The Long Way Around Tour of Christchurch to Auckland (Part II)

Queenstown is a resort town located at the edge of Lake Wakatipu with a stunning backdrop of mountain ranges called the Remarkables. A trip to Queenstown is not complete without taking the Skyline Gondola that will take you up at a Bob's Peak for a great view of The Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu. You can spend a relaxing day by strolling and visiting local shops or cafes. Looking for an adventure? try bungee jumping off the Kawarau Bridge, where it all began with AJ Hackett Bungy. 

Exlore nearby villages of Queenstown. Take the 45 minutes scenic drive to Glenorchy, from west of Queenstown. The route to Glenorchy is considered as one of the best drives in the world. Activities in the area includes: swimming, jet boating, horse trekking, walking and tramping tracks. When heading back to Queenstown, continue east for approximately 20 minutes from Queenstown to reached the gold mining village of Arrowtown. If you continue to follow Highway 6, it will take you to Gibbston, a popular spot for local vineyards and wineries.

Upon arrival head over to Visitor Centre to check for weather update & local information on visiting the glacier. Save your glacier adventure for next day, take a break after a long drive by heading over to Lake Matheson. You can do a short walking track around the lake or have a nice meal at Matheson cafe and enjoy the a good view of Mt. Cook & Mt. Tasman in the background.

Take a tour of Franz Josef Glacier. We recommend joining a guided tour for a more safer exploration on the glaciers. Choose from range of glacier tours available for all ages. Then end your day with a relaxing hot pool and massage experience at the Glacier Hot Pool, conveniently located at Franz Josef Township.

Before heading to Westport, you might wanna drop by the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes at Punakaiki. In Wesport, Visit the Coaltown Museum to view the Gold Mining Exhibits. October is the best time to see the colony of seals, just take Cape Foulwind Walkway & Seal Colony Walk that will take you to a spectacular view of the ocean and New Zealand's fur seal colony.

Second day in Wesport calls for some laid-back activity. Carter's Beach & North Beach are great destination for traveling families because of its convenient location. Surfing enthusiasts may head over to Tauranga Bay & Nine Mile Beach.

Before arriving in Picton make sure to drop by Blenheim and visit local wineries in the area. In Picton, start you day's itinerary by visiting the Edwin Fox Maritime Museum and learn about the history of the oldest surviving merchant ship in the world. Then take a break and do a DIY(do-it-yourself)  walking tour around the town centre. Visit local shops and cafes along the waterfront area. Finally, end your day with a good meal at a local reastaurant and enjoy a lovely view of Picton's marina.