*This is part two of my New Zealand blog post. If you haven’t read part one, check it out here!
Continuing on our journey through New Zealand’s South Island, our next stop was Queenstown. Located on Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the Remarkables mountain range, Queenstown is nothing short of beautiful. This small but energetic town is THE place to go for both a bit of relaxing and adventure. We spent just under three days in and around Queenstown and enjoyed every moment!
Queenstown
One of the must-do’s in Queenstown is to take the Skyline Gondola up the mountain for spectacular views of the town, the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu below. Not only can you admire the gorgeous views, but you can do so while grabbing lunch or dinner and sipping on a cocktail at their restaurant and bar. It was the perfect place to sit by the fire and watch the sunset.
Another activity we really enjoyed was taking a ride on the TSS Earnslaw. This ship, launched in 1912, is a twin screw steamer that is the only remaining commercial passenger-carrying coal-fired steamship in the Southern Hemisphere. Known as the Lady of the Lake, she provided an essential link between the isolated farming communities along the lake and the outside world.
We booked a tour that cruised down Lake Wakatipu to the Walter Peak High Country Farm. It was really interesting to be inside the engine room as the ship was sailing to watch how the crew keeps the boat moving. Once on the farm, we enjoyed an amazing BBQ lunch outside. We strolled the gardens and watched a demonstration on how farm dogs round up sheep from the hill paddocks. All in all, this was a fun experience and would recommend doing it!
On our last day in Queenstown we explored the downtown area, which was full of restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. Just to the east of the downtown area are the Queenstown Gardens, which are definitely worth a walkthrough. One minute you’re walking through a rose garden and the next through a forest of evergreens.
Overall, Queenstown is a charming little city. There is so much to see and do in and around the area such as hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, wine tasting, sky diving, bungee jumping (where it originated!), paragliding, you name it. Queenstown is sure to make you fall in love with New Zealand!
Milford Sound
Heading south of Queenstown one late afternoon, our next destination was Milford Sound. On our way, we overnighted in Te Anau, the last town you hit before making your way up Route 94 to Fiordland National Park. We started our journey to Milford early the next morning as we had heard the drive was beautiful and to expect to stop along the way many times. The drive was indeed stunning and we got to see sights such as Eglinton Valley, Mirror Lakes, Earl Mountains, and the Homer Tunnel. This tunnel, which is hewed from solid granite, took about 20 years to complete. It’s only one lane, and when driving through you can see the rocks poking out from all sides. Truly a unique experience to drive through!
Just outside the tunnel we spotted a Kea parrot and pulled over so I could snap a picture. I figured I wouldn’t be able to get too close, but this little guy hopped right over to me. This bird is the only endemic alpine parrot in the world, meaning it only lives in one geographic region. They are innately curious and therefore are not afraid to come close to tourists. New Zealand has signs posted around this area warning that if you leave your car door open, this bird will in fact hop in!
As we passed through the tunnel, we started our descent into the Milford Sound. We stopped a few more times to explore some trails, rivers and fauna. When we finally reached our destination, we headed into the information center and booked our boat tour, which is the only way to see Milford Sound up close. *You can also kayak the Sound, which we would have done if we had more time!*
Milford Sound is located at the northern most end of Fiordland National Park on the South Island. In some areas reaching over 1,300 feet deep, this sound is actually a fiord. While a sound is a river-formed valley flooded by the sea, a fiord is formed by the erosive effects of a glacier.
Milford Sound can receive up to 26 feet of rain a year, making it the wettest inhabited place in New Zealand. The rainfall creates many temporary, and permanent, waterfalls cascading down the cliff faces. As rainfall drains through the forests, it becomes stained with tannins until it reaches an almost dark brown/black color, which blocks much of the sunlight from the lower salty layer. Marine life therefore hangs out near the surface including dolphins, penguins, seals and sometimes even whales.
Wanaka
Heading out of Milford Sound, the only way to travel is the same way you came in. So after driving back through Te Anau and Queenstown, we were on our way to Lake Wanaka to do some hiking. Only a 1.5 hours drive north of Queenstown, Wanaka is a small resort town known for their year round outdoor activities. I had seen so many iconic photos of this one particular hike in Wanaka that I requested we make a stop on our way north to hike it.
Roy’s Peak Track is a 10 mile hike with a summit at just over 5,100ft. This track is challenging and zig-zags all the way to the top. While tough, and even exhausting at times, walking through the alpine meadows surrounded by sheep was really lovely. We were bummed out for a good portion of our hike because the clouds rolled in and obstructed our view of virtually anything and everything. We reached the summit and felt so defeated because we couldn’t see a damn thing.
Thankfully, as we started to walk down the clouds lifted and we finally were able to admire the stunning views of the lake and mountains below. Overall, this hike took us about 5 hours total, so it’s best to carve out half the day for it!
If you’re looking for a nice, casual stroll, Roy’s Peak is not the hike for you. It’s hard, really hard, but the views are awesome. Additionally, if you have bad knees, I don’t recommend it. Take LOTS of water, wear good shoes, and go at your own pace.
After we finished our hike, we decided to head into town for a well deserved meal and relax by the water. The afternoon was beautiful and we enjoyed taking a nap on the grass in the sunshine.
West Coast
From Wanaka we headed north on Route 6, which takes you up the west coast of New Zealand along the Tasman Sea. Along the way you’ll pass by both Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, which have gravel paths you can walk to get closer to the glaciers. I was really looking forward to skydiving over one of the glaciers but the weather was too overcast and rainy.
Other sights to see on the west coast include the many beaches on the Tasman Sea, beautiful rivers, forests and lakes, and the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks.
Be careful when driving this route as the roads are super narrow and winding!
Abel Tasman
Towards the end of Route 6 on the northern coast of the South Island, you’ll reach Abel Tasman National Park. Established in 1942, it is the smallest National Park in New Zealand and its mild climate makes it a great place to visit year round. The park has multiple beautiful golden sandy beaches that are easy to get to by water taxi, or if you have more time, opt for the 3-5 day coast trek that takes you all the way through the park.
Since we only spent the day in Abel Tasman, we took the water taxi out to one of the beaches to relax for a few hours. To get on the water taxi you must first drive to the tiny town of Marahau at the southern end of the park. You can’t physically drive in the park, so this is where the road ends. There is a small info center where you can buy your taxi tickets and they pick you up right outside. It was a really fun experience, as you get picked up IN the boat, which is being pulled behind an old Ford tractor. When the tide is low, the tractor is able to go straight down into the water and release the boat.
The captain then takes you around the area, describing some of the nearby sites and giving a bit of history about the park. Our boat spotted a small Blue Penguin swimming in the water, which was apparently rare to see! We finally arrived at Anchorage Bay Beach, which we explored for a few hours and relaxed on the beach.
Abel Tasman is definitely worth a visit and I would recommend doing a multi-day trek through the park if you can!
Blenheim
If you head east of Abel Tasman you’ll run into a small town called Blenheim. This would be our last stop in New Zealand and it’s located in the Marlborough region, a.k.a wine country! This region is the leading wine producing area in New Zealand. The weather is perfect for growing Sauvignon Blanc grapes – very dry, warm and sunny days, and cool nights.
There are dozens of wineries in the area, so you’re bound to find a favorite. We opted to start at the Saint Clair Family Estate for some wine tasting and lunch. The property was beautiful and wine and food was delicious.
Our second stop was at the Villa Maria Vineyard. We sampled a few varietals and learned a lot about why the area is so good for producing wine.
Both of these vineyards were delicious and we could have spent another few days hopping from one wine tasting to the other! This area is definitely a place to relax and unwind, so it was a great way to end our trip.
Overall, New Zealand was an incredible country to explore. While we only got to see the South Island, I’m already hooked on this place. Renting a campervan was such a fun experience and absolutely the best way to take in all the country has to offer. One of my top favorite destinations to date thus far, I will most certainly be returning!