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SUMMER ADVENTURE TOUR ITINERARY:
Day 1 - The day starts with a short drive to Auckland's
waterfront from our base at the Barrycourt Motor Inn (Our recommended pre trip
accommodation). Here we board our yacht for a sail on Auckland's sparkling Waitemata
Harbour, which forms part of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park. As we leave Westhaven marina
it shouldn't be too hard to see why Auckland is known as the “City of Sails”! Take the
opportunity to take the helm, learn some sailing jargon, or just sit back, relax and enjoy
the sea breeze over a late breakfast. After the sailing we make our way back to our hotel
for an early lunch before boarding the bus for the 3 hour drive through the fertile Waikato
farmlands to Rotorua. The afternoons activity involves little 4 x 4 vehicles, lots of mud,
sweaty palms and a luge! All perfectly safe, but just a little nerve racking! After this
we return to our accommodation in Rotorua. (late breakfast,L,D)
Day 2 - After a leisurely breakfast, we head down highway 30
for an hour and a half to Whakatane, a small seaside town, whose main industries are
forestry and a distribution centre for the surrounding dairy and fat lamb farming. It is
also the launching point for our 50km launch ride to the steaming, active volcano, White
Island. The launch anchors a few hundred metres from shore. Here you don your gas mask and
helmet and board the small tender vessel which ferries you to the old wharf. What follows
is a fascinating tour, where you learn about the forces that are twitching, belching and
rumbling all around you. Also hear the history of mans attempts to extract the sulfur from
the island. The climax has to be the hike to the crater rim. Here you look down into the
steaming, boiling crater lake. Back on board we have a delicious lunch as the boat begins
the journey back to Whakatane. And who knows, with a little bit of luck we may even get to
watch some dolphins along the way. We return to our accommodation in Rotorua after we attend a
lakeside marae, where you will experience a formal Maori welcome onto the Marae (the
traditional centre of Maori life)performed by our Ngati Rongomai hosts. They will then
entertain us with a Maori concert, followed by a hangi (food cooked in an earth oven. (B, L)
Day 3 - We follow this with a visit to the Rotorua
Bathhouse museum where we explore aspects of the Maori cultural and watch a short video
presentation which explains the awesome forces that helped form this famous thermal
wonderland. On the way to Taupo we stop at a fascinating thermal valley to explore boiling
mud pools, mineral terraces and steaming volcanic lakes. Later in the day we visit the
Wairaki geothermal area and then stop at the Huka Falls. Here New Zealand's longest river,
the mighty Waikato, thunders through a narrow chasm, forming the Huka Falls.(oh yes, people
kayak this) A short walk along the banks of the river allow a good look at the falls,
before we continue our drive along the eastern shores of Lake Taupo. Our destination for
the night is River Valley Lodge, which is nestled in the heart of the Rangitikei River.
After the long drive, here is a chance to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of the lodge
and its surroundings. (B, L)
Day 4 - The Rangitikei River (home to some of the spectacular
Lord of the Rings footage) is also home to some high class, river rafting. Dependant on the
degree of challenge sought, there are two options are available. Firstly, the spectacular
gorges and cliffs can be viewed from the raft as part of a sedate drift trip, i.e. Minimum
yelling and screaming required, and minimum wet clothing, or secondly, you get up close and
personal with the river amongst the white water of the upper section. You choose, no
pressure! By mid afternoon its back on the road for a relaxing drive south through rolling
farmland, to the small coastal town of Paraparaumu. (Check with the guide how to pronounce
that one!) Here we spend the night in preparation for our trip to Kapiti Island in the
morning.
Day 5 - Access to Kapiti Island, a conservation gem, is
strictly limited, in order to preserve the islands birdlife. The island was once a Maori
stronghold, and was then farmed, before being cleared of preditors and restocked with
endangered NZ native birds. This is a rare chance to view some of these birds in the wild,
many of which have all but vanished from the mainland. Our group has its own guide to
provide an interpretation and historical account of the islands colourful history. By mid
afternoon we return to our coach and complete the drive to New Zealands capital,
Wellington. Near to our hotel is Te Papa, the countries national museum, where we can spend
some time exploring. (B, L)
Day 6 - After almost a full day exploring Wellington, we board
the Inter Island ferry and sail across Cook Strait to Picton, by way of the scenic
Marlborough Sounds. At Picton we board a water taxi for an hours boat ride back up the
sounds to Punga Cove resort. The resort is nestled amongst native bush, right on the waters
edge. The location demands drinks on the balcony: the perfect accompaniment to the beauty
of the sounds that spreads out below you.(B, L)
Day 7 - The Queen Charlotte Walkway follows down the spine
that separates the Pelorous sound (to the west) from the Queen Charlotte Sound. The walkway
is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to the busy Abel Tasman National Park.
It begins at the historic Ship Cove, (Captain Cook stopped here several times) and
continues 71km to its finish at Anakiwa at the southern end of the sound. A glorious walk,
and whilst you won't have time to walk the whole track, there is time to do a section of
around 21 kms. There are huge views along both sides of the ridgeline with beautiful bays
below. Shorter walking options are available, but need to be organised with your guide. For
those seeking to experience the sounds via the comfort and uniqueness of a stable double
kayak, there is a full day option available. At the end of the day there's that balcony and
drinks waiting, with those wonderful views – what better place to share stories of the days
adventuring? (B, L)
Day 8 - This morning needn't be launched into in a rush! A
leisurely start leads us to the water taxi and the journey back to Picton and our awaiting
bus. The drive to Nelson is a beautiful one with time to stop at a few scenic lookouts
along the way, and perhaps enjoy an icecream at Pelorus Bridge and a walk in the totara
forest. And so on to Nelson, a city that has become one of our leading art and craft
centers. A highlight in the afternoon is a visit to the home of the Wearable Arts Festival,
(don't worry guys, there is also a vintage car display) leaving you with an array of
memories of some incredible costumes. (B, L)
Day 9 - Our adventure today is cave rafting on the west coast.
First we drive inland to Murchison, a small town nestled on a small plain beside the Buller
river. From here we head into the Upper Buller gorge, with a stop to experience NZ's
longest swing bridge. Just short of the coast we turn south to travel along the
spectacularly rugged west coast to the Nile River and our cave exploration. After a walk up
the bush clad valley we enter the cave and explore the underground world before floating
downstream on tubes - an ideal way to view this amazing underworld. Onwards to Punakaiki
home of the famous Pancake Rocks and a spectacular coastal walk. Tonights accommodation is
at the Punakaiki Rocks Hotel. (B, L)
Day 10 - Today we continue southwards along the narrow coastal
strip of Westland - bounded on one side by the rugged coastline, where the land meets the
often wild, Tasman Sea and on the other, by dense temperate rainforest which covers the
distant wall of mountains - the Southern Alps. The “coast” is steeped in history; from the
indigenous Maori collecting pounamu or greenstone, to the heady goldrush days of the late
1800's and the long years of coal mining and timber milling. We stop briefly to visit the
Bushman's Centre and its unusual residents, then continue through extensive areas of
luxuriant forest to Fox Glacier village, in the Westland National Park (another World
Heritage area). After lunch and following a briefing from our experienced glacier guide, we
depart for a 3 hour walk onto the Fox Glacier. Under the watchful eye of our guide, we
attach instep crampons to our boots, grasp our walking pole firmly in hand, and head on to
the white ice: one of only three places in the world where you can experience walking on
200 metre thick ice next to dripping rainforest. An evening option is to take a leisurely
stroll around Lake Matheson, a photographer's paradise. Another option, is to take a
helicopter ride that lifts you out of the valley to a wondrous world of our highest, ice
covered mountains and enjoy a snow landing on the upper Fox Glacier nevé. We stay the night
in Fox Glacier Village at the Rainforest Motels. (B,L)
Day 11 - We make an early start travelling southwards along the coast
At Haast township we leave the main highway and head towards Jackson bay to join the
awesome Waiatoto Jet boat experience. Boarding our Jet boat we are driven by our skilled
driver up the Waiatoto river which takes us deep into the mountains of the Mt Aspiring
national park. Marvel at the impossibly shallow water that your boat skims over, all made
possible by its unique drive system – invented by, Bill Hamilton, a New Zealand farmer. A
walk option provides the chance to enjoy the solitude of your surroundings before returning
to our craft for the return journey to the sea. Once back in the bus we rejoin the main
highway, and head inland over the scenic Haast Pass, along the road which follows the
ancient greenstone (jade) trail used by early Maori. Once on the east side of the mountains
notice how quickly the bush changes from dense rainforest, through open Beech forest to
farmland. We pass Lake Hawea, then Wanaka, before heading over the Crown range to end this
wonderful day with views over the Wakatipu basin, before heading down to Queenstown. Our
hotel in Queenstown enjoys magnificent views across the Frankton Arm towards the
Remarkables Range and across Lake Wakatipu towards Walter and Cecil Peaks. Our
accommodation for the next two nights is at the Aspen on Queenstown. (B,L)
Day 12 - This is a free day. Some optional activities include
a round trip to Milford Sound by coach and/or plane with a launch cruise on the sound; a
trip to Skippers Canyon by 4 wheel drive(an old gold mining area); a cruise on a historic
steam boat across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak sheep station; ride on the gondola; a visit
to Arrowtown and Gibbstown winery; a walk around the public parks and gardens; fly by wire;
bungy jumping; guided wine tour; relaxing by the lake; or shopping. We stay the night at
the Aspen on Queenstown. (B)
Day 13 - Today we travel through the Kawarau Gorge, a place
where large quantities of gold were extracted by dredge and sluice guns in the late 1800's.
The stone remains of the occasional miners hut remain to remind us of man's earlier, lonely
presence in the area. We cross into the MacKenzie Basin via the Lindis Pass, before
continuing on past the town of Omarama, across the dry tussock plains that typify the
Mackenzie Country. Taking a left turn off the main highway leads us along the shores of the
pastel blue Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook National Park. After lunch we take a walk up the
Hooker Valley, watched over by our tallest mountain, Mt Cook. Along the way we cross two
long swing bridges, beneath which the thundering Hooker river flows. All around tall peaks
dwarf us; it shouldn't be too hard to see why this place is a magnet for aspiring climbers,
not only from New Zealand, but from around the world. Back to our coach for the hour and a
half drive to Fairlie, with a stop at Lake Tekapo for a look at the Church of the good
Shepherd and Bronze dog. In Fairlie we stay at a farmstay - hosted by a local farming
family, for the night. (B,L,D)
Day 14 - We head north from Fairlie, first to the rural
township of Geraldine, and then eastwards onto the fertile Canterbury Plains, stopping
along the way at the Tin Shed, a woollen outlet store for a little retail therapy. We
arrive around midday in the garden city of Christchurch. Those with flights to meet will be
taken to the airport, whilst the others will be delivered to their respective hotels. (B,L)
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