Day One: Arrive & Hike Punchbowl Falls
After the 12-hour flight from Los Angeles to Auckland, it’s a short flight to Christchurch in the South Island. Here our guiding team will meet you right off the plane. After introductions and a quick look around Christchurch, we’ll head west to the Southern Alps. After lunch at a small alpine lake, we’ll head out on a short warm-up walk to Punchbowl Falls at Arthur’s Pass. Then we’ll continue on to Greymouth and up the coastal road to the gorgeous seaside village of Punakaiki. Known as the jewel of the West coast, Punakaiki is home to the country’s famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes. We’ll be staying at the Papaoa Park lodge for the next two nights.
Day Two: Hike the Beach & Rainforest of Punakaiki
After breakfast we will have our first opportunity to discuss our writing and creative goals of our journey. Then, we’ll hike amongst the limestone canyons and lush rainforest of the Inland Pack Track. We’ll start at a classic “submergence,” where the river suddenly dries up mid-stream and goes underground for a mile or so before resurfacing at Cave Creek. In The afternoon we will explore the Pancake Rocks and the blowholes, and begin our writing. The area’s stunning beaches and the season’s long daylight hours will allow you to enjoy a stroll along the beach or a wander up the nearby riverside trails after dinner.
Day Three: Punakaiki to Okarito Lagoon
After our morning workshop and some optional yoga on the beach, we’ll follow the scenic coastal road to Hokitika, where we’ll explore the coastline and the greenstone workshops. We’ll then continue south to a little-known gem of South Westland, Okarito Lagoon. Okarito is home to Keri Hulme, the author of The Bone People. If the stars align, we might get a chance to meet this reclusive diva in person. We’ll be staying in the very comfortable and off-the-beaten track Okarito Beach House for two evenings. The Beach House’s hostess often spins fire poi around the fire pit after dinner.
Day Four: Kayaking in Okarito Lagoon
After spending some quiet creative time on the gorgeous Okarito beach, amidst New Zealand’s only white heron colony, we’ll spend the morning exploring the lagoon by sea kayak to a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. In the evening, after a traditional New Zealand roast dinner and some local brew, we’ll go on a dusk trek in search of the elusive, nocturnal, and flightless kiwi bird.
Day Five: Hiking Near Franz Josef Glacier
Just south of Okarito two formidable glaciers descend from the mountains to the Tasman Sea. Today we’ll take a beautiful walk up to the terminal face of the Franz Josef Glacier. From Franz Josef we will travel three hours down the coast to Makarora (pop. 30), a camp settlement directly next to Mt. Aspiring National Park. We’ll stay two nights at a beautifully landscaped, very remote homestead on the edge of the camp, in the shadow of the mountains.
Day Six: Makarora: Writing & Relaxing
On the edge of the Mount Aspiring World Heritage area, this homestead will provide us with the perfect backdrop for a day of writing, walking, relaxing. Historically, Makarora was an ancient traditional medicine village for the Waitaha tribe — the first peoples of this land. While these nomadic ancestors were traveling over the high mountain passes following the areas of seasonal abundance, the village of Makarora was a place of learning and healing both body and mind; from past journeys, and preparation for the trails ahead. The Homestead Makarora holds that same healing wairua (spirit). At the mid-way point of our trip, Makarora will be our place of rest. Those craving a bit more adventure can take an optional scenic flights in small prop planes, providing you with a bird’s eye view of this spectacular region.
Day Seven: Hiking in Mount Aspiring National Park
Today we’ll take a gentle yet spectacular 3-hour hike up to Mount Aspiring Hut. Mount Aspiring towers over everything, of course, with a number of slightly lower peaks also visible from the hut. Mount Aspiring Hut is a spacious and modern mountain lodge–and the perfect setting for an evening fireside feast.
Day Eight: Hiking in Mount Aspiring National Park & Exploring Queenstown
After a healthy breakfast and a good cup of coffee, we will use the hut itself as a writing space for a couple of hours, before hiking back out to the trailhead. From there we drive down the road to Wanaka, crossing the mountains at Cardrona Saddle to drop into Queenstown, a picturesque village surrounded by mountains on the edge of Lake Wakatipu. There is plenty to do in New Zealand’s “adventure capital”; adrenaline boosting activities such as bungy jumping, hang gliding, sky diving, and horse trekking to more cultural offerings like great art galleries and restaurants, as well as Dorothy Brown’s cinema in Arrowtown — an art house cinema that has a first class boutique bookshop attached.
Day Nine: Free day in Queenstown
There are all sorts of things to do today, but first we’ve arranged a visit to Over the Top (http://www.flynz.co.nz), Queenstown’s premier scenic helicopter company, started and run by Louisa “Choppy” Patterson. Louisa is a legend in New Zealand flying circles, and she would love to show you around the hangars and tell you a little about flying in New Zealand. For those who are game, an optional helicopter ride would be a great way to spend some time. Otherwise, the whole day is available to check out Queenstown. There will also be plenty of time to write, to have individual meetings with Ingrid, and take in the sights and cultural offerings of this lovely town.
Day Ten: Cycling Eglinton & Hollyford Valleys
Today we ride! We’ll be doing this close to Queenstown, so if you prefer, you can have much of today available for extra Queenstown options. We’ll do one of the many cycling tracks along the shores of Lake Wakatipu, and the biking is guaranteed to suit all levels of ability. After our ride we’ll drive down to Te Anau and head along a gorgeous alpine valley, on the way to the Hollyford Valley. The lush rainforest that carpets the lower slopes of the mountains of this area gives way to the massively steep glacier-carved slopes and waterfalls of the Darren Range. We’ll end up at Hollyford Camp, an isolated and rustic establishment, originally set up in the 1930s for the workers who built the nearby Homer Tunnel and Milford Road. This is a beautiful, tranquil place, with a dozen cabins scattered around a museum and historic general store, still operating to this day. Hollyford Camp is right next to the Hollyford River and is surrounded by the mountains of Fiordland National Park. It’s definitely not a 5-star hotel, but it’s a great little place – a little slice of New Zealand’s history – and a wonderful location to hang out at the end of such an adventurous day!
Day Eleven: Cruise on Milford Sound
Milford Sound is breathtaking. Rudyard Kipling described it as the 8th Natural Wonder of the World. Sheer rock walls plunge thousands of feet to the sea, surrounded by granite peaks. An early start allows us to cruise on the waters of Milford Sound before heading to Lake Manapouri, where we’ll stay at the Lake Manapouri Inn, beautifully located on the water’s edge. The views over Lake Manapouri and the surrounding mountains of Fiordland National Park are stunning. Manapouri is also a great spot to cruise local bars and cafes. We’ll arrive by mid-afternoon so you can relax and enjoy the surroundings. We’ll have a couple of hours available before or after dinner for writing and sharing our work with each other.
Day Twelve: Manapouri to Dunedin
Today we’ll head to New Zealand’s most famous university town, the culturally rich, small city of Dunedin. Home to the University of Otago — New Zealand’s oldest university — Dunedin has been the incubator for some of New Zealand’s most famous authors, such as Janet Frame and James K Baxter. We’ll have the afternoon available for cultural activities — visiting the Hocken Library and checking out the myriad bookshops and art galleries. We’ll stay in a lovely Dunedin B&B for the night.
Day Thirteen: Dunedin
After work-shopping over some great coffee and a delicious breakfast, we’ll visit the albatross colony on Otago Pensinula, and stroll the university campus. We’ll spend time in the late afternoon and evening writing and sharing our work with each other. They’ll also be plenty of time to meet with Ingrid today to go over specific writing issues. In the evening we’ll head out to a local restaurant for our final night together.
Day Fourteen: Dunedin to Christchurch, Depart for Home
This is the last day of your trip around the South Island. We’ll leave after breakfast for the drive to Christchurch. We’ll arrive in Christchurch in the afternoon, in time for the flights back to Auckland, and then to the U.S. Those with extra time might take a side trip up to Kaikoura to see some whales and dolphins.
Diva Tours: New Zealand
Itinerary:
Included:
Ground transportation; all accommodations (double occupancy); meals as indicated (B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner; visits to Christchurch, Okarito Lagoon, Franz Joseph Glacier, Mount Aspiring National Park, Queenstown, Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys, Milford Sound and Dunedin; kayaking, hiking, and bicycling; local guides and writers workshop with editor and publisher Ingrid Emerick
Adventure Cost:
$4950, 8-12 travelersQuestions?
or call 206.328.9519 for more information.