The highlights of New Zealand's South Island
In the motorhome Yoni traveled with her boyfriend for 3 weeks through New Zealand. They left at the end of September, when it is springtime in New Zealand. Her favorite destination is the South Island. She tells about the highlights in this beautiful part of New Zealand.
Abel Tasman National Park
After traveling for over a week on the North Island, we took the ferry from Wellington to Picton, to the South Island. After this, we drove straight to Abel Tasman National Park. This is the smallest National Park in New Zealand, but perhaps so wonderfully beautiful for that very reason! We chose to explore the park by water cab, walking and by kayak. A perfect choice!
There are plenty of opportunities to see this amazing park. In the morning, you take the water cab to a few beautiful points in the park and then everyone is dropped off at a beach. From there you will walk for about 1.5 hours. Beautiful path through a kind of rainforest and then you explore the park from the water with a kayak. A beautiful experience recommended to everyone. We even saw seals!
Mount Cook
We came from the south by motorhome towards Mount Cook National Park. In doing so, you drive past Lake Pukaki.
Yoni: "I have seen many beautiful things in my life, but this was really one of my highlights during all my travels!"
When you drive there you experience the ultimate and adventurous travel feeling: the lake is one of the bluest lakes I have ever seen and behind it, the giant Mount Cook appears in unison! That makes the picture absolutely perfect!
There are several lookouts around the lake and I can recommend stopping at each one. At each lookout, the lake looks even deeper blue and the pictures you can take really look like a painting. An unforgettable experience!
Kaikoura
Whale watching - this has been very high on my bucket list for a long time! For that you really have to go to Kaikoura. We booked this tour weeks in advance because it is often fully booked far in advance. For the best chance to see whales, it is advised to go as early in the morning as possible. We had a tour booked in the morning around 10 a.m.
Our choice was Whale Watch Kaikoura, the company is known for looking for whales in a way that is animal friendly. They listen to the clicking sound the whales make to locate them and use boats that make minimal noise underwater. Furthermore, there is also no emissions from such things as toilets. After the whale is found everyone is allowed on the upper deck to see and photograph the whale.
What a fantastic moment that was! It is impossible to describe what you feel when you sail next to such an immense and beautiful animal. The upper deck is also large enough for everyone so the perfect photo can be taken and no one has to miss anything from this amazing experience.
Besides my highlights described above, there are of course many more beautiful places to discover! You can read even more about New Zealand in the other blogs on the website - it is and always will be a fantastic destination.
Tip from Yoni:
Go whale watching in the morning, then there is the best chance to see these beautiful mammals!