South Island New Zealand Itinerary

Two Week South Island New Zealand Itinerary: 3 Road Trip Routes

Julie Itinerary, New Zealand Leave a Comment

If you are planning your two week South Island New Zealand itinerary, we have three exciting road trip routes to share with you. Two of these are done point-to-point from Queenstown to the Cook Strait, perfect for those who also plan to visit the North Island on the same trip. The main difference between these two itineraries is whether you …

Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Photo

15 Amazing Things to Do in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

Julie New Zealand Leave a Comment

Aoraki / Mount Cook is the tallest mountain in New Zealand. Getting a glimpse of this mighty mountain is one of the best things to do on the South Island. Top things to do at Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park include hiking to viewpoints of Mount Cook and iceberg filled alpine lakes, taking a flightseeing tour, viewing the night …

Christchurch New Zealand

16 Amazing Things to Do in Christchurch, New Zealand

Julie New Zealand Leave a Comment

Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand. A series of devastating earthquakes rattled the city in 2010 and 2011, and these events have left their mark on the city. Learning about these earthquakes is one of most popular things to do in Christchurch, but you can also visit a wildlife reserve, drift on the Avon …

South Island New Zealand Itinerary

10 Day South Island New Zealand Itinerary: 4 Different Ways

Julie Itinerary, New Zealand Leave a Comment

With 10 days on the South Island of New Zealand, you have just enough time to visit several top spots. Queenstown, Wanaka, the Milford Sound, and seeing Aoraki / Mount Cook (New Zealand’s tallest mountain) all top the list, but you also have the option to add on the Southern Scenic Route, Akaroa, Abel Tasman, and the Marlborough wine region. …

Tasman Valley Hiking Trails

Tasman Glacier View, Blue Lakes, and Tasman Lake Hiking Guide

Tim New Zealand Leave a Comment

This Tasman Valley Hiking Guide covers the various walking tracks in the Tasman Valley section of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. These trails lead to Tasman Glacier View, Blue Lakes, Tasman Lake, and the Tasman River. You could easily spend several hours walking all of these tracks, but are all of the tracks worth hiking? In this Tasman Valley …

One Week South Island Itinerary

One Week on the South Island of New Zealand: 4 Ways to Plan Your Trip

Julie Itinerary, New Zealand 2 Comments

If you have one week on the South Island of New Zealand, there are several different ways to plan your time. Whether you want to go hiking in Wanaka, visit the Milford Sound, see Aoraki/Mount Cook from the land and the sky, or spend your days engaging in all of the heart-pounding activities Queenstown has to offer, we have four …

Things to Do South Island New Zealand

40 EPIC Things to Do on the South Island of New Zealand

Julie New Zealand Leave a Comment

The South Island of New Zealand (Te Waipounamu) is a wonderland of glacier-capped mountains, iridescent lakes, rugged coastal scenery, vineyards, and charming towns. Wine tasting, bungy jumping, hiking, trekking, and taking eco cruises to see dolphins and penguins all top the list of the best things to do on the South Island. Whether you prefer to go on scenic drives …

New Zealand Itinerary

Queenstown Itinerary: 3 Unique Ideas for Your Perfect Vacation

Julie New Zealand Leave a Comment

If you are planning your Queenstown itinerary, there are a lot of things to consider. How long should you spend in Queenstown? Where should you stay? Should you rent a car? What are the best things to do in Queenstown? In this guide, we share with you the top experiences in Queenstown and then how to put them together to …

Best Wanaka Hikes

Diamond Lake & Rocky Mountain Track: Best Routes, Map & Trail Stats

Tyler New Zealand 2 Comments

A visit to New Zealand would be incomplete without witnessing the beauty of Lake Wanaka. For those that want incredible views without struggling up the difficult Roy’s Peak Track, the Diamond Lake & Rocky Mountain Track has you covered. This 7.3 km/4.5 mile trail offers incredible vistas over both Diamond Lake and Lake Wanaka, while being structured in a way …

Wanaka New Zealand

20 Epic Things to Do in Wanaka, New Zealand

Julie New Zealand Leave a Comment

Wanaka is one of our favorite places in New Zealand. Lake Wanaka is a gorgeous lake, surrounded by mountain peaks, waterfalls, lavender farms, vineyards, and forests. On a visit to Wanaka, take your pick from some of New Zealand’s most famous day hikes, go wine tasting, climb a via ferrata, and eat freshly baked chocolate chip cookies while you watch …

Queenstown New Zealand Photo

Queenstown Bucket List: 25 Epic Things to Do in Queenstown

Julie New Zealand Leave a Comment

Queenstown is one of the best places in New Zealand to engage in heart-racing, thrilling adventures. Paragliding, bungy jumping, jet boat riding, skydiving, hiking, skiing, and mountain biking all make the list of the best things to do in Queenstown. But you can also keep your feet firmly on the ground and go hiking, shopping, go for a scenic drive …

Routeburn Track New Zealand

Routeburn Track: Day Hike Options, Trail Stats & Photos

Tim New Zealand 2 Comments

The Routeburn Track is considered one of the best hikes in New Zealand, and for a good reason, as there are many picturesque elements to this hike. The Routeburn Track will take you through lush mossy forests, across rivers, streams, and swing bridges, past pristine alpine lakes, past more waterfalls than you can count, and to jaw dropping vistas of …

Akaroa Banks Peninsula New Zealand Photo

Best Things to Do in Akaroa & Banks Peninsula, New Zealand

Julie New Zealand Leave a Comment

Go for a scenic drive, take a hike, feed an alpaca, take a wildlife cruise to see the smallest dolphins in the world, and dine on fresh seafood…these are all things to do in Akaroa and Banks Peninsula. Banks Peninsula is a small, volcanic peninsula located on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Sitting in the …

Marlborough Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting in Marlborough, New Zealand: Best Vineyards & Tours

Julie New Zealand 2 Comments

The Marlborough wine region is the largest wine region in New Zealand. This region produces some of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world, along with Riesling, Gewürtztraminer, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris. For wine aficionados, spending a day or two wine tasting in Marlborough is one of New Zealand’s best experiences. We have visited the Marlborough wine region twice, touring …

Southern Scenic Route

The Southern Scenic Route of New Zealand: Things to Do, Map, Itinerary

Julie New Zealand Leave a Comment

The Southern Scenic Route is a 600+ kilometer driving route that connects Dunedin, Invercargill, Te Anau, and Queenstown, New Zealand. It is a gorgeous drive, and along the way you are treated to some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. On this drive, you will visit quaint coastal towns, deserted beaches, waterfalls, fiords, and a long list of …

Glacier Country

Best Things to Do in Franz Josef | Glacier Country, New Zealand

Julie New Zealand 2 Comments

Hike to viewpoints of glaciers, see the rarest Kiwi, soar over Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier in a helicopter, capture Mount Tasman’s reflection in Lake Matheson, go heli-hiking or ice climbing, and relax in a hot tub…these are all things you can do in and around Franz Josef, New Zealand. Glacier Country is an area on the west coast …

Franz Josef Helicopter Tour

Fox Glacier & Franz Josef Helicopter Tours: Photos, Tips & What to Expect

Julie New Zealand 2 Comments

A helicopter flight over the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers is a thrilling experience. To see this land of glacier-capped mountains, rainforests, and rugged coastlines is one of the best experiences to have in Glacier Country, if not all of New Zealand. On a helicopter tour from Franz Josef or Fox Glacier, you will fly over several glaciers, get to …

How to Visit Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound Day Trip: What to Expect, Photos & Map

Julie New Zealand Leave a Comment

Doubtful Sound is a fiord in southwest New Zealand. It’s a neighbor of the more popular Milford Sound. A visit to Doubtful Sound, with its more remote location and less touristy vibe, is a much different experience than a visit to the Milford Sound. A Doubtful Sound day trip takes one full day. To get here, you first have to …

Abel Tasman New Zealand

One Day in Abel Tasman National Park

Julie New Zealand 4 Comments

Abel Tasman National Park is New Zealand’s smallest park. Located on the northern coastline of the South Island, Abel Tasman is home to one of New Zealand’s multi-day walking tracks, aptly named the Abel Tasman Coast Track. This is also a great place for kayaking, exploring the wide, empty beaches, and walking on trails amidst a rainforest-type landscape. We planned …