Our amazing South Island Tour movie! *-*
Day 1 – 5.1.2015: Waikanae - Wellington - Picton - Motueka - Abel Tasman NP
Nick and I were taking the train at 6 o’clock from Waikanae to Wellington from where we went to the Ferry terminal via Shuttle bus. We checked in with the ‘Interislander Ferry’ and crossed the beautiful Cook straight and Marlborough Sound, bound for Picton. We were meeting up with the others in Picton around midday.
The 3 hour bus drive to Nelson and Motueka took us past the Queen Charlotte Track and Pelorus river, where we jumped from rocks and swam. (It was used for the floating dwarves in Lord of the Rings!)
We checked into our Accommodation in Abel Tasman National Park for the next 2 nights and had some evening fun activities!
The 3 hour bus drive to Nelson and Motueka took us past the Queen Charlotte Track and Pelorus river, where we jumped from rocks and swam. (It was used for the floating dwarves in Lord of the Rings!)
We checked into our Accommodation in Abel Tasman National Park for the next 2 nights and had some evening fun activities!
Day 2 – 6.1.2015: Abel Tasman National Park
Abel Tasman National Park offers amazing scenery of native bush and pristine beaches.
I participated in sea kayaking and we saw some baby seals at the island we were kayaking past. There were also some seals swimming right next to our kayaks! We sailed back in 2 groups of 4-5 kayaks with a huge plastic tarpaulin across our kayaks, which was real fun! When we got out of the kayaks, Hogne lost his Go-pro in the sea and nearly all of our pics got lost. We had beautiful weather and a lovely time kayaking for more than 4 hours.
The others were walking deep into the Abel Tasman Park for a picnic lunch on Anchorage Bay beach, followed by activities and swimming. Then, they took a water taxi ride back to Marahau Beach and we returned to Motueka together.
Adrenaline junkies were doing the Skydive in Motueka and the others were watching them! We had a strength test and other activities in the evening + we were challenging another tour group!
I participated in sea kayaking and we saw some baby seals at the island we were kayaking past. There were also some seals swimming right next to our kayaks! We sailed back in 2 groups of 4-5 kayaks with a huge plastic tarpaulin across our kayaks, which was real fun! When we got out of the kayaks, Hogne lost his Go-pro in the sea and nearly all of our pics got lost. We had beautiful weather and a lovely time kayaking for more than 4 hours.
The others were walking deep into the Abel Tasman Park for a picnic lunch on Anchorage Bay beach, followed by activities and swimming. Then, they took a water taxi ride back to Marahau Beach and we returned to Motueka together.
Adrenaline junkies were doing the Skydive in Motueka and the others were watching them! We had a strength test and other activities in the evening + we were challenging another tour group!
Day 3 – 7.1.2015: Abel Tasman National Park - Greymouth
Heading South to Cape Foulwind in the morning, we were stopping at NZ’s largest swing bridge for another swim. This was one of the best ways to experience the beautiful Buller Gorge before stopping at a lovely rural cafe for lunch.
Our next stop was Paparoa National Park & Punakaiki, where we visited the world famous Pancake Rock formation and had a greenstone hunt on the beach. After our arrival in a Backpacker in Greymouth, we hit the beach by night to roast marshmallows over a bonfire in true kiwi fashion.
That day I shared a room together with Diana and Dani from Germany, Yu from Japan and Anna from Norway. We had heaps of fun and became really good friends for the rest of the tour!
Our next stop was Paparoa National Park & Punakaiki, where we visited the world famous Pancake Rock formation and had a greenstone hunt on the beach. After our arrival in a Backpacker in Greymouth, we hit the beach by night to roast marshmallows over a bonfire in true kiwi fashion.
That day I shared a room together with Diana and Dani from Germany, Yu from Japan and Anna from Norway. We had heaps of fun and became really good friends for the rest of the tour!
Day 4 – 8.1.2015: Greymouth - Franz Joseph
We started off the morning with a visit to the Greenstone Factory in Hokitika where we saw the craftsmen shape and polish designs using Pounamu (Green Stone / Jade).
After walking over Hokitika Gorge Swing Bridge, we had a rock jump into the ice cold Hokitika Gorge Glacier Water!
On the way to Franz Joseph Glacier we stopped at Bushman Pete’s Museum, where we saw a hunting video about alpine deer capturing from helicopters and a live possum and rare white possum in cages.
In the evening, we got picked up from our backpackers and went to a restaurant in a Hummer Limo!
We finished the day with relaxing in the Thermal Glacier Hot Pools and a Glowworm walk at midnight in the forest.
After walking over Hokitika Gorge Swing Bridge, we had a rock jump into the ice cold Hokitika Gorge Glacier Water!
On the way to Franz Joseph Glacier we stopped at Bushman Pete’s Museum, where we saw a hunting video about alpine deer capturing from helicopters and a live possum and rare white possum in cages.
In the evening, we got picked up from our backpackers and went to a restaurant in a Hummer Limo!
We finished the day with relaxing in the Thermal Glacier Hot Pools and a Glowworm walk at midnight in the forest.
Day 5 – 9.1.2015: Franz Joseph - Queenstown
Some of us took a helicopter flight to the top of Fox Glacier and we could even walk on the glacier! It was an amazing experience!
After that, the whole group walked to the edge of Fox Glacier and then continued to drive through Mount Aspiring National Park (Haast Pass), where we had lunch and got invited for ice cream.
We drove on between Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea with stops for scenic photography. The drive lead us to Wanaka then Queenstown, where we went for a swim in the lake.
After that, the whole group walked to the edge of Fox Glacier and then continued to drive through Mount Aspiring National Park (Haast Pass), where we had lunch and got invited for ice cream.
We drove on between Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea with stops for scenic photography. The drive lead us to Wanaka then Queenstown, where we went for a swim in the lake.
Day 6 – 10.1.2015: Queenstown
In the morning everyone left together to go to the city, some with the intentions to go for Jetboating and afterwards Bungy, others like me and Dani, who didn’t feel like participating, went to the city and did some tourist shopping in Queenstown!
Queenstown offers the world’s best and original ‘AJ Hackett’ Bungy jump, so of course Anna and Diana wanted to do it and Yu did the 135 meter high Kawerau Bungy! For lunch we ate the Best burger in New Zealand called Ferg-burger, where one had to queue for ½ an hour or more and the queue already started at 9 am! It was really yummy though!!
In the afternoon, the whole group went up the Skyline Gondola and we could Luge at the top! We finished off the evening with a visit to the Fear Factory which was really scary and afterwards to the ‘Below Zero’ ice bar and had a good time!
Queenstown offers the world’s best and original ‘AJ Hackett’ Bungy jump, so of course Anna and Diana wanted to do it and Yu did the 135 meter high Kawerau Bungy! For lunch we ate the Best burger in New Zealand called Ferg-burger, where one had to queue for ½ an hour or more and the queue already started at 9 am! It was really yummy though!!
In the afternoon, the whole group went up the Skyline Gondola and we could Luge at the top! We finished off the evening with a visit to the Fear Factory which was really scary and afterwards to the ‘Below Zero’ ice bar and had a good time!
Day 7 – 11.1.2015: Queenstown - Te Anau
We headed to Te Anau in the morning where we had lunch and then made our way to the truly spectacular Milford Sound! On our stops for photos we came past the Mirror Lake and the Alpine High Waterfalls!
The Milford Sound Cruise was an unforgettable experience. Even though it was pouring down, it was amazing seeing the majestic ( snow-capped ) mountains rising from sea and hundreds of waterfalls, where some of them were forming over 1000 m above us. Words just cannot describe this panorama and the feeling we had when we could stand under such a waterfall!
The Milford Sound Cruise was an unforgettable experience. Even though it was pouring down, it was amazing seeing the majestic ( snow-capped ) mountains rising from sea and hundreds of waterfalls, where some of them were forming over 1000 m above us. Words just cannot describe this panorama and the feeling we had when we could stand under such a waterfall!
Day 8 – 12.1.2015: Te Anau - Invercargill
That day we went away from the snow-capped mountains to the bottom of the South Island. The Bluff lookout (the southernmost point of the South Island and New Zealand) provided a chance for some great look-out and group photos.
We got a private group education at the Tuatara museum and could touch alive Tuataras. (The NZ Tuatara is a rare lizard dating back to prehistoric times and this is the first place to manage breeding in captivity.)
The afternoon drive to Curio Bay took us past Waipapa Point where we saw some Sea Lions on the beach.
After our arrival at Tautuku Lodge (our stay for the next 2 nights) we had some fun activities (Frisbee, Cricket, flying fox, back-flips,…) While we were making Sushi, we listened to cool piano music. Afterwards we sat around the big fire place in the huge hall and grilled marshmallows before we had a group sleep there.
We got a private group education at the Tuatara museum and could touch alive Tuataras. (The NZ Tuatara is a rare lizard dating back to prehistoric times and this is the first place to manage breeding in captivity.)
The afternoon drive to Curio Bay took us past Waipapa Point where we saw some Sea Lions on the beach.
After our arrival at Tautuku Lodge (our stay for the next 2 nights) we had some fun activities (Frisbee, Cricket, flying fox, back-flips,…) While we were making Sushi, we listened to cool piano music. Afterwards we sat around the big fire place in the huge hall and grilled marshmallows before we had a group sleep there.
Day 9 – 13.1.2015: Invercargill
For the eager, at the crack of dawn we headed down to Purpoise Bay to see the world’s rarest penguin, the Yellow Eyed Penguin, as they woke up ready to head out for a day gathering fish.
After that we were surfing with dolphins and saw some seals.
We also visited the McLeans Falls and I was "hopping" the 10 minutes walk (a friend let go of the surfboard while helping me carrying it and its fin fell on my foot, which ended in a blue and swollen foot! ^^)
A visit to the Lost Gypsy couldn't be missed, to see his crazy inventions which he had in his house bus and garden around!
After Florence look-out photo stop, we went for a bush walk and safe beach swim at 11pm, which was heaps of fun!
After that we were surfing with dolphins and saw some seals.
We also visited the McLeans Falls and I was "hopping" the 10 minutes walk (a friend let go of the surfboard while helping me carrying it and its fin fell on my foot, which ended in a blue and swollen foot! ^^)
A visit to the Lost Gypsy couldn't be missed, to see his crazy inventions which he had in his house bus and garden around!
After Florence look-out photo stop, we went for a bush walk and safe beach swim at 11pm, which was heaps of fun!
Day 10 – 14.1.2015: Invercargill - Dunedin
After the Nugget Point lighthouse walk with heaps of photos, we saw some more sea lions on the beach.
In Dunedin we had some time for shopping and Lunch break and also made a short visit to the early settler museum.
After that we ran/walked, or in my case hopped, up Baldwin Street: the worlds steepest street in Dunedin!
Moeraki Boulders (huge round stones on the beach) were the last photo stop before we reached Oamaru.
In Oamaru we had two backpacker lodges: basically all the boys slept in one and nearly all of the girls in the „Swaggers Backpackers“, which surely had swag (the rooms were in the house of the old lady and everything was furnished really cozy!)
At night we went looking for the return of a mob of little Blue Penguins who nest around the wharf and are delightful to watch, returning to their nests (like Ninja Penguins).
In Dunedin we had some time for shopping and Lunch break and also made a short visit to the early settler museum.
After that we ran/walked, or in my case hopped, up Baldwin Street: the worlds steepest street in Dunedin!
Moeraki Boulders (huge round stones on the beach) were the last photo stop before we reached Oamaru.
In Oamaru we had two backpacker lodges: basically all the boys slept in one and nearly all of the girls in the „Swaggers Backpackers“, which surely had swag (the rooms were in the house of the old lady and everything was furnished really cozy!)
At night we went looking for the return of a mob of little Blue Penguins who nest around the wharf and are delightful to watch, returning to their nests (like Ninja Penguins).
Day 11 – 15.1.2015: Dunedin - Hanmer Springs
That day, we had our lunch break in Christchurch, the city where the strong earthquake was a few years ago. We visited the ‘Canterbury Museum’ to see what once was and some of NZ’s cultural beginnings before heading to Hanmer Springs for a groovy evening swim in the thermal pools.
Day 12 – 16.1.2015: Hanmer Springs - Kaikoura
Departure to Kaikoura, where we had time for lunch and some shopping and after checking into our backpackers, we had the opportunity to visit the baby seal nesting colony while swimming with the seals!
Day 13 – 17.1.2015: Kaikoura - Picton
We spent the day either Whale watching off the Kaikoura coast witnessing some remarkable Sperm Whales and possibly some Humpback Whales or checking out wild dolphins while swimming with them! I did the dolphin swimming, with + 200 dolphin around us from 8.30 to 1.15 o’clock! It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever made!!!
The drive from there towards Picton took us up the north eastern coast.
We stayed in the Tombstone Backpackers which had a sheet saying rest in piece on every bed! Afterwards we had some time to go to the centre of Picton and the rest of the evening was used for going into the spa pool, playing table tennis and swapping tour photos/video.
The drive from there towards Picton took us up the north eastern coast.
We stayed in the Tombstone Backpackers which had a sheet saying rest in piece on every bed! Afterwards we had some time to go to the centre of Picton and the rest of the evening was used for going into the spa pool, playing table tennis and swapping tour photos/video.
Time to say goodbye!!!
Day 14 – 18.1.2015: Picton - Wellington - Waikanae
The final day we left to the Ferry Terminal Picton only a few minutes away. There we had our first goodbyes to the guys from Motueka (including Diana, Dani and Yu) and the bus driver Alan.
With a 3 hour cruise we went back to windy Wellington! There we had our final goodbyes to all the new friends we’ve made, but I was staying in Wellington for the afternoon and spent some more time with the rest of my campervan gang! After that Nick, Clemens (who lived one station further from Waikanae in Otaki) and I took the train home to Waikanae!
With a 3 hour cruise we went back to windy Wellington! There we had our final goodbyes to all the new friends we’ve made, but I was staying in Wellington for the afternoon and spent some more time with the rest of my campervan gang! After that Nick, Clemens (who lived one station further from Waikanae in Otaki) and I took the train home to Waikanae!
It has been amazing 2 weeks with 3100 kilometres driving around the South Island!
We’ve had so many special moments and there are heaps of memories that all of us will come home with!
We’ve had so many special moments and there are heaps of memories that all of us will come home with!