Hokitika Airport (HKK) is the only airport on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island to have scheduled Air New Zealand flights. This small airport has daily flights to Christchurch with up to five flights on a Friday.
The airport is only 2km from the town centre, so it is only a half hour walk to most places in town.
InterCity Coachlines stop in Hokitika en route between Greymouth and Fox Glacier.
The Hokitika InterCity coach stop is on Weld Street outside the Hokitika i-SITE Visitor Information Centre.
Hokitika Museum has exhibits on local history and culture with displays on greenstone jade (pounamu) and the region’s pioneer beginnings.
The Hokonui Moonshine Museum is a small museum inside the Hokonui Heritage Centre that has a variety of displays about the region’s local history, however the main focus of the museum is Hokonui Moonshine – an illicit whiskey that was produced in the surrounding hills during prohibition times.
The Hollyford Track (56km, 4 days) is the only major low altitude track in Fiordland National Park.
It starts about a two-hour drive north of Te Anau and follows the Hollyford River and Lake McKerrow to Martins Bay.
The track starts with a raised boardwalk through flood-prone country and follows the Hollyford River valley to Hidden Falls Hut. It then continues along the valley, climbing Little Homer Saddle, then passes Little Homer Falls and continues on to Alabaster Hut on the southern shore of Lake Alabaster.
The track goes through flat forest for a couple of hours before following the eastern shore of Lake McKerrow to Demon Trail Hut. This part of the track is not very well maintained and fallen trees may obscure it.
The track continues along the lakeshore to Hokuri Hut. This section is very rocky.
After crossing Hokuri Creek, the track follows the shore for a couple of hours and then heads away from the lake and joins the river mouth near Martins Bay Hut.
The Huka Falls is one of New Zealand’s most powerful (and definitely the most-visited) waterfalls.
The falls occur at a spot where the Waikato River narrows from a width of around 100m down to a narrow 15m-wide canyon and the volume of water passing through the falls is often close to 220,000 litres per second.
Most buses and motorists stop off here to and from Taupo, but the most rewarding way to visit is by hiking the Huka Falls Track that begins at the Spa Thermal Centre on Spa Road in Taupo.
It is possible to take a jet boat ride right up to the base of the falls.
The Hump Ridge Track (53km, 3 days) is the country’s best privately run hiking track. It starts and finishes at Blue Cliffs Beach, a 20-minute drive from Tuatapere, and follows the Hump Ridge, returning along the coast. It is an excellent walk that features some very impressive bridges including the Percy Burns Viaduct (the world’s largest wooden viaduct).
The huts are of a very high standard. In summer it costs $175 for hut accommodation and transfers to and from the trailhead.
It is similar to the Kepler Track and is moderately difficult with some challenging sections and steep climbs on the first day. It involves a lot of walking – around 18km each day.
Refer to the track’s website for further information.
The track follows the coast for a few kilometres before cutting inland to Flat Creek. Then it’s a steep climb to Okaka Hut on Hump Ridge.
This section of the track passes several of the towering wooden viaducts, for which the Hump Ridge Track is famous, including the Edwin and Percy Burn Viaducts.
The walk back to Bluecliffs Beach passes through rimu forest, but for the most part is a coastal walk past rock pools and sandy beaches.
The Hurunui i-SITE Visitor Information Centre has tourist information about Hanmer Springs and the surrounding Hurunui District.
Sky City Bus Terminal is Auckland’s main coach station, which is the terminus for coach services operated by InterCity as well as Great Sights sightseeing tours.
Coaches to Gisborne, Hamilton, Kerikeri, New Plymouth, Paihia, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Tauranga, Taupo, Waitomo and Wellington arrive at and depart from here.
The coach station is centrally located on Hobson Street near the Sky Tower.
The International Antarctic Centre is home to the New Zealand, Italian and United States Antarctic programmes, but its museum and visitor centre is the main reason to visit the centre.
The Antarctic Centre is a fascinating attraction if you are interested in Antarctica. It includes exhibits relating to Antarctica including a simulated Antarctic environment, penguins and you can even ride on a Hägglunds Antarctic vehicle.
Invercargill Airport has flights to Christchurch, Stewart Island and Wellington.
Air New Zealand fly to Christchurch and Wellington and Stewart Island Flights have flights to Stewart Island, which are a good alternative to taking the ferry from Bluff.
An airport shuttle bus operates between the airport and the city centre, but the airport is only 3km from the city centre and you can walk into town in around 30 minutes.
Buses and coaches connect Invercargill with Dunedin, Gore and Queenstown.
Coaches stop outside the i-SITE Visitor Information Centre on Gala Street.
Jet Thrills and Waimak Alpine Jet both operate jet boat rides on the Waimakariri River near Christchurch.
Jet Thrills operate from a site only a 15-minutes drive from the city centre and is the easiest to get to if you don’t have access to a car with prices starting at $90 for a 30-minute ride. With Jet Thrills you also have the option to experience both types of horsepower with their Jet Trek package that involves a 60-minute horse ride followed by a 30-minute jet boat ride.
Waimak Alpine Jet operates from a site much farther from the city, but it is considered a better experience as they operate in the stunning Waimakariri Canyon. Like Jet Thrills, Waimak Alpine Jet operate 30 and 60-minute jet boat rides, but if you have the time and money, the half-day Alpine Jet Wilderness Safari gives you a jet boat ride down the entire length of the Waimakariri River Canyon.
Amuri Jet and Hanmer Springs Attractions both operate jet boat rides on the Waiau River Gorge around 9km south of Hanmer Springs.
Amuri Jet has a selection of trips covering different areas of the river as the experience can be quite different whether you’re speeding down the gorge or going over shallow water in the braided section of the Hanmer Springs Basin.
The jet boat rides run by Hanmer Springs Attractions (formerly Thrillseekers) give you only one option, but it showcases the full range of what jet boating is all about including 360º spins, narrow gorges, white water rapids and the shallow water of the braided section of the river.
While every little town and village in New Zealand seems to have a jet boat operator, it’s important to realise that Queenstown played a pioneering role in the jet boating industry and it is still regarded by many as THE place to go for a spin on a river.
There are four jet boating companies operating in Queenstown: KJet, Shotover Jet, Skippers Canyon Jet and Thunder Jet.
KJet (formerly known as Kawarau Jet) is the world’s first commercial jet boat operation and it offers a 60-minute experience that gives you a 43km ride that combines both the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers and features plenty of 360º spins.
Trips on the yellow KJet boats depart from Queenstown’s waterfront and a ride includes entry to Queenstown’s underwater observatory.
The Shotover Jet operates exclusively on the Shotover River. It is a shorter and more expensive ride than the other Queenstown-based jet boat operators, but it is a more exciting ride taking you deep into the Shotover River Canyon.
Trips on the red Shotover Jet depart from the Shotover Jet base, 7km from Queenstown’s town centre but they also run a complimentary shuttle bus every 15 minutes from The Station tour booking centre (on the corner of Camp and Shotover Streets).
Skippers Canyon Jet takes you right into Skippers Canyon on the narrowest canyons on the Shotover River. Like the Shotover Jet, the Skippers Canyon Jet focuses on the Shotover River with a 30-minute jet boating experience; but unlike the other jet boat operators the trip includes a bus transfer that takes on the infamous Skippers Canyon Road. Some people claim that it is worth it for the bus transfer alone (particularly since you may not be able to do this yourself as many rental car companies prohibit you from driving on this road).
The Skippers Canyon Jet departs from their base inside Skippers Canyon with bus transfers departing from The Station tour booking centre (on the corner of Camp and Shotover Streets).
Thunder Jet is a one-hour jet boat ride that takes you 47km down the Kawarau River. It is relatively good value considering that it’s a one-hour ride, but it misses out on the narrow canyons of the Shotover River that you get with the Shotover Jet and Skippers Canyon Jet. The Thunder Jet departs from the Queenstown waterfront and includes more time on the lake than the other jet boat operators.
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.
The Buller Canyon Jet run jet boat rides that zip through the mighty Upper Buller Gorge. The 40-minute jet boat rides depart from the Buller Gorge Swingbridge complex, 14km from Murchison, taking you to the foot of the Ariki Falls and then return pas the pink granite rocks of the Buller Gorge.
Go Jets Wanaka and Wana Jet offer one-hour rides on Lake Wanaka and the Clutha River.
Dart River Wilderness Jet operate a trip that includes a jet boat ride on the Dart River plus a guided forest walk. As far as jet boat rides go, this is rather unique in the sense that it is as much a wilderness experience as an adrenaline rush.
Haast River Safari operates jet boat rides on the Haast River. The one-hour trip departs from Haast Bridge and takes in the Haast River Valley.
The Wairaurahiri Wilderness Jet run jet boating trips on the Wairaurahiri River. This is a lot longer than the average jet boat ride with full-day trips that jet across Lake Hauraoko and then down 27km of grade three rapids on the Wairaurahiri River. The trip includes three to four hours in the jet boat.
Rapids Jet operate further upstream on the Waikato River and the 35-minute ride surfs the massive Nga Awa Purua Rapids – New Zealand’s biggest commercially jet boated rapids.
Rapids Jet depart from their base on the Waikato River in Wairakei, around 15km north of Taupo.
Hukafalls Jet is the only jet boat operator that takes you right up to the base of the Huka Falls. They are based at Wairakei Park just north of Taupo and the 30-minute ride on the Waikato River goes right up to the base of the Huka Falls.
There are regular bus and coach services linking Kaikoura with Christchurch, Blenheim and Picton.
Northbound InterCity Coachlines services stop outside Fish Tank Lodge on West End and southbound services stop across the road outside the i-SITE Visitor Information Centre.
The Kaikoura Coast Track bills itself as one of New Zealand’s finest private walks.
The two-day walk climbs from sea level to 600m, but it is a relatively easy walk. Like the Queen Charlotte Track, hikers have the luxury of having their bags transported between overnight stops so you can walk with just a day pack.
The track is limited to just 10 walkers each day so it is uncrowded and it will feel like you have the whole track to yourself. The track is open October–April and it costs $200 to walk, which includes accommodation and luggage transport.
This small regional museum has a wide selection of exhibits including dinosaur bones, Māori artefacts, Kaikoura’s fishing and whaling heritage and thousands of photos.
The museum has recently moved to larger premises in the ‘craypot’ building across the road from the i-SITE Visitor Information Centre.
The Trans Coastal train stops in Kaikoura en route between Picton and Christchurch. However, rail services are currently suspended until mid-2018 while earthquake damage on the rail line is being repaired.
Kaikoura’s railway station is on Whaleway Station Road, behind Beach Road.
InterCity Coachlines operate a daily coach service linking Kaitaia with Kerikeri, where you can transfer to bus and coach services to Auckland and destinations in the Bay of Islands.
InterCity coaches stop behind the Te Ahu Centre on the corner of South Road and Matthews Avenue in Kaitaia.
ScenicNZ coaches stop in Kaiteriteri en route between Nelson and Marahau.
Coaches stop at the bus and coach stop at the corner of Kaiteriteri–Sandy Bay Road and Inlet Road.
Katherine Mansfield House & Garden is a museum housed in the birthplace and childhood home of New Zealand’s most famous writer. The house and garden has been restored to show life in Wellington during late 1800s.
Queenstown is considered the world centre for bungee jumping and the Kawarau Bridge Suspension Bridge is the world’s first commercial bungee jump site, which started operating in 1988.
The Kawarau Bridge bungee jump site lets you jump 43m to the Kawarau River, which is equivalent to the height of an 11-storey building.
AJ Hackett, who developed the bungee jump site at Kawarau Bridge now operate three bungee sites around Queenstown, but the original is the only Queenstown bungee site that allows a water touch.
Abel Tasman National Park is New Zealand’s top sea kayaking spot. It is an extremely popular activity with many backpackers and there are a large number of kayaking operators to choose from. Most companies rent kayaks and also operate guided trips. One of the highlights is the Tonga Island Marine Reserve where you can often see seals between March and October.
If you’re considering a multi-day trip, rentals are by far the cheapest option; but guided trips are a good option if you’re new to kayaking. A one-day guided trip followed by a multi-day rental is a good compromise that gives you the best of both worlds.
Many companies prohibit solo hire and require that at least someone in your group have some kayaking experience.
The following companies run guided kayaking trips and many also rent kayaks.
Abel Tasman Kayaks operate a range of guided kayaking trips, a three-day guided kayaking trip for $650 and a three day trip that includes one day hiking, a one-day guided kayak and one day of independent kayaking.
Kaiteriteri Kayak run highly recommended day trips to Big Tonga Marine Reserve that cost $199. They also have the option of water taxi assisted day trips where you are taken by water taxi to some of the best areas in the park to explore by kayak. These trips give you the best experience you can get on a single day trip. Kaiteriteri’s Aqua Taxi assisted day trips cost $180–189.
Kaiteriteri also have kayak and walk combos that combine hiking and kayaking, allowing you to experience both the park from both the land and sea. One day kayak and walk trips cost $139 and two-day trips cost $195.
Kahu Kayaks rent kayaks and run guided kayaking trips. One day kayaking trips cost $215 and kayak and walk combos that cost $110 for a day trip. Rental costs are one day $75, two days $115, three days $155, four days $180 and $200 for five days.
Marahau Sea Kayaks run guided one-day kayaking trips and they also rent kayaks for overnight trips.
The Sea Kayak Company run guided single and multi-day trips and also rent kayaks. One day kayaking trips cost $109–220; kayak and walk day trip combos cost $209; two-day trips cost $405–450; three-day trips cost $595–650 and four-day trips cost $840. Rental costs are two days $120, three days $150, four days $180 and five days $200.
Glacier Country Kayaks run kayaking trips on Lake Mapourika, which is part of the Te Waihipaunamu World Heritage area.
Taupo Kayaking Adventures run kayaking tours in the Taupo area that include trips both on Lake Taupo and on the Waikato River.
The 14m-high Māori carving on the cliff face overlooking Lake Taupo at Mine Bay is one of the highlights of their half-day kayaking tour that starts in Acacia Bay.
Full-day tours also take in Lake Taupo’s iconic Māori carving and continue to the volcanic Masons Rock with time for a swim in the crystal-clear lake.
There is also a range of other kayaking trips including a gentle paddle up the Waikato River to the bungee jumping platform and a geothermal kayak and walk adventure where you approch the Orakei Korako Geothermal Park via the Waikato River. This trip includes a 1–1½ hour walk through the geothermal park.
Paddle Wanaka run a variety of kayaking and stand up paddle board tours that let you explore Lake Wanaka and the Clutha River.
Their most popular tour is the Tiki Tour. On this half-day tour you travel by water taxi to the starting point and paddle back to Wanaka.
Paddle Wanaka also rents kayaks and stand up paddle boards for more independent exploration of Lake Wanaka and the Clutha River.
Several companies operate sea kayaking trips on Milford Sound including Go Orange, Rosco’s Milford Kayaks and Southern Discoveries. This is the best way to experience Milford Sound in solitude away from the tourist crowds.
Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium (formerly Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World) is an excellent attraction despite all the glossy brochures that make it sound like a tourist trap worth avoiding. The aquarium was constructed from disused sewage storage tanks and it was unique at the time as it was one of the first aquaria to feature curved walk-through tunnels.
The aquarium features a large range of marine life including sharks and stingrays and there is now also a very good Antarctic Ice Adventure attraction featuring King and Gentoo penguins and a replica of Scott’s hut from the South Pole from the 1912 South Pole expedition.
New Zealand’s oldest European building (Kemp House) and the country’s oldest stone building (the Stone Store) are located at the Kerikeri River Basin, a 20-minute walk from the town centre. It is a fascinating site if you’re interested in New Zealand history.
Sealink operate ferries between Auckland and Waiheke, but they depart from suburban Half Moon Bay rather than the downtown ferry terminal. The Sealink ferry costs 20 one-way or $36.50 return.
Kennedy Point is the least conveniently-located of Waiheke Island’s two ferry terminals, as this ferry terminal is not served by any local bus services. It is located on the south-western end of the island, but it is an isolated location with facilities nearby.
The circular Kepler Track Great Walk (60km, 3–4 days) is the closest major track to Te Anau. It is an increasingly popular track and around 8500 people walk it every year.
The track combines breathtaking views of Lake Manapouri and Lake Te Anau with an exposed alpine crossing.
The first 1½-hour is an easy walk to Brod Bay alongside Lake Te Anau. After passing Brod Bay, the track climbs for three hours to reach the tree line and continues up to Luxmore Hut.
The most exposed and weather-beaten section of the track crosses mountain ridges before descending back below the tree line to Iris Burn Hut.
This section of the track passes beech forest as it follows Iris Burn to reach Moturau Hut on the shore of Lake Manapouri.
The last day is an easy flat walk past wetlands to the car park at Rainbow Reach and onwards to the finish point at the Kepler Track carpark on Lake Te Anau. During summer you can finish the walk 9.5km early by picking up the shuttle bus to Te Anau at the Rainbow Reach carpark.
InterCity coaches stop in Kerikeri near the Subway on Cobham Road.
There are direct coach services from Kerikeri to Auckland, Kaitaia, Paihia, Waipu, Warkworth and Whangarei.
This five-hour cave adventure combines a 27m abseil into the cave entrance with cave rafting and a 20m rock climb back. It is one of the best value cave trips.
Kiwi North – Whangarei Museum & Kiwi House is a museum complex that comprises both indoor and outdoor exhibits and is set on 25ha of parkland, 5km west of Whangarei’s city centre. Kiwi North features a nocturnal kiwi house with live kiwi, a colonial homestead dating from 1886 and exhibits on the region’s Polynesian and European history.
Despite over 20,000 kiwis on the island, it can be very difficult to spot one of them in the wild. Ruggedy Range Wilderness Experience run very good, but expensive, kiwi spotting trips that cost $695–825 for an overnight trip or $1200 for a two-night trip.
InterCity Coachlines coaches stop in Lake Tekapo en route between Christchurch and Queenstown and the Cook Connection bus stops here with services to Twizel and Aoraki/Mount Cook.
The InterCity and Cook Connection buses stop in the car park outside Lake Tekapo Tavern.
Atomic Shuttles also serve Lake Tekapo, but their buses use a different stop outside the Four Square supermarket.
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.