Blog Archives

4WD quad biking in Greymouth

On: By:
0

On Yer Bike operate 4WD quad biking adventures on a series of muddy tracks just north of Greymouth. There are several courses where you can drive a 4WD quad bike and there are also tours where you ride a 15-passenger Hot Tracks vehicle, which is similar to vehicles used in Antarctic bases.

The most popular options are the one and two-hour drive-yourself quad biking, particularly the two-hour Bush ‘n’ Bog tour where you’re virtually guaranteed to get covered in mud. On Yer Bike supply wet weather gear which is fairly effective at keeping your clothes clean.


Abel Tasman Coast Track

On: By:
0

The relatively easy Abel Tasman Coast Track (51km; 3–5 days) is one of New Zealand’s most popular hiking trails.

For the most part it hugs the coast and allows plenty of opportunity to take a break on some lovely sandy beaches.

Like the Queen Charlotte Track, the coastal nature of the Abel Tasman Coast Track means that you can let a water taxi carry your backpack between overnight stops allowing you to walk with only a small daypack.

You will need to refer to a tide table when planning your walk as the track passes several estuaries that can only be crossed a couple of hours either side of low tide.

There are four DOC huts on the track that provide dormitory accommodation. In the peak season (Oct–Apr) you will need to book your hut accommodation by buying a summer season hut pass from a DOC office.

The track is divided into the following sections:

Marahau to Anchorage (11.5km, 4 hours)

The first leg of the track leaves Marahau at the southern entrance to the park (close to The Barn backpackers hostel), passing four beachside campsites before arriving at Anchorage Bay where there is another campsite and also a DOC hut.

Anchorage to Bark Bay (9.5km, 3 hours)

This section of the track involves crossing the Torrent Bay estuary, which can only be crossed two hours either side of low tide. After crossing the estuary, the track climbs through pine forest and crosses the Falls River before descending back to sea level and the Bark Bay hut.

Bark Bay to Awaroa (11.5km, 4 hours)

After crossing Bark Bay estuary, the track climbs to a saddle and through manuka bush before returning to the shore at Tonga Quarry in the Tonga Island Marine Reserve. At Onetahuti Beach you have to cross a tidal stream that is only passable three hours either side of low tide. After leaving the beach the track climbs over the Tonga Saddle before descending to Awaroa hut. The classy Awaroa Lodge is located close to Awaroa Hut and offers the opportunity for a nice meal.

Awaroa to Totaranui (5.5km, 1½ hours)

This part of the track starts by crossing the Awaroa estuary. This can only be crossed 1½–2 hours either side of low tide, although Awaroa Lodge operates a barge ($5) during high tide. The track goes inland for a short distance before returning to the beach. Again, the track goes inland for a short distance before arriving at the DOC campsite at Totaranui. It is possible to finish the track here, getting a water taxi back to Marahau.

Totaranui to Wainui Bay (13km, 4½ hours)

Much of the last section of the track alternates between the beach and rocky headlands. You also have the option of making a one hour side trip to the lighthouse at Separation Point. After passing the Whariwharangi DOC hut, the track cuts inland for 5km before following an estuary for the final 500m to the trailhead at Wainui Bay.

Abel Tasman Inland Track

On: By:
0

The more demanding Abel Tasman Inland Track (41km; 4 days) is a less travelled alternative to the Coastal Track that shares the same start and finishing points, but you miss out on the spectacular coastal scenery.

It passes through regenerating forest and has four DOC huts spaced along the track.

Agrodome

On: By:
0

This popular agricultural theme park features live sheep shows where you can watch sheep shearing demonstrations, sheep auctions and sheep dog trials. There’s also the opportunity to milk a cow on stage. The whole show is pretty touristy and doesn’t appeal much to backpackers, but the Agrodome complex is also home to several more backpacker-focused activities that include bungy jumping, jet boating, swoop ride and zorbing.


Aranui Cave

On: By:
0

Aranui Cave is a quieter alternative to the main Waitomo Cave and is favoured by people who want to experience the cave’s amazing subterranean rock formations rather than the tourist boat rides, however this cave does not have the glowworms that Waitomo is famous for.

Art deco walking tours

On: By:
0

Napier’s architecture is the city’s main attraction. Just walking around town will give you a good idea of the Art Deco craze that swept through Napier in the 1930s. The Art Deco Trust conducts walking tours of the city that depart from the Art Deco Shop in Tennyson Street. Alternatively, you can buy a self-guided walk booklet for $5 and do the walk yourself. The tour is 1½km long and takes up to two hours to complete.


Auckland Bridge Climb

On: By:
0

The Auckland Bridge Climb is a 1½ hour activity that takes you up the arched walkway to the highest point on the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The climb gives you the opportunity go to places that are off-limits to the public while taking in lovely views of the harbour and learning a lot about the bridge.

Auckland International Airport (AKL)

On: By:
0

Auckland International Airport is New Zealand’s busiest airport and is the main arrival point for most visitors to the country.

There is a free shuttle bus service between the international terminal and the two domestic terminals, which operates 6am–10.30pm; alternately it is about a 10-minute walk between the two terminals.

The quickest way to travel between the airport and downtown Auckland is on the SkyBus, which runs 24 hours per day. The SkyBus leaves from 396 Queen Street in the city centre, although there is also a shuttle bus that connects the Auckland city SkyBus terminal with hotels and hostels in the city centre (although the shuttle bus only runs Mon–Fri noon–7pm). The SkyBus costs $18 one-way or $32 return.

A cheaper option is to take a train to either Onehunga or Papatoetoe and then hop on bus route 380. Bus 31 also runs between Papatoetoe station and the airport. This option will take considerably longer than the SkyBus, but is much cheaper at $9–10.50 (or $4.85 if you pay using an AT Hop card). The trip between the airport and the city centre crosses three fare zones.

Auckland Strand Station

On: By:
0

Auckland Strand Station, or simply The Strand Station, is the northern terminus for the Northern Explorer train service linking Auckland with Wellington (with stops en route at Hamilton, Otorohanga, National Park, Ohakune and Palmerston North).

It is a relatively basic station, which is surprising considering that this used to be Auckland’s sole city centre railway station prior to Britomart Transport Centre opening in 2003. Suburban trains no longer stop at The Strand Station and the station now sees only six trains per week.

The location on The Strand is not the nicest welcome to Auckland as the semi-industrial area is noted mainly for its proliferation of rental car companies, mechanics and furniture stores; however, it is only an 11-minute walk to Parnell and a 20-minute walk into the city centre.

Auckland War Memorial Museum

On: By:
0

This excellent museum is a good introduction to Auckland’s history and its Māori culture.

The museum’s exhibits include a large collection of Māori and Pacific Island artefacts including a large Māori meeting house and a Māori war canoe dating from 1830.

There is also excellent displays relating to New Zealand’s involvement in both the First and Second World Wars and the museum also includes a war memorial to New Zealand soldiers killed in both wars.

Auckland Zoo

On: By:
0

Although it’s not a huge attraction for international visitors, Auckland’s zoo is quite good considering the city’s relatively small population. The zoo has all the major African animals, but the main attraction is native animals such as the kiwi and tuatara.

Baldwin Street

On: By:
0

Baldwin Street in the suburb of North East Valley, 3.5km northeast of the city centre, is recorded as the steepest street in the world with a maximum gradient of 1m in 2.86m, although the steepest gradient applies only to a small portion of the street.

Beehive & Parliament House

On: By:
0

The eye-catching Beehive (the Executive Wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings) and the adjoining Parliament House and Parliamentary Library lie at the heart of Wellington’s parliamentary district, a short walk from the train station.

Although parts of these buildings are usually closed to the public the New Zealand Parliament’s visitor centre on the ground floor of the Beehive conducts one-hour free guided tours where you can discover where New Zealand’s politicians work. The visitor centre also has a small exhibition space where you can watch a short video presentation about New Zealand’s Parliament. It is advisable to book your tour at least 24 hours in advance either by emailing tour.desk@parliament.govt.nz or by calling (04) 817 9503.

Bird watching cruises

On: By:
0

Albatross Encounter Tours run bird watching cruises from Kaikoura. These cruises are ideal for bird watchers who want to see ocean-going birds such as mollymawks, petrels and the mighty albatross. You often also see dolphins, seals and whales on these cruises.

The two-hour albatross cruises cost $125 and you often need to book a few days in advance to ensure space on the boat.

Black Abyss

On: By:
0

Black Abyss is the most challenging of the Legendary Black Water Rafting Co’s cave trips. It starts with an abseil into the Ruakuri Cave where you can go cave tubing among the glow-worms and finishes off with a swim followed by squeezing and climbing out of the cave.

Black Labyrinth

On: By:
0

Black Labyrinth is based on the original Black Water Rafting trip. After climbing into the Ruakuri Cave you float down the underground river in an inner tube. The trip includes a drop down a waterfall as you float past thousands of glow-worms.

Bluebridge Cook Strait ferry terminal

On: By:
0

Bluebridge provides an alternative to the more popular Interislander ferry service and it is usually the cheapest option if you are taking a car across.

The Bluebridge Cook Strait ferry terminal is on Waterloo Quay, which is just a short walk from Wellington railway station (which has a small New World supermarket). The ferry terminal has free Wi-Fi internet access.


Bluff ferry terminal

On: By:
0

Stewart Island Experience operate a ferry service across the Foveaux Strait between Bluff and Oban (Halfmoon Bay) on Stewart Island (Rakiura). The ferry crossing takes one hour.

The Bluff ferry terminal is on Foreshore Road close to Bluff town centre.

Boat cruises in the Bay of Islands

On: By:
0

The Bay of Islands is a popular spot for a cruise and there is a large variety to choose from, ranging from high-speed craft to small yachts. Many cruises sail out to Motukokako Island, which is famous for the ‘Hole in the Rock’ that most of the bigger and faster boats sail through. Boats that make it out this far also sail past the picturesque Cape Brett lighthouse.

Fullers GreatSights cruises

Fullers GreatSights run most of day cruises departing from Paihia. The Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise (3 hours) and the Hole in the Rock Cruise with Island Stopover (4 hours) are the most popular. There are also cruises that are more geared towards spotting marine life, such as Fullers GreatSights Dolphin Eco Experience (4 hours). The all-day Cream Trip covers the lot, going to the Hole in the Rock, an island stopover with boom-netting and swimming included as well. There is not a big price difference between the short and longer cruises, so if you have the time it is worth paying the extra $20 or so for the longer cruise.

The Rock cruise

The Rock is a popular cruise for backpackers. Although this big boat gives you the option of day cruise, it is the overnight cruise that The Rock is famous for. The overnight cruise features island treks, snorkelling, kayaking and a phosphorescence swim. It gets mixed reports from travellers, but generally, if you are looking for a good time you will have a good time on this boat. It’s a good value trip and the price includes a night’s accommodation on board plus a barbecue dinner and breakfast.

Boat tours to Tasman Glacier

On: By:
0

Glacier Explorers operate boat tours on Terminal Lake that take you right up to Tasman Glacier. These tours allow you to see a glacier from a unique perspective as you glide past icebergs on the lake.

The trip takes around two and a half hours, including a 30-minute hike and 45 to 60-minutes on the lake.

Britomart Transport Centre

On: By:
0

Britomart Transport Centre is the underground terminus for Auckland’s suburban rail network. The station has railway services on all suburban lines including trains to Onehunga, Manukau, Papakura and Swanson. Although most visitors to Auckland don’t use the rail network as it doesn’t go to the main tourist sites, some people find it handy to travel to the shopping areas at Newmarket and Sylvia Park as well as Onehunga or Papatoetoe where you can get connecting bus services to the airport (a cheaper alternative to the express airport bus).

Auckland rail network

The station is located at the downtown end of Queen Street, near the ferry terminal.

Britomart only handles suburban rail services. The long-distance Northern Explorer train to Wellington departs from Auckland Strand Station.

Buller Gorge Swingbridge

On: By:
0

At 110m, the Buller Gorge Swingbridge is New Zealand’s longest simple suspension bridge, spanning the Upper Buller Gorge, 14km west of Murchison.

There are a number of short walks ranging from 15 minutes to one hour that leave from the swing bridge.

The Buller Gorge Swingbridge complex is also home to an adventure activity complex that features jet boat rides and the Cometline flying fox/zip line ride.

Bungee jumping in Taupo

On: By:
0

Taupo Bungy operate the North Island’s most popular bungee jump from a 47m platform above the Waikato River, north of town near the Huka Falls. This bungee jump site gives you the option of a water touch in the refreshing waters of the Waikato River and you also have the option of either a solo or tandem bungee jump.

Like most activities in Taupo, Taupo Bungy is a better value alternative to bungee jumping in the South Island.


Cable Car Museum

On: By:
0

The Wellington Cable Car Museum is housed in the original winding house that was used from 1902 to 1978. The museum is set on two levels and features the original winding mechanism and two of the original cable cars that operated in the early 1900s as well as one of the red cable cars that were used on the line from the 1950s to the 1970s.

The museum also has displays about the history of Wellington’s cable car system as well as exhibits explaining how cable cars work.

A fun activity at the museum is dressing in period costume to have your photo taken with one of the original cable cars.

The Cable Car Museum is located at the Kelburn terminus of the Wellington cable car.

Cadbury World

On: By:
0

Dunedin’s Cadbury chocolate factory is where 85% of New Zealand’s chocolate is made, however production will be closing in March 2018.

The Cadbury World Experience is a one-hour tour through a visitor centre where you learn all about chocolate and get to sample different parts of the chocolate-making process. The centre includes a chocolate waterfall and and and there are several tasting opportunities. There is also a shorter (and cheaper) alternative, which only takes 10–15 minutes. Several years ago a visit would include a full factory tour, but you no longer get to see the production facilities.

Although the factory will close in 2018, Cadbury World will remain open and expand into the current factory space in late 2018 making the attraction six times its current size. When the expansion is complete, Cadbury World will feature a glass lift (like the one in the Willy Wonka story), chocolate making displays, holograms and a bigger chocolate waterfall.

Canoeing on the Dart River

On: By:
0

Dart River Adventures operate a full day experience on the Dart River that combines a one-hour high-speed jet boat ride up the Dart River into the Te Waipounamu World Heritage Area followed by a leisurely paddle in inflatable Funyak canoes. The trip features a buffet lunch and the return trip to Glenorchy passes locations from the Lord of the Rings trilogy.