Accommodation

Accommodation on this trip is on twin share basis, and single travellers are paired with someone of the same gender. Please note that due to limited accommodation options in some of the destinations on this trip the group will stay in twin room accommodation with shared facilities. Hotel (5 nights), Motel (1 night)

Others

Reefton - Historic Town Visit Reefton - Goldfields Museum with Local Storyteller Reefton - Billy Tea with ’The Bearded Miners’ Punakaiki - Pancake Rocks & Blowholes Walk Kumara - Glow Worm Cave Visit Charleston - Nile River Gorge Rainforest Train Ride Westport - Seal Colony at Tauranga Bay Westport - Cape Foulwind Walkway & Lighthouse Hokitika - Gorge Visit Okarito - Okarito Lagoon Walk Fox Glacier - Lake Matheson Walk

Guide

All group trips in New Zealand are accompanied by one of our group leaders who will also be the driver. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Transport

Private Vehicle

Not included:

Meals

6 breakfasts

Optional

Other activities and services are not included.

Flights

Flights are not included.

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Christchurch / Reefton / Westport
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Christchurch / Reefton / Westport

Welcome to your Intrepid exploration of the South Island! Your adventure begins in Christchurch, where a welcome meeting will take place at 8am for you to meet up with your local leader and fellow travellers. After your meeting, it’s time to hit the road, first heading to Hanmer Springs in the Lewis Pass national reserve. Check out the natural hot pools surrounded by greenery as the snow dusted peaks of the Southern Alps look on. You can even opt to take a dip. Next up, travel to Reefton, a tiny town that punches above its size. Step back in time and meet a local story-teller, learning about the town’s gold mining past, the miners’ families, the storekeepers, and embrace the Cornish influence. You’ll even have the opportunity to see the water powered gold stamping battery working. Head into the town centre proper where you’ll meet the ’bearded miners’ for a cup of manuka enhanced black billy tea and to watch the technique of gold panning. Finally, drive through the spectacular Buller Gorge to the town of Westport and perhaps round off the day with a group dinner.
Day 2 Day 2: Tauranga Bay / Charleston / Punakaiki / Kumara
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Tauranga Bay / Charleston / Punakaiki / Kumara

Start your day with a stop at the wild Cape Foulwind and admire incredible views of the mountains and rugged coastline. The headland is home to a fur seal breeding colony so keep your eyes peeled, they can easily blend in with the rocks! Continue to Charleston this morning to join a train ride in open carriages through primeval rain forest. ‘The Nile River Rainforest Train’ recreates a bygone era where bush trams once prevailed. Experience the spectacular wilderness of the Nile River Canyon in Paparoa National Park. Next up is Punakaiki, a town with less than 100 residents, but famed for its so-called Pancake Rocks. These layers of fossilised animals and plants, formed over 30 million years ago, were thrust above the surface by the moving earth and sculpted by wind and water. At high tide the sea is forced through blowholes in the limestone to burst metres into the air – it’s an entertaining sight! Continue to Kumara, a former goldrush town with an intriguing history (this little place was the home of New Zealand’s longest serving Prime Minister!). On arrival, settle into your hotel, then head out to meet the town’s brightest residents. Just behind your hotel, you’ll find dazzling glow worms lighting up old mineshafts. Once the sun has gone down, be sure to look up. With very little light pollution, the stargazing in Kumara is absolutely out of this world (literally!).
Day 3 Day 3: Hokitika / Okarito Lagoon / Fox Glacier
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Hokitika / Okarito Lagoon / Fox Glacier

Today begins with a visit to the Hokitika Gorge, one of the West Coast’s most stunning spots. Shimmering turquoise waters wreathed with lush native bush make a sight to remember. Then it’s on to the Okarito Lagoon, alive with the calls of over 70 unique species of birds. Head out on a nature walk culminating in a lookout point from which, on a clear day, you can enjoy an unbeatable view over Westland (Tai Poutini) National Park from the snow-capped Southern Alps (Ka Tiritiri o te Moana) across extensive native forest to the lagoons and beaches of the coast. Continue your journey south to the Fox Glacier township, your gateway to the dramatic and enormous Fox Glacier and your base for the evening.
Day 4 Day 4: Fox Glacier
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Fox Glacier

Kick off the day with a gentle walk around the glittering Lake Matheson, dubbed the ‘mirror lake’ for its dark waters which perfectly reflect the towering Southern Alps – if you take one picture of your West Coast adventure, this should be it! The rest of the day is yours to make the most of what this amazing slice of the country has to offer. Perhaps take a shuttle back to Franz Joseph Glacier or you may want to visit a pounamu (greenstone) workshop and learn how to carve your own original piece. Alternatively you can book a helicopter ride up to the glaciers, with the potential to add on a hike through the spectacular landscape. There’s also no shortage of interesting walks and cosy pubs if you fancy a more low-key afternoon – have a chat to your leader about your options for the day.
Day 5 Day 5: Wanaka
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Wanaka

Make tracks for Wanaka, making plenty of interesting stops along the way. First up is Ship Creek, where you’ll take a walk through quintessentially rugged West Coast scenery. You can either walk through shady swamp forest, or explore windswept sand dunes and coastal forest. Then it’s on to Mt Aspiring National Park. Make the short walk to the incredible Thunder Creek Falls, featuring an impressive 96-metre-tall cascade. Arrive in Wanaka and enjoy an evening at leisure.
Day 6 Day 6: Wanaka
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Wanaka

With Lake Wanaka as the star of the show and surrounding mountains only complimenting its beauty, there’s no doubt this is one of the most attractive towns in New Zealand. Today is completely free for you to enjoy the surroundings of Wanaka, and there’s certainly no shortage of amazing things to see and do here, so be sure to chat to your leader for their top tips. You may like to take a pleasant bike ride along the shores of Lake Wanaka or get on the water and cruise to Mou Waho Island, where you’ll find an island in a lake on an island in a lake! There are heaps of beautiful short walks in the area, and a visit to the famous #thatwanakatree is a must. Or simply find a cosy cafe to admire the view.
Day 7 Day 7: Queenstown
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Queenstown

Depart Wanaka this morning and drive through the magnificent scenery of the Crown Range. Arrive in Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, in the late morning (approximately 10:30am), at which point your West Coast adventure will come to an end.

7 days tour

New Zealand West Coast Adventure

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip New Zealand West Coast Adventure

Day 1: Christchurch / Reefton / Westport

Day 2: Tauranga Bay / Charleston / Punakaiki / Kumara

Day 3: Hokitika / Okarito Lagoon / Fox Glacier

Day 4: Fox Glacier

Day 5: Wanaka

Day 6: Wanaka

Day 7: Queenstown

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