Wakatipu area offers many short and longer walks of all grades, from mountain tops climbs to lakeside strolls, all with spectacular views. Having few days spare we decided to dwell on the beauty of the area while doing little walking and having lot of time for admiring and resting.
Remote wilderness, long river valleys, high mountains, majestic glaciers, clear alpine lakes in a New Zealand’s third largest national park. It’s hikers paradise with large number of short and long hikes offering breath-taking range of landscapes.
Having done few multi day tramping trips in the north of the South Island, we decided to move bit more to the south of New Zealand. We split the way into few sections stopping in some places for a day or two. We took this opportunity to do few short, one-day walks, without heavy backpacks on.
Kahurangi National Park is the New Zealand’s second-largest national park. In the Maori language, Kahurangi means ‘treasured possession’, which explains its diversity of land forms, native plants and unique species of birds. Much of the area is untracked wilderness with exceptional landscapes, the oldest rocks, shafts and sinkholes, remote river gorges, alpine herb fields and tussock plateaus.
Abel Tasman Coast Walk is one of the premier Great Walks of New Zealand. It’s easily accessible, well laid out and well-marked, with many huts and campsites offering the possibility for shorter walks for families.
Leaving Wellington for the South Island we didn’t have the slightest idea what we will be doing next. Sitting at the ferry terminal in Picton, waiting for the city to wake up, reading leaflets and looking at the map we came up with an idea to walk Queen Charlotte Track.
Acclaimed as one of the best one day walks in New Zealand, the Tongariro Alpine crossing attracts many tourists. On a good-weather day there can be as many as 2 thousands people walking the trail, majority starting at the Mangatepopo Car Park on the west side.
We decided to explore the volcanic area of New Zealand which is known for its geothermal features and activity. We went for a visit to Waimangu Volcanic Valley, the youngest geothermal area in the world crated as result of a volcanic eruption.
We wanted try something different in our travels, we came up with an idea to cycle in New Zealand. Just for short time. We weren’t sure if it’s going to work for us, but we wanted to have a go. The plan was easy, buy two bicycles and a trailer in Auckland, cycle around the North Island and then sell the bikes.
