South Island, NZ
After wellington was the trip to the South Island, the ferry was an experience (read about it in my Ultimate Guide to NZ), but we eventually arrived and drove the long stretch to Christchurch, along the coastline but very pretty, we saw the thousands of seals snoozing on the rocks as the sun set on the horizon over the mountains. Reaching the south island, we were definitely starting to see snow now… which was exciting for everyone. We got in late and I went straight to bed. A quick and cute walking tour through the city the following day made me pretty sad hearing about the earthquakes that rattled the town back in 2011 and 2016, where it’s still recovering and buildings just haven’t been restored. The Christchurch cathedral suffered extensive damage and would be demolished due to the severity and cost to rebuild it to be structurally sound, however being such an important aspect of the city to many locals, a fundraiser took place and enough was raised to restore the cathedral, so that construction was still ongoing. Where buildings have fallen, concrete slabs lay around the city, and in attempt to prevent kids from entering abandoned/damaged buildings (for their safety if nothing else) many of these concrete slabs were made into fun things for them to do. Like an interactive basketball court, graffiti walls, even a dance floor which needs just a 50c donation to start the beats. Many cool playgrounds have been built for the same reason, and ultimately Christchurch is a great place for kids to grow up right now, although at the same time is rather small and one of the less amusing places of New Zealand, but again, I’m a beach person.
We returned here at the end of the trip and visited the Antartic museum which was just so random but fun.
Things to do in Christchurch:
Go stargazing at the Aoraki mackenzie international Dark Sky reserve
Antarctic Museum
Tasman glacier and Aoraki Mt Cook Village
Mt Cook hike : insane scenes
Hammer springs
Arthurs pass hike
Walking tour
First on our south island adventure was Franz Joseph Glacier. The town, built around the tourist attraction that is the Franz Joseph glacier, a 12km long temperate maritime glacier in Westland Tai Poutini National Park. The crystal clear, and not even that cold glacier waters below made for pretty sweet place for a kayak, images mirrored in the water, as we explored the inlets and waterways. The base of the Glacier was well worth the 30 minute bus ride to get there and seemed like a sick place to go camping. A helicopter trip up to the top of the glacier is a must do, however with severe rainfall forecast at Franz Josef for many months of the year, these trips can easily be cancelled, so be prepared. Ours didn’t happen due to fog, but saved me some pretty pennies so it was a loose win situation. From here you can do a heli-hike, where with appropriate footwear you’ll hike through the glacier, cravesses and icy cliff faces, a once in a lifetime and must-do experience. Guess i’ll just have to come back to do another time. The wildlife centre here has Kiwi exhibits and the Quad bike tour through the forest, and in the open fields with the Glacier in the background was the highlight here, Ali clinging to the back of me for dear life, and poor Paige literally nearly dying (don’t be scared, her own doing!). River crossings and getting stuck in mud, so be prepared to get wet, although with the wet weather gear of the century you’ll be right.
Things to do in Franz Josef
Heli-hike
Heli ride
Quad Bike tours
Hike the trail along the river
Catch the bus to the base of the Glacier
Take loads of pictures
Kayak tour
After franz we went to the adventure capital of the world,and arguably the prettiest place in the world too.. Queenstown. The home of the bungee jump, and all things adrenaline junkee. We spent the next 4 days doing exactly that. Skydiving, bungee jumping, the big swing, a catapult, you name it, we did it. Catching the skyline up over the city at night was stunning, heading to stratosfare for a dinner like no other at the top of the city. Some opted to ride down the mountain on the segways, as others caught the skyline back. We chilled and ate too many of Fergs famous Ferg Burgers, played disk golf in the botanic gardens with insane scenes, and acted like bit kids on the rope swings into the lake. Queenstown may just be the favourite from my whole trip, even though everywhere is so different. I can so see myself living here, just. so. pretty! I returned a week later because I loved it so much.
Things to do in Queenstown:
Skiing/ Snowboarding
Skydiving over the southern alps
Bungee jumping (you’ve got to do nevis.. 134m!!)
Nevis Big swing and catapult
Mountain Biking
Skyline
Sky zorbing