DayThree

Abel Tasman National Park

Abel  Tasman National Park is unquestionably on of New Zealand's most famous and utilised national parks. It hosts and array of coastal and sub-alpine forest, the track weaves its way past inlets of snow white sand and azure coloured waters, frequented by stingrays basking in the shallows. The parks low lying coastal track is hugely popular with both multi-day and day walkers. Walks can be co-ordinated with water taxis to gain easy access in the park. Another key attraction of the park is its recently designated marine reserve, it's most notable residents being a squad of raucous fur seals on Tonga Island.

Day Four

Abel Tasman National Park to Westport

Harwood's hole is the largest natural hole in New Zealand, at a depth of 300m it's the second largest skink hole in the world. The area around Takaka is comprised of porous limestone creating a labyrinth of sink holes and caves. Harwood's hole is about 40 mins drive from Marahau. 
 
Not far from Takaka is Waikoropupu springs. Pupu springs as they are referred to locally, is the largest freshwater springs in the world. Crystal clear water rushes in through a vent from an underground river at 1.2 million cubic metres per day. Visibility has been known to reach up to 62m making it the second clearest spring in the southern hemisphere.

Murchison
Murchison is New Zealand's earth quake capital often experiencing several hundred small quakes per year. A stop at the local museum will give you a great insight in to the fragility of the landscape under the pressure of such enormous forces. As you drive through the Buller gorge you'll appreciate the magnitude and ferocity of this uncontrollable force. The many slips and broken hills through the region will take on a much greater significance this short stop.
 
At Cape Foulwind you'll find a colony of New Zealand fur seals. They are only a short walk for the car park. They're pretty friendly and you'll get some great pictures. Please remember that these are wild animals and should be respected accordingly. 

Westport 
Westport is the second largest town on the Westcoast. The residents of the Westcoast or Coasters as they are referred to are well known for their ruggedness and their generous hospitality. The Westcoast in it's hey day was they heart of New Zealand. The gold rushes of the mid to late 1800's. After the gold began to dry up the prospectors headed south to the Otago gold fields. Coal mining and forestry became two of the main industries. Coal mining in has been phased out due to its eco-unfriendly by products and restrictions have been placed on native logging. The coasters despite all their hard ships are renowned for their rugged resilience and resourcefulness that epitomize kiwi culture and ingenuity.

Day Five

Westport to Fox Glacier

Squeezed between the millennia of shattered mountain peaks that are the Southern Alps, and the turbulent fury of the Tasman Sea, Is the place we call, 'the Coast'. Adorned with up to 9m of rainfall a year brought on by the unrelenting winds of the roaring forties, this narrow stretch of land is wettest places on earth. Lush sub tropical rainforest and vast valleys scarred by thousands of years of giant glaciers dancing through pristine wetlands on their way from the mountains to the sea are the norm in this region. It is perhaps some of the most pristine wilderness in the world.

 Punakaiki 
About 60 km south of Westport are the infamous pancake rocks of Punakaiki. This unique rock formation literally looks like massive stacks of pancakes. They have been formed over thousands of years as the pounding ocean has eroded away the softer limestone layers giving the rocks the appearance of being stacked on top of each other. There are also spectacular blow holes shooting a geyser of salt water several metres in to the air. This can be quite spectacular and even intimidating when Tangaroa (the Maori god of the sea) is angry.
 
Greymouth
Hokitika
Hokitika as well as being famous for its annual wild food festival held in early March each year, is also well known for its craft work. There are number of Ponaumu (greenstone or jade) carving studios, there's also glass blowing and wood turning. It's a good place to stop for a look around on a wet Westcoast day.
 
Hokitika gorge is about 20 minutes south east of Hokitika through the towns of Kokatahi and Kowhitirangi. Located on the Hokitika River the gorge provides stunning views as you venture through the massive podocarp's of southlands rainforest. A short walk from the car park you'll encounter one of many of the south island parks swing bridges. An interesting prospect for people not well versed with heights! You'll get a fantastic view of the spectacular turquoise coloured  waters of the Hokitika River running the rock sided canyon.
 
The Bushman's Centre at Pukekura is great place to stop for a coffee and a stretch of the legs. There's a café, gift shop and a pretty interesting display on some of the species introduced to New Zealand. There's also a tribute to the nut cases that started New Zealand's multi million dollar deer farming industry by jumping out of helicopters on to moving deer on top of an Alpine peak!! The short film is quite entertaining and informative. It's an excellent stop for 45 mins on a wet day.
 
From the town ship of Whataroa you can make a journey into the heart of Westland's wetlands by jet boat to view the spectacular Kotuku or white heron. The Kotuku is very sacred to Maori people, it represent the life between the current world and the after world. It is a great honour and a compliment to be referred to as a kotuku. This is the only breeding ground in New Zealand for these birds. It's also the breeding ground of the >Kotuku Ngutu Papa or Royal Spoonbill. Tours operate between October and March and are the only permitted way to visit these areas. Scenic jet boat trips through 800-1000 year old beech and wetland forests operate year round. Lake Okarito is a pristine inlet providing feeding grounds for over 70 species of birds.
 
The Glaciers
The department of conservation has an excellent information centre in Franz Josef. If you're interested in learning a little about The Westcoast rainforest and the history of the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers it's a very informative stop.
 
Franz Josef Glacier is a 10 minute drive from the Village. The foot of the glaciers it self is about a 30 minute walk from the car park. Be wary; glaciers can be very dangerous, please don't try and climb them with out and experienced guide and adequate equipment.
 
Fox Glacier is 45 minutes south of Franz Josef. The small town ship has a variety of accommodation from backpackers to motels and hotels. Like all places on the Westcoast accommodation can be at a premium during peak season so make sure you book in advance.

Day Six

Fox Glacier to Wanaka

If you're really keen to have a good look at the glaciers there are half day, full day and awesome Heli-hikes available as well as scenic flights of the Glaciers, Mt Cook and Mt Tasman. If you have time up your sleeve a full day glacier walk is a mind blowing experience. Located further up the glacier are a labyrinth of crevasses and ice caves, they are inaccessible unless on a guided tour. The views from the glacier to ocean only several kilometres away provide a sensational spectacle of the path the glacier has carved over tens of thousand's of years travelling up and down this giant valley. There are also a number of free walks to the peak's either side of the glacier if you are feeling particularly energetic!
 
One of the advantages of your New Zealand car rental experience is that you can get access to views often inaccessible to people travelling by coach or public transport.
 
Lake Matheson is only a few kilometres from Fox town ship and a 50 minutes drive from Franz Josef. It is perhaps one of New Zealand's most striking images. The tannin stained waters provide a photo perfect reflection of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman.  Reflections can be so perfect it's hard to tell which is really the right way up. Its worth get up early, not long after sunrise, to get the view before the wind picks up and spoils the reflection. Later in the morning the clouds begin to make their way off the valley floor and cover the peaks. It's good to get up before the ducks so they don't ripple your reflection.
 
The drive to Haast pass will take you past the dramatic backdrop of the lush rainforest covered mountains of the Bannock Brae, Strachan, Mataketake and Young ranges and the Mt Aspiring National park. This perhaps one of the most mind blowing experiences you will have on you NZ car rental expedition.
 
There's a fantastic picnic spot at Ship creek, you heard of it no doubt, 'up ship creek?' Be warned the sand flies here have been known to fly off with small children. Insect repellent is a must!
 
Make sure you take time to stop and check out this pristine alpine wilderness. Highway 6 winds its way through an imposing mountain backdrop blanketed in dense temperate rainforest, bare weather worn ice capped alpine peaks, crystal clear mountain pools, rivers and dramatic waterfalls.  Musts on the Kodak moment list are Thunder Creek Falls, The Gates of Haast, Fantail falls and the Blue pool. The blue pool is about 15 minutes walk from the car park and crosses a rather precarious swing bridge.
 
Wanaka for many years one of New Zealand's best kept secrets is now one of New Zealand's most prominent tourist destinations. Accommodation is at a premium in Wanaka in both winter and summer. In summer the lake is a haven for fishers and water sports enthusiasts, in winter in transforms in to a prodigious ski village. Being located only 40 mins from Cardrona and Treble Cone ski fields and 1 hour from Queenstown Wanaka is an excellent alternative to Queenstown.

Day Seven

Wanaka to Queenstown

Arrowtown
Arrowtown is a living relic of Otago's golden past. In the late 1800's Otago was the hub of the New Zealand's gold rush activity. Today set among a flourishing population of immigrant trees, its setting perhaps depicts the ethnic diversity of it's past. Arrowtown is particularly vibrant in the autumn months when the rows of Poplars and Oak trees put on a raucous display of vibrant reds and golden yellows.
 
Queenstown

Queenstown is arguably the adventure capital of the world. If you can possibly think of a way you could pay some one to scare the crap out of you, you can probably do it in Queenstown.  About 15km outside of Queenstown is the Kawarau bridge, home of the worlds first commercial bungy jump operation, now there are 5 others in the area including a 134m jump from a cable  car suspended over the skippers canyon or from a Parasail high above lake Wakatipu, yes indeed, we are all nuts in NZ!! In Addition to that there's sky diving, paragliding, hang gliding, heli-skiing, skiing and snow boarding, jet boating, white water rafting, mountain biking, 4wd motorbikes, the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on .....
 
Nestled along the shores of Lake Wakatipu between the Richardson, Remarkable and Crown ranges, Queenstown is one of the most picturesque towns in New Zealand, perhaps even the world. There are dozens of great vantage points to take in the awe-inspiring view. Even if insane adventure activities are not with in your scope there's still plenty to be done. You can watch everyone else scarring them selves stupid if you prefer, there are also some great short walks or a leisurely ride to the summit of Bob's peak in the skyline gondola. There's also plenty near by to be explored by car rental Queenstown style. The drive to the Glenorchy at the head of the lake is rewarded with impressive views across the deep blue trough of the lake of the sleeping giant (Wakatipu) to the imposing back drop of the Humboldt, Ailsa and Thomson Mountains.

Day Nine
Queenstown to Te Anau

On the tranquil shores of Lake Te Anau fringed by the magnificent Murchison Mountains is the village of Te Anau, gate way to the internationally acclaimed world heritage Fiordland National Park, Doubtful sound and Milford Sound. 
 
Te Anau is undoubtedly the hub of the Fiordland National Park, being 2 hours closer to Milford sound than Queenstown the effort of shifting camp for the night is well rewarded by shaving fours of what would otherwise be a very long day from Queenstown. This will give you 4 more hours to check out impressive features such as the dazzling reflections of the mirror lakes and the many scenic looks out on route.

Day Ten

Milford Sound

Fiordland is one of the last great bastions of true wilderness in the southern hemisphere and perhaps, even the world. It is home to some of the best walking tracks, trout fishing and hunting in the world. Due to its rugged isolation Fiordland has many endemic species including over 700 varieties of plants found no where else in the world and the world's largest flightless parrot, the nocturnal Kakapo.  This massive expanse of Wilderness is the staging of some of New Zealand's most dramatic scenery. Mammoth Mountain landscapes dwarf a carpet of plush forest blanketing the valley's and foot hills below. This is one of the most unique, picturesque and pristine habitats on the planet.
 
Milford  sound personifies the majesty of this dramatic and diverse landscape. The crowning jewel of the sound is the imposing figure of Mitre peak rising nearly 1700m from the sea to summit. The sound abounds with marine life including dolphins, the Tawaki or Fiordland crested penguin, a resident population of NZ Fur seals, various sea birds and an abundance of native forest birds.

Day Eleven

Te Anau to Queenstown
 

Day Twelve

Queenstown to Lake Tekapo

If you've got some time up your sleeve you can turn off at Omarama and head toward Lake Benmore. Lake Benmore is part of the Waitaki basin hydro electric scheme as are lakes Pukaki, Ohau, Aviemore and Tekapo. These are all man made lakes built around the 70's and are the main stay's of New Zealand's electricity needs. Lake Benmore at around 75 km2 is the largest man made lake in New Zealand and is also one of the largest earth damns in the southern hemisphere.
 
This area, referred to as the Mackenzie basin, experiences some of the most dramatic weather in the country, from dry, scorching hot summers to ferocious alpine winters, the region is rife with a rugged alpine beauty the defines the land and the people that call this area home. The people of this area epitomize the traditional Kiwi you can do attitude.
 
Flight seeing trips over Mt Cook, Mt Tasman and the H style='display:none'HHooker glacier operate all year round weather permitting. Ski planes also operate and offer landings on the Tasman Glacier. The Tasman glacier is 27km long and offers one of the longest down hill ski runs in the world.
 
Lake  Tekapo is also home to New Zealand's most photographed church, the church of the good shepherd. This church is rumoured to be one of the hardest churches in New Zealand to deliver a sermon, with its empowering mountain backdrop visible through the pulpit window it's hardly surprising!

Day Thirteen

Lake  Tekapo to Christchurch

If you are returning your Christchurch rental car today, much of Central Christchurch can be seen by foot. Hagley Park is the location of the Botanic gardens and provides a great urban retreat. The Arts centre and art gallery are worth a visit as is of course Christchurch's renowned Cathedral Square and its infamous wizard.
 
If you still have your car rental Christchurch also has some wicked views from the Port Hills to the city, the head of the Waimakariri River and the Southern Alps beyond.

Day Fourteen

Christchurch  and environs

If you have half a day with your car rental Christchurch has a lot to offer nearby. Take a drive over the Port Hills past the sign of the Kiwi and the Takahe to Lyttleton. The view over the city across the Canterbury plains and on the Southern Alps is simply superb.