New Zealand New Zealand Adventure
Vacation 15 Days
Highlights:
- Itinerary
planned by New Zealander
- Stay in
Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, Lodges
- Take a Fox
or Franz Josef Glacier helicopter ride or Glacier hike
- Discover the
adventure, scenery, or relax in Queenstown
- Kayak in the
Milford Sound for real New Zealand Adventure Travel
- The
Itinerary can be altered to suite your traveling requirements
Itinerary:
Day 1 Arrive into Auckland and
begin your New Zealand Adventure Vacation Tour. At Auckland Airport pick-up an intermediate-sized vehicle and drive south to Waitomo. An approx 3 hours drive and spend two nights in Waitomo in a 3 star hotel, that has old world charm for a relaxing afternoon.
Day 2 Here start
your New Zealand Adventure Vacation on the Black Labyrinth Tour which is a combination of walking and floating on an inner tube through underground waterfalls and as you go see the gleaming Glow- worms caves.
The Waitomo Glowworm caves tour takes you into a labyrinth of the Glowworm grotto. Here you can be excused for thinking it is a mini version of the Milky Way and to see these glowworms is a sight within itself.
A variety Abseiling tours can take you into what seems a Lost World of caverns, caves, and for an extended Waitomo Abseiling tour, you can view underground waterways.
For the ultimate in underground touring there is also the Black Abyss a 5 hours experience of abseiling, cave tubing is like black water rafting, glowworms and it is adrenaline touring to the max.
Day 3 Leaving this adrenaline adventurism of Waitomo behind and head to Whakatane for a diving experience. Here in the Bay of Plenty is
White Island an active Volcano and ample scuba diving spots. Stay overnight in Whakatane.
Day 4 White Island is New Zealand’s only active marine volcano which is located in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. There is such a dramatic spot combined with the active volcano that gives the surrounding ocean a unique to one of New Zealand’s best diving location.
Day 5 Travel back to Rotorua where you will find Geothermal activity. As you drive along, it is possible to see steam rising into the air – it is simply hot steam from the earth’s crust.
Day 6 Today tour Te Puia Geothermal that is a
constant activity of boiling water, mud, and geysers. It is here that you can see local Maori carvings and carvers tackling there works and learn about Maori lifestyle.
From here drive to Rainbow Springs, see New Zealand’s native trees, birds, and see the Kiwi Encounter. The Kiwi
is a nocturnal and a native flightless bird that is on the brink of extinction. The kiwi encounter is slowly bringing these National icons back. See the eggs incubated, hatching and raising of the kiwi chicks, before they can be released into the wild.
Take a look at New Zealand at the different sheep breeds that are on the different landscapes New Zealand’s farms. See a sheep being shorn and be introduced to working sheep dogs.
If the above tours do not interest you, then there is a half or full day Geothermal tours. See the geysers in full glory, visit the Wai-O-Tapu and Waimangu Volcanic Geothermal valley where there is Lady Knox geyser and boiling mud pools.
Day 7 Drop-off the vehicle and fly to Queenstown, New Zealand’s Adventure Capital.
It is here that a wide variety of adventure can be had for all.
Day 8 Queenstown, New Zealand is where adventure, excitement, and scenery are all that can be achieved in one day.
Have an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip on either the Kawarau or
Shot over Rivers. These rivers are located within a short distance of each other and both offer narrow gorges, stark contrast of landscape and rapids for all.
Day 9 Today, collect an intermediate vehicle and drive about 2 hours before reaching Te Anau. Here at the gateway of the
Fjordland National Park, on the road that leads into the Milford Sound. Set in the backdrop of Lake Te Anau and surrounding mountains here you will find a serene township with a very interesting Information center showing the history of the region.
For a suggestion and not included in the tour - If you have time across Lake Te Anau are
Glowworm Caves which is a spectacle within itself.
Stay in Te Anau 2 nights
for some New Zealand Adventure.
Day 10 Discover Doubtful Sound in the
Fjordland National Park. Start your tour by a gentle cruise on
Lake Manapouri before descending into the Manapouri Hydro power station and then return to where you started, before traveling over
Wilmot Pass.
Time for a photo stop; here you can view the main arm of Doubtful Sound right out into the Tasman Sea, before descending into the fjord. Cruise on Doubtful Sound with a chance of seeing dolphins and seals. Leaving Doubtful Sound behind you retrace your travels back to Te Anau. (Doubtful Sound can also be experienced with a full day kayak tour and an overnight cruise; the later being seasonal.)
Day 11 Experience Milford Sound via sea kayak.
Pick-up at your accommodation in Te Anau, then travel through the stunning remnants of the glacier carved valleys. See the mirror lakes, The Chasm,
Eglington Valley, Hollyford valley and river. As you just arrive into Hollyford valley see where two glaciers met, this makes for a wonderful photo shot. Travel through the Homer Tunnel and down into Milford Sound. Here, start your guided sea kayak on Milford Sound under the watching eye of
Miter Peak. Return to Te Anau.
(Milford Sound can also be experienced with a full day tour from Queenstown, or an overnight cruise that is all year round.)
Day 12 Leaving Te Anau today and travel back via Queenstown through the Haast Pass into New Zealand’s West Coast. Travel through some unique area with wide valley that rivers sprawl into that give way to high mountains that are half covered in scenic native forests. Continue up to Fox Glacier hotel accommodation for 2 nights.
Day 13 Take a full day guided walk upon the Fox Glacier. This is a 6-7 hour journey where you start by climbing up onto the Glacier then your guide will take you off to cut where a new path starts, taking you through ice formations. This dramatic glacier formations is where the glacier is moving about 6 foot per day. Have lunch and then time for more exploring until time to return home.
(There are also helicopter rides that some have glacier landings, and the same option is available at Franz Josef Glacier. I did the helicopter ride and it was amazing. I took over 30 pictures and some are on this website)
Day 14 Driving north today where you can take a slight detour to see Franz Josef Glacier. Continue over the bridge, through the Franz Josef town then see some dramatic road covering native forest. A chance to stop at either Hokitika or Greymouth to purchase New Zealand wares, before turning in the car at Greymouth.
Board the Tranz Alpine Scenic Train and leave the West Coast in behind travel through the Southern Alps. Arriving into Christchurch in the early evening, and stay in a
hotel that is within walking distance of restaurants and the city center square.
Day 15 A chance to explore Christchurch and Cathedral square before your transfer to the airport for your flight home.
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Departure Date
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Every day of the Year |
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Type of accommodation |
Hotels, Bed & Breakfast, and Luxury Lodges |
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Can I have a mixture of accommodation |
Yes, or all one type |
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Touring Options |
Self Drive, Coach, and Helicopter |
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Can I add Tours |
Yes |
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Can the Itinerary be altered |
Yes |
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Price of Itinerary |
Depends on variables, please inquire |
