Nikki Bentley
South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Abel Tasman ▷
4.5/5
Freedom Kayak Hire - 8.30am - 4pm.
Good safety briefing in the morning, suitable even if very new kayaking experience. Beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife, seals and pups, colonies of birds and even little blue penguins! Great option for independent types.
North Island ▷ Waikato ▷ Waitomo ▷
3.5/5
Very enthusiastic staff, perhaps made you feel a bit of a gap year, despite no one in group being that age.
Great fun though. Slightly old and smelly wetsuits given but soon forgotten when in cave.
North Island ▷ Auckland Region ▷ Auckland ▷
4.5/5
Tucked just behind the sand dunes, this basic motorcamp is spacious and a great base for Muriwai activities eg surfing, gannet colony, short tramps.
Short drive to great superette cum bakery and fish n chips.
South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Milford Sound - Fiordland National Park ▷
4.5/5
Despite cloudy weather in spring this is still a highlight.
Large amounts of roar made the waterfalls more wonderful, more dramatic and many tiny ones seeped down like veins on the cliffs. Very atmospheric, plenty of wildlife and good commentary.