PACIFIC
New Zealand Adventure
Abel Tasman National Park
Motor route 0
50
MILES
Cape Foulwind
Pacific Ocean Tasman Sea
Punakaiki Hokitika
43° 25' S
Franz Josef Glacier Haast Mt Aspiring National Park Milford Wanaka Sound
Okarito
SOUTH ISLAND Paparoa National Park To Auckland
Aoraki/ Mount Cook National Park Mt Cook (12,316 ft)
Rob Roy Glacier
Queenstown Fiordland National Park
Onetahuti Kaiteriteri Nelson
Pacific Ocean
170° 21' E
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS • Sea kayak among dolphins and fur seals on the coast of Abel Tasman National Park, and hike along dramatic cliffs and gold-sand beaches. • Visit the Franz Josef area, exploring the maze of crevasses and towering icefalls. • See the towering limestone formation known as the Pancake Rocks, formed over millions of years. • Stargaze and watch for wildlife on an overnight cruise in glorious Milford Sound.
INFORMATION 2016: NOV. 7–18 • NOV. 21–DEC. 2* • DEC. 5–16
ITINERARY AT-A-GLANCE ITINERARY | 12 DAYS DAYS 1–4 NELSON, NEW ZEALAND/ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK/PUNAKAIKI Arrive in Nelson and gather for a welcome dinner. Travel to Kaiteriteri and catch a water taxi into Abel Tasman National Park. Set out on the Abel Tasman Coast Track, hiking through native forests and along gold-sand beaches, and arrive at our eco-lodge on Awaroa Bay. Explore Tonga Island Marine Reserve by sea kayak, keeping an eye out for dolphins and penguins, then hike back to our lodge. Return to Kaiteriteri and follow the Buller River gorge to Punakaiki on the wild west coast. Time permitting, stop at Cape Foulwind to see its fur seal colony. Day 2: 4 miles hiking (3–4 hours); Day 3: 1 mile hiking (1 hour); 4–5 miles paddling (4–5 hours) Rutherford Hotel Nelson, Awaroa Lodge, Punakaiki Resort
DAYS 5–7 PAPAROA NATIONAL PARK/OKARITO/ FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER Set off on a hike along the Pororari River through a valley lined with towering limestone cliffs, and continue into Paparoa National Park. Return to Punakaiki for a visit to Pancake Rocks, then continue to Hokitika. Hit the trail in
Okarito, taking in a magnificent panorama. Continue into Westland Tai Poutini National Park, part of southwest New Zealand’s extensive World Heritage area. The next day, explore the Franz Josef area by foot. Day 5: 6 miles hiking (4 hours); Day 6: 5 miles hiking (3 hours); Day 7: 2 miles hiking (2–3 hours) Beachfront Hotel Hokitika, Te Waonui Forest Retreat
DAYS 8–12 SOUTHERN ALPS/WANAKA/MOUNT ASPIRING NATIONAL PARK/QUEENSTOWN/ MILFORD SOUND Travel into the Southern Alps on our way to the Southern Lakes district. Trace the shores of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea, stopping for short hikes along our route. Follow the Matukituki River valley into Mount Aspiring National Park, where we’ll hike the Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain tracks. Drive to Queenstown and enjoy free time to visit a local winery or try out an adventure sport. Then continue our journey into Fiordland National Park, where we set sail on the magnificent Milford Sound. Celebrate our adventure with a farewell dinner on board. Depart the next day. Day 9: 6 miles hiking (4–6 hours) Grand Mecure Oakridge Resort, Scenic Suites Queenstown, Milford Mariner or Milford Wanderer
DEC. 21–JAN. 1, 2017* 2017: JAN. 9–20* • JAN. 23–FEB. 3 • FEB. 6–17*
FEB. 20–MAR. 3 • MAR. 6–17* • MAR. 20–31
$7,695
COST: Price is per person, double occupancy. For a single room, add $1,500. An optional helicopter ride on Day 7 is not included in the trip cost, and is approximately $200 per person. Add a $300 holiday surcharge for the Dec. 21 departure. Airfare to Nelson and return from Queenstown is not included in the cost. All meals between group arrival and departure are included, with the exception of dinner on days 7 and 10. ACTIVITY LEVEL: MODERATE On this multi-sport adventure, hikes range from 2 to 6 hours (1 to 6 miles) on good trails with moderate elevation gain. On our kayaking excursion, we will paddle stable, twoperson kayaks for 4 to 5 hours (4 to 5 miles). No previous kayaking experience is necessary. During hikes, vehicle support is limited while in the national parks. Participants always have the option to rest a day at the hotel. GROUP SIZE: 8–16 ACCOMMODATIONS: We stay 10 nights in comfortable eco-lodges and hotels, and 1 night on a traditional sailing boat in Milford Sound. *This departure follows the itinerary shown, but in the reverse order. Above: Kayakers rest on a sand island in Abel Tasman National Park.
CALL 1-888-689-2557 OR VISIT NATGEOADVENTURES.COM
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