6 Day South Island Day Self drive tour

Welcome to the South Island. After your journey across the Cook Strait, you will make your way to your first night's accommodation on the South Island at the Hopewell Lodge.

Hotel : Hopewell Lodge

Your journey today will take you into Abel Tasman National Park, and along the way you pass through the sunshine capital of New Zealand.

Passing through the fruit orchards of the Motueka Velley you then arrive in Kaiteriteri, where you will park up your car  for the night and take a water taxi to your destination, the stunning Awaroa Lodge. Here you are immediately on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, one of New Zealand's great walks, so embark on a walk in this coastal paradise with it pristine golden sandy beaches.

Hotel : Awaroa Lodge

Driving distance : 167 km - Driving time : 2 hours 44 minutes

We've organized a Half Day Kayak with Water Taxi - Abel Tasma, Before heading back to you car, you'll be spending a the morning on the water in sea-kayak. You will be picked up by the tour operator from Awaroa Lodge, paddle along the stunning coastline, after which a water taxi takes you back to Kaiteriteri and your vehicle.

Activity :  Half -day Awaroa Kayak Adventure

During the afternoon your drive continues further south, and Punakaiki will be your final destination for the day. A small detour worth taking would be to include a stop at Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes National Park, a land of long valleys and numerous passes.

The road then winds its way through the impressive Buller Gorge before reaching the wild West Coast of New Zealand.

As you approach Punakaiki and enter Paparoa National Park, you will be enthralled by the rugged seascape.

But Paparoa is perhaps most famous for its 'Pancake Rocks' on Dolomite Point. These fascinating limestone formations put on a spectacular spouting display in certain sea conditions. The eroded rock layers look like stacks of pancakes. Water is forced by the waves into small holes, where it blows upward, making tiny geysers. The effect is best during stormy weather. The coastal promontory of the Pancake Rocks is looped by an easy walking track.

Hotel :Punakaiki Resort

Driving distance : 283 km   - Driving time : 3 hours 53 mins

Today your journey takes you to the glacier country in Westland National Park. The seaside town of Hokitika is a place to appreciate the fascinating history of the west coast. The Arahura River, which enters the sea just north of Hokitika, is a traditional source of pounamu (greenstone). There are a number of jewelry stores selling greenstone in town, and are well worth a look. 

Suggestions:

• Visit the Hokitika Gorge with its incredible turquoise waters (1h loop walk)
• Located 15 minutes south of Hokitika next to Lake Mahinapua, the West Coast Treetop Walk is a stunning treetop adventure amongst the native forest canopy of ancient Rimu and Kamahi trees. Look down on the spectacular giant ferns from above as you stroll through the suspended forest canopy walkway (1 hour loop walk)

In the afternoon we've scheduled you in on an epic heli-hike adventure on Franz Josef Glacier, an unmissable experience.

Driving distance : 217 km  - Driving time : 2 hours 49 mins

Activity : Heli Hike Franz Josef

Your drive today takes you through a number of national parks. The road between Frans Josef and Haast winds its way along the rugged West Coast with lush native bush and rainforest. Haast is located in the heart of Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area, with national parks to the north, south and east. You'll head inland and into the Mt Aspiring National Park with its towering mountains and glaciel fed rivers with crystal clear waters. The road then takes you along Lake Hawea before arriving into Wanaka.

In winters skiers from all over the world flock to Wanaka for its great skiing, and in summer the impressive mountains provide for a range of activities.

Suggestions:

• From Fox Glacier, drive to Gillespies Beach for a true wilderness beach experience and stunning views of the Southern Alps
• Walk around beautiful Lake Matheson, providing stunning reflections in the water of Mt Cook (45 minute loop walk)
• Between Haast and Wanaka, stop and visit the Blue Pools
• Hike Roy's Peak in Wanaka (4-5 hours return, so leave Franz Josef early)
• Visit Matukituki Valley where you may explore one of the fine walks in Mt Aspiring National Park.

Driving distance : 287 km   - Driving time : 3 hours 48 mins 

Activity :  Roy's Peak

Hotel : Te Wanaka Lodge

Today you will not be traveling far. The road over the Crown Range between Wanaka and Queenstown only takes a little over an hour, so you'll have plenty of time to spend the day in Queenstown. 

Queenstown is synonymous with adventure, it is dubbed the "adventure capital of the world". Regardless of the season, Queenstown gets your adrenaline flowing year round, and the options are endlesss. Want to throw yourself out of a plane in amazing scenery, jump off a bridge in the birthplace of Bungy, jetboat, raft down a river, you name it...Queenstown has it all.

Your tour with SouthernJourneys ends today in Queenstown

Driving distance : 67 km  - Driving time : 1 hour