Lizzie
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Cruise Te Anau
5.0/5
Do the cruise to South Fiord, Lake Te Anau, in the evening.
The weather was perfect. I'd have liked to explore the fiord further, but time didn't permit and the walk to the Hidden Lakes was an absolute joy. Our skipper was knowledgeable and friendly and the place is almost too beautiful for words. Te Anau is one of my favourite spots in New Zealand and I always seem to find another great excursion to go on. Don't miss this one.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Doubtful Sound ▷
Doubtful Sound Day Cruise
5.0/5
A dream came true for me this month.
After two previous trips (1977 and 1997) in rain and low cloud, this time the sun shone and I looked down from the top of the pass and saw Deep Cove. From there it just got better. The whole day was glorious and the place is magical. (Mind you, the second trip had its wonders as all the waterfalls were in full spate, which this time they weren't.) So do this trip in all weathers and you won't be disappointed.
I'm also impressed with the quality of Real Journey' service.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Monarch Wildlife Cruises & Tours
4.0/5
I did this trip in the rain in 1997 and again in sunshine (and quite a swell) this month.
We had wonderful views of the albatrosses, seals and other wildlife and of the beautiful Otago Harbour and Peninsula. And for a flatlander from Western Australia it was great to see the peninsula with a local expert driving on those steep winding roads. Highly recommended.
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South Island ▷ Mount Cook - MacKenzie ▷ Lake Tekapo ▷
Air Safaris
5.0/5
This was the last, and possibly the greatest, highlight of my trip.
If you're planning to do it, make sure you have time in the area because (as in my case) a cloudy morning can clear by mid-afternoon to near-perfect visibility. The only thing we missed was a view of the west coast; we looked down the glaciers into a mass of boiling cloud, but we saw them; everything else was crystal clear and absolutely fantastic. Tom the pilot was very informative and handled the aircraft so as to give us the best possible views and photo shots. This trip is not to be missed.
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South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin ▷
Taieri Gorge Railway
5.0/5
I've been waiting years to do this trip and it was so well worth the wait.
The Taieri Gorge is lovely and even if the broom is a pest it's beautiful in full bloom. I took far too many photos. It would be great if the train had a proper observation car (I encountered one on a fabulous train trip in Peru) as the platforms at the ends of the carriages got a bit crowded and taking photos through windows is never really satisfactory. But there were several good photo stops and the crew were very helpful and informative. I really recommend this trip.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
Dart River Jet Safaris
5.0/5
I did the Funyaks trip, up the river by jetboat and back in an inflatable canoe, and the only two things that marred the day's perfection were the sandflies and the wetsuit.
If you're planning to do this trip, don't spend time thinking about what to wear; you'll leave it all in the changerooms anyway. Wetsuits are NOT comfortable, especially for the less slim, but nonetheless the day was a real joy. The entire southwest corner of the South Island is a World Heritage area and deserves it on outstanding natural beauty alone (even if it didn't tick all the other boxes too). The trip was really well organised, the crew were great and the lunch really was delicious. Take good insect repellent.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
Farewell Spit Eco Tours
5.0/5
This was a highlight of my trip.
I'm a coast person and this drive along that wild, empty (of humans, that is) windswept beach with the crashing waves, the wonderfully sculpted dunes, the great sweep of the sky and the constant comings and goings of birds and seals was exhilarating. Cape Farewell and Fossil Point were well worth seeing and the comfort stop at the lighthouse was welcome. Good muffins too. If you're planning to include this trip in your itinerary - and I recommend it - be aware of the tide as a factor. I nearly missed out and had to do some rapid readjustment of my schedule to get to Collingwood in time. And that's another thing. Don't miss Collingwood; it's a delightful tiny place.
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South Island ▷ Marlborough ▷ Picton / Marlborough Sounds ▷
Beachcomber Fun Cruises
4.0/5
I did this on a Sunday, so with no mail to deliver we got a bonus visit to Motuara Island.
This would be better if there were more places to sit and watch/listen to the birds. The cruise itself was very enjoyable despite the drizzle and I enjoyed the visit to Ship Cove; always welcome a chance to pay my respects to one of my heroes and one of the world's greatest navigators. The Sounds were, as always, beautiful.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Eco Wanaka Adventures
5.0/5
I loved this cruise and walk.
Lake Wanaka must be one of the most beautiful on the planet, and the little jewel of Mou Waho Island, with its own lake near the summit, and its wonderful views when you get there, is worth climbing the rather steep path. The friendly wekas and the always beautiful native bush were a joy, but the real highlight was our skipper, Chris, whose knowledge was only exceeded by his obvious passion for his island and his dedication to its restoration. Take this trip and plant a tree for the island's future.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Wanaka River Journeys
5.0/5
I did this trip three years ago and thought seriously about doing it again on my recent trip to New Zealand.
The exhilaration of jet-boating was only part of the pleasure; the outstanding beauty of the landscape, the walk through the forest, the gulls nesting along the shingle banks, the extensive knowledge of Brent and Sue and above all their obvious love for what they do, all added up to a truly memorable experience. Don't miss it.