In order to access Abel Tasman National Park we stayed in a small village called Kaiteriteri which had a lovely beach but not much to do if it rained. The scenery on the drive to Kaiteriteri from Picton was beautiful – a mix of forest covered mountains and views of the sea which were a great introduction to the South Island and gave an indication of what the National Park might have to offer.
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Over the time I’ve been in New Zealand I’ve been slowly adding to this list. Originally it was something I was going to share after the first few weeks rather than in the last few but I’ve just kept coming across more things which I’ve wanted to share. Quick note – a lot of these are my impressions rather than facts so take it with a pinch of salt…
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River Valley Lodge is a lovely lodge that is in the middle of nowhere but surrounded by some stunning scenery. It’s a little bit off the beaten track (there were very few people staying there who weren’t on our bus) but worth seeking out.
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Great Lake Taupo is New Zealand’s largest lake which also happens to be a caldera (sunken volcano) which is still active. The average depth of the lake is 100m and in some places you can see the water bubbling but it isn’t hot enough to warm up the entire lake. We both really liked Taupo (pronounced toe-paw) and there is plenty to keep you occupied for a few days. There is also quite a strange mix of activities – you can do all the adrenaline filled activities but there are also quite a few retirement homes.
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When planning our trip to New Zealand James and I knew that we wanted to go hiking (or tramping as it’s called here) but were concerned that we wouldn’t be able to manage one of the multi-day great walks. As a one day walk, and one that went past Mount Doom from the Lord of the Rings films, the Tongariro Crossing was soon a definite on our itinerary.
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