New Zealand South Island Adventures
Today we explore the strikingly beautiful South Island of New Zealand: we explore Gore Bay‘s rugged coast and Kaikoura, we hike Nelson Lakes (day hike or hut to hut option), hike the Punakaiki rainforest and check out the pancake rocks, kayak Okarito Lagoon, either hike near the Franz Josef glacier (or better yet, opt for the heli-hike ON the glacier!), we hike the Rocky Mountain trek, have a free day in the adventure capital of New Zealand, Queenstown, hike the Kepler Track and the Routeburn Track, bike the Queenstown Trail and hike in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. It’s an adventure of a lifetime!!!
South Island Part I Podcast South Island Part II Podcast North Island Podcast
Bike Hawea to Wanaka
We start by mountain biking a modest trail with a couple of steep inclines from Hawaea to Wanaka, second in adventure only to Queenstown in New Zealand.
The trail is bloom-filled with lupines and foxglove gone rogue(The Kiwis hate these invasive beauties, but we tourists loved them). It’s a stunning site of pastel color washing the fields next to the trail.
We eventually make it to Wanaka Lake in time for lunch by the sea. The bike ride is vehicle supported allowing for flexibility in how long you hike (or even whether you hike).
We were lucky to have much of the trail to ourselves to enjoy the view of the lake with a backdrop of snow capped mountains. In total, we biked 24 km (15 mi) with an elevation gain of 80m/260′.
NOTE: On the one short but super steep hill, several of were determined to make it to the top without rest. Those of us who powered though were quite proud of ourselves – Go for it!
Note that Active has modified this tour a bit since I took it. Please check their website for the current activities.
Queenstown : Adventure Capital of New Zealand
THIS is the town for adrenaline junkies and adventures. Queenstown has it ALL – they even invented bungee jumping. If there is any kind of exciting activity, from jet boats, paragliding, luge runs, paddling, hiking, horseback riding and cycling, Queenstown has got it covered!
The charming harbor is loaded with restaurants and shops, so if you just want to people watch and eat, there’s lots of places to chill. This is a very walkable town, but you can grab a convenient bus that runs up and down the lake for a modest fee (or buy a pass).
The mountains jutt up from Lake Wanaka, the impressive lightning bolt shaped lake that also frames ‘The Remarkables’, a mountain range that runs due north to south (it and the Rockies are the only ranges that do so). Looking at them, you would think their beauty makes them remarkable, not just their positioning!
When to Visit the South Island of New Zealand
New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, so for folks in North America and Europe,, their summer is our winter.
The best times to visit to do the activities I did on my New Zealand tour and mentioned here is their spring, September through December, and New Zealand’s fall, February through April.
My affiliate, Active Adventures is based out of New Zealand so they know their country better than anyone! They offer several other South Island New Zealand tours, other than the Ultimate South Island Tour I took. You could take a walking or more cycling focused New Zealand tour, or their softer Classic South Island Adventure. Be sure to email me for the current Promo Code.
If you like winter hiking, Active Adventures also offers a cool tour from May through August. You’ll face less crowds and get to see the snowy Southern Alps in their glory!
And you’ve traveled a LONG way to get to New Zealand, so consider adding a visit to the North Island while you are there! I was able to tack on their five day North Island Volcanic Adventure and cannot more highly recommend it!
In fact, I had such a great time on my South Island tour, that when I found out that three of the folks I met on that tour were heading to the North Island, I cancelled my non-refundable flights and hotels, losing all that money, to join then and we had an ABSOLUTE BLAST!!! Best non-cancellable expenses I ever forfeited!
When I look back on my trip, I think of the beauty and majesty of the South Island and I think of the out and out FUN we had on the North Island (check 0ut the tour… you will feel like little kids playing everyday!).
I was a guest of my affiliate adventure tour company, Active Adventures (similar name to ATA but a different company)for part of my month long adventure. I had so much fun with them that I signed up for another week on my nickel – HIGHLY recommend!
I have since gone on SEVEN more of their adventure tours! Active is my ‘Go To’ adventure tour company for Bucket List adventures. They know how to be active and FUN!
Active Adventures, based in New Zealand, offers several adventure tours of their country, so you can find the right tour for your time and degree of fitness. They even let my roommate Rachael join our group mid-tour and then I tagged along on the back half of their North Island adventure along with three others in my group. Super easy to work with and they do an outstanding job of showcasing their amazing country!
EMAIL ME FOR THE CURRENT PROMO CODE
Routeburn Track
One of the most popular treks in New Zealand is the Routeburn track, which you can access near Queenstown en route to Milford Sound. We hiked a 6km/3.7 mi section to Summit Key with an elevation gain and loss of 450m/1475′.
I was glad I always carry my rain jacket and thermal jacket because I got to use both on this one hike and stayed comfortable. It was misty in the forest before the climb to the alpine meadow on top of these Southern Alps, and once we were exposed, it became chilly. What a beautiful view we had – the pictures don’t do it justice of course (see the photo where guides Liana and MJ photo bombed).
Kayaking Milford Sound
On the way to Milford Sound, you go through the famous Homer Tunnel.
As we approached the tunnel, Liana explained that the walls are the original pick axed and dynamited granite, so you don’t see any man-made structure sheathing the glistening walls along the 3/4 mile tunnel. It took them 19 years to build it!
We stopped to take a peek before we entered the tunnel and were greeted by the friendly (and naughty) Kea birds, New Zealand’s cold tolerant alpine native parrot.
This tunnel is the only access to the famous Milford Sound, which is actually a fjord, not a sound, as are the other dozen or so fjords. Once the error was realized, rather than changing the name, the Kiwis simply renamed the area “Fjordland National Park”.
Once our eyes adjusted to the light inside, Liana told us to close our eyes until she said to open them. She was playing dramatic background music, and as it built to a crescendo, she said “NOW!” and when we opened our eyes, we were treated to MASSIVE granite peaks jutting from the valley, all awash with waterfalls from the recent rains.
There are only two lodges at Milford Sound, so most visitors have to catch a bus between 3-5am to make the 4 hour journey where they take a quick boat tour and the bus back to Queenstown. We were lucky that Active got us in the lodge so we weren’t rushed and got to spend much more time there. And instead of just taking a boat tour, we kayaked the Sound. The winds were too high for us to go out too far, so ended up in this cool cove called the Devil’s Den. At one point we banded together as a group on the water for stability. Our guide was sharp and suggested we return early. Another group had a boat bring them back in. I wish we had also taken the boat tour, as this would be my only suggested change from my three weeks touring with Active. Note that Active has since modified their tour to include the recommended cruise instead of kayaking so you will be guaranteed the opportunity to see this magnificent sound!
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Cruise Milford Sound
Hike Mueller Ridge and/or Hooker Valley Glacial Lakes
On our way to Braemer Station, the historic sheep farm where we stayed (in the shearer’s shed), we were lucky enough to see the full view of Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak at over 12,000′. Little did I know that when I laid on my bed the next two nights, I would see Mount Cook just by gazing out the window! This sunset shot was taken with my iPhone one night and is not retouched! It was incredible!!! Note that this station has switched to wedding event types now and is no longer part of the tour.
In the morning, we went to Mt Cook National Park and then most of us chose to hike up toward Mueller Ridge with over 2000 steps – yes REAL steps up over 500 m! Difficult, yes, but once on top, you get an unparalleled panoramic view of New Zealand’s highest peaks, glaciers and glacial lakes.
If you don’t want to hike up that steep mountain, then you have the option of hiking to the Hooker Valley Glacial Lakes. This was very crowded, and I would encourage you to train to hike up the steps. The view was fantastic!
North Island Kaituna River Rafting
Pro Tip: If you decide to add on the North Island tour, and your group hikes fast, your guides may offer you the opportunity to raft the Kaituna River: DO IT!!! Not only will you be rafting through a stunning rainforest, you will also go over the world’s highest navigatable waterfall at 21′! But don’t worry: you land ina big pool with no rocks so it’s pretty safe.
Active Adventures New Zealand Adventure Tour
I loved my two week South Island adventure tour with Active Adventures! We did a ton of hiking, we kayaked and biked and got a full tour of the island with fun guides Liana and MJ, who not only helped us to understand the history and stories of the island, but also kept us well fed and comfortable. A less rigorous tour Active offers is the Classic South Island Adventure.
Be sure to EMAIL ME to get the current Promo Code!
In order to see the South Island, you necessarily spend a fair amount of time on the van, but Active made sure to break up the drives with hikes or village visits. And the thing about New Zealand is, it has NO UGLY scenery! It is as varied and beautiful as any country I’ve seen. You can be hiking in a temperate rain forest yet see glaciers up above. I thought Active wouldn’t be able to top the South Island, but next up, you’ll find they do when I head with some of my group to do the Volcanic Adventure on the North Island.
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