Today we make our way to the wild and wet West Coast; but first we will stop at Arrowtown, one of the first gold mining settlements in New Zealand. Its tree lined streets and historic buildings lie beautifully nestled at the foothills of the Crown Range. We will then make one more stop before arriving at Fox Glacier, at Wanaka, one of the most desirable places to live in New Zealand. With Lake Wanaka lapping at the shores, the picture postcard Southern Alps as its background and bordering Aspiring National Park, you will soon feel the same way as many others. We now head through the remote area of Haast and the dense rain forests, and make our way to the foot of Fox Glacier.

Covering 13 kilometres and descending 1200 metres, Fox and Franz Josef glaciers are only 6 km from the Tasman Sea and are amongst the fastest moving in the world. Here you have the chance to partake in some optional excursions such as a guided walk on ice, or maybe you would like to experience the thrill of a helicopter flight over this amazing mass of frozen water. After the glaciers have been conquered (or not..) we head up the West Coast to the small settlement of Pukekura, population 2. Pukekura is really known for the Bushman's Centre and Museum, and the adjoining cafe that serves 'road kill soup fo the day'....

We drive further north today stopping at Paporoa National Park where we see the famous Pancake Rocks and blow holes at Dolomite Point  at the small coastal settlement of Punakaiki. The National Park offers an array of outdoor activities: trekking, horse trekking, kayaking and rock climbing. For those that mya have had their fill of adventure in Queenstown, you can always take time to curl up with a good book or perhaps watch for the dolphin pods that vie with the surfers for the best wave.

We continue north and for the next two nights we camp at Marahau, the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park. Abel Tasman National Park, is New Zealand's smallest National Park, but one of the most beautiful. 23,000 ha of rolling hills, native bush, hidden golden sand beaches and over 91km of coastal scenery and is home to the Tonga Island Marine Reserve. 

Day 5: Abel Tasman National Park:   Accommodation 

The National Park can be enjoyed by walking the coastal track one way and with the return trip by launch or water taxi , or by sea kayaking the Coast and drifting slowly taking in the spectacular sights and watching dolphins, seals and the wildlife. There are numerous water taxi operators that offer day trippers the option of being dropped off at one beach and picked up at another. Or you can walk the length of the Coastal Walkway.. You can go sea kayaking, swim with seals, go sailing, have a microlight flight or  go tandem hang gliding. Options galore.

Before we leave the South Island, we will visit Nelson which is known as the sunniest place in the country. Nelson is a very lively and modern town and is renowned as a vibrant arts, crafts and festival centre. Within 100 kms are some of the best beaches in New Zealand and some of the most diverse National Parks. Nelson has over 300 artists resident in town, so it is obvious the Arts also feature heavily as an attraction. Wineries and local breweries are another big draw card..

All Overland NZ tours are flexible and we do our utmost to take you to the best places we possibly can. Our expeditions can sometimes be effected by local climatic conditions and anything else unexpected so please treat this information as a guideline only.  When you come to New Zealand be prepared to take things as they come and above all don’t forget your sense of humour!