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The day starts with a scenic drive around the Christchurch's Port hills, which offer panoramic views of Banks Peninsula and the city from on high. A few short walks break up with morning with various vantage points along the way. We then drop down into the small community of Lyttlelton, the main port for Christchurch. Back into Christchurch town and a stroll around the Arts Center – the historic site of Canterbury University, now full with speciality arts and craft stores. Following this we head across the fertile Canterbury plains via the small rural town of Geraldine to Fairlie, where we meet our farm stay hosts. (L, D)
Note: You will need to have an overnight bag packed for the first night of the tour. When staying at each farm you will be able to take a small bag and the majority of luggage will be secured in the vehicle.
 After a short farm tour and hearty breakfast, we say goodbye to our hosts, and head toward Mt Cook. Crossing Burke Pass, we enter the expansive, arid Mackenzie Basin. We stop at Lake Tekapo for a look at the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Bronze dog, before continuing down State Highway 8 to the pastel blue, Lake Pukaki. We turn west to follow the shores of the lake to Mt. Cook National Park. We take a walk up the Hooker Valley, watched over by our tallest mountain, Aoraki/Mt Cook. Along the way we cross two swing bridges, beneath which the thundering Hooker River flows. All around tall peaks dwarf us; it therefore shouldn't be too hard to see why this place is a magnet for mountaineers. Upon our return we board our coach for the three and a half hour drive to Queenstown. The last hour being 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 miner’s huts remind us of man's earlier, lonely presence in the area. (B, L)
Day 3
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 vehicle (an old gold mining area), a cruise on a historic steam boat across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak sheep station, a 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. (B)
We head out of Queenstown early, taking the high road across the Crown Range to the lakeside resort town of Wanaka. We then skirt Lakes Hawea and Wanaka, following the very scenic State Highway 6 to Pleasant Flat where we join the awesome Landsborough River jet-boat experience. We are driven by our skilled, professional driver up the Wilderness River, which takes us deep into Mt Aspiring National Park. Marvel at the impossibly shallow water that your boat skims over at speed, all made possible by its unique drive system invented in the 1950’s by New Zealand farmer, Bill Hamilton. A walk option provides the chance to enjoy the solitude of your surroundings before returning to our craft for the return journey to the coast. Once back in the bus we rejoin the main highway, following it north along the coast to Fox Glacier Township, in the Westland National Park (a World Heritage area). 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. (B, L)
Following a briefing from our experienced glacier guide, we depart for a 3 hour walk onto the Fox Glacier. Under their watchful eye, we attach instep crampons to our boots, grasp our walking pole firmly, and head onto the white ice: this is one of only three places in the world where you can experience walking on 200 metre thick ice next to dripping rainforest! After lunch, we continue northwards the road is bounded on one side by the rugged coast, where 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 gold rush days of the late 1800's and the long years of coal mining and timber milling. We continue through extensive areas of luxuriant forest to Hokitika and finally to Punakaiki. Before dinner we take a walk around the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes. (B, L)
Day 6
 Our adventure today is cave rafting. We travel north along the spectacular coast to Charleston, a once busy gold mining town in the late 1800’s, although little evidence now remains from these heady times. Here we join our cave rafting tour, which takes us up the Nile River in a small train. We change into wetsuits, grab our inner tubes and head underground. We exit the caves by floating downstream on tubes – a novel and exciting way to view this amazing underworld experience. Note – cave rafting is weather dependent and occasionally limited to walk only due to the water level of the river. After lunch, we continue north until we meet the Buller River, which we follow inland via its bush clad gorges, before continuing to Murchison and then to Nelson, a city that has become one of our leading art and craft centres. (B, L)
The drive from Nelson to Picton is a beautiful one with mixture of pastoral landscapes intermingled with native and exotic forests. There is time for a stop at a few scenic lookouts along the way, as well as a stop for an icecream and a walk in the totara forest at Pelorus Bridge scenic reserve before we rendezvous with our kayak guides. We then experience a half-day tour of the beautiful Marlborough Sounds via the comfort and uniqueness of a stable, double sea kayak. Continuing along the edge of Queen Charlotte Sound by water taxi we reach tonight’s accommodation, Lochmara Lodge. The location demands drinks on the balcony: the perfect accompaniment to the beauty that spreads out below you. (B, L)
The Queen Charlotte Walkway is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to the busy Abel Tasman National Park. It follows the hilly spine that separates the Pelorus sound (to the west) from the Queen Charlotte Sound. It begins at the historic Ship Cove, (Captain Cook stayed here several times) and continues 71 km to its finish at Anakiwa at the southern end of the sound, a glorious walk. From the Lodge we are able to access the track and spend the day exploring the landscape. Unfortunately you won't have time to walk the whole track; however there is plenty of time to do a section suited to your exercise needs. Shorter walking options are available, but need to be organized with your guide. 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)
 A water taxi journey takes us back to Picton. Here you have the choice to finish your South Island Adventure Odyssey tour or you are welcome to continue with the group (at no extra cost) to Wellington. Around midday we board the Cook Straight ferry for the scenic three hour journey to the North Island. (B, L)
(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner) |
