New Zealand's South Island - 2 Weeks Itinerary
R enjoys planning travel itineraries. It's gives R a peace of mind to know what to expect. To top it, there's so much resource online to enrich and equip oneself easily. The only downside to having vast amount of resource is how to sieve and process them. Decision-making can be daunting at times because there are just so much choices and it's tough balancing the tips and reviews that netizens dispensed.
Given the amount of time R had in New Zealand, it was only practical to focus on one island. South Island would be it because of its popular scenic places, such as the fiords, lakes, mountains, etc. As Lonely Planet had said, R's group had to move fast in order to cover the places in 2 weeks.
So, the 2 weeks itinerary in South Island went like this...
Day 1: Arrived in Christchurch.
Day 2: Christchurch's Riccarton Market -- Farlie (stop by for the delicious pie) -- Lake Tekapo (the petite church with the breathtaking back drop of turquoise lake and snow capped mountains)
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| Riccarton Market |
Day 3: Lake Tekapo -- Mt John Observatory (splendid 360 degree view of the mountains) -- Lake Pukaki (another amazing turquoise against mountain ranges)-- Mt Cook (gone into the mountains via hooker valley walk)
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| View at Mt John (Observatory is on the left) |
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| Lake Pukaiki |
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| Mt Cook |
Day 4: Mt Cook -- Lake Benmore (just a short stopover at the dam and the Kurow Winery for a taste of NZ's wine) -- Oamaru (quaint vintage looking town) -- Dunedin
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| Lake Benmore |
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| Oamaru |
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| Dunedin |
Day 6: Caitlin -- Purakaunui Falls (walk into the forest and one of the famed waterfalls in the country) -- Florence Hill Lookout -- McLean Falls (not to miss the other falls in the same area) -- Slope Point (the southern-most point of New Zealand. Could feel the South Pole coolness here) -- Te Anau
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| Purakauni Falls |
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| McLean Falls |
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| Slope Point |
Day 7: Te Anau -- Milford Sound (epic outing to the fjord coz it was raining whole day and the group's spirit weren't dampened. Stop-by Mirror Lake along the way) -- Te Anau
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| Cuise on Milford Sound |
Day 8: Te Anau -- Queenstown (a city dweller's comfort. Not forgetting the Fergburger)
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| Clockwise from top: Remarkables, ice-cream at Pentagonia, Dock area, Ferburger |
Day 9: Queenstown -- Mt Aspiring/Dart River (Fun & exciting day kayaking down the pristine river)-- Queenstown
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| Getting active at Mt Aspiring. |
Day 11: Wanaka (Hiking at Mt Iron, movie at the quaint Cinema Paradiso)
Day 12: Wanaka -- Blue Pools -- Fantail Falls -- Franz Josef
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| Clockwise from top: Blue Pools, Thunder Creek Falls, Fantail Falls. |
Day 13: Franz Josef (Hike at the Glacier) -- Greymouth
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| Hiking at glacier. |
Day 14: Greymouth -- Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes -- Arthur's Pass (drive via this route is the final scenic route the group took before the trip ended) -- Christchurch
Day 15: Kia Ora (Goodbye) Christchurch
Well, that was the itinerary. It was quite similar to what most travellers would have done as well because I had seen similar itineraries online.
Have fun planning yours!
Well, that was the itinerary. It was quite similar to what most travellers would have done as well because I had seen similar itineraries online.
Have fun planning yours!
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