great kiwi road trips

Great Kiwi Road Trips

18/02/2015 3:06:04 p.m.http://www.aatravel.co.nz/gkrt/roadtrip/Christchurch-Queenstown/Queenstown/

Queenstown - Christchurch

Deep in the heart of the Southern Alps, you'd be forgiven for thinking you've found heaven on earth. With extreme natural

beauty, hints of the colonial past infused with modern day, and characters along the way that are bound to etch

themselves in your memory for all time.

Today Queenstown 24 Christchurch 28

Summary

Pit Stop List

AJ Hackett Bungy Queenstown Aoraki Balloon Safaris

Christchurch TOP 10 Holiday Pa... Econo Lodge Canterbury Court

Garden Court Suites & Apartmen... Glentanner Park Centre

Golden Gate Lodge Grumpy's Retreat "n" Holiday P...

Heritage Gateway Hotel Lake Tekapo Holiday Homes

Lake Tekapo Motels & Holiday P... MacKenzie Country Hotel

Methven Resort Oaks Club Resort (Queenstown)

Omarama TOP 10 Holiday Park Pinewood

Reflections Cafe and Restauran... Shotover TOP 10 Holiday Park

Sierra Motels Swiss-Belresort Coronet Peak

Tekapo Springs The Godley Hotel

The Helicopter Line - Mt Cook The Hermitage Aoraki Mount Coo...

The Wrinkly Rams Thrifty Car Rental

Thrifty Car Rental Willowbank Wildlife Reserve & ...



Locations along this route include:

Itinerary

Queenstown

In Queenstown, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding out what to do. In fact, the question that most people

find hardest to answer here is 'What should I do first?' Although recognised as a ski haven, Queenstown's summer season is

actually bigger than winter. Whether it's jet boating, skydiving, bungy jumping, or playing a round of golf, you'll make

memories to last a lifetime here!

Whether it's jet boating, skydiving, bungy jumping, or playing a round of golf, you'll make memories to last a lifetime

here!

Cromwell

Heading off from Queenstown, make sure you stop in Cromwell. Cromwell was established by gold miners, but now its

treasure is stone fruit and grape growing for wine. Sample the region's famous pinot noir. Make a day of vineyard hopping,

tasting and eating, and enjoying dazzling scenery. Explore nearby ghost towns and soak up the tranquil lakeside scenery.

Don't forget to explore Old Cromwell Town, and enjoy good coffee and great craft and boutique shops.

Omarama is a stunning place. Take in the clay cliffs that tower above the river and enjoy the serenity of the natural

environment. These large, naturally white, formations are a quick 10-minute walk from the road - well worth stopping

for. From Omarama, you could take a short side trip to Otematata village past Lake Benmore - drive into the Benmore

Dam and power station and check out the visitor centre.

Hotspots

Geraldine is a friendly settlement on the banks of the Waihi River and is jam-packed with interesting country characters

and craftspeople its the characters along the way that help make the trip amazing!

Visit Lake Tekapo and really spoil yourself on the water. Take relaxing boat rides, and enjoy the scenery while you sit

back and relax after time on the road getting here.

State Highway 80, is a great spot for panoramic views of Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Cook National Park and you can

try heli-flights, flightseeing, fishing, horse trekking, hunting, or take your pick from many walks in the area.

Aoraki Mt Cook is not only stunning visually but hiking, tramping and climbing this imposing mountain is really

something to write home about. Be sure to pack your hiking boots and camera.

Head to Twizel a township built in 1968 as base for one of the most impressive hydro-electric power schemes in the

Southern Hemisphere. With a diverse array of adventure activities on offer here, its an adrenalin junkies dreamland.

Tips

Aoraki Mt. Cook's DOC Visitors' Centre has up-to-date local information on the Park's geology, climate, flora and fauna -

stop in and chat to a true local. There's no better way to get the low-down on this area.

An hour out of Christchurch the adventure activities and more relaxing pursuits are endless - so remember to allocate

plenty of time here!

Visit historic Cromwell and try their local stone fruit or do a vineyard tour. Old Cromwell Town is unique to the area

and worth every second of your time.

Get an overview of Queenstown from the top of the Gondola before deciding which activity, from the many on offer,

best suits your tastes.

Queenstown is a great town to wander by foot, enjoy the lake, outdoor dining and cafes, plus the varied and many

shops. Park the car up in Man Street car park and enjoy the vibrancy and bustle of the village atmosphere. If you need an

escape, take a cruise on Lake Wakatipu with the TSS Earnslaw 'Lady of the Lake' , the last remaining coal-fired

passenger vessel operating in the southern hemisphere.

101 Must-Do's

Aoraki Mount Cook

Alpine majesty

Australasia's tallest mountain is right here in our backyard. At 3,754...

Camping Country

Every nook and cranny hides a camping spot

In the days before easy air travel, summer camping was a national past...

Lake Tekapo

Observatory and Church of the Good Shepherd

Gazing into the clear night skies above Tekapo's Mount John Observator...

Canterbury Plains Hot Air Ballooning

Float where the breeze may take you

Hot air ballooning over the Canterbury Plains has to be the ultimate C...



Queenstown Adventure

Extreme pursuits in an extreme environment

Hear your heart beating out of your chest and feel the adrenalin rush ...

Full Itinerary

As you drive north on SH8, you'll come to the turnoff to the magnificent Lake Ohau; bring your walking shoes and head out

on the tracks or hit the slopes on the Ohau ski area at the top of the valley. Back on SH8, you can stop in at Lake

Ruataniwha, the home of the national rowing championships.

Twizel

Twizel, your next stop, was built in 1968 as the base for one of the most impressive hydro-electric power schemes in the

southern hemisphere. With a diverse array of adventure activities on offer here, it's an adrenalin junkie's dreamland.

Take some time to enjoy the town centre with its shops and cafes. To experience delicious cuisine try out Shawtys or

Poppies cafe. There is also a golf course near the town centre and the extensive canals close by make for excellent trout

fishing.

With a diverse array of adventure activities on offer here, it's an adrenalin junkie's dreamland.

Aoraki Mt Cook

From Twizel it's on the road (SH 80) again, and on to one of the most dazzling areas in New Zealand - Aoraki Mt Cook

Village. No matter where you stay in Aoraki Mt Cook Village, there are sweeping views of the Aoraki Mt Cook National

Park. Best of all, every budget is catered for, with campsites at White Horse Hill campground through to the Hermitage's

luxurious Aoraki Wing.

Mountain climbing is a major attraction here and the challenge of reaching the summit of Aoraki Mt Cook, the highest

peak in Oceania (3750m), is the ultimate goal for the truly hardy and experienced climber.

Stargaze at the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, check out a 3D movie, or head outdoors to conquer summits, climb cliffs

of rock and ice, or walk through miles of breathtaking scenery.

There are lots of great family walks from the village, ranging from 10 minutes to four hours in length, but a must-do trail

is the Hooker Valley Track. The Tasman Glacier viewpoint track offers first-class views of this rock-strewn river of ice, or

you can join a Glacier Explorers adventure and take a boat trip to get up close to the glacier's terminal face and icebergs

in the glacier lake.

Buckle up and enjoy the scenic route. Stop and enjoy the spectacular views of Aoraki Mt Cook from the Glentanner Park

Centre. Visit the world's highest salmon farm and stock up on smoked salmon.

Lake Tekapo

After Glentanner, return to SH 8 and make your way to Lake Tekapo. For stargazing tours, take the road to Mt John

Observatory. Its telescopes take advantage of the region's protected night sky to probe deep space, searching for dark

matter, black holes and distant planets. Try fishing, hiking, mountain biking or horse riding and, in winter, take a look at

Round Hill Ski Field. It offers a pleasant drive through a frosted fairytale landscape, to gentle, open slopes and cosy

clubrooms. Take a flight in a helicopter or fixed-wing plane and you will really see the magnificence of the region. Finish

the day in a hot pool at Tekapo Springs on the lake frontage. Relax with a meal at Reflections cafe where the views over

the lake are spectacular.

Fairlie

From here, a landscape of grassy knolls ushers you into Fairlie. Huge oak trees provide shady relief for picnickers on the

main street. Get out and stretch your legs by taking a stroll in town and check out the Old Library Cafe and the Heritage

Museum. Vintage-car enthusiasts will be in their element at the Vintage Car and Machinery Museum, and walkers can strut

their stuff in the Talbot Forest Scenic Reserve, Kakahu Bush and Peel Forest Park, or hike or kayak nearby river gorges.

Geraldine

In Geraldine, a friendly, picturesque location on the banks of the Waihi River, you'll meet interesting country characters

and craftspeople who moved here for the creative synergy and relaxed lifestyle. It's a hive of edible creativity, so stop in

to discover gourmet treats on every corner. Tempt your taste buds at Talbot Forest Cheese, inhale the aromatic world of

specialty chutneys and fruit products at Barker's of Geraldine, or spoil yourself with the made-on-the-premises delights at

Cafe Plums. In the next shopping block, Coco offers an array of handmade chocolates and gourmet sweets. Yum, sounds

heavenly.

If you've got some spare time, take a side trip to the stunning Peel Forest - it's the perfect base for a range of outdoor

adventures for all ages, including Rangitata Rafts white-water rafting, Peel Forest Horse Trekking, mountain biking and

tramping. Don't miss the Giant Jersey and Medieval Mosaic in Wilson St. The recreation of the Bayeux Tapestry is an

amazing piece of local art - 20 years in the making and painstakingly handcrafted from over two million minute pieces of

steel.

If you've got some spare time, take a side trip to the stunning Peel Forest - it's the perfect base for a range of outdoor

adventures for all ages.

Christchurch

Just an hour out of Christchurch, the adventure activities and more relaxing pursuits are endless. Rug up and get in some

skiing or snowboarding, take to the water for some white-water rafting, test your limits with skydiving, enjoy a country

golf course or simply lace up your boots for a bit of tramping. Heritage trails, craft markets, art galleries, country

festivals and farm tours will fill your time - so remember to allocate plenty here!



Ending your trip in Christchurch, make sure you take advantage of the city life in this urban hub. With so much to do,

you'll be hard pressed to find a spare moment. From punting on the Avon River to shopping in the local markets and hot-

air ballooning, Christchurch has it all. If you're looking for luxury and fine dining, it's here as well.

An hour out of Christchurch, the adventure activities and more relaxing pursuits are endless.

More Information

Some say skydiving is a life-changing and empowering experience. Others say it's just plain insane. Find out for yourself at

Queenstown, one of the best places in the country to throw yourself out of a plane.

Prepare for a dizzying mixture of nerves and excitement as your instructor straps you to them and you both head for the

heavens in a small plane. Take advantage of the spectacular Queenstown scenery laid out before you as you prepare for

the big moment.

Then it's time. Your instructor will rock you both out of the plane, and then it's free-fall time. The first few seconds will

be filled with sheer terror as you feel the pull of gravity and the massive acceleration as you hurtle towards earth, then

another split-second later, it'll be as though a switch has been flicked, and your brain will adjust.

You will now know what it feels like to fly, and yes, it feels absolutely incredible! Around sixty seconds and 10,000ft

later, your parachute will go up and you'll float peacefully to the ground.

Insane? Not once you've tried it. Empowering? Definitely. In fact, you may find yourself hooked.

Queenstown earns its title as the South Island's major ski resort town thanks to its easy access to world-renowned ski

fields such as the Remarkables, Coronet Peak and Cardrona, as well as the Waiorau Snow Farm.

Making the attraction even stronger is that these ski fields truly live up to the 'catering to all ability levels' tag - ensuring

families find good reason to fall in love with Queenstown's nearby ski fields.

While there are many challenges for the serious skier or snowboarder, these ski fields place much emphasis on their

family-friendly conditions. Several programs are geared towards children and beginners, such as supervised lessons and

dedicated novice slopes. Some ski fields even offer childcare facilities for those who are too young to venture too far out

into the snow.

To ensure costs don't balloon, look out for family-orientated specials that are often featured by several ski fields.

Bring your appetite when you come to Geraldine because you'll be enticed into sampling some of the town's specialty

foods. Cheese, chocolate and the internationally recognised Barker's fruit products are some of the tasty treats on offer.

Also allow time to browse through the specialty shops selling gifts, souvenirs, clothing and Maori arts. A visit to the Tin

Shed combines some of these goods with the chance to get up close to the farm animals.

If you had never heard of Lake Alexandrina until right now, chances are you're not alone! Dwarfed by its neighbour, the

mighty Lake Tekapo, this smaller lake may be less well known, but it sure is big on two things: incredible beauty and

trout and salmon fishing.

Situated in the Mackenzie Basin in the Canterbury high country, the lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and

tussock-covered hills. With clear water and peaceful surroundings, this picturesque environment is ideal for a spot of

relaxed fishing.

Motorised boats are banned from the lake, but fishing still ranks highly on the list of local activities. In fact, it's what this

beautiful lake is renowned for. In particular, it's well known for its plentiful supply of trout and salmon, thanks to its

supply of glacier-fed spring water. Go on, head here for your next fishing trip - you won't be disappointed!

If you're into history you will love South Canterbury's three heritage driving trails. The trio takes in incredibly diverse

surrounds and points of interest and will allow you to cover various places along the way. Note: times do not include

stops.

The Pioneer Trail (3hrs): Pays tribute to early settlers, beginning at Pleasant Point. The first site is the Richard Pearse

Memorial, a man some believe flew a plane before the Wright brothers. Other points of interest include a kiln, forests and

a museum. Also incorporates Geraldine and finishes at Temuka.

The Bullock Wagon Trail (4hrs): Bullock wagons were essential to European settlers and on this journey from Timaru to

Twizel you will take in 20 points of interest. These include memorials and monuments, museum and lookouts, with

Pleasant Point, Fairlie and Tekapo all within the route.

The Strawberry Trail (3hrs): Focuses on the Waimate district, which is well known for its strawberries but there's more

than just fruit on this path. A monument, cottage, lookout and stonewall are incorporated within the trip, which begins

at Timaru.

If you've ever been to Queenstown, you'll appreciate the allure of this stylish alpine village. You've probably seen it from

The Remarkables on a day skiing, or as you flew in to Queenstown Airport over the snow-topped mountain ranges and

stunning Lake Wakatipu.

For more of a grass-roots perspective, lace up your walking shoes and head to Willow Place near Kawarau Falls, the start

of the Kelvin Peninsula Track.

This trail meanders along the southern side of Frankton Arm, looking across the lake to Queenstown village. It's a pleasant

walk that travels the golf course and, facing north, is a great place to catch the sun - even in winter. It's a perfect break

from snow sports, and an excellent opportunity to breathe in the fresh alpine air with the warm sun on your face.

The walk alternates between sidling below homes to traversing through regenerating native bush - testament to the long

process of native vegetation slowly but surely overtaking weed species. Residents have played a part in helping with this

restoration, and you can enjoy the benefits on this easy hour-and-a-half walking track.

great kiwi road trips

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