One - Arrive in Auckland
The City of Sails and home of the America's Cup, Auckland's population is one and a half million people, which makes it New Zealand's largest city.

Overnight: Auckland City



Day Two - Auckland
Today enjoy the city. There are many options available to fill in your day; some examples are shown below:

Devonport Cruise

Sky City Tower and Casino

Howick Historical Village

Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World and Antarctic Centre

Maritime Museum

Overnight: Auckland City

Day Three - Auckland to Rotorua (via Waitomo)
Farewell the City of Sails and depart for Rotorua - New Zealand's geothermal wonderland. Stop for lunch in the King Country at the Big Apple Orchard. After lunch continue travelling south to Waitomo Caves. Upon arrival at Waitomo you join a guided tour of the Caves. Aranui Cave's chambers are adorned with stalagmites and stalactites. Then board the boat and glide silently through the glow-worm grotto. Return to daylight and continue on to Rotorua.

This evening I recommend that you take in a Maori Hangi and Cultural Experience with Tamaki Tours.

Overnight: KiwiPaka YHA, Rotorua.
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Day Four - Rotorua
Rotorua is an unusual town - you will notice steam rising out of the storm water drains, boiling hot puddles and the faint sounds of plopping mud. This morning you will join the Rotorua Sightseeing Tour and take in the sights, sounds and smells that make Rotorua so unique. Visit Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, Paradise Springs and the Agrodome.

This afternoon explore the city at your own leisure. You could cruise on Lake Rotorua or visit the Polynesian Pools, the Orchid Garden or the Water Organ. Stroll through the Government Gardens and visit the Rotorua Museum.

Overnight: KiwiPaka YHA, Rotorua.

Day Five - Rotorua to Taupo
Travel south to Taupo. Taupo is located on the shores of Lake Taupo, which is renowned worldwide for its trout fishing. The lake itself is the result of a massive volcanic eruption in AD186; the explosion reddened skies as far away as China and Rome and diverted the Waikato River from the east to the west coast.

Thermal areas, smaller than those in Rotorua, can be found at nearby Wairakei, at the edge of Lake Taupo or at the southern edge of the lake. At Wairakei Tourist Park, you can visit the Prawn Park - the world's only geothermal prawn farm!

Options:

Jet boat to the Huka Falls

Cruise aboard the African Queen to the mighty Huka Falls

Go trout fishing - Taupo is a trout fishing Mecca!

Overnight: Taupo YHA.
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Day Six - Taupo to Napier
Napier is New Zealand's Art Deco City. It was virtually destroyed by a huge earthquake and fires in the 1930s; after the earthquake the city was 40 square kilometres larger due to the amount of land lifted above sea level. The city was then rebuilt in the Art Deco Style. Nowadays Napier is known for its Art Deco appearance and its vineyards. In 1850 vines were first planted in Hawkes Bay by a French Catholic mission; the climate in this region is similar to that of the best grape-growing areas in Europe.

Options:

Winery Tour

Art Deco Walk

Visit the Aquarium and Marineland

Stroll along Marine Parade

Visit Hawkes Bay Museum (includes a simulated earthquake experience)

Overnight: Napier YHA.
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Day Seven - Napier
Today you may choose to visit Cape Kidnappers or take part in a full day winery tour. The Cape is home to the world's only mainland gannet nesting site. The gannets usually arrive in late July, lay their eggs in October and November, then start to migrate north in March. You do not need a special permit to visit the colony but note the best times to visit the Cape are from late July to February.

Overnight: Napier YHA

Day Eight - Napier to Wellington
Wellington - New Zealand's capital city (see my photos). The city is located on the doorstep of a harbour that was formed by the flooding of a large, extinct volcano and is surrounded by hills. Te Papa - New Zealand's National Museum (see my photos) is located on the Wellington waterfront and like many other attractions in the central city, is just a short stroll from Wellington City YHA.

Overnight: Wellington City YHA
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Day Nine - Wellington
Take a tour around Wellington City. View the Parliament Buildings, known as the Beehive due to their appearance, visit Old St Paul's Cathedral (built in the early 1860s) and the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens and ride the Cable Car. The Wellington Cable Car runs from downtown Wellington to Kelburn, one of the suburbs overlooking the city. It began service in 1902 and by 1912 was transporting one million passengers a year. At the top are the Wellington Botanic Gardens - 26 hectares of native bush and grounds. Return to Wellington City YHA.

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South Island - Christchurch to Christchurch

Day One - Christchurch
Kia Ora! Arrive in Christchurch - the Garden City - and transfer to Christchurch City YHA. Christchurch is known as the most English City in New Zealand and is the largest city on the South Island. There are many options available to fill in your day, some examples are shown below:

Options:

Ride the Tram around the inner city

Visit the Arts Centre or Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

Punt on the Avon

Ride the Gondola up Mount Cavendish - an extinct volcano

Stroll through Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens

Visit the International Antarctic Centre

Overnight: Christchurch Central YHA
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Day Two - Christchurch
Explore this city or you may choose to take a day trip to Akaroa, Canterbury's oldest town. Akaroa was an early French settlement, which is reflected today in the street names and early architecture. This town is home to the world's smallest and rarest dolphin, the Hectors Dolphin. Take a cruise on the Harbour for a chance of sighting one; you may also see little blue penguins and seals.

Overnight: Christchurch City YHA

Day Three - Christchurch to Franz Josef (via Greymouth)
TranzScenic Train Depart Christchurch: 08:15
Arrive Greymouth: 12:45
InterCity Coach Depart Greymouth: 13:45
Arrive Franz Josef: 18:05

Sit back and enjoy a spectacular rail journey across the South Island. The TranzAlpine excursion is rated in the top six rail journeys in the world (see my photos). The TranzAlpine travels over huge viaducts, through gorges and river valleys before tracking across New Zealand's greatest mountain range - the Southern Alps.

At Greymouth, board a coach for Franz Josef. The township of Franz Josef is surrounded by Westland National Park.

Overnight: Franz Josef YHA
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Day Four - Franz Josef
This glacier was first explored back in 1865 by Austrian, Julius Haast. Haast named the glacier after the Austrian emperor. The glacier is currently moving forward at about 30 centimetres a day. You may choose to take part in a Glacier Walk; alternatively you may prefer to view the glacier from the air. If you take the helicopter flight option, you will experience an on-glacier landing.

Overnight: Franz Josef YHA

Day Five - Franz Josef to Queenstown
Leave behind the picture postcard scenery of the West Coast and travel inland to Queenstown - New Zealand's adrenalin capital. In 1862, two shearers discovered gold in the Shotover River and began the gold rush that led to the birth of Queenstown.

Overnight: Queenstown YHA
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Day Six - Queenstown
Today explore Queenstown at your leisure.

The town of Queenstown is on the shores of Lake Wakatipu - meaning place of the giant. The lake "breathes" every five minutes - the water level rises and falls. Maori legend tells of an evil giant who abducted a Maori maiden. He was set alight by the maiden's rescuer and his burning body melted the surrounding glaciers to form a huge water-filled crater. Only the giant's beating heart survived, which is the cause of the lake's regular rising and falling.

This evening be sure to take in a Maori Concert and Hangi.

Options:

Ride the Skyline Gondola to the top of Bob's Peak for inspiring views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains

Ride the Shotover Jet

Bungee-jump

Cruise aboard the steamship TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu

White water rafting

Parapenting

Wine trail

River surfing

Ride the double decker bus over to Arrowtown - one of the few gold mining towns to survive the Gold Rush of the 1800s

Overnight: Queenstown YHA

Day Seven - Queenstown to Te Anau (via Milford Sound)
Travel south along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau - gateway to Fiordland National Park and the Milford Track. Leave Te Anau behind and you're on your way to Milford Sound. The drive into Milford Sound is through Fiordland National Park and is truly spectacular. Numerous photo stops will be made along the way. Milford Sound is the only fiord accessible by road. Upon arrival in Milford, board the "Red Boat" for a one and a half hour cruise on the Sound. Majestic waterfalls, crested penguins, Mitre Peak, dolphins, seals and sand flies - Milford Sound has it all.

At the end of the cruise, return to Te Anau.

Overnight: Te Anau YHA
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Day Eight - Te Anau to Dunedin
Dunedin is known as the Edinburgh of the South. The name Dunedin is in fact the Celtic word for Edinburgh. Dunedin was settled in 1848, but shortly after the first settlers arrived gold was discovered in Otago. Dunedin quickly became the commercial capital of New Zealand and the richest city in the province. Today Dunedin is largely a student town - it is home to New Zealand's first (and finest) university.

Options:

Cruise on the Otago Harbour

Ride the Taieri Gorge Railway

Visit the Albatross Colony, Larnach's Castle (New Zealand's only castle)

Stroll through the grounds of Otago University

Overnight: Stafford Gables YHA, Dunedin
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Day Nine - Dunedin to Christchurch
This afternoon farewell Dunedin and journey to Christchurch. Travel along the coastline, past the Moeraki Boulders. These spherical boulders were formed in the seabed over 60 million years ago by the gradual accumulation of lime salt. Each boulder weighs several tonnes and measures up to four metres in circumference. Travel through Oamaru, Timaru and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.