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Hear about journey to the highest half of New Zealand’s South Island because the Beginner Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from Jonty Travels about his adopted nation.
Why must you go to the highest half of New Zealand’s South Island? Jonty says that this space has “spectacular surroundings, pure sizzling springs, stunning seashores, world-class vineyards, and whale watching”.
Jonty suggests a two-week highway journey (with further elective facet journeys, notably for multi-day hikes) beginning in Christchurch and looping north by North Canterbury, Nelson/Tasman, Marlborough, and Kaikōura earlier than returning to Christchurch. The journey combines cities, sizzling springs, alpine passes, nationwide parks, brief walks and multi-day hikes, vineyards, wildlife, and heritage.
Urged Itinerary
Days 1–2: Christchurch
- Discover the town centre, largely rebuilt submit the devastating 2010/11 earthquakes: Hagley Park, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Avon River punting, and the Christchurch Earthquake Memorial.
- Go to cultural websites: Canterbury Museum, Christ Church Cathedral ruins, Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, aka the cardboard cathedral, Christchurch Artwork Centre, Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities, Rutherford’s Den, and Christchurch Artwork Gallery.
- Take excursions to:
- New Brighton (seaside + He Puna Taimoana sizzling swimming pools)
- Port Hills for views and train
- Taylors Mistake seaside and Godley Head Stroll (see Scott’s Cabin)
- Lyttelton with its Timeball Station
- Banks Peninsula & Akaroa (French heritage, swimming with dolphins, Banks Monitor multi-day hike, little penguin colonies)
- Worldwide Antarctic Centre (connection to Antarctic expeditions, McMurdo/Scott Base resupply)
Days 3-4: Hanmer Springs & Lewis Move
- Hanmer Springs Thermal Swimming pools and Spa – 22 swimming pools, hydro slides, alpine resort really feel.
- Native walks: Woodland Stroll, Forest Amble, Conical Hill, or Mount Isobel.
- Scenic drive by way of Lewis Move – alpine nature stroll, Lewis Tops Monitor, or St James Walkway multi-day hike.
- Calm down at Maruia Scorching Springs.
Day 5: Nelson Lakes Nationwide Park (St Arnaud)
- Climbing hub with trails from brief lakeside walks to multi-day tramps:
- Angelus Hut trek (2–3 days)
- Travers–Sabine Circuit (4–7 days)
- Aspect journey to Blue Lake (clearest freshwater on this planet).
- In St Arnaud: go to the Traditional Boat Museum.
Days 6–7: Nelson & Abel Tasman
- In Nelson:
- World of Wearable Artwork Museum
- Founders Heritage Park (aviation buffs: step inside a Bristol freighter)
- Gardens of the World and Historic Melrose Home (with café)
- Brook Sanctuary (native wildlife).
- Day journey to Abel Tasman Nationwide Park: coastal climbing, kayaking, swimming, tenting on golden seashores.
Day 8-9: Golden Bay & Farewell Spit
- Tākaka (hippie city, crystal retailers, rock formations).
- Go to Te Waikoropupū Springs (with a number of the clearest water on this planet) and Pupu Hydro Energy Scheme Walkway.
- In a single day in Collingwood for the full-day Farewell Spit Eco Tour (sand dunes, lighthouse, migratory birds, whale bones, shifting sands).
Days 10–11: Marlborough Sounds & Picton
- Cease in Havelock (green-shell mussels + Pelorus Mail Boat Cruise).
- Discover Marlborough Sounds (Queen Charlotte, Pelorus).
- In Picton:
- Edwin Fox Maritime Museum (1853 teak crusing ship, one of many oldest surviving wood crusing ships on this planet)
- Picton Museum (whaling historical past)
- Hike the Queen Charlotte Monitor (3–5 days, with baggage switch or lodges).
Day 12: Blenheim
- World-famous wine nation – Marlborough vineyards.
- Aviation lovers: Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre (Peter Jackson’s WWI/WWII plane in dramatic dioramas).
Non-obligatory detour between Blenheim and Hanmer Springs:
- Molesworth Station route (requires 4WD automobile; the most important working farm in NZ, arid landscapes, grime roads, spectacular surroundings, highway solely open between late October and Easter).
Days 13–14: Kaikōura and Return to Christchurch
- Scenic coastal drive (fur seal colonies).
- Kaikōura highlights:
- Return to Christchurch, closing the loop.
Sensible Notes
- Transport: Greatest accomplished as a self-drive highway journey; buses exist, however they’ve restricted flexibility.
- Lodging: Mixture of inns, motels, AirBnBs, and Bookabach (NZ’s vacation dwelling rental).
- Greatest time: March–April (autumn) – fewer crowds, settled climate, fall colours from late April.
- Meals highlights: Christchurch, Nelson, and Blenheim have wonderful eating scenes.
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Present Notes
Jonty travels
Christchurch
Hagley Park
Riverside
Canterbury Museum
Christ Church Cathedral
Cardboard Cathedral
Christchurch Artwork Heart
Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities
Rutherfords Den
New Brighton, New Zealand
He Puna Taimoana: New Brighton sizzling swimming pools
Port Hills
Taylors Mistake
The Godley Head Stroll
Scott’s Cabin
Terra Nova (ship)
Lyttelton, New Zealand
Lyttelton Timeball Station
Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula Strolling Vacation and Hike
Little penguin
Hanmer Springs Thermal Swimming pools and Spa
Lewis Move
St James Walkway
Maruia Scorching Springs
Saint Arnaud, New Zealand
Nelson Lakes Nationwide Park
Blue Lake (Tasman)
Saint Arnaud Traditional Boat Museum
Nelson, New Zealand
World of Wearable Artwork
Founders Heritage Park
Gardens of the World
Historic Melrose Home Nelson
Brook Sanctuary
Abel Tasman
New Zealand Nice Walks – Extra Journey #8
Tākaka
Te Waikoropupū Springs
Pupu Hydro Energy Scheme
Collingwood, New Zealand
Farewell Spit Eco Excursions
Marlborough Sounds
Havelock, New Zealand
Pelorus Mail Boat Cruise and Tour
Picton, New Zealand
Edwin Fox Maritime Museum
Edwin Fox
Picton Museum
Queen Charlotte Monitor
Blenheim, New Zealand
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
Molesworth Station
Kaikōura
Whale Watching in Kaikoura
Kaikōura Whale Watching Scenic Flight
Bookabach
Worldwide Antarctic Centre | Christchurch, New Zealand
Plantation Peperpot Tour – Waterproof Excursions Suriname
Group
Hello Chris,
I loved the newest episode on the Galapagos Islands. It introduced again reminiscences from when I visited in 2016.
I went on an Intrepid Journey tour, which they now not run, which was land-based in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz however with boat journeys out to a variety of islands. I’d agree with Michael’s suggestions, notably Tortuga Bay and Las Grietas.
I might additionally recommend visiting Laguna de las Ninfas, an exquisite saltwater lagoon crammed with mangroves, a brief stroll from Puerto Ayora, and Playa de la Estación, the closest seaside to Puerto Ayora, close to the Charles Darwin Analysis Station, which has good swimming and snorkeling.
Jonty
—
Cruising the Peruvian Amazon with G Adventures – Episode 957
Hello Chris!
I’m a comparatively current listener to your podcast, however a lifelong avid traveler! I’m trying ahead to catching up in your years’ price of again episodes. I’m writing as a result of I simply completed listening to your Peruvian Amazon episode, which was so superb as a result of I used to be really in the identical location, however on a distinct boat, the very same week. We had been most likely on the identical flights! Your expertise was similar to mine- together with your tackle the climate and the mosquitoes (much less sizzling and fewer mosquitoes than anticipated). We positively met with the identical lady shaman, obtained to take a swim, and had the identical breakfast on the water and night time tour experiences. Our boat- the Delfin II (with Lindblad Expeditions) had a really comparable setup with the massive open bar/lounge on prime the place we liked to hang around, and even wonderful musical performances a number of nights from a number of the employees! What an journey. It was superb to relive my very own expertise whereas listening to yours!
Additionally, thanks for the current episode on Andorra as properly, which was well timed as I’m touring to Andorra in early September for a couple of days on the entrance finish of an extended journey to Northern Spain and Bordeaux.
I look ahead to listening to many extra of your adventures!
Karen
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