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Day 1: Auckland
Arrive, immigration, luggage collection
Call Super Shuttle and transport to YHA for check-in
Lunch, visit Victoria Park Market and take a ferry to Devonport
Back to Auckland, explore waterfront and
Take bus around free circuit. Sky Tower optional
Dinner and head back for early sleep.
Day 2: Auckland + Christchurch
Auckland: Visit Winter Garden and Walk around Parnell, Ponsonby or K
Road.
Bus to airport, take flight ACK-CHC to
Christchurch.
Christchurch: Visit cathedral, Arts Gallery (close at 5pm), Canterbury
Museum (close at 5pm)
Day 3: Akaroa
Drive to Akaroa via Port Hill (86km, 03:00)
Explore Akaroa town, brunch
Black cat Harbour cruise
Stop by Linton Giant House, Barry¡¯s Bay Cheese on the way home (82km,
01:20), dinner, around Christchurch
Day 4: Lake Tekapo
Visit Hagley Park & Botanic Garden (gates open 7am).
Drive from Christchurch to Mt Cook (331km, 05:15 - some stop by
traveling). Scenic drive will pass by Geraldine, Farlie, Lake Tekapo
Church of Good Shepherd and Twizel.
Check in hostel followed by short walks including Glenchoe walk (30min
return), Bowen Bush walk (10min return) or visit Hermitage.
Day 5: Hooker Valley Hike
Hooker Valley Hike (9km, 5hr) crosses two swing bridges, passes Mueller
Lake and leads to Hooker Lake with view of glacier meltdown.
Drive from Mt Cook to Queenstown (271km,
04:20 - estimation with some stop by traveling). If reach by 4pm, can
visit Arts & Craft market.
Take gondola up skyline for sunset view
Kiwi Haka evening performance and dinner
Day 6: Glenorchy & Te Anau
Take a long winding road trip from Queenstown to Glenorchy in search of
LOTR (Lord of The Ring) filming location Paradise (92km, 04:00*
return). Suggested activities includes picnic, sightseeing and search
for Paradise.
Drive from Queenstown to Te Anau (166km, 02:35 with stop by traveling)
covering Mossburn, Athol, Kinston, Lake Wakatipou beneath the rugged
Remarkable.
Visit Wildlife Center (10min walk) and Ivon Wilson Park (5min walk).
Fiordland cinema screening of Ata Whenua is at 6pm for 32min.
Day 7: Fiordland National Park
AM/PM: Take Best Drive: Milford Road (238km, 04:00 return) to catch the
earliest 9.55am Milford Sound Cruise, need 20 minutes prior the
boarding time. Visit Mirror Lake and take Chasm and Key Summit/Lake
Marian walks along Milford Road for about 3 hours.
Day 8: Queenstown, Arrowtown, Wanaka
Dock Bay and Brod Bay walk (1hr return)
Drive from Te Anau to Queenstown (166km, 02.35*)
Stop by Frankton, take gondola up Bob¡¯s Peak and lunch.
Drive from Queenstown to Wanaka (71km, 01:10*) stopping by Lake Hayes,
Arrowtown and Rippon Vineyard.
Day 9: Rob Roy Hike
Drive out to Raspberry Creek car park (50km, 01.00*) from Wanaka.
Day 9: Rob Roy Hike
Start Rob Roy Valley Hike (11km, 5hr)
branching away from Matukituki River, climbing through beech forest to
the head of Rob Roy Valley and close-up views of Rob Roy.
Drive back to Wanaka for lunch and depart for Fox Glacier (142+132km,
2+2=04:00*) Stop at ¡®Gates of Haast¡¯ bridge before driving through
Haast Pass in Mt Aspiring National Park, Lake Paringa, and short detour
to Lake Matheson for sunset walk.
Day 10: West Coast
Take Lake Matheson walk (1.5hr, most photographed landmark in NZ).
Reporting at Fox office for a 4-4.5hr glacier walk.
Leave Fox Glacier to Punakaiki/Westport
(298km, 04:10).
Drive to Lake Mapourika famous for
trout/salmon, Whataroa (Lake Ianthe), Pukekura (giant sandfly), Ross
(gold nugget) and Dolomite Point (blowholes).
Watch glowworms at night.
Day 11: Nelson & Picton
Drive from Punakaiki to Picton and return the car. Punakaiki/Westport ¨C
Picton (337km, 05:00*). Best drive: Queen Charlotte Sound from Havelock
to Picton takes 0.5day, 35km, narrow & winding. Blue Bridge ferry ride
(3hr 20min) from Picton to Wellington.
Day 12: Wellington
Wellington City Tour.
Drive from Wellington to Tongariro (331km, 04:40).
Day 13: Turangi
Tongariro Alpine Crossing (16km, 7-8hr) weather permitted. Start
Mangatepopo, end Ketetahi Road. Alternatively, take easy walks around
the national park.
PM: Meet at Ketetahi and drive from Tongariro to Taupo (81km, 01:22).
Day 14: Taupo, Rotorua & Waitomo
Drive from Taupo ¨C Rotorua (81km, 01:25*) and Visit Huka Falls and
Wai-o-tapu.
Watch Lady Geyser eruption at 10.45am
daily.
Drive from Rotorua to Waitomo (145km, 02:20*) for 2hr guided walk at
Ruakuri glowworm cave exploration.
Day 15: Waitomo to Airport - 176km, 03:00
drive. Heading Home.
*: Estimation time with some stop by
traveling. |