The journey is nearing its end, and we began by driving to the west coast. The weather tends to be more unstable on the west coast, and we encountered significant rainfall that disrupted our plans. Perhaps this is an excuse to visit New Zealand again in the future.
Queenstown to Wanaka: In the heart of New Zealand’s South Island, there are two scenic drives: Lindis Pass and Crown Range Summit. According to our route planning, we could experience both along the way. However, heavy rain during our drive over the Crown Range Summit disrupted our plans. With this kind of weather, there wasn’t much to see 🙁
- Arrow Junction Lookout
- Crown Range Summit
- Cardrona Hotel
- Cardrona Bra Fence
Wanaka:
- That Wanaka Tree
- Roy’s peak: We didn’t visit due to heavy rain, which was the main activity planned for that day.
- Dinner: We dined at “Lake View Seafood Restaurant (https://lakeview-seafood.co.nz/),” a Chinese restaurant that I usually avoid while traveling abroad. However, the experience was quite pleasant. We enjoyed oysters from Bluff, a place we couldn’t visit due to time constraints.
- Accommodation: We stayed at the Edgewater Hotel, booked through Booking.com, as many tourists do. It was a really nice hotel with beautiful surroundings.
Franz Josef Glacier:
- Lake Hawea
- Blue Pools Walk (1h00 walk)
- Fantail Falls
- Thunder Creek Falls
- Roaring Billy Falls
- Lunch: South Westland Salmon Farm
- Fox Glacier
- Lake Matheson (1h30 loop walk)
- Dinner: Alice May Restaurant
- Accommodation: We made a reservation for “10 Cottages” via Booking.com, which offers a 10% discount at Alice May Restaurant.
- Franz Josef Glacier
- Heli-Hike (https://www.helicopter.co.nz/english/heli-tours/view/franz-josef-heli-hike): Many companies offer helicopter rides to the glacier base. While I can’t provide a comparison, this tour was the highlight of our entire trip to New Zealand. All equipment – glacier boots, socks, ice crampons, waterproof jacket and pants – are included.
Arthur’s Pass:
- Lake Mapourika Recreational Area
- Ōkārito
- Hokitika Beach Sign
- Hokitika Gorge
- Arthur’s Pass National Park (Devil’s Punchbowl walking track, ~0h30)
- Accommodation: Reserved through Booking.com, it is one of the few hotels situated in the heart of Arthur’s Pass. Since our flight is scheduled for the following afternoon, the hotel’s location offers us the opportunity to explore the remaining attractions without feeling rushed. It also has a nice restaurant.
- Lake Pearson
- Cave Stream Scenic Reserve
- Castle Hill
In New Zealand, the weather can be quite variable, but fortunately, during most of our key activities, we experienced clear skies. The itinerary we followed is suitable for all ages and doesn’t demand a high level of physical fitness. This includes the Heli-Hike, which may appear challenging but is actually quite manageable. I hope you find the information from this New Zealand series useful and can tailor it to your preferences. I wish you a pleasant trip when you have the opportunity to take a break. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a message below!
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