Lower North island + Queen Charlotte Track + Pouakai Crossing

  • fly to Wellington
  • bus from the airport to the CBD
  • Wellington [3N]
  • ferry to Picton
  • Picton [1N]
  • Queen Charlotte Track [4N]
  • Picton [2N]
  • ferry to Wellington
  • hiring a car in Wellington
  • Whanganui [2N]
  • New Plymouth & Egmont National Park/Mount Taranaki [2N]
  • Taupo [1N]
  • Napier [2N]
  • Rotorua (Blue Lake) [2N]
  • Whitianga (The Coromandel) [3N]
  • drop car at Auckland airport
  • fly from Auckland

The details ……

Wellington:

  • Te Papa Museum
  • strolling along Cuba Street (good food/nightlife)
  • vegetarian/vegan dinner at Aunty Mena’s kitchen
  • strolling in the Lambton Quay area (shopping, cafes, architecture)
  • the harbourside (views, architecture)
  • grabbing some produce and snacks at the Harbourside Market on Saturday
  • Urban hikes to Mount Victoria
  • Urban hike to the Botanical Gardens via the Wellington cablecar, returning via Bolton Street cemetery
  • visiting the Old Government Buildings
  • visiting the Beehive and Parliament House
  • Oriental Bay beach

Picton

  • catching the ferry across Cook straight and through the Marlborough Sounds – stunning views! We saw dolphins as we left the North island
  • catching the water taxi through Marlborough Sounds including Queen Charlotte Sound
  • strolling through the town and hanging out harbourside in Picton Memorial park
  • crossing the coathanger bridge and hiking the local tracks in Victoria Domain

Queen Charlotte Track (73.5km)- see the details here

Whanganui

  • strolling along the Whanganui River
  • views from Durie Hill and the War Memorial Elevator – up via the Durie Hill Elevator (and tunnel) and down via the Durie Hill Steps
  • strolling through the town (architecture, history, cafes, shops)
  • Whanganui Regional Museum
  • Queens Park, Motua Gardens and York Stockade
  • Searjent Gallery – sadly not open when we visited
  • New Zealand Glassworks – sadly not operating when we visited
  • Time Tip 1

New Plymouth & Egmont National Park/Mount Taranaki

  • strolling along the coastal walkway and foreshore to take in the the views, beach, sculptures
  • hiking the Pouakai Crossing (19km) for amazing views of Mt Taranaki and more!
  • strolling through Pukekura Park
  • vegetarian/vegan breakfast in the vegetarian Wild Pear Kitchen (all the food looked fab)
  • climbing up Parititu Rock for some great views and adventure
  • Time Tip 2
  1. 1 night in Whanganui could be enough to see the sights if you are short on time ↩︎
  2. we would have liked an extra night (or more!) in New Plymouth/Mt Egmont NP ↩︎