A Land of Endless Discovery: How to Spend Two Weeks in New Zealand
Day 7: Marlborough, Motueka, the Pancake Rocks
The Marlborough region at the top of the South Island is home to many of New Zealand’s finest wineries. On your way to Nelson, stop in at a cellar door or two and do some tasting and buying, or simply enjoy the sight of row upon row of grapevines. Neighboring region Motueka is a big beer brewing area, so if beer is more your thing, take a detour to one of the breweries there and enjoy the sight of sheep grazing beneath hop plants.
Nelson is a lovely town and a good place to stop as you head toward the West Coast. From Nelson it will take you about four hours to get to your next destination: the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks. The Pancake Rock walk is just over a kilometer and gives you fantastic views of dozens and dozens of coastal rock formations that resemble stacks of pancakes. Just another natural wonder of New Zealand!
Day 8: Franz Josef Glacier
Continue to make your way down the West Coast through Greymouth and then Hokitika to Franz Josef Glacier. Stop for lunch in the town of Franz Josef before setting off on the Franz Josef Glacier walk, which will take you about 90 minutes plus photo stops and give you a good view of the 12-kilometer-long mass of ice. And if one glacier just isn’t enough, you can check out the nearby Fox Glacier, too.
If you have some cash to spare, you might want to consider a helicopter tour of the area, which will give you an aerial view of the glaciers and a better appreciation for their scale. There are several companies that offer these tours and though they will set you back several hundred dollars, rumor has it they’re worth it.
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Day 9: Wanaka, Queenstown
Make your way to Wanaka, where you can stop for lunch and see the famous lone tree standing in Lake Wanaka. Then, on to Queenstown!
Your wallet will likely determine what you’re able to do while in Queenstown. Known as the adrenaline capital of the world, the area’s signature activities include bungee jumping, skydiving and jet boating.
However, if you’re on a budget or just not looking for an adrenaline rush, Queenstown still has a lot to offer, including great restaurants, stunning crystal-clear lakes and fabulous hiking trails. Drive along the breathtaking Lake Wakatipu out to Glenorchy, explore the historical Arrowtown, or climb Queenstown Hill to watch the sunset.
There’s no shortage of things to do — your problem will be choosing what to do in the time you have.
