Three weeks in New Zealand
Three weeks, two islands, one birthday; New Zealand is going to be fun!
Continuing my adventures down under, I will be flying from Sydney to Christchurch on the South island at the end of March and will have three weeks to reach Auckland on the North island from which I be hitting the fourth continent of the trip, South America.
Shortly after arriving in New Zealand I will turn 28 so what better way to spend it than in Queenstown, New Zealand’s capital of extreme sports! I have suffered from a fear of heights for as long as I can remember, but thats not stopping me from believing that I will be able to summon enough courage to bungee jump and sky dive whilst I’m there.
To be perfectly honest I don’t recall reading much about or seeing many pictures of New Zealand before The Lord of the Rings. Those films evidently made a lasting impression on me, as ever since I saw them I’ve wanted to go and experience the beauty of New Zealand first hand.
Outdoor activities are very popular in New Zealand so I am likely to be very active during my time there. Some of the activities that are on my list include kayaking at Milford Sound, trek/tramp one of the great walks, abseil and rock climb at Waitomo Caves, and hike on one of the glaciers of the east coast.
If I have time, I would also like to visit the Bay of Islands on the north island. A couple of days sailing around the islands and perhaps a trip to swim with dolphins would be fantastic. The Bay of Islands has significant historical importance. It was here that Maori first settled in their early migrations. It was also in the Bay of Islands that New Zealand’s first permanent English settlement was formed; the start of European colonisation of New Zealand.
Getting around New Zealand appears to be very easy. There are numerous bus companies running services aimed at tourists that issue passes valid for travel on both islands. Many of these are set routes, but there are a few budget bus companies that sell tickets based on the number of journeys you plan to make. I’m certainly not short of options.
Three weeks in New Zealand is sure to fly by, especially with all the activities that I plan to do!
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Ah I’m so jealous. I travelled from south to north in 3 weeks aswell. You’ll have such an amazing time!
[...] Dan from Dan’s Adventure is traveling around the world and currently living the good life in New Zealand. [...]
Hi Dan, 3 weeks is not enough my friend, change it to months and you might just make it, lol!!
A few tips to help you along; there are some bus trips for $1, but you are stuck with strict timetables and routes etc., might be better off hitching a ride with fellow travelers you will meet in the hostels and backpackers, I gave several a lift when I was there last year, then if you see something worth a look along the way, it’s not a problem!
Fiordland NP, Millford Sound, Te Anau, Queenstown, Kiakoura, Punakaiki, Mt Cook, Akarao, Abel Tasman NP, Nelson Lakes, Queen Charlotte Sound, Lake Taupo, Rotorua and the Coromandels are all worth a visit, and take lots of storage for your pics, you’ll take loads!
Safe trip