Explore the Soaring Sights of New Zealand with Boundless Journeys

Our adventure on New Zealand's South Island begins in Nelson, only a short flight from Auckland. Considered the geographic center of New Zealand, Nelson is a relaxed arts community situated on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay. We meet after lunch in the early afternoon to explore the town by foot, allowing us to experience Nelson's offbeat culture.

After a stop at the Queen's Gardens, we hike up a small peak in one of Nelson's urban parks to a marker signifying the point "zero, zero," from which the island's first land surveys were conducted in the 1870s. This is a great opportunity to stretch our legs and get an excellent view of the city, Tasman Bay, and the mountains beyond.

Tonight, we enjoy a welcome dinner at our hotel, Nelson's historic choice for hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Accommodations

Rutherford Hotel Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand

Centrally located in Nelson, the hotel is within easy walking distance of the city’s main shopping streets and the landmark cathedral.

We journey by private van about an hour and a half to scenic Marahau, a small settlement on Tasman Bay. Here, we embark on our hike through Abel Tasman National Park, 87 square miles of sheer beauty founded through the efforts of ornithologist Perrine Moncrieff.

Our hike today is on a small section of trail that is declared one of the nation's Great Walks by the Department of Conservation. We join the ranks of other "trampers" — as hikers are locally known — as we make our way past stunning white-sand beaches, sweeping bays, and dense forest.

Our wonderful local guides provide us with an intimate glimpse into the flora and fauna of the area. Along the way, we stop for a picnic lunch on a secluded beach, where we also have the chance to swim in the refreshing Tasman Bay. This afternoon's outing concludes with a water taxi ride to Kaiteriteri Beach before we return to Nelson.

Dinner is on your own to explore one of the many casual, ethnic, or fine dining establishments in Nelson.

Accommodations

Rutherford Hotel Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand

Centrally located in Nelson, the hotel is within easy walking distance of the city’s main shopping streets and the landmark cathedral.

Our transfer today includes a scenic four-hour drive from Nelson. In the morning, we enjoy a lovely walk following a coastal trail through the lush forest reserves around a peninsula with views down the Pelorous Sound. Shaded by a canopy of beech and broadleaf trees, the reserves contain native species including manuka, rimu, kahikatea, and totara.

Following the walk, our drive continues on to Blenheim through productive farm and forest land before giving way to the arid plains of the Wairau Valley.
On arrival in Blenheim, we enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at one of the vineyards in the Marlborough region, world-famous for its beloved wines.

We then make our way to the small town of Kaikoura, our home for the next two night. Kaikoura enjoys a splendid setting abutted by the sea and the Seaward Kaikoura Mountains that nearly reach the shore, and is well-located for exploring the surrounding region.

Tonight, we dine at a local restaurant renowned for its use of seasonal, local ingredients.

Accommodations

The White Morph
Kaikoura, New Zealand

Set on the esplanade in iconic Kaikoura, The White Morph enjoys commanding views of the ocean, to the distant horizon and mountains, and provides easy access to town and all of the region?s many experiences.

Kaikoura is famous for its marine environment thanks to the peninsula south of town that swells the currents upward from the Hikurangi Trench. Dolphins, sperm whales, and sea birds thrive here, feeding on the food that's been buoyed by those currents. This morning, there are several activity options from which to choose.

For those who are interested in having an up-close encounter with wildlife, you may set off on a dolphin encounter, albatross encounter, or whale watching excursion. These activities are at an additional expense and must be booked in advance. Your Trip Planner will have details about how to reserve your spot.

Those who prefer to stay on land may choose to rest and relax or head out for a scenic coastal walk with our guide. We have several options depending on energy levels; we may explore various trails and beaches by foot, while soaking up the majestic beauty of the dramatic Kaikoura peninsula and mountain ranges.

After lunch, we gain insight into the human history of this region through an informative museum tour to learn about early Maori and European whaling history. A local expert offers insight into the region's people, history, and traditions.

Dinner is on our own this evening, a wonderful opportunity to explore Kaikoura independently!

Accommodations

The White Morph
Kaikoura, New Zealand

Set on the esplanade in iconic Kaikoura, The White Morph enjoys commanding views of the ocean, to the distant horizon and mountains, and provides easy access to town and all of the region?s many experiences.

This morning, we leave Kaikoura and transfer to Arthur's Pass (total drive time is about 4 hours). Heading inland we stop for lunch in Oxford, a former logging town and now a quaint village at the edge of the foothills.

We continue our drive into the mountains, arriving at Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass by mid-afternoon. Our afternoon hike traverses basins covered in dry eastern tussock, or snow grass, and southern beech forest.

Afternoon walking options abound, including an easy hike on one of the lodge's private trails with views of the Waimakariri River. For the more adventurous, a climb to the top of a small peak for views of stunning tussock filled basins and the craggy peaks of the Arthur's Pass National Park.

The Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass is situated on a merino sheep station with spectacular mountain views. This evening, we have the option to join the lodge staff for a guided nature walk. Or, on alternate nights, enjoy a tour of the sheep farm and learn about the production of soft merino wool; the lodge farm produces wool for the activewear company, Icebreaker. We stay here for two nights, so you will have the chance to join both early evening tours.

Accommodations

Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass, New Zealand

Nestled in mountain beech forest, midway between Greymouth and Christchurch, Wilderness Lodge Arthur’s Pass offers comfort and warm hospitality in a spectacular mountain setting.

We spend today among the sweeping alpine splendor of New Zealand's wilderness on a challenging and rewarding hike in Arthur's Pass National Park. The park hosts a wide diversity of alpine ecosystems, since it is split by the South Island's main divide. We focus our time on the eastern side, where a drier climate persists, and our hike today will depend on the weather and preference of the group.

The Bealey Spur, a popular destination in the area for its unrivaled views, is a likely option. We can reach the trail by foot from our lodge — winding through evergreen forest to the surrounding paddocks where the Cora Lynn sheep graze as part of the Wilderness Lodge farm.

About twenty minutes of level hiking brings us to the official start of the Bealey Spur trail. The gradual incline traverses mountain-beech forest, tussock grassland, and subalpine scrub, offering sweeping views of the Waimakariri River Valley along the way.

There are several options to stop for a picnic lunch with panoramic views of the impressive Southern Alps. For those who are feeling ambitious, we may continue on to the Bealey Spur hut, otherwise we return to the lodge for an afternoon of relaxation.

Before dinner at the lodge, we have time to rest or read up on David McLeod. McLeod, who owned the sheep station for nearly 50 years, was a writer who made this part of the South Island's high country famous in his many books.

Accommodations

Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass
Arthur's Pass, New Zealand

Nestled in mountain beech forest, midway between Greymouth and Christchurch, Wilderness Lodge Arthur’s Pass offers comfort and warm hospitality in a spectacular mountain setting.

If weather permits, we begin today with an invigorating hike across the main divide of the Southern Alps. Setting out from the village of Arthur's Pass — a sleepy outpost of 30 residents that only receives one hour of sunlight per day in mid-winter — we ascend to Devil's Punchbowl, a cascading waterfall fed by the snowmelt of the Southern Alps.

We then retrace our steps briefly, before heading up the Arthur's Pass walking trail, through hobbit-like forests, and then emerging into a high-alpine valley with impressive views of Temple Basin (a local ski area) and Avalanche Peak.

We enjoy a scenic picnic lunch alongside an icy cold mountain stream.
After lunch, we ascend the final bit of the track to Arthur's Pass divide for some fantastic views of the surrounding peaks (please note that this hike is not possible in inclement weather, in which case we will hike an alternate route).

Following our hike, we take a scenic drive (about 1.5 hours) west to Lake Brunner, which is famous for trout fishing and surrounded by densely forested hills. As we journey toward the Tasman Sea, the climate transforms into sub-tropical.

We arrive at our hotel for the next two nights, situated amongst the wilderness and stunning scenery of the region.

Accommodations

Punakaiki Resort
Punakaiki, New Zealand

Situated on New Zealand’s wild West Coast, and just south of the famous Pancakes Rocks and Blowholes, the resort is surrounded by the Paparoa National Park and is only a stone’s throw from the beach.

Depending on the tides, we start with a walk on an easy paved trail that enables close up views of limestone stacks and blowholes. These unique geoligic formations are made up of heavily eroded limestone that has formed vertical shafts, known locally as the Pancake Rocks of Punakaiki National Park.

Afterward. we hike the Punakaiki-Porarari Rivers Loop, a moderate hike through spectacular limestone canyons clothed in sub-tropical forests that contain New Zealand's single endemic species of palm, the Nikau.

We encounter interesting stacks of karst limestone boulders in the river that were once part of the canyon roof. As we enjoy the stunning coastal views, we may see the rare Westland Petrel taking flight. We end at the Punakaiki Tavern, a local pub with excellent fish & chips and tasty microbrews.

After lunch, we walk along an easy paved trail that provides close up views of limestone stacks and blowholes. These unique geologic formations are vertical shafts of heavily eroded limestone. As the high tide rushes in and under the rocks, geysers of sea water burst through the holes.

We return to our lovely accommodations for a bit of time to relax ahead of dinner together this evening.

Accommodations

Punakaiki Resort
Punakaiki, New Zealand

Situated on New Zealand’s wild West Coast, and just south of the famous Pancakes Rocks and Blowholes, the resort is surrounded by the Paparoa National Park and is only a stone’s throw from the beach.

Following an early breakfast, we begin our transfer to Lake Moeraki. En route, we stop at the delightful coastal town of Hokitika, home to artists and New Zealand jade carvers. We then enjoy a moderate hike at Okarito, wetlands that support more than 70 species of native birds, including the Okarito kiwi, white heron, and royal spoonbill.

Following the Wetland Walk and Three Mile Track across a forest-covered glacial moraine, we ascend a gentle climb on a well-defined trail to a high point known as the Okarito Trig viewpoint.

From here, we take in astonishing vistas of lagoons, beaches, and snow-covered mountains of Aoraki Mount Cook and Westland National Parks. From Okarito Trig, we get a sense of the scale of Te Wahi Pounamu South Westland UNESCO World Heritage Site — the combined areas of four national parks — which makes up about 10% of New Zealand's total land mass.

We spend the next two nights at Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki, situated in the heart of 6.4 million-acre Te Wahi Pounamu South Westland near spectacular beaches that harbor fur seals and Fiordland crested penguins. Here, untouched lowland rainforests lie between pristine lakes and rivers that drain the snow-capped Southern Alps. The lodge is nestled in a lakeside clearing surrounded by 1,000-year-old trees and lovely Moeraki rapids.

Accommodations

Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki
Hokitika, New Zealand

The lodge offers a high level of comfort in attractive rooms with lounges and a restaurant that overlook the lovely Moeraki rapids. Radiating from the lodge is a network of rainforest and Tasman seacoast walks.

We have many options today for exploring this UNESCO World Heritage area. For those who would like a peaceful start, we glide through the quiet water of Lake Moeraki by kayak (no experience necessary).

Our guides provide basic instruction in our stable boats before we paddle upriver for one hour through magnificent rainforest to enter the shallow wetlands of Lake Moeraki.

After returning to the lodge for lunch, we have the option to venture a bit farther afield to discover the dramatic coastline of the Tasman Sea. On this wet-footed walk, we scramble over beach rocks along the shore in order to see a variety of wildlife — the Fiordland crested penguin, if we are lucky, or even the New Zealand fur seal.

Penguins may only be spotted from August to early December and never guaranteed. We will not see penguins on spring departures.

In Wilderness Lodge style, guests are invited to participate in a short evening forest adventure before or after a well-earned dinner.

Accommodations

Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki
Hokitika, New Zealand

The lodge offers a high level of comfort in attractive rooms with lounges and a restaurant that overlook the lovely Moeraki rapids. Radiating from the lodge is a network of rainforest and Tasman seacoast walks.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to the wilderness of Lake Moeraki and transfer to Queenstown. We stop to stretch our legs, perhaps on a short walk alongside the mighty Clutha Au River or on the shores of lovely Lake Wanaka.

Lunch is free to enjoy independently in Wanaka, then we'll enjoy a to a wine tasting as a group at a local vineyard en route to Queenstown where we toast our adventures together.

You will be transferred to your hotel in Queenstown between 5:00 and 6:00 this evening.

It is best that all of our guests stay in Queenstown for at least one night at the end of the trip. If you choose to extend your stay in and around Queenstown, you'll find many other ways to experience the South Island. Options include joining an excursion to the beautiful Milford or Doubtful Sound, bungee-jumping, or sampling the vintages at some of the central Otago wineries. If you'd like to spend more time hiking, we suggest walking the Milford Track or Routeburn Track, two routes that tread through spectacular scenery. Both walks require advance booking to confirm dates that line up with the end of our tour.