New Zealand Street Journey Itinerary: Information for 1st-Time Guests

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The enjoyable continues on this New Zealand street journey itinerary as we bought to find the next cities full of distinctive actions!

• Waitomo is a village that’s well-known for its in depth underground cave methods, and as a customer, you’ll be able to both do the next…
  • Go to Waitomo Glowworm Cave = (NZ$50~) Do you wish to see stars up shut — or higher but, see a galaxy of ‘tiny residing lights’? With this tour, you can be gliding silently on a ship by Waitomo River as you undergo the “starry” wonderland of the Glowworm Grotto which has hundreds of tiny glowworms (Arachnocampa luminosa) that radiate a luminescent bluish mild at midnight. Thoughts you, these creatures are distinctive to New Zealand solely!
  • Go to Ruakuri Cave = (NZ$70~) Very like the principle Waitomo Glowworm Cave, Ruakuri Cave affords the magical expertise of sighting glowworms up shut; however greater than this, you’ll be winding your manner by spectacular limestone formations and crystal tapestries.
  • Go black water rafting by glowworm caves = (NZ$140~) If you would like a extra adventurous expertise, that is the only option for you as you abseil, weave, soar, climb and float by the gorgeous underworld of Ruakuri Cave and some waterfalls too.
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• Taupo is a city that’s moderately distinguished by its lakefront setting in addition to the next…
  • Do jet boating = (NZ$115~) That is an adrenaline-pumping exercise that was invented by New Zealand. So should you like velocity, spins, and thrills mixed with marvelous water surroundings, happening a jet boating exercise shall be value your whereas! I’ve gone by this expertise myself and it was a great deal of enjoyable!
  • Sail on Lake Taupo = (NZ$50~) Loads of crusing corporations not solely take you to the unbelievable waters of Lake Taupo, nevertheless it additionally takes you to the ‘Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings’ which is sometimes called one of many nation’s most extraordinary artworks that towers 14 meters above deep water. Apparently, this has been sculpted over the course of 4 years and depicts the face of Ngatoroirangi, a ‘visionary Māori navigator who guided the Tūwharetoa and Te Arawa tribes to the Taupō space over a thousand years in the past’.
  • Huka Falls = (FREE admittance) This highly effective but astonishing set of bluish waterfalls on the Waikato River drains onwards to Lake Taupo. It’s mentioned that per second, the quantity of water flowing by it typically approaches 220,000 liters!

Backside photographs by: Shutterstock

From the second that we stepped into the geothermal city of Rotorua, I grew to become nostalgic for my first go to right here again in 2016 as I smelled the all-too-familiar scent of the sulfur-rich air. It is a hotspot within the North Island of New Zealand and there are heaps to do right here:

• Geothermal Parks: Naturally, Rotorua is filled with a number of geothermal parks; but when I’ll counsel, select from any of those prime 3 locations (after which metal your sense of odor!)
  • Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland = (NZ$32~ / FREE with Wild Kiwi Excursions) This showcases New Zealand’s most colourful and distinctive lively geothermal components which were sculpted by hundreds of years of volcanic exercise.
  • Te Puia = (NZ$54~) Apart from being a Maori cultural village, Te Puia is known for its geothermal exercise, particularly that of its Pōhutu Geyser which is claimed to be the most important geyser within the southern hemisphere. It additionally erupts a couple of times each hour at heights that would attain 30 meters!
  • Hell’s Gate Geothermal Park and Mud Spa = (Begins at NZ$20~) Apart from witnessing boiling swimming pools and erupting waters, you would additionally get pleasure from their scorching spring companies which might be coupled with a therapeutic mud and sulfur spa.
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• Redwood Forest: (FREE admittance) Spend the day away mountain climbing or biking by this towering forest that’s simply on the sting of Rotorua. Relaxation assured, there may be an array of trails which you could select from, regardless of your stage of health or expertise.
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• Luge: (Begins at NZ$45~) Considerably of a combination between a go-kart (with out the engine) and a toboggan (with out the snow), Rotorua’s “Luge” is a enjoyable and fast-paced journey exercise that’s nice for folks of all ages! I loved this a lot and lots of people even say that this place is best than the Luge exercise present in South Island’s Queenstown, so go and provides this a attempt!
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• Zorb: (Begins at NZ$39) Additionally referred to as ‘globe using’, this entails a ‘ball of enjoyable’ the place you roll down a hill inside an enormous inflatable ball. Invented in 1994 in New Zealand, this has turn out to be one of many ‘must-do’ actions when within the nation and it typically provides you the prospect to decide on the sort of path that you simply’ll undergo — could or not it’s zigzag or straight!
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• White Water Rafting: It is a great point to do with your loved ones or buddies in Rotorua! This is without doubt one of the issues I did along with my companion and it was a rare expertise! We went by steep native bush canyons and over 14 rapids and three waterfalls, together with the world-renowned 7-meter Tutea Falls which is the ‘Highest Commercially Rafted Waterfall within the World’! Reality be advised, this was my first white water rafting exercise of all time and it was completely an excellent first.

For at the present time, there are 2 issues that we made certain we did NOT miss:

• Go to the Hobbiton Film Set: (NZ$114~) For the ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit‘ film followers like me, that is your once-in-a-lifetime probability to enterprise off into your personal Center-earth journey! In any case, that is the well-known 12-acre film set of the long-lasting village of the Shire. As a customer, you can be guided by a two-hour strolling tour to the totally different hobbit gap homes (e.g. Sam and Frodo’s home) and different quintessential landmarks just like the Mill and the Inexperienced Dragon Inn (the place you may also seize a complimentary drink that’s brewed solely in Hobbiton!).
  • TIP: One other place to think about for LOTR followers is a go to to the well-known Weta Workshop!
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• Go to a Maori Cultural Village: (Round NZ$100~) Rotorua and its surrounding cities arguably have the best focus of Māori villages. With that in thoughts, it’s a should to go to a minimum of one with a purpose to immerse your self within the historical past and customs of the Maori folks in New Zealand — a tradition that the nation is very happy with. We went to among the finest villages, Tamaki Maori Village, and a number of the many wonderful issues that you simply’ll expertise and which I personally liked have been witnessing the highly effective haka (conventional struggle cry), studying in regards to the Maori historical past, partaking in a hangi (conventional Maori feast), and extra.

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To mark our final day on the North Island for our New Zealand street journey itinerary, we first went on a hike to Cathedral Cove (Te Whanganui-A-Hei) Marine Reserve which is one more spotlight of our go to to the Coromandel Peninsula.

With its lovely white sand, turquoise waters, and towering rock formations, this place was fairly a sight! To not point out, there’s a pathway right here that’s well-known for being the opening scene from the film Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

As soon as we had our fill of the magical surroundings, we went to pack our baggage and journeyed again to Auckland in preparation for our flight to Christchurch in order to mark the beginning of our South Island journey.

NOTE: If you wish to keep again within the North Island, it’s advisable to fly over to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand.

For at the present time of our New Zealand street journey itinerary, we’re lastly making our strategy to the ‘adrenaline capital’ of New Zealand — Queenstown! It’s a little bit of a drive although, so earlier than we arrived within the metropolis, we handed by the next locations first.

• Lake Matheson: This lake affords awe-inspiring mirror reflections of Mt. Cook dinner (the best mountain in New Zealand) and Mt. Tasman. It principally entails a brief circuit stroll, and if I’ll share a tip, it’s greatest to hike right here throughout daybreak or nightfall with a purpose to see the perfect lake reflections of the encompassing snowcapped mountains.
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• Haast Go: A mountain cross discovered within the Southern Alps that’s brimming with lovely brief walks, rainforests, and waterfalls. Among the breathtaking waterfalls we’ve got seen have been Fantail Falls and Thunder Creek Falls.
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• Wanaka: We stopped on this resort city to take a short driving break, and it was such a serene place to lounge or have a picnic in! It was additionally an interesting expertise to see the ‘not too long ago well-known’ Wanaka Tree (a fence put up that has now was an internet sensation — and it’s straightforward to see why as a result of this lone tree was completely backdropped by the alps and the encompassing terrain).
  • NOTE: Should you occur to have a full day to spare in Wanaka, I counsel doing the 16km return observe to Roy’s Peak that grants views over Lake Wanaka, Mount Aspiring/Tititea, and its surrounding peaks.

TIP: Whenever you arrive in Queenstown round evening time, drop by Fergburger for dinner. That is New Zealand’s most well-known burger joint and it helps to notice that it’s NOT a series — you’ll solely discover them in Queenstown, so it’s a should to present them a attempt. Certain sufficient, they do have great-tasting burgers. (However if you would like a much less crowded place, Satan Burger is a superb various!).

For our final day in Queenstown on our New Zealand street journey itinerary, we made certain to fill it up with adrenaline-pumping actions! A few of my companions went bungee leaping and others did canyon swings. As for me…? Like I’ve already talked about earlier than, I made it my purpose to do sky diving in Queenstown in order that it may assist me overcome two of my prime fears: heights and flying in a airplane…

…and so I did: I jumped out of a perfectly-functioning airplane at 15,000 toes and boy, it was essentially the most wonderful factor that I’ve ever carried out in my life!

For a whole record of motion actions, you are able to do, see beneath…

• Sky Diving: (Begins at NZ$330~) Queenstown is claimed to be the birthplace of tandem skydiving; due to this fact, there’s no higher place to do it than right here! And if you would like the greatest supplier potential, do it with NZONE Skydive. With their years of operation and highly-trained dive masters, you’re certain to be in good arms once you soar out of an plane at 12,000 or 15,000 toes (your selection). The joys of free falling for about 60 seconds as you plummet in direction of the bottom at 200kph is a sensation that you simply’ll perpetually bear in mind and cherish. I’ve carried out this myself and I’m so glad that I did it with NZONE!

READ: My Skydiving Expertise

• Bungy Leaping: (Begins at NZ$60~) That is New Zealand’s highest bungee soar at 134m above the Nevis River, and it affords 8.5 seconds of pure free fall! Although this seems harmful to your eyes, be assured that your security is wholly assured as a result of AJ Hackett has been working this since 1988 with over 1.5 million jumpers who now maintain the bragging rights. (NOTE: If in case you need some added ‘oomph’ to your journey, you may also bundle this with a roundtrip helicopter experience).
  • Combo = Mix this bungee leaping exercise with a Nevis canyon swing for the final word adrenaline rush!
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• Ledge Swing: (NZ$160~) One more daredevil affair, the Ledge Swing will set you flying 400m throughout and over Queenstown! Positioned on the prime of the Skyline Gondola, the Ledge Swing will first take you on a calming panoramic experience up and after you’re strapped in, they are going to pull the ‘set off’ to ship you swinging over the mountain.
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• Jet Boating: (NZ$150~) That is an adrenaline-pumping exercise that can also be invented by New Zealand. Should you like velocity, spins, and thrills mixed with marvelous water surroundings on the Shotover River, then happening this Queenstown jet boating exercise shall be value your whereas!
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• Quad Biking: (NZ$240~) That is the perfect enjoyable you’ll be able to have on 4 wheels! For this, you can be supplied with a full set of protecting tools and clothes gear as you go on a 2.5-hour experience by the panoramic vistas of Queenstown.
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• Luge: (Begins at NZ$45~) Considerably of a combination between a go-kart (with out the engine) and a toboggan (with out the snow), “Luge” is a enjoyable and fast-paced journey exercise that’s nice for folks of all ages!
  • NOTE: It additionally already features a gondola experience).
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• Lord of the Rings Tour: (Begins at NZ$185~) Journey by Center-earth and go to the ‘cinescapes’ from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies on this wonderful half-day tour. Among the locations you’ll be visiting are “Isengard”, the 12-mile Delta, Misty Mountains, Pillars of the Kings — and extra! No doubt, this shall be a deal with for the franchise followers (like me!).
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• Helicopter Tour: (Begins at NZ$800~) Soar excessive above Queenstown as you make your strategy to the UNESCO-listed space of Te Wahipounamu which encompasses Mt. Cook dinner, all the way in which to Milford Sound which has acres of dense forests, streams, lakes, and towering mountains. From this chicken’s eye view, you’ll undoubtedly have a uncommon entry view of the landscapes you’ll be seeing — and that’s not all, as a result of additionally, you will expertise a snow touchdown within the secluded Southern Alps!
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• Skyline Gondola: (Begins at NZ$30~) Decelerate and get on the Skyline Gondola which provides you among the finest vantage factors within the metropolis. For the perfect views and photographs, go right here when the solar units, and if the sky occurs to be clear, you could seize the prospect to go on their stargazing tour.

We mentioned our goodbyes to Queenstown right now for our New Zealand street journey itinerary, however we shook away the blues as a result of we knew that we have been heading off to the long-lasting Mt. Cook dinner which is New Zealand’s highest peak (at 3,724 meters!).

As a lot as we might have liked to climb the summit, we have been comfortable sufficient to do a hike within the valley and one of many fashionable trails that results in Mt. Cook dinner was the Hooker Valley observe. It is a 3-hour hike that goes by beautiful alpine sceneries and you are able to do it by your self or with a educated information.

Now… if I say so myself, this has bought to be one of the wonderful mountain climbing trails that I’ve ever carried out in my travels, so don’t skip out on this!

As soon as the evening falls, don’t additionally overlook to exit and do some stargazing within the lovely Aoraki Mount Cook dinner Nationwide Park.