Backpacking in New Zealand (2 Weeks in 2 Islands)

Day 1

I was travelling the North Island with a couple of travel mates I met on Facebook and left to the Coromandel Peninsula in the morning (170 kms from Auckland). We reached Hahei Beach around 12 noon and after a sumptuous lunch (Fish & Chips and beverage) at “The Pour House”, we went walking to the very famous Cathedral Cove (a tunnel through the rocks near the ocean). It was a good sunny day and we were greeted by some fantastic ocean views along the trail.

While it looks amazing, Cathedral Cove tends to be crowded with people (yes I am from India and shouldn’t be complaining but whatever). We walked back to Stingray Bay and went snorkelling for close to an hour. Was lucky to spot a couple of Stingrays in the ocean.

We headed to Hamilton for the night. The poor city is often butt of all jokes (ask a Kiwi and he/she will tell you loads). There is actually not much one can do in Hamilton except to head out as soon as possible.

Day 2

I was looking forward to this day as we were to visit the film set of LOTR – Hobbiton or the Shire or the home of the Hobbits. We took the 10 am tour and while some people consider this pricey/touristy, I loved every part of Hobbiton – the landscape, hobbit houses, Bag End, the Green Dragon Inn, filming scenes, everything!

We then headed to a very beautiful waterfall called Omanawa falls. From the viewing platform (which is on top of the valley), one can see the valley covered with thick trees and an opening in the middle of nowhere from where the waterfall pours directly into a pool of crystal clear water. The approach route to go near the waterfall is closed and while almost all articles about Omanawa Falls are about how people have gotten injured trying to get there, if you are little careful, it would take you an hour to hike down to the waterfall. Standing right under the falls, one is swept away the magnificence of the place.

After spending some time there, we headed to Putaruru Blue Springs on our way to Taupo.

Taupo is a beautiful town by the largest lake of NZ – Lake Taupo. We stayed in a hostel called the Finlay Jacks – a happening place.

What brought us to Taupo was “Tongariro Alpine Crossing”. The Tongariro mountain range is a volcanic area with alpine vegetation and stunning lakes. It has the famous Mount Doom from LOTR (actually called as Mt Ngauruhoe). The crossing is around 20 kms long and it takes anywhere between 5-8 hours to cross it (depending on how many pictures you stop to click). The trail takes you through mountains, scree, lakes, alpine trees and forests. It is best to take a shuttle bus from Taupo (around 50-60 NZD).

After returning to Taupo at around 5 pm, I thought of taking a stroll to the very famous Huka Falls (5 kms from city center). The place is certainly worth a visit. Standing on top if a bridge across the falls, one is amazed by the ferocity of mother nature.

We took the Intercity bus to a city called New Plymouth. Located on the western coast of North Island, this is good location for surfing and attempting to summit Mt Taranaki – the lone mountain. We stayed in a hostel called Egmont Eco Leisure Lodge and it was one of the best places I have stayed in. 2 kms away from the city centre, this hostel had a sprawling lawn and spacious rooms. I bonded with other people in the hostel over football, Naruto and Boruto.

Mt Taranaki is one of the most conical mountains in the world. A stratovolcano, the summit is almost always covered with ice. Owing to its resemblance to Mount Fuji, it was used as backdrop during the filming of “The Last Samurai”.

We took a bus to Wellington – the capital city. With a population of mere 400,000, this city has a very different kind of vibe as compared to Auckland. Te Papa museum (free entry) is a good place to go to for a couple of hours to understand something about the history and geography of the country. Wellington has some great nightlife scene – Cuba Street and Courtenay Place are two adjacent streets where all the action happens. Pub-hopping is a great way to have a good time with friends.

After a hungover start to the day, I went to the Mount Victoria lookout point. One gets panoramic views of the entire city from here. I also happened to bump into my dorm-mates from Taupo (who recognized me by the German football jersey I was wearing). In Wellington, one of my travel mate had to get off.

We planned on going to the very famous Abel Tasman National Park, famous for kayaking, tramping and seal-watching. (Abel Tasman was the first European explorer to explore New Zealand). There are many different ways to explore the national park – kayaking or taking a water taxi or simply walking. We kayaked for 3 hours, spent some time swimming at the Anchorage Bay and then walked back to the starting point (Marahau). Needless to say, the park is very scenic.

This was perhaps the longest drive of the entire trip (around 500 kms). We had to reach Christchurch. We took a longer route via Lake Moana and Arthur’s Pass. An alternative is to go via Kaikoura on the east coast, which is famous for its marine life (whales, dolphins, sea elephants, sea lions etc.).

Exploring “Little High Eatery” in Christchurch is a good way to spend an evening. The place has several restaurants of various cuisines.

Day 10 of the trip was dedicated to southern alps and glacial lakes. We drove to Mt Cook Village via Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, two of the most beautiful lakes you can find. Turquoise blue waters, pin drop silence, ducks effortlessly floating around – these lakes are idle camping/picnic spots. One can see the glaciers from the mountains behind transforming into rivers flowing through the valley before meeting the lakes.

We went on a beautiful trail called the Hooker Valley trail. It is a 10-km 3-hour return tramp. The walk takes one past alpine streams and glaciers in the shadow of Aoraki or Mount Cook. The majestic mountain (highest peak of NZ at 3,724 metres) is almost always covered in snow. The landscape throughout the route is breath-taking. After completing the trail, we headed to Wanaka.

There’s something special about Wanaka, usually considered as the quite little sister of Queenstown. Set by the side of Lake Wanaka, this little town has so much to do. Trekking, paragliding, sky diving – you got it. Lake Wanaka has the very famous “That Wanaka Tree” or “The Lone Tree of Wanaka” – one of the most photographed trees in the world.

We then headed to one of the most happening towns in the South Island, the very own “Adventure Capital of the World” – Queenstown. I chose to stay in a hostel called Adventure Q2 – one of the best decisions. Right from the reception to the rooms to the facilities to the staff, everything was fantastic in this hostel. You can rent a GoPro or a cycle or loads of other stuff for free. This hostel has a special event every night. The night I went was Treasure Hunt night and the winning team would get 50 Dollars of beer money (Oh yeah!). Doing crazy activities on the streets, completing wacky tasks, eventually winning the competition and having a great night with new-found friends/teammates in a pub called the London was a great welcome in Queenstown.

Milford Sound is the most visited destination in New Zealand and the place we next planned on visiting. The place is around 3-4 hours away from Queenstown via Te Anau. We booked a 2-hour cruise through the fjord. One can see waterfalls (including the renowned Bowen Falls) cascading down the mountains and seals basking in the sun throughout the journey. After the cruise I parted ways with my travel mate as she was heading southwards to Dunedin.

Ferburger, a burger joint in Queenstown, is famous for its yummy burgers and long queues. People spends hours at times to get their hands on the burgers of this place. I saw an opportunity in the morning around 9 30 am where I had only a 20-minute waiting time and ordered myself a “Bombay Masala” burger. Yum and totally worth it.

Post that I headed to the famous Nevis playground – which boasts of the highest swing in the world and a 134m high bungee (highest in NZ). You have to take the shuttle to this place as private vehicles are not allowed. I went for the bungee – my favourite adventure sport. This was my second jump (first being from the Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa) but the feeling was as if it was my first.

That evening I took a flight back to Auckland. Get yourself a window seat if possible for amazing views of the best that South and North islands have to offer.

Day 14

I took a car from Auckland and headed north towards Whangarei, which is known for good beaches (Woolleys Bay, Matapouri etc.) and a pool called “Mermaid Pool”. On the way, I entered the Waipu Caves, which have loads of glow-worms and are free to enter.

It takes a hike around the peninsula in Matapouri Bay to reach the Mermaid Pool. A portion of sea is trapped between rocks resulting in a stunning looking pool. While it is safe for swimming, one must be on the lookout for high tides and choppy waters. I headed back to Auckland from where I had my return flight.