This
is a four week action-packed tour full of great activities, adventures and
beautiful wildlife.
It has been designed for fun, like-minded
travellers just like you who want to get out and explore first hand the
wilderness of New Zealand, and maybe even push your adrenalin limits in
places like Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world.
The South Island of New Zealand is simply stunning and offers unparalleled
natural diversity on a level rarely found. From the snow capped mountains of the Southern Alps, to the golden
beaches, turquoise lakes, majestic Fiords and
National Parks that belong to the South Island, you will experience much of
the pristine wilderness and adventure that has made New Zealand
famous.
For four amazing weeks we will show you it all
on the trip of a lifetime which includes great activities such as hiking through
World Heritage national parks, kayaking on the warm clear
waters of the Abel Tasman National Park, kayaking with real icebergs at Mt
Cook (we told you it's diverse here!!), downhill mountain biking in Skippers
canyon Queenstown, multi-day mountain biking and hiking on the Franz Josef
glacier.
And thats
not all.......you'lll be checking out some of the great wildlife here
too. We'll take you into the bush at night to catch a glimpse of
the rare and iconic Kiwi bird wild in it's natural habitat, as well as
getting up close and personal with Yellow-eyed Penguins, Royal Albatross,
Hooker Sea Lions and actually getting in the water and swimming with New
Zealand Fur Seals!! Oh and remember to keep an eye out for the
dolphins
too.
Breakfast and either
lunch or dinner are
provided daily and accommodation is either twin share or 4-shared
dormitory in local backpackers.
Check out the itinerary below.
Day One:
After
meeting the group we depart Christchurch and drive down through the
Canterbury plains to Peel Forest for a
full day guided hiking in Peel Forest Park.
The highlight of the hike is reaching the weather station at the
summit of Little Mt. Peel and an amazing view over the Canterbury Plains and
mighty Rangitata River.
Accommodation:
Peel Forest
Day
Two: We
offer an optional trip white water rafting on the Rangitata River; one of the South
Island’s only rafting with grade 5 rapids even at low water levels. For those who are not rafting we offer hiking options through
the native bush and waterfalls of Peel Forest Park.
Accommodation:
Peel Forest
Day
Three: Heading
south we drive to the stunning southern lakes of Tekapo, and Pukaki where
the turquoise colours of the lake set an amazing foreground to the backdrop
of Aoraki- Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain.
From here we drive to Mount Cook village for a free afternoon with
hiking and sight seeing options available.
Accommodation:
Mount Cook Village
Day
Four: Enter
Mt Cook National Park and explore the beauty and magnificence of the
Mueller Glacial Lake by sea kayak. A
half-day trip will get you up close and personal with a real glacier and
icebergs. Free time is also
available around the kayaking trip.
Accommodation:
Mount Cook Village
Days Five, Six and
Seven:
From here our destination is Queenstown, where you’ll have two and
a half days to enjoy both New Zealand and the world’s adventure capital. During
your time here we include a half day of downhill mountain biking through the
historic skippers canyon, visit the world’s first commercial bungy site
the Kawarau bridge, and hike to the Queenstown Gondola for amazing views
with luging opportunity.
Just a few optional activities include sky diving, bungy jumping, river
surfing, paragliding and hang gliding.
Accommodation:
Queenstown
Day Eight:
For
half a day we take a sight-seeing trip in the surrounds of Queenstown
including Lord Of The Rings locations and stopping in the hamlet of
Glenorchy. Then it's onto Mt Aspiring National Park and beginning the
world famous Routeburn track which traverses 32 kilometers of Mount Aspiring
and Fiordland National Parks, part of Te Wāhipounamu – South West New
Zealand World Heritage Area.
Accommodation: Routeburn Falls Hut
Day
Nine: Full day hikiing on the
Routeburn Track.
Accommodation: McKenzie Hut
Day Ten:
After
finishing the Routeburn Track we find ourselves at one of the worlds best
alpine roads, the Milford road. Winding
through a constantly changing landscape, the road reveals rivers, lakes,
waterfalls,tussock flats and of course the many mountains that give Fiordland its
unique character. Once in Milford Sound we embark for an overnight cruise
with kayaking included.
Accommodation: The Wanderer
(boat), Milford Sound
Day
Eleven:
From Milford we take the Southern Scenic Route to the coastal town of
Riverton, one of the oldest towns in the South Island. A free afternoon here
to take in the excellent look-out, some local walks or head to the beach.
Accommodation: Riverton
Day Twelve:
Carrying on the Southern Scenic Route, we’ll spend the day on a tour of
the Caitlin’s coast. Here we
meet the Pacific ocean and find an abundance of wildlife including fur
seals, sea lions, penguins and dolphins.
We make many stops throughout this scenic area including the most
southerly point of the South Island, desolate beaches, a 160 million year
old fossilised forest and some great coastal walks.
Accommodation: Dunedin
Day
Thirteen: Enjoy
a half-day of free time to explore Dunedin before an afternoon/evening
wildlife tour which includes unrivalled viewing of Royal Albatross, Hooker's
Sea lions, Yellow-eyed Penguins, Blue Penguins and a breeding colony of New
Zealand Fur Seals.
Accommodation:
Dunedin
Day
Fourteen:
This
is the first of three days cross Country Mountain biking on the historic
150km Otago Central Rail Trail, which thrusts deep into the heart of Central
Otago, the only region in New Zealand with a continental climate; a magical
stage for amazing performances by all four seasons.
The first days riding is approx 51kms
Accommodation: Waipiata
Day
Fifteen:
Rail Trail day two - Approx
56kms riding
Accommodation: Lauder
Day Sixteen:
Rail
Trail day three approx 44kms riding.
After completing the rail trail we drive on through to Wanaka for the
evening.
Accommodation: Wanaka
Day Seventeen:
A
well earned free day in Wanaka to either relax by the lake or take in one of
the many optional adventure activities available here.
Accommodation: Wanaka
Day Eighteen:
Spend
the day in Mt Aspiring National Park driving up the Mutukituki valley and
hiking an 11km return trail to the stunning Rob Roy Glacier.
Accommodation: Wanaka
Day Nineteen:
Scenic
drive from Wanaka over to and up the West Coast to Franz Josef.
There are plenty of opportunities to take in the lush rainforest
scenery and spectacular waterfalls, as well as stopping at great lookouts
over the Tasman Sea.
In the evening we head to Okarito and into the bush for a night tour
to listen out for and view the seriously endangered and iconic Kiwi birds.
Accommodation: Franz Josef
Day Twenty:
We
spend 3-4 hours hiking on the magnificent Franz Josef Glacier which is
widely regarded as the gem of New Zealand’s West Coast Glaciers. Explore
glacier terrain normally only seen by experienced mountaineers and still
have plenty of opportunities for photos and the chance to enjoy lunch
amongst the glacier's impressive ice formations.
Accommodation: Franz Josef
Day Twenty one:
Drive
north to Punakaiki with the afternoon free for a coastal walk and to explore
the famous Pancake rocks and blow holes. The Pancake Rocks are columns of limestone resembling stacks
of pancakes. At high tide with a heavy swell running, seawater is forced
upwards through blowholes creating spectacular spraying geysers.
Accommodation: Punakaiki
Day Twenty two:
Drive
north to Marahau, and deep in the heart of Abel the Tasman National Park,
which is renowned for its golden beaches, sculptured granite cliffs, and its
world-famous coast track.
A free half day is available here to either relax at the beach for
some sunbathing and swimming, or head out and explore the park.
Accommodation:
Marahau
Day Twenty three:
A
full day sea kayaking in the spectacular Abel Tasman National Park, paddling
by pristine golden beaches and through crystal clear waters.
Accommodation: Marahau
Day Twenty four:
A
full free day to relax and top up your suntan at the beach or perhaps rent a
mountain bike for the day and ride the coastal track.
Accommodation: Marahau
Day Twenty five:
After
leaving the Abel Tasman National we’ll drive to Blenheim and take in the
Marlborough wine region. Here
we’ll spend half a day visiting many of the great local wineries and
tasting some of their world famous Sauvignon blancs.
Our final destination is Kaikoura.
Accommodation: Kaikoura
Day Twenty six:
Here
we spend the morning snorkelling with wild New Zealand Fur Seals in the
shallow waters of the beautiful Kaikoura Peninsula, truly a unique
experience.
The afternoon is free to take in the stunning coastal alpine scenery
of Kaikoura which is made up with a combination of both ocean and mountain
ranges.
Accommodation: Kaikoura
Day Twenty seven:
Heading south we
take in the natural hot springs and thermal mineral pools in the alpine
village of Hanmer Springs, where the water temperatures range from 33 - 42
° Celsius. From here we drive to Akaroa and spend the night in this
former French Colony. Optional hiking is available here as well as
swimming with Hectors dolphins, a very rare and endangered species of
dolphin.
Accommodation: Akaroa
Day Twenty eight:
After lunch we depart Akaroa
and drive to the Christchurch Gondola. As we reach the summit complex, on
the crater rim of Christchurch's famous extinct volcano almost 500 metres
above sea level, we get unique 360 degree views of Christchurch, the
Canterbury Plains, Lyttelton Harbour and surrounding area. From here we
take in the Art Gallery and Museum in Christchurch before finishing the
trip with a dinner and night out in the city.
Accommodation: Christchurch
Fitness Requirements: A reasonable standard
of fitness is required to fully participate and enjoy this NZ Adrenalin tour. The
three days hiking on the Routeburn track and the three day biking
on the rail trail are the most strenuous parts of this
particular adventure tour.
NZ
Explorer
$6450.00 NZ
Student?
Teacher? Youth/Gap traveller?
You could be eligible for a $500.00 discount!!!
Email us for details and availability here
.
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Extreme
Adventure Tours by Adventure Junkies, Queenstown, New Zealand.
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