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Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk

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Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk (48km, 3–5 days) is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. It is a varied trek through the wilderness surrounding Lake Waikaremoana that allows you to see many of New Zealand’s unique birds. The track offers splendid views over the lake.

Although there is no charge to hike the track, you will need to pay for transport to and from the trailhead as well as accommodation in huts along the track. The combined cost will run to between $146 and $210 depending on how many days you take to complete the tramp.

Because it is not a circular track, you will need to arrange transport between the start and end of the track. Most people park at either the Big Bush Holiday Park or Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park and get dropped off and picked up at each end of the track by Big Bush Water Taxi. The return trip costs $50.

There are five huts on the track. Each cost $32 per night and must be booked in advance either online or through a Department of Conservation Visitor Centre.

The track can be hiked in either direction and the last three sections can be combined in one day.

The challenging first section of the track, from Onepoto to Panekiri Hut (8.8km, 5 hours), involves a steep 600m climb to the top of the Panekiri Bluff where you are rewarded by breathtaking views. The track then follows the ridge to Panekiri Hut.

The second day, Panekiri Hut to Waiopaoa Hut (7.6km, 3–4 hours), is mostly downhill through beech and kamahi forest.

The third section of the track passes through kanuka forest by the lakeshore and there is a short detour to the dazzling Korokoro Falls. This section runs between Waiopaoa Hut and Marauiti Hut (12.1km, 4½hrs).

The section from Marauiti Hut to Waiharuru Hut (6.2km, 2hrs) is an easy walk along the lakeshore. The area is home to kiwi and it is common to hear them at night if you’re staying at either the Marauiti or Waiharuru Huts.

The stretch between Waiharuru Hut and Whanganui Hut (5.3km, 2½hrs) crosses the neck of the Puketukutuku Peninsula and then follows the lake shore.

The final stretch of  track, from Whanganui Hut to Hopuruahine Bridge (5.2km, 1½hrs), takes in lovely views of the Huiarau Inlet before crossing the Hopuruahine suspension bridge.

Skiing at Mount Hutt

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Mount Hutt has a long ski season, which combined with its close proximity to Christchurch ensures that it is a busy resort, both with skiers and snowboarders.

The resort has an average 4m snowfall and features four freestyle terrain parks and a skiable area of 365 hectares (with snow-making covering 44 hectares) and the longest ski run is 2km-long.

A one-day lift pass costs $99 or $50 if you want a pass restricted to beginners lifts.

Jet boating in the Rakaia Gorge

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Discovery Jet operate jet boat trips in the Rakaia Gorge near Methven.

You have a choice of 15, 30 and 45-minute rides, ranging from $45 to $99. The 15-minute ride is a good value way to experience jet boating, but the longer ride gives you a  better experience taking you through the shallow waters of the braided section of the river and through a boulder field, rapids and the high country landscape.

Scenic flights from Lake Tekapo

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Air Safaris operate a 50-minute scenic flight from Lake Tekapo that takes in the braided river systems of the Mackenzie Basin, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Tasman Glacier in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers in Westland Tai Poutini National Park.

They also operate the same flight from Glentanner Park (near Mount Cook), but it is cheaper to take the flight from Lake Tekapo. The flight costs $370.

Whale watching in Kaikoura

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Whale watching is big business in Kaikoura and you have the option of either taking a whale watching cruise or spotting them from a plane or helicopter.

Sperm and humpback whales can be seen during June and July, but orcas are more prevalent during summer.

Whale watching cruises

Whale Watch Kaikoura have been running whale watching tours since 1990. The whale watching cruises give you around 2½ hours on the water and you also have the opportunity to see dolphins, seals and albatross.

Cruises cost $150 and they offer an 80% discount if you do not see a whale.

Whale watching flights

Scenic flights allow you to see whales and other marine life from the air. There are several Kaikoura-based companies that offer scenic whale-watching flights by both helicopter and fixed-wing plane.

Air Kaikoura and Wings over Whales operate fixed-wing aircraft departing from Kaikoura Airport, 8km south of the town centre. Whale watching flights take 30-minutes and cost $165 with Air Kaikoura and $180 with Wings over Whales.

Kaikoura Helicopters and South Pacific Helicopters operate helicopter flights from Kaikoura. Kaikoura Helicopters run 30-minute flights for $220, 40-minute flights for $265, 50-minute flights for $295 and 60-minute flights (which also take you over the nearby mountain range with a snow landing on Mount Fyffe) for $330. Prices are higher if there are only a couple of passengers on board. South Pacific Helicopters run 30-minute flights for $350, 50-minute flights for $550 and one-hour flights for $650.

Swimming with seals in Kaikoura

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In summer (November–April) Seal Swim Kaikoura run trips that allow you to swim with fur seals.

You have the option of either a shore-based or boat-based activity, which means that you can either snorkel out to the seals from the beach or take a boat out to see the seals. The boat-based tours are the most popular as these have the highest success rate of being able to swim with seals.

The trips involve around an hour in the water swimming with seals, although you should allow 2½ hours for the trip.

Sea kayaking in Kaikoura

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Kaikoura offers excellent sea kayaking that gives you the opportunity to get close to the region’s spectacular marine life.

Kaikoura Kayaks offers both guided kayak tours and kayak rental. Half-day guided kayak tours cost $99 and give you the opportunity to see fur seal at close range. During daylight savings (September–April), there are also sunset evening kayaking tours.

You can also rent kayaks for $70 for a half day or $85 for a full day if you prefer the freedom of exploring at your own pace.