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30 Oct - 15 Nov 2003 17 days Group One NZ South Island

Day 1: The group consisted of 10 ladies and 5 men, gathered at KLIA for the long flight to NZ in the afternoon.
Day 2 Kaikoura: We arrived in Auckland at about noon for our connecting flight to Christchurch. I went through a full baggage check because of the provisions that I brought. Our vehicles for the trip consisted of a 7-month old Ford Transit and the other was a Nissan Cefiro. We left the airport at 5pm and stopped for photos on the way to Kaikoura, a 3 hours drive. After a late dinner at a local pub, most of us opted to sleep early to recover from the 11 hours long journey.
Day 3 Kaikoura: We spent the morning walking about Kaikoura town and made arrangements for dolphin and whale watching. Later we visited Fyfee House, an old whaling house and trekked along the seaside cliffs, which overlooks the town, which is backed by snow-peaked mountains. In the afternoon, some went whale-watching while I took the rest on a scenic drive and trekked up Mt Fyfee. We also stopped at a lavender farm that has some 300 species, including "white" lavenders. We ended the day at the local supermarket stocking up for our own-cooked meals. All our motel accomodation comes with kitchen and cookware.
Day 4 Hamner Springs, Punaikaiki & Greymouth: We woke up at 530am to prepare ourselves for Dolphin Encounter. Two of us went swimming with the Grey Dolphins and it was a great thrill to have the hundred or so creatures darting about and around. The others took photos from the boat. We finished at about 9am and proceed to Hamner Springs 2 hours, for a good soak in the hot thermal pools. Our next destination was Punaikaiki 3 hours, with its beautiful pancake rocks and blowholes. We arrived at our overnight stop at Greymouth 2 hours later.
Day 5 Shanty Town, Hokitika & Franz Josef Glacier: Our first stop was the old gold mining town of Shanty and later the town of Hokitika, famous for its greenstone or jade. Then its off to Franz Josef for a three hours walk on to the Glacier. We had to be equiped with clamp-ons for the 3 hours walk on the ice. After we finished, it was off to Haast for our night stop.
Day 6 Mt Aspiring National Park, Wanaka Puzzle & Queenstown: Most of us opted for a jetboat cruise down the Haast River. It was a scenic journey with clear waters and beech trees-lined rivers. They were many scenic stops in this National Park, which is on UNESCO World Heritage list. We finished the day at the Wanaka Puzzle World, with the world's first 3-D maze. Our night stop was the town of Queenstown.
Day 7 Queenstown: We started the day at the AJ Hacket's Bungy Kawarau Gorge, the site of the world's first commercial bungy jump. As there was an unusually long queue in the morning, our group members booked for the next morning. We went on to Arrow Town, a tourist gold town and on to the Shotover Jet. Everyone enjoyed this exciting, albeit short 45 mins ride. We finished the day walking about Queenstown and the Gondola ride.

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Hooker Valley trek / Rangitata white-water rafting

Day 8 Bungy then Te Anau: Early in the morning, three of our party bungy jumped, including one retiree. After doing so, the three commented that the 58m jump was "easy". Then its off to Te Anau arriving at about noon. I bought some lobsters at NZ$30 per kilo for our dinner. Then, I drove the 170km, left the van in Milford Sound for our return trip after the Milford Track, and bussed back to Te Anau. At night we had a wonderful dinner of fresh lobsters and pastas.
Day 9 Milford Track canceled: In the morning we learned that the Milford Track was closed today because of flooding at Glade's Wharf. There was also no replacement date because the other days were also booked up. We had to make do with a walk up the first section of Kepler Trek and relaxing besides Lake Te Anau. Further, the access road to Milford Sound was closed because of snow avalanches. We were stuck in Te Anau because we could not get our vehicle out.
Day 10 Milford Cruise: Fortunately for us, the access road reopened at 10am today and we drove up in our second vehicle, picked up the Ford Transit and drove back to Te Anau to pick up the group. Then its yet another trip to Milford Sound where we did the famous cruise before coming back to Te Anau. All in all, I made 3 return journeys to Milford Sound in three days.
Day 11 Dunedin & Peninsular Drive: The 290km journey was dotted with numerous photo stops. We arrived in Dunedin in the afternoon and went on the nearby Peninsular Drive to visit the seal and penguin colonies and albatross center.
Day 12 Dunedin & Mount Cook: In the morning, we did a short walking tour of this Scottish town, Speights Beer Brewery and the Cadbury Chocolate factory. We then drove to Baldwin Street, recorded as the steepest street in the world in the Guiness World Book of Records. Then we went to Larnarch Castle, before proceeding to Mount Cook National Park. As usual, there were many stops to take photos.
Day 13 Hooker Valley Trek: Mt Cook is the highest mountain in NZ and its clearly visible on the Hooker Valley Trek. The trail head is only 10 mins away from our accomodation at the Hermitage Chalets. We had good weather and enjoyed the trek. In the afternoon, the weather turned for the worst and we had to abandon our plan to do the other treks.
Day 14 Tasman Glacer & Christchurch: Half hour away is the start of the 20 mins walk to the Tasman Glacier view-point. This is the largest glacier in NZ but is mostly covered in grey dust. One the way to Christchurch, we stopped at Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd. We also went to Akaroa, the French town of NZ and arrived late at Christchurch.
Day 15 Rangitata Rafting: All but three departed early for Peel Forest Reserve, the site of white water rafting on the Rangitata River. Its some 2.5 hrs from Christchurch and reputed to be one of the best in NZ with a couple of grade 5 rapids. The water was icy cold but we all managed and had a wonderful time. We got back to Christchurch in the evening.
Day 16 Christchurch: We had a full day visiting the Antartica Centre, stuffed ourselves at a local buffet, then finishing off at the Catheral Square and Hyde Park.
Day 17 Fly Home: Went to the airport in the morning to see off the group. Seven in the group extended their stay in North Island. I stayed behind to wait for the Group 2, which arrived at 4pm.

 
Milford Sound / Wild Russel Lupin flowers

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