February's New Zealand holiday is booked
We've booked but haven't yet paid for our trip to New Zealand. We did consider doing the tour completely independently like we used to travel in China but New Zealand's a lot more expensive than China so it's kind of nice to have everything covered in a more self-contained package.
We've tried to pick a tour package that gives us a degree of flexibility and free time - but we'll see! Itinerary is below the cut. We start the journey on the 13th of February.
Our itinerary
Day
Activity
Saturday, 13 February
Go by bus from Canberra to Sydney
Fly from Sydney to Wellington, New Zealand.
Sunday, 14 February
From Wellington take the Interislander Ferry from the North Island to the South Island, arriving at Picton. The InterIslander offers a ferry across the Cook Strait, linking New Zealand's North and South Islands. The cruise takes approximately 3 hours.
Travel to Nelson
Monday, 15 February
Day trip to Abel Tasman National Park.
Tuesday, 16 February
Drive past farmlands then forest-covered ranges to the Buller Gorge.
Visit Westport and the coast near Cape Foulwind, possibly lunch at Beach House Cafe and then south to explore the Pancake rocks at Punakaiki. The Pancake Rocks are a heavily eroded limestone area where the sea bursts though a number of vertical blowholes during high tides. Together with the 'pancake'-layering of the limestone (created by immense pressure on alternating hard and soft layers of marine creatures and plant sediments), these are the main attraction of the area.
At Greymouth visit Jade Boulder Gallery to see native jade, mined in alpine valleys crafted into jewellery.
Wednesday, 17 February
Pass remote farms, landlocked lakes with native bush and forest, dominated by the Southern Alps on the way to the Fox Glacier. Known as Te Moeka o Tuawe in Māori, it’s a 13 km long glacier located in Westland National Park on the West Coast of the South Island. There, have a guided walk to the glaciers terminal face, a helicopter flight and snow landing or walk to Lake Matheson.
Thurs, 18 February
Go along the coastline then inland across the Alps and the Haast Pass to the bushlands of the Mount Aspiring National Park. At Wanaka, have a choice of two afternoon activities:
(a) a launch cruise across the lake to Stevensons Island nature reserve, for a bush walk followed by refreshments;
(b) a jet boat excursion on the lake
Friday, 19 February
Visit Queenstown
Saturday, 20 February
Free time in Queenstown
Sunday, 21 February
More free time in Queenstown since our 3-day hike was cancelled. Maybe we'll do a Lord of the Rings tour :)
Monday, 22 February
Follow the lake to Kingston, across farmlands to Fiordland. Visit Lake Manapouri then Lake Te Anau.
Follow the Eglinton Valley, native forests, lakes, waterfalls and mountains. Then travel through the Hollyford Valley and Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound where we will board the Milford Mariner for an overnight cruise. Milford Sound (Piopiotahi in Māori) is a fjord in the south west of the South Island, within Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.
Tuesday, 23 February
Approach Dunedin, the ‘Edinburgh of the South’. Horrifyingly apparently we will be treated with a traditional Scottish Haggis Ceremony, complete with piper, address to the Haggis and gift.
Wednesday, 24 February
In Dunedin, go on a Monarch Wildlife Cruise, Natures Wonders Tour (both featuring penguins, seals and birdlife), the Taieri Gorge Railway, a Citibus Newtons Tour, Larnach Castle or we tour the Cadbury Factory or Speights Brewery.
Thursday, 25 February
Visit Olveston, Dunedin’s historic home with its original furnishings.
See bush clad hillsides, tidal estuaries and a rocky coastline, view the Moeraki Boulders then explore Oamaru. Follow the Waitaki Valley, passing several hydro lakes to Omarama.
Friday, 26 February
Pass Lake Pukaki to Mt Cook National Park and village, amidst New Zealand’s highest mountains.
At Lake Tekapo view the Church of the Good Shepherd and Collie Dog memorial.
Saturday, 27 February
Fly from Christchurch to Auckland.
Fly from Auckland to Sydney.
Fly from Sydney back to Canberra.
*
I'm very excited about the trip. Basically, my plan is to finish my project management diploma by the end of March and start looking for work in April. I'll see how I feel about project management - if I really hate it, then I can always go back to the law, although I really hope I don't have to do that. The Canadian's already started scouting around for jobs now that he's got his visa so February is our best time to have a holiday before we plunge back into the rigours of working full-time again.
We've tried to pick a tour package that gives us a degree of flexibility and free time - but we'll see! Itinerary is below the cut. We start the journey on the 13th of February.
Our itinerary
Day
Activity
Saturday, 13 February
Go by bus from Canberra to Sydney
Fly from Sydney to Wellington, New Zealand.
Sunday, 14 February
From Wellington take the Interislander Ferry from the North Island to the South Island, arriving at Picton. The InterIslander offers a ferry across the Cook Strait, linking New Zealand's North and South Islands. The cruise takes approximately 3 hours.
Travel to Nelson
Monday, 15 February
Day trip to Abel Tasman National Park.
Tuesday, 16 February
Drive past farmlands then forest-covered ranges to the Buller Gorge.
Visit Westport and the coast near Cape Foulwind, possibly lunch at Beach House Cafe and then south to explore the Pancake rocks at Punakaiki. The Pancake Rocks are a heavily eroded limestone area where the sea bursts though a number of vertical blowholes during high tides. Together with the 'pancake'-layering of the limestone (created by immense pressure on alternating hard and soft layers of marine creatures and plant sediments), these are the main attraction of the area.
At Greymouth visit Jade Boulder Gallery to see native jade, mined in alpine valleys crafted into jewellery.
Wednesday, 17 February
Pass remote farms, landlocked lakes with native bush and forest, dominated by the Southern Alps on the way to the Fox Glacier. Known as Te Moeka o Tuawe in Māori, it’s a 13 km long glacier located in Westland National Park on the West Coast of the South Island. There, have a guided walk to the glaciers terminal face, a helicopter flight and snow landing or walk to Lake Matheson.
Thurs, 18 February
Go along the coastline then inland across the Alps and the Haast Pass to the bushlands of the Mount Aspiring National Park. At Wanaka, have a choice of two afternoon activities:
(a) a launch cruise across the lake to Stevensons Island nature reserve, for a bush walk followed by refreshments;
(b) a jet boat excursion on the lake
Friday, 19 February
Visit Queenstown
Saturday, 20 February
Free time in Queenstown
Sunday, 21 February
More free time in Queenstown since our 3-day hike was cancelled. Maybe we'll do a Lord of the Rings tour :)
Monday, 22 February
Follow the lake to Kingston, across farmlands to Fiordland. Visit Lake Manapouri then Lake Te Anau.
Follow the Eglinton Valley, native forests, lakes, waterfalls and mountains. Then travel through the Hollyford Valley and Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound where we will board the Milford Mariner for an overnight cruise. Milford Sound (Piopiotahi in Māori) is a fjord in the south west of the South Island, within Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.
Tuesday, 23 February
Approach Dunedin, the ‘Edinburgh of the South’. Horrifyingly apparently we will be treated with a traditional Scottish Haggis Ceremony, complete with piper, address to the Haggis and gift.
Wednesday, 24 February
In Dunedin, go on a Monarch Wildlife Cruise, Natures Wonders Tour (both featuring penguins, seals and birdlife), the Taieri Gorge Railway, a Citibus Newtons Tour, Larnach Castle or we tour the Cadbury Factory or Speights Brewery.
Thursday, 25 February
Visit Olveston, Dunedin’s historic home with its original furnishings.
See bush clad hillsides, tidal estuaries and a rocky coastline, view the Moeraki Boulders then explore Oamaru. Follow the Waitaki Valley, passing several hydro lakes to Omarama.
Friday, 26 February
Pass Lake Pukaki to Mt Cook National Park and village, amidst New Zealand’s highest mountains.
At Lake Tekapo view the Church of the Good Shepherd and Collie Dog memorial.
Saturday, 27 February
Fly from Christchurch to Auckland.
Fly from Auckland to Sydney.
Fly from Sydney back to Canberra.
*
I'm very excited about the trip. Basically, my plan is to finish my project management diploma by the end of March and start looking for work in April. I'll see how I feel about project management - if I really hate it, then I can always go back to the law, although I really hope I don't have to do that. The Canadian's already started scouting around for jobs now that he's got his visa so February is our best time to have a holiday before we plunge back into the rigours of working full-time again.