Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Experience the world in miniature

From paragliding and skydiving to abseiling, kayaking, and mountain biking, the South Island of New Zealand has some of the most exciting escapades on offer. Combine that with delicious food, tantalizing wine and panoramic views of glacial mountains, majestic fiords and lush green pastures, and there’s your recipe for a dream vacation.

Queenstown - South Island’s crown jewel
Begin your adventure in Queenstown. Named in honour of Queen Victoria, this picturesque town is nestled beside Lake Wakatipu in the Southern Lakes district. Take a ride in the Queenstown Gondola to see the sights of the city. For those who enjoy their food and drink, the nearby Otago region is famous for its Pinot Noir and a visit to the Fergburger café is a must, where you can try various delicious burgers.

Adventure activities like jet boating, skydiving, skiing and boarding, horse trekking, heli mountain biking, and bungee jumping are limitless here. For the ultimate adrenalin kick, try the canyon swing where you get strapped into a full body harness and then dropped in free fall for 60 metres! End the evening with Queenstown’s vibrant nightlife.

For those who are fans of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, a visit to Wanaka is a must, to experience the sights and sounds used in the movies. Stop en route at the “Prancing Pony” pub, also known as “Cardrona Hotel” for their delicious meals and brews.

Fiordland - untouched natural splendour
Drive south-west from Queesntown to Fiordland to see natural beauty in all its splendour, including sheer sides of the snow-capped Southern Alps, deep blue lakes, and steep valleys teeming with flora and fauna. Fiordland has never had any significant permanent population and is the least inhabited area of New Zealand. Even the Maori only visited temporarily for hunting, fishing, and to collect precious stones.

The most famous fjord is Milford Sounds but Doubtful Sound is larger and untouched with several branches being accessible only by air or boat. Spending a day and night on an all-purpose boat here will treat you with sights of fur seals, Fiordland Crested Penguins, and dolphins. Fiordland also includes some of the tallest waterfalls in the world.

Head back to Queenstown and fly to Christchurch. Alternately, enjoy the scenic 8 hour drive to Christchurch. Stop at Arrowtown to enjoy old mining sites and at Mt. Cook (at 3,764 mts, this is the highest peak in New Zealand) for a glimpse of the Kiwi mountainside and glacier blue lakes like Pukaki and Tekapo.

Christchurch - picturesque Garden City
Arrive at the gorgeous city of Christchurch and rent bicycles to explore the beautiful tree-lined avenues, ambling inner-city rivers, and magnificent heritage buildings including the neo-Gothic Cathedral in the city centre.

You must visit the suburbs of Sumner and Taylor’s Mistake, Christchurch’s surfing capital. Gourmet lovers should walk along Oxford Terrace against the Avon River; here you will find a huge selection of restaurants and cafes catering to every palette.

Kaikoura and Punakaiki - coastal delights
From Christchurch, head north-east towards the Kaikoura Coast via Hammer Springs. Kaikoura literally means “to eat crayfish” and this town is abundant with marine life, its deep sea trench allowing whales, dolphins, and seals to come up close to you. Go dolphin swimming and whale watching while enjoying the delights of the seafood spread!

Alternately, from Christchurch head north-west to the beach town of Punakaiki, world famous for its “Pancake Rocks”, huge columns of limestone resembling stacks of pancakes. Hear the impressive roar of the water which is forced upwards through the blowholes at high tide. Enjoy the landscape through various adventure sports like surfing, horse trekking, kayaking, four wheel driving, and trekking.

Head onwards to Wellington in the North Island or journey back to Christchurch in the epic Trans Alpine train to catch your onward flight and conclude your thrilling journey around the delightful South Island feeling refreshed by all the natural beauty and exhilarated with all the adventure activities!

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