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This tour takes
in one of the most remote and beautiful parts of New Zealand: the
West Coast of the South Island. From the miles of empty,
sublimely beautiful, palm-fringed beaches north of Karamea, we
will head south, stopping to hike through some of the best
scenery in New Zealand. Most of New Zealand’s remaining
virgin lowland rainforest is found here, as well as glacier-
capped mountains, and spectacular limestone gorges and caves.
Highlights will
include a visit to the annual Hokitika Wild Food Festival (a
truly unique piece of West Coast culture!), a helicopter ride and
guided hike on the Fox Glacier, and a flight to Siberia to check
out the icebergs! We finish in Queenstown, the adventure sport
capital of New Zealand, where we will take those brave enough for
a bungy jump. From here, you can stay and enjoy the South Island
in your own time, or return with us to Christchurch or Wellington
for your travel connections.
Itinerary
-
Day one:
Starting in
Wellington, we will pick you up at the airport or your point of
arrival. Spend the rest of the day resting at koromiko Homestays
or explore New Zealand’s best city.
Day two:
An early start
for the Interisland ferry to the South Island. Stopping for
lunch at Pelorus Bridge in the Marlborough Sounds (where the
café serves excellent chicken and camembert pasties),
then on to Karamea, on the West Coast, for our night’s
accommodation at the ‘Last Resort’ hotel.
Day
three:
Walk up the
coast to the Heaphy River in Kahurangi National Park. This is
one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in New Zealand,
with long, sandy beaches fringed with palm trees, pounded by
wild ocean surf, and backed by rainforest-covered mountains. We
will camp at the Heaphy River overnight, where you can swim at
the river mouth, or explore the river valley whilst we cook a
barbecue.
Day
four:
Walk out from
the Heaphy River to Karamea. We will then drive to Charleston
(south of Westport), and stay at a gay homestay. N.B An
alternative programme for Day 3 is to visit the scenic Oparara
Arches and caves near Karamea, and stay at the Last Resort for
another night, then on Day 4 kayak the Karamea estuary or go
mountain biking.
Weather
forecasts and/or your preferences will be taken into account!
Day
five:
There is a
wealth of things to do around Charleston. We offer either a
white water rafting trip down the Buller Gorge, or a cave
rafting trip (floating through the cave on inner tubes) with
Norwest Adventures in Metro cave. After that, we can take people
rock climbing around Charleston, or walks on the beaches.
In the evening,
we will drive to Punakaiki.
Day six:
Visit the
famous limestone formations and blowholes at Pancake Rocks,
before heading for Hokitika , and the Wild Foods Festival. Taste
things you never thought you’d ever want to taste- Huhu
grubs (Yum!), possum stew, sphagnum moss candy floss, together
with more palatable fare- mussels, venison, flower wines etc.
You could even help out on the Earthworm stall (delicious!).
In the evening,
the event finishes with a dance- chance to let your hair down!
Day
seven:
Driving south,
we will stop to go kayaking on Okarito Lagoon, and see the
Okarito forest, one of the best lowland podocarp (an ancient
coniferous group) forests in New Zealand, which has been
recently saved from logging. We will stay aft Franz Josef for
the night.
Day
eight:
The Franz
Joseph and Fox Glaciers are two of the few places in the world,
outside the polar regions, where you can see glaciers coming
down almost to sea level. Large snowfalls on the Southern Alps
drive these glaciers steeply down from the peaks to the lowlands
at the alarmingly fast rate (for a glacier) of three feet a day.
We offer a
helicopter ride to the high, mountainous part of the glacier,
and a guided walk on the glacier- with stunning views of Mt.Cook
(New Zealand’s highest) to the east, and the coast below
you. The high point (in altitude terms) of our trip!
Day
nine:
Drive to Haast,
stopping at Ship Creek, and Haast for scenic walks.
Day ten:
Fly to Siberia!
Leaving the West Coast, we head inland to Makarora, where we
take a small plane to Siberia Valley, just east of the main
dividing range of the Southern Alps, in Aspiring National Park.
The plane will fly near the Matterhorn -like 10000ft peak of
Mt.Aspiring on the way to Siberia.
We will hike up
to Lake Crucible - but here, Hell has frozen over! Icebergs fill
this mountain tarn.
We will spend
the night camping in Siberia Valley, or in the Department of
Conservation hut should the weather be poor.
Day
eleven:
Hike out of
Siberia to the Wilkin River, where we catch the jetboat back to
Makarora. Jetboats can travel at stunning speed in inches of
water, and turn on a dime at high speed. Prepare to be very
afraid!
From here, we
will drive to Queenstown, the centre of the adventure tourism
industry in New Zealand.
Day
twelve:
Throw yourself
off a bridge. Survive to tell the tale! We have included a
bungee jump with NZ’s best known bungee pioneer, AJ
Hackett, to make sure you end this holiday on a high!
After this, you
may wish to stay in Queenstown and continue to enjoy New Zealand
at your own pace. Alternatively, travel with us to Christchurch,
where we will stay the night at a gay homestay.
Day
thirteen:
Visit
Christchurch city, perhaps see the official Wizard of New
Zealand in the City Square at lunchtime. We will also visit the
scenic Banks Peninsula, including the old French settlement of
Akaroa.
Some of you may
have flights booked from Christchurch airport, so we can take
you to meet your flight. Otherwise its another night in
Christchurch.
Day
fourteen:
Return to
Wellington.
Prices include:
all
accommodation, dinner and breakfast
all
transport from Wellington to Wellington.
helicopter
ride and guided walk on glacier
flight
to Siberia/ jetboat out
bungee
jump in Queenstown
all
other group activities
Local tax -
12.5%
Prices do not
include:
spending
money, lunches (except when hiking)
flights to New
Zealand, or within New Zealand unless part of the tour.
West Coast does
include:
huge, evil
sandflies…. please bring your favorite insect repellent.
Prices and
contents of the above Package are for guidance and subject to
confirmation.
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