Wilderness New Zealand Travel Itinerary - Attractions & Accommodation

The following is a sample travel itinerary if your fortunate to be spending about a week traveling through the South Island of New Zealand. Make the most of your time in NZ and experience a wilderness New Zealand holiday. The attractions and accommodation listed below should be a good starting point for your holiday.

Day 1: Walk part of the Routeburn Track to viewpoint across Fiordland mountains. 3 hours walking. Continue to Queenstown. For the next two nights you gain a taste of genuine “Kiwi” (New Zealand) lifestyle by staying in private homes in and around Queenstown. Other Queenstown accommodation is also available.

Day 2: Full day in Queenstown, Choice of climbing Ben Lomond (5730ft/1900m), or rafting, jetboat ride, shopping, and bungy jumping. Your homestay hosts can assist with arranging optional activities.

Day 3: During the traverse of the Southern Alps via Haast Pass you stop for a short walk in Aspiring National Park, before entering the South Westland World Heritage Area. A spectacular walk follows a truly wild coastline where seals and, depending on the season, penguins can be observed. It’s about 4 hours walking. You may spend the evening fishing or canoeing. There are a number of motels and hotels to stay the evening.

Day 4: Another walk through low-land rainforest takes you to a secluded beach. 2 hours walking. Travel to Fox Glacier, the heart of Westland National Park. Walk around the world famous Lake Matheson, reflecting Mounts Cook and Tasman in the evening sun. 2 hours walking. Stay at a local motel for the night.

Day 5: A full day is spent in Westland National Park with a fine selection of day hikes: a visit to the Fox Glacier terminal, 1 hour walking; a climb of “Cone Rock”, a bush covered monolith with great views of the glacier, 3 hours walking; Gillespies Beach and visit to the seal colony, 3 hours walking and canoeing. Optional: 3 hour glacier excursion; full day climb of ice-covered Chancellor Dome 6526ft/1990m.

Day 6: Travel via Franz Josef Glacier along the West Coast. An historic pack track leads to magnificent viewpoint of coast, lagoons, low-land forests and the Southern Alps. 4 hours walking. Drive on to Hokitika.

Day 7: Walk through impressive limestone gorge in Paparoa National Park and visit the famous “Pancake Rocks and Blowholes”. 4 hours walking. Travel on to Arthur’s Pass National Park.

Day 8: Explore alpine vegetation and beech forests before heading east to the dry tussock land of Canterbury. 3-4 hours walking. At “Castle Hill” walk through bizarre limestone formations. 2 hour walking. The more adventurous can join the rushing waters of “Cave Stream”. 1 hour caving.

This concludes our wilderness walking holiday through New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes. New Zealand accommodation is available in most towns and suburbs with a population of at least a few hundred people.