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 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 of Nelson, Tasman Bay, and mountains beyond.

Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant and stay in Nelson's historic hotel, the Rutherford, popular with hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

Today we journey by private van about an hour and a half to scenic Marahau, a small settlement on Tasman Bay. Once 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.

We are in the capable hands of local guides who 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. Our rewarding outing concludes with a water taxi ride to Kaiteriteri Beach before we return to Nelson (please note that the route we hike today will depend on the tides).

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

Our transfer today includes a scenic four-hour drive from Nelson. In the morning we visit a historic Marlborough Sounds farm to explore a unique forest and marine coastal reserve. We enjoy a scenic walk following a coastal trail through the lush forest reserves of the Marlborough Sounds region. 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 coastal villages, providing glimpses of the Pelorous Sound, one of the Marlborough Sounds.

On arrival in Blenheim, we have the opportunity to visit the world-famous Marlborough vineyards for lunch and a tasting of some of New Zealand's beloved wines. We then make our way to the small town of Kaikoura which enjoys a splendid setting, abutted by the sea and by the Seaward Kaikoura Mountains that reach very nearly to the shore. Our accommodations for the next two nights are in the village of Kaikoura, well-located for exploring the surrounding region.

Tonight we dine at a local restaurant renowned for meals produced from seasonal, local ingredients.

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 choose to 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. After you reserve, your Trip Planner will provide more 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. Options abound, and 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 Maori people of the region through an informative museum tour. We learn about the region's indigenous tribes, customs, social structure, and traditions that still define the local culture today.

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

This morning we leave Kaikoura and transfer to Arthur's Pass (total drive time is about 3.5 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 into the mountains, stopping at Kura Tawhiti Castle Hill to stretch our legs. Our afternoon hike traverses basins covered in dry eastern tussock, or snow grass, southern beech forest, and limestone boulders. Afternoon walking options abound, including an easy hike amongst stunning limestone boulders, or 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 Craigieburn and Torlesse Ranges.

We arrive later at the Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass, 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 active wear company, Icebreaker. We stay here for two nights, so you will have the chance to join both early evening tours.

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 bring 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.

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, where you can dip your feet or take a refreshing plunge!

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

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

We start today with a drive to Paparoa National Park on the Tasman Sea coast. An easy paved trail enables close up views of limestone stacks and blowholes. These unique geologic formations are made up of heavily eroded limestone that has formed vertical shafts. As the high tide rushes in and under the rocks, geysers of sea water burst through the holes.

Afterward, we hike the Punakaiki-Porarari Rivers Loop, a moderate hike through spectacular limestone canyons clothed in sub-tropical forests containing 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 conclude our hike at the Punakaiki Tavern, a local pub that serves some excellent fish & chips, and of course tasty microbrews.

After lunch, we follow the coast on foot back to our starting point, then return to our lovely accommodations for dinner this evening.

Following an early breakfast, we begin our transfer to Lake Moeraki. En route we enjoy a moderate hike at Okarito, home to 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 then 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, ancient forest-covered glacial moraines, 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 the Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki, in the heart of Te Wahi Pounamu South Westland, situated near spectacular beaches that harbor fur seals and crested penguins. Here, untouched lowland rainforests lie between pristine lakes and rivers that drain the snow-capped Southern Alps. The lodge sits in the heart of the 6.4 million-acre World Heritage Area, nestled in a lakeside clearing surrounded by 1,000-year-old trees and lovely Moeraki rapids. The sister lodge to Wilderness Lodge Arthur's Pass, Lake Moeraki offers a unique South Westland rainforest experience surrounded by true wilderness.

We have a few options as to how we would like explore Te Wahi Pounamu South Westland World Heritage Site today. The best way to experience Lake Moeraki and its surroundings is on foot and by kayak. For those of us who would like a peaceful start, we explore the quiet water of Lake Moeraki by kayak. Our guides give us 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, there will be an 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 (August to early December only), or even the New Zealand fur seal. For the more adventurous hikers, there is the option to go on a true "tramp" on the Haast Paringa Cattle Track, the main route used before the current road was completed in 1965, that takes you up to a back country hut, with a narrow suspension bridge to cross over one of the main rivers feeding into Lake Moeraki.

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

After breakfast, we bid farewell to the wilderness of Lake Moeraki and transfer by road to Queenstown. Along the way, we pause to stretch our legs in Wanaka to stroll through the town or enjoy a short walk up Mt. Iron. We are free to enjoy lunch on our own in Wanaka before partaking in a wine tasting just outside of town at a local vineyard where we toast our adventures together.

You will be transferred to your hotel between 5:30 and 6:00 or to the airport if you are flying out that evening.

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, walk the Milford Track or Routeburn Track, two routes that tread through spectacular scenery.