NEW ZEALAND
13-Days Itinerary - South Island
Part 1: Day 1 to Day 4
Hello fellow traveller!
New Zealand comprises two major landmasses – North Island and South Island. Over here we will be covering the most exciting parts of the South Island. New Zealand adds an adventure twist to nature. A country of stunning and diverse natural beauty: jagged mountains, rolling pasture land, steep fiords, pristine trout-filled lakes, raging rivers, scenic beaches.
This will be Part 1 of the 3 posts that will bring around New Zealand South Island. We’ve created a custom google map and an excel file of all the places covered here. From there, you will able to see the duration it takes to travel from one location to the other. Of course, you can tweak the itineraries to your own preferences. Please request it in the “Contact” section and we will send it over to you.
Make sure to read this post: New Zealand (General Info) to get background of what to expect in New Zealand.
Day 1: Settle down, rest and get ready for the adventures ahead
After a long flight, we are going to take the first day nice and easy to prepare ourselves for the adventures ahead.
After arriving at the airport, get the data sim card because you are going to use Google map to navigate around (Make sure to download the offline map in Google map as a backup plan because not all areas are covered by network).
From Queenstown airport, take the shuttle bus to the car rental shops near the airport. There are many car rental companies, we book ours from Apex car rental. After this, you can stop by a nearby groceries shop to get some necessities, Countdown and Fresh Choice are the 2 biggest groceries chain throughout New Zealand.
Thereafter, check in to the super amazing Airbnb!
Super awesome Airbnb!
For the next 4 nights, we stayed at Highlands Lake House in Queenstown. The view of this place is amazing, the best we’ve experienced from all our travels. You get to enjoy view from within the living room through the full glass panels and the huge balcony is the prefect place to have a glass of wine and chill.
Nothing beats coming back to such a wonderful place after a long day out exploring Queenstown.
Day 2: Skydiving and Arrowtown
Nzone Skydiving
Let the adventure begin!
Queenstown is the adrenaline capital of the world. There are activities for everyone out there.
Firstly, lets take the leap of faith and jump off a plane. Skydiving is on many people’s bucket list. And you can enjoy the breathtaking view of Queenstown at the same time.
Some of the few questions we had in mind when booking the activities were; when and where is the best time and place to do the activities? Our advise is to book the earliest slot available, as most of the activities are outdoor and weather dependent. So in the event of a cancellation, at least you will be the first to get to decide for a reschedule on another day.
The other question on where should you skydive, the answer is it depends on what kind of view do you like? Different location offer different view. Queenstown’s beauty is the huge Lake of Wakatipu set in between the Southern Alps as seen in the photos. Your second opinion is the town, Wanaka which offers the view of Lake Wanaka, Mount Aspiring, Treble Cone and Cardrona ski resorts. The third opinion will be doing it at Franz Josef, the highest place you can skydive in New Zealand. You get to see snow capped mountain and the glaciers.
Arrowtown
Arrowtown is a historic gold mining town. There are many well preserved buildings used by European and Chinese immigrants dating from the gold mining days of the town. This was the country’s biggest gold strike, and led to a rapid influx of foreign miners to the area.
Nowadays, you will see people sieving for gold along the river. You might want to join in, maybe you can pay your whole holiday trip when you discover that piece of gold nugget.
Day 3: Jetboating, Gondola and luge ride
Skipper’s Canyon Jet
The famous place to do jetboating in Queenstown is Shotover Jet. But we’re recommending the Skipper’s Canyon Jet because you get to drive through the Skipper’s Canyon Road. One of the most dangerous place to drive in the world, your car insurance do not cover when you have accident in this area. Therefore, you have to hire experience drivers to make the journey.
Skippers Road, a narrow, winding, and exhilaratingly treacherous pathway that clings to the side of Skippers Canyon, which drops vertically to the Shotover River.
After the exciting ride, you will get to experience jetboating. A jet boat ride will take you powering through narrow river gorges, almost brushing against sheer rock faces and doing 360 turns.
Skyline Gondola and luge ride
Right at the heart of Queenstown, you can take a gondola ride up to have a panoramic view of the city. Up here you can take the luge ride and enjoy the view.
We will recommend to come up here around 3pm to enjoy the luge ride in daylight, then enjoy the sunset and night view.
There is a buffet restaurant up here but we will not recommend it as it’s too expensive and you can get better food in the town.
Day 4: Bungy! Yes, Bungy jump! And scenic drive to Glenorchy
Bungy jump
This is definitely not for the faint hearted. AJ Hackett is the world famous brand for bungy jumping or any of that sorts. In Queenstown, the famous ones to attempt are the Nevis Bungy and Nevis Swing. The Nevis Bungy is the highest in New Zealand at 134 metres and 8.5 seconds free fall. The platform is suspended by high-tension cords, which are fixed at both ends on either side of the Nevis River valley. Its glass floor allows spectators to watch others jump.
They also offers other kinds of bungy in other areas of Queenstown. Like one that lets you touch the water and also other one that allows you to jump off in any kind of styles.
Bungy jump is a must do in New Zealand and it is definitely the scariest thing we ever did.
Glenorchy
Glenorchy is a true beauty of New Zealand. The scenic drive brings you through magnificent snow-capped mountains, pristine lakes and rivers, ancient beech forests and at the edge of Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks.
Spend the rest of the evening here just soaking up nature. Enjoy the rare beauty of the scenery and take slow stroll along the lake.