Hiking & Culture

by Becky
(Fort Myers, FL)

We're a 60 year old couple and will be in New Zealand from Feb 1 to March 8 when we fly out of Christchurch. We have a limited budget so we'll be doing our own cooking and staying in ensuite hostels primarily. We are renting a car starting in Auckland and are interested in moderately strenuous day hikes and want to experience the culture. What are the highlights and how should we split up our time on each island? We've been to Yellowstone and have plans to go to the Waitangi Treaty House and Te Papa Museum so thought we'd skip Rotorua. Yes or no? Specific hikes and itinerary suggestions would be appreciated.

REPLY

Hi Becky


You are coming to New Zealand at a good time. School will be back ....just ..and the weather should be good...no guarantees with our rather fickle weather tho’. As you plan to travel to both islands be sure to bring a warm top and a good rain jacket. The weather especially in the south of the South Island could be very very hot, or turn quite cool....or both!

With 5 ½ weeks I would suggest 3 ½ in the South Island and 2 ½ in the North....give or take.

Auckland

If you spend 2-3 days in Auckland, apart from seeing the general city try and go out to Muriwai Beach to the Gannet Colony. It is free and the birds are so close...you can see all the chicks etc at that time of year. It is a nice beach, and you can visit Piha and Karekare beaches nearby. These are dangerous big surf beaches for swimming...but it is quite wild and beautiful being the west coast, while beaches on the east coast are different.

You could also go up into the Waitakeres which is in this area and do a bush walk...Fairy Falls is nice.

Also while in Auckland you sound as though you would enjoy a trip out to Rangitoto Island and a walk up to the top and back. Or the Okura walk (see Walk reviews)

Northland

It will take 3 hours to drive to Paihia .When you are in the Bay of Islands do the boardwalk to Haruru Falls which is near to Waitangi and the Treaty House. Take the ferry to Russell or you can drive around. Two days is enough in Paihia and Kerikeri.

You could drive back down the west coast through the Hokianga and Waiapoua Forest where the biggest kauri tree is.

Then drive south via either Tauranga or Waitomo Caves

Rotorua

I think you should go to Rotorua as you say you are interested in culture....while Rotorua is the main thermal area... it is also the main town for Maori cultural experiences. It is very different to Yellowstone as rather than one large park you drive through, the thermal areas are dotted around the wider region. There are lots of lakes and it is a pretty area. You could visit a Maori cultural village replica such as Mitai Maori Village or Tamaki Maori Village. You get a good overall experience here. You want to see a cultural show, and have a hangi dinner etc These are incorporated in these villages.You can see live Kiwi at the Rainbow Springs.



Taupo
On through Taupo you could do the trip to Wellington either via Napier, direct through the central North Island especially if you do the Tongariro Crossing...and there are other walks around the mountains, or via Taranaki and New Plymouth. Mt Taranaki has beautiful walks and forest although it won’t likely have snow at that time of year. There are nice gardens in this area and in New Plymouth.


Wellington

Wellington is a great city to walk around. The Karori Wildlife Sanctuary with Zealandia would be interesting for you. It is only 10 minutes from the city. The Botanical Gardens are nice, and there is a good day walk out to Red Rocks.


SOUTH ISLAND

Once you cross to the South Island ( check you can take the car across or whether you will need to get a different car in Picton) you will want to spend a day or two around Nelson...and then try and get out to Abel Tasman National Park and do at least some of the walk , or kayak if you prefer. It is also possible to do part of the Heaphy track either out from Takaka or the other end at Karamea at the top of the West Coast.


West Coast

I would suggest you drive to the West Coast via Nelson Lakes (lots of hikes around here) You have to double back, but if you have time , Karamea is lovely.

Down the West Coast via Haast Pass to Queenstown. Gillespie’s beach is a nice day hike out to the seal colony.... and the visit to Okarito and the kotuku is great. The Fox and Franz Joseph Glaciers are a must.


Queenstown

Allow around 3 days in Queenstown and then drive to Milford Sound...it is a beautiful trip...overnight in Te Anau. Back via Wanaka, Dunedin, Mt Cook to Christchurch.

There are links for most of these places throughout the website.


More on Hikes

You don’t say how much of a day you want to give to this. If you want to do something very memorable although it would take a full day and it may leave you feeling a little sore depending on your fitness, you might like to do the Tongariro Crossing ...it would be dependent on weather and you need to be well prepared with clothing for all weathers being an alpine mountain, but it is considered New Zealand’s best day walk.

The walk around Lake Rotopounamu on the road from Turangi to National Park is lovely.(See last link)

If you have a day you can spare in Auckland you could do the Okura River walk which is really beautiful. There really are dozens of lovely walks....it is hard to pick out a few. Have you seen the Your favourite New Zealand Walks review page?
and New Zealand Walking Holidays page? There are several suggestions here.

I hope this gives you a few ideas and an overall itinerary plan. Just add any further questions to the comments on this page if you have further queries.

Kind Regards

Gail