New Zealand

Every Stop

1. 1ChristchurchCanterbury
   Fly in, pick up the van, and head north.
2. 2BlenheimMarlborough
   The base for the Marlborough wine country.
   Where to stay Vintners Retreat · Misty Cove
3. 3Rock FerryMarlborough
   Cellar door tour and tasting. The cellar door has since closed.
   Rock Ferry →
4. 4Wither HillsMarlborough
   Lunch and tasting.
   Wither Hills →
5. 5PictonMarlborough Sounds
   Brunch on the waterfront, then the ferry into Queen Charlotte Sound.
   Picton →
6. 6Furneaux LodgeEndeavour Inlet
   Reachable only by boat. Sea kayaking, the Queen Charlotte Track, paddle boarding, fishing and mountain biking.
   Furneaux Lodge →
7. 7Allan ScottMarlborough
   Bistro lunch among the vines.
   Allan Scott →
8. 8Cloudy BayMarlborough
   Tasting and cheese platters.
   Cloudy Bay →
9. 9Wairau River WinesMarlborough
   Garden lunch.
   Wairau River Wines →
10. 10Nautilus EstateMarlborough
    Afternoon tasting.
    Nautilus Estate →
11. 11Saint ClairMarlborough
    Vineyard kitchen lunch.
    Saint Clair →
12. 12GreymouthWest Coast
    The crossing point to the West Coast, and the Monteith’s brewery.
    Greymouth →Where to stay Goldfield Suites
13. 13Hokitika GorgeWest Coast
    A two-kilometre walk to turquoise water and a swing bridge.
    Hokitika Gorge →
14. 14West Coast Treetop Walknear Hokitika
    A twenty-metre-high steel walkway through the rimu canopy.
    West Coast Treetop Walk →
15. 15Franz JosefWest Coast
    The glacier village, in rainforest under the Southern Alps.
    Where to stay Rainforest RetreatAlso Monsoon Bar · Douglas Walk · Peters Pool
16. 16Franz Josef GlacierKā Roimata o Hine Hukatere
    Guided ice climbing on the glacier, and a valley walk to the terminal face.
    Franz Josef Glacier →Also Franz Josef Glacier Guides
17. 17Te Koha AotearoaFranz Josef
    Carve and grind your own pounamu jade.
    Te Koha Aotearoa →
18. 18West Coast Wildlife CentreFranz Josef
    New Zealand’s rarest kiwi, and the breeding programme bringing it back.
    West Coast Wildlife Centre →
19. 19Lake MathesonWest Coast
    The mirror lake, with Aoraki and Tasman reflected on a still morning.
    Lake Matheson →Also Lake Matheson Café
20. 20WanakaOtago
    Lakefront town under the Southern Alps.
    Where to stay Wānaka Homestead · Altamont LodgeAlso Southern Lakes Fishing · WanaFusion · Paloma
21. 21Ruby IslandLake Wanaka
    A short boat ride from the lakefront, then a hike around the island.
    Ruby Island →
22. 22Diamond Lakenear Wanaka
    An hour-long loop above the lake, with a longer climb to the lookout.
    Diamond Lake →Also Lake Wānaka Lookout Track
23. 23Treble ConeMount Aspiring Road
    Tandem paragliding off the ridge.
    Treble Cone →
24. 24RipponLake Wanaka
    Tasting on the terraces above the lake.
    Rippon →
25. 25Akarua Wines & KitchenQueenstown
    Brunch in the vineyards between Arrowtown and the airport.
    Akarua Wines & Kitchen →
26. 26Te AnauFiordland
    The gateway town to Fiordland.
    Where to stay Tasman Holiday Parks
27. 27Milford SoundFiordland
    A cruise the length of the fiord, and the underwater observatory.
    Milford Sound →Also Mirror Lakes
28. 28Te Anau Glowworm CavesFiordland
    A boat across the lake, then a punt through the limestone caves.
    Te Anau Glowworm Caves →
29. 29CromwellCentral Otago
    The halfway stop on the long drive to the Mackenzie.
    Cromwell →
30. 30Lake TekapoMackenzie Country
    Hot pools, and a dark sky reserve overhead.
    Lake Tekapo →Where to stay Lakes Edge Kiwi Baches
31. 31Aoraki / Mount CookMackenzie Country
    The Glacier Explorer boat among the icebergs, and the Hooker Valley Track.
    Aoraki / Mount Cook →Also The Hermitage · Hooker Valley Track · Kea Point Track
32. 32Christchurch Botanic GardensCanterbury
    Riverside gardens beside the university.
    Christchurch Botanic Gardens →
33. 33Lyttelton HarbourChristchurch
    The gondola over the Port Hills to the harbour.
    Lyttelton Harbour →