Travel with us!
Beyond Voyage
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Destinations
  • Gallery
  • Pack
  • Tunes
  • About

Two Week New Zealand Itinerary

7/13/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Imagine a land green & blue, with massive mountains, deep fjords and dramatic beaches. The people are friendly, the coffee is strong , the tourists seek thrills and shoes are optional.  When you first step foot in New Zealand the air smells distinctly sweet, perhaps a sign that you've arrived in Mother Nature's darling creation.

I'm dedicating the next few posts to New Zealand because I have received several inquiries about it lately and realized that BV is severely lacking coverage on one of my favorite destinations!  

Chris and I spent two weeks in New Zealand a few years ago over the New Years holiday.  We flew Air New Zealand from Boston to Auckland (connecting in Los Angeles) and it was, hands down one of the best flying experiences.  We spent our layover in LA, outdoors on Santa Monica pier and then slept most of the eleven hour journey to Auckland.  It was one of the few times I woke up refreshed and rested after an international flight. 

We traveled at a fast pace on this trip and used air, ferry and rental car in order to see as much as possible in two weeks.  I highly recommend driving around New Zealand as it's the perfect way to take in all the dramatic scenery.  One doesn't mind driving long distances when the open road looks like this:
Road to Te Anau New Zealand
Our Two Week Itinerary:
Day 1: Drove from Auckland airport to Paihia. Cruised the Bay of Islands in the afternoon.
Day 2: Left for Auckland stopping  at Whangarei falls  on the way. Explored Auckland on foot. 
Day 3: Scenic Drive to Bethell's, Piha and Karekare beaches. Devonport in the evening.
Day 4: Flight to Queenstown; Explored Queenstown, Gondola & Mountain Luge.
Day 5: Queenstown - Nevis Canyon Swing , Shotover Jet Ride and Arrowtown gold mining town. 
Day 6: Drove to Te Anau and hiked part of the Kepler Track. 
Day 7: Te Anau - Milford Sound Boat Cruise & Observatory.
Day 8: Drove back to Queenstown & flew to Christchurch. 
Day 9: Explored Christchurch. Drove through Arthur's Pass, Pancake Rocks arring in Nelson.
Day 10: Hiked Abel Tasman Park all day. 
Day 11: Drove to Picton (Marlborough wine country). Visited vineyards. 
Day 12: Scenic drive along northern coast. 
Day 13: Ferry from Picton to Wellington; dined in Wellington. 
Day 14: Explored Wellington. Departed in the afternoon for the US. 
Highlights:
Our favorite parts of this trip were Queenstown, Abel Tasman Park, Marlborough Wine Country and the Scenic Drive on the North Island. 
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown
Walnut Block Vineyard, Blenheim, Marlborough New Zealand
Walnut Block Vineyards 
What We Would Have Changed: 
The only thing we would have changed about this trip was Christchurch.  We would have skipped it, mainly because the city was empty resulting in an eerie, Twighlight Zone kind of scene. Christchurch had suffered several damaging earthquakes prior to our visit so both residents and businesses had abandoned it for safer cities in the country.  Despite being ridden with cracks and neglected buildings, it was a very pretty city, with well maintained gardens and parks. However, it was not worth going out of your way for a visit.  Also, it's still hazardous.  Just two months after our visit, Christchurch experienced a terrible earthquake that toppled the steeple of the iconic stone cathedral in town center. 
Picture
Christchurch cathedral during our visit in early January 2011
Picture
Christchurch cathedral just a couple months after our visit. Image courtesy of REX.
Instead of Christchurch, I would have driven up the west coast to Franz Josef Glacier.  If you don't fancy long scenic drives, then fly from Queenstown to Nelson and spend the extra day on the north coast of the South Island.

North or South Island
When planning a trip to New Zealand, people often ask me whether to go to the north or south island.  I say visit both if you have the time, since you are traveling pretty far to get there.  But if you MUST choose stick with south.  The South Island offers more landscape diversity - the fjords of Milford Sound, mountains of Queenstown, beaches of Abel Tasman and vineyards of Marlborough. All different. All stunning.

Stay tuned for more coverage on New Zealand including some of my favorite pictures!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    Eva has been traveling for 15+ years, including an 8 month journey around the world.  

    Archives

    October 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Amalfi Coast
    Amazon Rainforest
    Amsterdam
    Argentina
    Art
    Aruba
    Asia
    Austin
    Australia
    Austria
    Award
    Baby
    Bali
    Barcelona
    Beijing
    Belize
    Berlin
    Bogota
    Boston
    Brazil
    BVI
    California
    Cambodia
    Cambridge
    Canada
    Cape Town
    Caribbean
    Cartagena
    Central America
    China
    Colombia
    Connecticut
    Costa Rica
    Cuba
    Culinary Delights
    Cusco
    Europe
    Family
    Family Travel
    Flights
    Florence
    Florida
    Food
    France
    Germany
    Hawaii
    Hong Kong
    Hotels/resorts
    Iceland
    Indonesia
    Ireland
    Italy
    Itineraries
    Lake Titicaca
    Live Like A Local
    Luxury
    Machu Picchu
    Maine
    Malaysia
    Massachusetts
    Mexico
    Nantucket
    New England
    New York
    New Zealand
    North Carolina
    Pacific Northwest
    Pack
    Paris
    Peru
    Pisa
    Planning
    Prague
    Provence
    Puerto Rico
    Puno
    Rhode Island
    Rincon
    Rome
    Rtw Trip
    Safar
    Safari
    Shanghai
    Sharks
    South Africa
    South America
    Spain
    Switzerland
    Thailand
    Travel Education
    Travel Tips
    Tunes
    Turkey
    Usa
    Vermont
    Washington
    Where To Stay

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.