New Zealand Itinerary - 3 Weeks, 21 days in Depth Exploration

Attractions range from outstanding public galleries, main street shopping to solitude and peace on the wild west coast. Activities and adventures galore from kayaking in the city to boat cruises on the Hauraki Gulf waterways. Jump off a massive harbour bridge in the morning and explore heritage Devonport in the afternoon. Places to visit embrace gardens and parks for an impromptu picnic to walks in scenic regional parks. Auckland is where your awesome New Zealand holiday starts. Check out our Auckland travel guide and get going.

Auckland Travel Guide

TAUPO ULTIMATE THINGS TO DO:

• Huka falls, enormous torrents of water forcing its way through a rocky gorge is memorising and definitely unmissable
• Lake cruise, got to get out on the water, it’s Lake Taupo after all. Catch a good look at the Maori rock carvings as they rise magnificently out of the water
• Craters of the Moon lunar landscape is extraordinary, an otherworldly experience
• ORAKEI KORAKO steaming vents, boiling mud, a geothermal wonderland (this is on the route between Taupo and Rotorua creating an excellent stop on your road trip between the two towns)
• Taupo adventures beckon, go bungy jumping or go para-skiing on the lake,
• Indulge in a leisurely cafe brunch at Lava Glass
• Take a selfie against Taupo’s graffiti street art trail

WHERE IS TAUPO?

… learn more about Taupo and enjoy DAY 4 exploring TAUPO.

More about Taupo

The caldron located on the Pacific Ring of Fire is an exhilarating exposure to the earth’s raw energy as it bubbles up in boiling mud. Energy shoots boiling vents of steamy water as geysers and streams and creeks paint the lunar landscape a brilliant orange and yellow. Visitors can dip their toes into warm water seeping from lakeside streams and walk among mineralised landscapes where birds have lost their webbed feet due to high concentrations of sulphur. Rotorua  is a must-go destination in New Zealand both for its natural displays of power and the vibrant Maori cultural attractions. For holiday inspiration check out…

A Day in Rotorua

WELLINGTON HIGHLIGHTS:

• Te Papa National Museum, where stuffy boring museums is a thing of the past
• Weta Workshop, movie magic where fantasy starts at the entrance, consider a workshop for the dedicated Sir Peter Jackson fans
• A stroll along the golden mile, Ultimate guide to attractions on the Lambton Quay to Wellington Cable Car walk – Best Bits
• Parliamentary tour of the Victorian era building and beehive
• Nature lovers consider a trip to Zealandia, a native wildlife sanctuary nestled in the heart of the city

Recommended:

Join a Wellington guided tour and let someone else manage logistics.

Christchurch’s backyard is Canterbury.

Adventure beckons. Visitors can ski at a world-class alpine resort, play golf, bungee jump, raft, mountain bike, hot-air balloon, wind surf, whale watch and visit internationally-acclaimed wineries and gardens – all within a short drive of the city.

MUST-DO ATTRACTIONS

Start with a hot favourite, the vintage Tram – Interactive Tour of Christchurch. The tram is a must do activity. The 2.5km route encompasses  city highlights.  With seventeen stops there is access to most main attractions. The train stops adjacent to the Visitor Information Centre, recently relocated to the refurbished historic Arts Centre precinct.

The ‘i’ Site can provide guides to street art installations, pop up exhibitions as well as commercial galleries. Consider purchasing a combined ticket for a caterpillar garden tour and/or the Port Hills gondola as well as the tram ride.   Tickets can be directly purchased from the tram conductor or the Visitor Information Centre.

TIP: Definitely a transport option for families.

TRANS ALPINE TRAIN

Unmissable bucket list activity. Check out the Tranzalpine online resource for reservation details. The TranzAlpine is one of the world’s great train journeys covering 223 kilometres one-way, taking just under 5 hours. You’ll pass the rolling farmland of the Canterbury plains climbing steadily through sub-alpine landscapes to the breath-taking Arthurs Pass National Park. It is a journey of a lifetime.

TRANZ-ALPINE TIPS

• The train is largely a non-stop service unless you have booked a stop. There is one stop at Arthurs Pass. You can’t get off unless you have pre-booked a stop. There is one compulsory stop (you don’t have to get off) in Arthurs pass. A favourite choice is Moana (Lake Brunner) for travellers.
• You can take your own food and drink but not alcohol.
• The best time of year to go is in the middle of winter when the alps are covered in snow.
• You can travel one way or return and you can board the train at any of the official stops
• The best photo opportunities are passing the Staircase Viaduct, Broken River Viaduct, Waimakariri River Bridge and at Arthurs pass. You are notified beforehand so as not to miss the photo moment. The large picture windows offer unimpeded views.

DEFINITIVELY THE WAY TO ARRIVE IN STYLE IN GREYMOUTH, WEST COAST

GREYMOUTH VISITOR CENTRE – LOCATION RAILWAY STATION

Greymouth Visitor Centre is inside the station. They offer a free reservation service for all activities, tours, accommodation and transport. Those services include TranzAlpine Train, Tranz Scenic Trains and coach,

COLLECT RENTAL CAR AT GREYMOUTH RAILWAY STATION AS YOU DISEMBARK FROM THE TRANZALPINE TRAIN.

WEST COAST GUIDE ATTRACTIONS, THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO GO

Where to go is outdoors. Irresistible West Coast  scenery is the drawcard. The attraction of a pristine native forest wrapped around mountain ranges, lush dense coastal forests and untamed wild ocean beaches creates memory moments. Stunning, unforgettable are geological sculptural arches, layers to the world’s most accessible glaciers.

There are places to go that suit every taste. Glorious scenery is folded into visitor experiences from wild water jet boating, kayaking, horse trekking, bird watching on lagoon waterways and, let’s get your gold prospecting skills polished, gold panning.

Greymouth is the arrival point for the Tranzalpine train from Christchurch. Greymouth has galleries specialising in pounamu (jade) jewellery and objects, local art works and artisan goods using upcycled materials. Greymouth has a substantial number of architectural heritage sites worth spending time wandering around town. The Floodwall walk is a heritage highlight with the power of the sea, river mouth sandbars and the difficulty of maintaining the Greymouth Port graphically illustrated. Greymouth offers visitors easy access to the iconic Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, Charleston and underground caving and plenty of outdoor walks exploring old gold mining sites.

More about Greymouth

Hokitika, is a cool little town from great coffee, cafes, shopping for pounamu creations, a waterproof jacket to spectacular scenery at its doorstep. The dramatic beach with the well known driftwood signage is fun. There are wild westie rivers, mountains and two glorious deep inky lakes to explore. The place is a tourist hub with excellent galleries, shops and creative places to indulge in some retail therapy.

More about Hokitika

WHAT TO DO, 6 MUST DO HIGHLIGHTS

• The classic outdoors alpine scenery sums up the beauty of Lake Wakatipu and Remarkable mountain range, consider a summer lake cruise on TSS Earnslaw Cruises Queenstown to Walter Peak Farm
• An autumn walking trail to soak up the outdoors from Queenstown hill walking tracks to Ben Lomond Walkway.
• Splurge on a helicopter ride over the glaciers, the alps and the valleys. Get the adventure juices firing with a winter snowmobile trip.
• Jet boating, where else to sample an iconic river an exhilarating ride than Queenstown where doughnuts and spins are part of the course
• Bob’s Peak, skyline views and Queenstown Gondola | Skyline Queenstown. Gondola rides offer selfie holiday moments
• Eat, drink and market in Queenstown from juice dripping Fergburgers, wood fired pizzas, fine dining lakeside and gourmet counter foods for an impromptu picnic.

Best Time to Go

Year round experience four seasons, four distinctive attractions.

Do you want a slower pace to your South Island holiday, rather than adventure capital Queenstown?

Wanaka is an ideal holiday destination for visitors who relish magnificent scenery however not focused on extreme adventure tours.

Wanaka is a great spot to explore the South Island’s majestic alpine landscapes and rest, revive and unwind in one of New Zealand’s premier resort towns, Wanaka, Otago.

Find a place where you enjoy year round attractions. Wanaka is a quintessential summer destination with a deep blue lake for kayaking, strolling along or swimming while winter offers the joy of skiing in Treble Cone or Cardrona. The beautiful outdoors defines adventure from hikes in mountains and along glacier fed rivers or the exhilaration of bungy jumping or rock climbing.

Wanaka Travel Guide