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New Zealand West Coast Adventure

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New Zealand West Coast Adventure

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Description

Explore the narrow strip of South Island land sandwiched between the mountains and the Tasman Sea that’s home to some of the country’s most beautiful places. Millions of years of natural history are right in front of you in wild limestone rock formations, powerful glaciers, rushing rivers and surf pounded coast, while the much more recent stories of the gold and coal rush can be found in the heritage settlements and in the resolute spirit of the coasters. Take in highlights from Christchurch to Queenstown, Pancake Rocks to craft gin, kayaking to spa soaking. This is a coastal road trip to rival any other.

Trip Name
New Zealand West Coast Adventure
Last Updated
1970-01-01
Days
7
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Get out and see a different side to the South Island, making the most of the wide-open spaces of the rugged and largely unexplored West Coast.
  • Go deeper into the history of the area with stories of the goldrush days during visits to Reefton, Kumara.
  • Take in the magic of the spectacular Fox Glacier region weaving through rainforests and a walk along shimmering Lake Matheson.
  • Witness the stunning, millions of years old scenery at the dramatic Pancake Rocks and the Hokitika Gorge, and spot fur seals at Cape Foulwind.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Forest & Bird. Donations help them give nature a voice - protecting wildlife and wild places in Aotearoa New Zealand by advocating for conservation on the ground and at a government level. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway. OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.

Day 1 - Christchurch / Reefton / Westport
Welcome to your Intrepid exploration of the South Island! Your adventure begins in Christchurch, where a welcome meeting will take place at 8am for you to meet up with your local leader and fellow travellers. After your meeting, it’s time to hit the road, first heading to Hanmer Springs in the Lewis Pass national reserve. Check out the natural hot pools surrounded by greenery as the snow dusted peaks of the Southern Alps look on. You can even opt to take a dip. Next up, travel to Reefton, a tiny town that punches above its size. Step back in time and meet a local story-teller, learning about the town's gold mining past, the miners' families, the storekeepers, and embrace the Cornish influence. You'll even have the opportunity to see the water powered gold stamping battery working. Head into the town centre proper where you'll meet the 'bearded miners' for a cup of manuka enhanced black billy tea and to watch the technique of gold panning. Finally, drive through the spectacular Buller Gorge to the town of Westport and perhaps round off the day with a group dinner.
Day 2 - Tauranga Bay / Charleston / Punakaiki / Kumara
Start your day with a stop at the wild Cape Foulwind and admire incredible views of the mountains and rugged coastline. The headland is home to a fur seal breeding colony so keep your eyes peeled, they can easily blend in with the rocks! Continue to Charleston this morning to join a train ride in open carriages through primeval rain forest. ‘The Nile River Rainforest Train’ recreates a bygone era where bush trams once prevailed. Experience the spectacular wilderness of the Nile River Canyon in Paparoa National Park. Next up is Punakaiki, a town with less than 100 residents, but famed for its so-called Pancake Rocks. These layers of fossilised animals and plants, formed over 30 million years ago, were thrust above the surface by the moving earth and sculpted by wind and water. At high tide the sea is forced through blowholes in the limestone to burst metres into the air – it’s an entertaining sight! Continue to Kumara, a former goldrush town with an intriguing history (this little place was the home of New Zealand’s longest serving Prime Minister!). On arrival, settle into your hotel, then head out to meet the town’s brightest residents. Just behind your hotel, you’ll find dazzling glow worms lighting up old mineshafts. Once the sun has gone down, be sure to look up. With very little light pollution, the stargazing in Kumara is absolutely out of this world (literally!).
Day 3 - Hokitika / Okarito Lagoon / Fox Glacier
Today begins with a visit to the Hokitika Gorge, one of the West Coast’s most stunning spots. Shimmering turquoise waters wreathed with lush native bush make a sight to remember. Then it’s on to the Okarito Lagoon, alive with the calls of over 70 unique species of birds. Head out on a nature walk culminating in a lookout point from which, on a clear day, you can enjoy an unbeatable view over Westland (Tai Poutini) National Park from the snow-capped Southern Alps (Ka Tiritiri o te Moana) across extensive native forest to the lagoons and beaches of the coast. Continue your journey south to the Fox Glacier township, your gateway to the dramatic and enormous Fox Glacier and your base for the evening.
Day 4 - Fox Glacier
Kick off the day with a gentle walk around the glittering Lake Matheson, dubbed the ‘mirror lake’ for its dark waters which perfectly reflect the towering Southern Alps – if you take one picture of your West Coast adventure, this should be it! The rest of the day is yours to make the most of what this amazing slice of the country has to offer. Perhaps take a shuttle back to Franz Josef Glacier or you may want to visit a pounamu (greenstone) workshop and learn how to carve your own original piece. Alternatively you can book a helicopter ride up to the glaciers, with the potential to add on a hike through the spectacular landscape. There’s also no shortage of interesting walks and cosy pubs if you fancy a more low-key afternoon – have a chat to your leader about your options for the day.
Day 5 - Wanaka
Make tracks for Wanaka, making plenty of interesting stops along the way. First up is Ship Creek, where you’ll take a walk through quintessentially rugged West Coast scenery. You can either walk through shady swamp forest, or explore windswept sand dunes and coastal forest. Then it’s on to Mt Aspiring National Park. Make the short walk to the incredible Thunder Creek Falls, featuring an impressive 96-metre-tall cascade. Arrive in Wanaka and enjoy an evening at leisure.
Day 6 - Wanaka
With Lake Wanaka as the star of the show and surrounding mountains only complimenting its beauty, there’s no doubt this is one of the most attractive towns in New Zealand. Today is completely free for you to enjoy the surroundings of Wanaka, and there's certainly no shortage of amazing things to see and do here, so be sure to chat to your leader for their top tips. You may like to take a pleasant bike ride along the shores of Lake Wanaka or get on the water and cruise to Mou Waho Island, where you’ll find an island in a lake on an island in a lake! There are heaps of beautiful short walks in the area, and a visit to the famous #thatwanakatree is a must. Or simply find a cosy cafe to admire the view.
Day 7 - Queenstown
Depart Wanaka this morning and drive through the magnificent scenery of the Crown Range. Arrive in Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, in the late morning (approximately 10:30am), at which point your West Coast adventure will come to an end.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
01-12-202407-12-2024AUD $ 2,715-
08-12-202414-12-2024AUD $ 3,077-
22-12-202428-12-2024AUD $ 3,352-
29-12-202404-01-2025AUD $ 3,725-
12-01-202518-01-2025AUD $ 3,136-
26-01-202501-02-2025AUD $ 2,962-
09-02-202515-02-2025AUD $ 3,022-
23-02-202501-03-2025AUD $ 2,877-
09-03-202515-03-2025AUD $ 2,852-
23-03-202529-03-2025AUD $ 2,852-
06-04-202512-04-2025AUD $ 2,975-
27-04-202503-05-2025AUD $ 2,975-
06-07-202512-07-2025AUD $ 2,780-
07-09-202513-09-2025AUD $ 2,754-
21-09-202527-09-2025AUD $ 2,754-
05-10-202511-10-2025AUD $ 2,754-
12-10-202518-10-2025AUD $ 2,754-
26-10-202501-11-2025AUD $ 2,754-
02-11-202508-11-2025AUD $ 2,754-
09-11-202515-11-2025AUD $ 2,864-
16-11-202522-11-2025AUD $ 2,864-
23-11-202529-11-2025AUD $ 2,864-
07-12-202513-12-2025AUD $ 2,864-
14-12-202520-12-2025AUD $ 2,864-
21-12-202527-12-2025AUD $ 3,500-
28-12-202503-01-2026AUD $ 3,500-
04-01-202610-01-2026AUD $ 3,500-
11-01-202617-01-2026AUD $ 3,500-
18-01-202624-01-2026AUD $ 3,500-
25-01-202631-01-2026AUD $ 3,500-
01-02-202607-02-2026AUD $ 3,500-
08-02-202614-02-2026AUD $ 3,500-
15-02-202621-02-2026AUD $ 3,500-
22-02-202628-02-2026AUD $ 3,500-
08-03-202614-03-2026AUD $ 3,370-
15-03-202621-03-2026AUD $ 3,370-
22-03-202628-03-2026AUD $ 3,370-
05-04-202611-04-2026AUD $ 3,370-
19-04-202625-04-2026AUD $ 3,370-
03-05-202609-05-2026AUD $ 3,240-
14-06-202620-06-2026AUD $ 3,240-
05-07-202611-07-2026AUD $ 3,565-
06-09-202612-09-2026AUD $ 3,565-
20-09-202626-09-2026AUD $ 3,565-
04-10-202610-10-2026AUD $ 3,565-
11-10-202617-10-2026AUD $ 3,565-
25-10-202631-10-2026AUD $ 3,565-
01-11-202607-11-2026AUD $ 3,565-
08-11-202614-11-2026AUD $ 3,705-
15-11-202621-11-2026AUD $ 3,705-
22-11-202628-11-2026AUD $ 3,705-
06-12-202612-12-2026AUD $ 3,705-
13-12-202619-12-2026AUD $ 3,705-
20-12-202626-12-2026AUD $ 3,850-
27-12-202602-01-2027AUD $ 3,850-
03-01-202709-01-2027AUD $ 3,850-
10-01-202716-01-2027AUD $ 3,850-
17-01-202723-01-2027AUD $ 3,850-
24-01-202730-01-2027AUD $ 3,850-
31-01-202706-02-2027AUD $ 3,850-
07-02-202713-02-2027AUD $ 3,850-
14-02-202720-02-2027AUD $ 3,850-
21-02-202727-02-2027AUD $ 3,850-
07-03-202713-03-2027AUD $ 3,705-
14-03-202720-03-2027AUD $ 3,705-
21-03-202727-03-2027AUD $ 3,705-
04-04-202710-04-2027AUD $ 3,705-
18-04-202724-04-2027AUD $ 3,705-
02-05-202708-05-2027AUD $ 3,565-
13-06-202719-06-2027AUD $ 3,565-

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights),Motel (1 night)

Transport

Private Vehicle

Map

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