Rod & Debi drive New Zealand's Te Wai Pounamu (South Island)

Think jaw-dropping scenery, exhilarating adventures, indulgent relaxation, the best local cuisine, and a thousand hidden spots to discover.

There are few places in the world with a plethora of stunning scenery all in once destination, and New Zealand's South Island is one of them. Home to the snow-capped heights of the Southern Alps, sun-drenched coasts and the beautiful landscapes famous from The Lord of the Rings films, this island is "sweet-as" (a visual delight).

This comprehensive self-drive tour carves a figure 8 through Mackenzie Country to Otago and Dunedin. A detailed exploration of Fiordland National Park with an overnight stay on-board the Fiordland Navigator at Doubtful Sound before heading north to Queenstown.

We then follow the Southern Alps through Lake Tekapo and Hanmer Springs before heading to the east coast and Kaikoura. We will visit the Marlborough wine region and the golden sands of Abel Tasman National Park before turning south along the wild-west coast.

To complete the journey we return to Christchurch on board the Tranz Alpine Scenic Train.

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Trip Length: 3 weeks
Blog Entries: 16
Photos: 144
Words: 11073

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Blog Entries

Date	Blog Title	Location
September 9th 2013	Depart Brisbane	Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Brisbane
September 10th 2013	Christchurch to Akaroa	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch
September 11th 2013	Akaroa to Oamaru	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Akaroa
September 12th 2013	Oamaru to Dunedin	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Oamaru
September 14th 2013	Dunedin to Te Anau	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Dunedin
September 15th 2013	Te Anau to Milford Sound	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Fiordland National Park » Te Anau
September 16th 2013	Te Anau to Doubtful Sound	Oceania » New Zealand
September 17th 2013	Doubtful Sound/ Manapouri to Queenstown	Oceania » New Zealand
September 19th 2013	Queenstown to Wanaka and Lake Tekapo	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Otago » Queenstown
September 22nd 2013	Lake Tekapo to Hanmer Springs	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Lake Tekapo
September 23rd 2013	Hanmer Springs to Kaikoura	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Hanmer Springs
September 26th 2013	Kaikoura to Blenheim	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Kaikoura
September 27th 2013	Blenheim to Westport and Greymouth	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Marlborough » Blenheim
September 28th 2013	Greymouth to Christchurch	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » West Coast » Greymouth
September 30th 2013	Christchurch and surrounds	Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch
October 1st 2013	Homeward bound and some reflections on the journey	Oceania » Australia » Queensland » Brisbane