South Island Roadtrip
The adventure island plays home to the most picturesque and remote mountains that shine through all conditions. Pack your gloves it’s time to explore the South Island.
Flying into Queenstown’s famously scenic airport has you on one of the most picturesque approaches through the Southern Alps that one could only dream of. When checking in you would be crazy not to ask for a window seat for the stunning view of those snow capped peaks. Although small in size the beautiful South Island is the Southern Hemispheres adventure capital with the worlds first commercial bungy jump, high speed jet boats, heli skydiving and so much more! Driving through this wonderland has you in awe with endless green rolling mountains and glassy lakes scattered through out.
7am. 8 degrees. You could be forgiven for thinking it’s winter here in Wanaka. Morning dips in the lake might leave you with frost bite but it is deep into summer and the hills are calling my name no matter what the temperature.
Roy’s Peak is the first stop just outside of Queenstown, 7kms of continues uphill goat trails leads you to one of the most eye catching views of the region. Sitting at 1,578m this hike will be one to remember!
They do say the best things in life are free and this sure does live upto that statement, making for a perfect entrance into the South Island of New Zealand.
No stop to this part of the world would be complete without a heart racing jump from one of AJ Hacketts Bungy locations. Famous for being the first commercial jump location on the globe this is one to tick off the bucket list before leaving! Once you have been dunked in the fresh waters below make sure to go for a jet boat ride and see just how far you can push the limits. Still have some adrenalin left? Jumping out of a helicopter at 15,000 feet should cure that with only a parachute strapped to your back heading towards the ground at over 200km/h.
Once you head North up the coast line make sure to stop in at Franz Joseph for a glacier hike. While being dropped off by helicopter this requires perfect conditions to explore the glacial caves. Unfortunately every time I have visited, the chopper has never once got the all clear for take off so best of luck and may the weather be in your favour!
Even when the whether gods aren’t helping you out a trip to the Blue Pools is something worth getting off the beaten path for, jumping into the water isn’t for the faint hearted with it’s freezing cold temperatures.
New Zealand is one of the best ‘Free Camping’ spots in the world. Allowing you to pretty much pull your self contained van over anywhere and call it home for the night, not costing you a single cent. This gives you the freedom to find camp sites away form the hustle and bustle with no light pollution, giving you the opportunity to see each and every star at night.
Heading towards the tip of the South Island opens up a whole new bag of adventures. Kayaking through the Abel Tasman’s pristine waters will give you a first hand look at how a country can stay so clean and pure while still remaining a hot spot for holidayers. If you have the time a few days should be kept aside to set up camp for a few nights after a long day paddling these beautiful spots.
Don’t worry I haven’t forgotten about those who rather keep a drink in hand and test the liver rather than their lungs paddling around, although you might want to warm the legs up still… Winery bike tours through Blenheim are one not to pass up. Riding between vineyards has never been so much fun, especially after a few reds. Taste what the country is famous for with some of the best drops around.
When boarding the Interlander from Picton across to Wellington in the North Island make sure to keep your camera handy, the ride through Queen Charlotte Sounds is truely one of the best boat rides you will ever witness. Words can not do this beauty justice so you will just have to go and experience it for yourself.
Make sure to take your time and allow for extra stops when driving through the South Island as there are so many waterfalls and national parks worth stopping in for. I loved my time hiring a Jucy Van and would defiantly recommend doing the same.
