If the climate is on your side, the view throughout the valley to the snow-capped mountains on the horizon is certainly worthwhile. I couldn’t assist however feel like I was a bird hovering above the clouds gazing down at the valley under. From easy lakeside hikes to fishing, camping and boating, you probably can read extra in my detailed information about things to do at Moke Lake. For now, beneath are some photographs to feed your curiosity about this stunning lesser-known spot simply outside Queesntown.
While it appears harmless sufficient, you need to be positive to enter prepared not simply with meals and ample water, but with your thermals, your rain gear, and so on. From Queenstown, drive 2hrs to Te Anau, the nearest city to Milford Sound, or 3hrs to Cascade Creek, the closest DOC camp . There are heaps of cool ways to expertise the fjord the next day, whether or not it’s on a basic scenic cruise, a splurgy helicopter flight, or, my private favourite, a scuba diving tour. It ought to be stated that New Zealand’s South Island is really chilly. Even in summer, it’s common for night temperatures within the mountains to dip down to 5C and I’ve even woken up to snow in the midst of January !
The Classic Car Museum in the identical location is open although and properly worth a go to. The best locations to begin out if you’re flying in can be Christchurch and Queenstown, which both have main airports and rental depots. The South Island can get chilly in winter and snow is widespread so be prepared for chilly climate. In summer time the temperatures are hotter clearly but New Zealand’s climate may be temperamental so heavy rain isn’t uncommon at any time of the year, notably on the West Coast.
If you’re keen to depart Queenstown very early, you’ll find a way to squeeze in climbing part of the well-known Routeburn Track as much as Key summit. It’s a 7-kilometre hike that ought to take you around three hours return at a quick tempo if you’re a match hiker (it goes up!). You can cease first at the Church of the Good Shepherd, arguably essentially the most famous photograph spot in Tekapo. It will price you $7 to drive up there, so if you’re on a budget or really feel such as you drove sufficient for the day, you may prefer to stroll. It’s one of many longest drives of this New Zealand South Island itinerary.
Cycle Tours
Bill and I sit in the entrance of the raft and provides each other a “Holy blank” look. Hamish appears us over one last time and yells, “Get down.” He tucked down within the backside of the raft identical to he skilled us. I take one last peak earlier than we hit over the falls, “I hope this isn’t my final. Now we’re going over the fall.” We’re over in a few long seconds.
At Glenorchy, we first stopped by the Glenorchy Wharf which has a boat shed – the pink paint of which, pops fairly beautifully against the colors of nature. Since it was raining, there have been very few people on the wharf, which made for a good better expertise. West Coast Wildlife Centre– See rare kiwis, tuataras and walk via their interactive glacier display. On reaching Kaikoura, we instantly set out for the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway. We parked at Point Kean Carpark the cliffs the place we found ourselves walking along a well-defined path between green and yellow fields.
