Haka Tours “Epic” New Zealand Tour – 24 days exploring the north and south islands
Overview
New Zealand is an amazing country with tonnes of activities to get your teeth into ranging from adrenaline fuelled bungee jumping, sky diving and river boat blasts to the more laid back museums, zoos, bone carving and seal sanctuaries. It is rich in local Maori culture which just has to be explored and full of great characters, both fellow travellers and Kiwi locals. The country boasts beautiful landscapes: spectacular glaciers, mountain ranges and dazzling blue water, complete with breathtaking sunsets to set them off for your camera. The south island in particular looks like it's been cut up with a knife in places and has played host to many of the Lord of the Rings movies.
We (Luke and Paul - brothers) travelled with Haka Tours on their 24 day "Epic" New Zealand tour recently and thought it was such a great experience we just had to share it with you! The tour was well-organised, led by a fantastic guide with lots of flexibility to choose our own activities. Our tour was smaller than other operators - between about 5 and 10 people at different times as people came and left on shorter trips - which provided a good balance between feeling like a personalised trip and having likeminded fellow travellers to get to know along the way.
Main Attractions Place-by-Place
Pre-Tour (2 days) - we chose to arrive 2 days before the start of our tour to check out Auckland and the surrounding area. The best thing to do in the city itself is to go to the top of Sky Tower in central Queen Street, boasting views over Viaduct Harbour and Auckland Domain, the city's oldest park. The best time to visit is at sunrise or sunset.
Once you've got to know the city, the real attraction of Auckland is the volcanic islands easily reachable by ferry from the main pier. A personal highlight was Rangitoto Island (25 minutes from Auckland by boat) which hosts a distinctive conical volcano and a fantastic landscape. We also went to Waiheke Island - slightly further away but still only 40 minutes from Auckland by ferry. On this trip we were lucky to get a close encounter with dolphins whilst on the ferry, then hired bikes to explore the island, stopping off for lunch by the beach.
Auckland (Day 1) - The tour starts in Auckland, which is towards the top of the North Island. The accommodation for the start of our tour was the YHA Auckland, which worked well for us. We understand Haka Tours are now using the Haka Lodge on Karangahape Road now instead, which would still provide an ideal start and finish to a NZ adventure. On the first day we went diving with sharks and sting rays (optional activity) at Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium, where the rest of our group visited the aquarium. Set on the waterfront of Auckland City on Okahu Bay, just moments from the famous Mission Bay beach, Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium is one of Auckland's top attractions, showcasing over 30 live animal exhibits in spectacular habitat displays. Our favourite part of the aquarium itself was the world's largest Antarctic penguin colony exhibit and amazing underwater viewing tunnels.
Travelling from Auckland to Paihia
Paihia (Day 2) - Paihia is a bustling seaside town right in the heart of the Bay of Islands. It's a place where local people enjoy a great lifestyle and take delight in sharing it with thousands of visitors who go there every summer. There are superb golden sand beaches where it's safe to swim and sunbathe, plus plenty of scenic walks. We chose to swim with dolphins in Paihia whilst other activity options were sky diving, tall ship sailing, scuba diving or a 'hole in the rock' boat cruise. Depending on the schedule and activities, your tour guide may take you to see the spectacular Haruru Falls, a scenic walk or a ferry over to one of the islands. If you would like to visit the very top of New Zealand, you can choose to do a day tour to Cape Reinga, situated where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet. You may drive on 90 Mile Beach and try sand boarding while on this optional day tour.
Auckland (Day 3) - back to the big city. Haka Tours take you to see the largest known kauri tree standing today with estimates on its age ranging between 1,250 and 2,500 years old. Our tour guide also had a couple of secret stop offs up his sleeve during the trip back down to Auckland to keep us entertained. If you get some free time back in the city, good options are the Auckland Museum (especially if you're interested in local Maori culture) and Auckland Zoo. Auckland Zoo is home to the largest collection of native and exotic animals in New Zealand, set in 17 hectares of lush parkland and just minutes from central Auckland. There is lots to see and do all year, including events, animal encounters and behind-the-scenes experiences.
Travelling from Auckland to Coromandel
Coromandel (Day 4) - Beautiful remote beaches, dense wooded forest and clear blue waters make the Coromandel one of New Zealand’s favourite getaways. The first stop-off on the way to Coromandel is bone-carving of a pendant, an included activity with our tour. We chose from a range of differently shaped pendants which were partly ready-carved, which we finished and polished. Next, we stopped off at Cathedral Cove, which is one of the "must see" sites on the Coromandel. Accessible only by foot, boat and kayak, this was a stunning serene cove which we had virtually to ourselves for the day. You can choose from short or long walking routes (between 10 minutes and 2 hours) down to the cove, which is one of New Zealand's marine reserves. The beaches and skyline are picture perfect. Another stop-off close-by which you may make - time permitting - is Hot Water Beach. When the tide’s out, you can dig a hole in the sand where natural hot springs bubble up to create your own personal hot tub!
Travelling from Coromandel to Waitomo
Waitomo (Day 5) - Waitomo was a stunning spot and my favourite place on the North Island. The highlight is black water rafting which is an exhilarating underground caving experience where you have a rubber ring to cover a number of water sections and jumps. Operated by the Black Water Rafting Company since 1987, we were equipped with wet suits, helmets, head lights and rubber rings and set off on our way with the cave guide to abseil, weave, jump climb and float through the caves. Waitomo has become famous around the world thanks to its magnificent glow worm caves. The glow worm is unique to New Zealand and there are thousands of the tiny luminescent creates across the cave network.
Travelling from Waitomo to Rotorua
Rotorua (Day 6) - while the North Island is predominantly volcanic, Rotorua is exceptional for its geothermal activity. With neon blue and red lakes, steaming rivers, active volcanoes and geysers (hot spring which boils intermittently) galore, there are more unique natural wonders to be found in Rotorua than many other places in the world. We spent the day exploring the geothermal springs at Wai-O-Tapu where there are a number of exhilarating mud pools, geysers and sulphur pools. These are some of the regions most famed geothermal attractions, well worth a visit and were included in the price of our Haka tour. Another optional activity here is zorbing - a Kiwi invention that involves rolling down a hill whilst inside a giant air cushioned ball!
After the geo thermal springs the group went to Haka World to learn the world-famous Haka dance, as performed by the New Zealand rugby team. The Haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance, or challenge from the Maori people of New Zealand. War haka were originally performed by warriors before a battle, proclaiming their strength and prowess in order to intimidate the opposition. Haka World teach both male and female visitors to Haka World how to perform the Haka Kamate Kamate. You have to be prepared to get properly into the Haka mindset to enjoy this activity, but if you can it's well worth it. Haka World provide traditional warrier clothing, including having your own Moko applied to your face, and teach you the words, actions and posture of the Haka. Other optional activities here include cycle tours and River Jet cruise.
To top off a busy sixth day we spent the evening at the Tamaki Maori village, which provided a three hour journey into the heart of Maori culture and genuinely delivered an experience I will never forget. Journeying back in time to proud warriers and ancient traditions, the Tamaki Maori village offers ceremonial rituals, powerful cultural performance and "hangi" feasting (food cooked using heated rocks and buried in an underground oven).
Travelling from Rotorua to Taupo
Taupo (Day 7-8) - Taupo plays host to the largest lake in New Zealand, created by the word's largest volcanic eruption over the last 70,000 years. For adrenaline junkies, the lake provides the perfect backdrop for sky diving. After being picked up in the Skydive Taupo white limousine, we headed into the sky dive centre to get kitted up. There is nothing that messes with the mind more than shuffling over the edge of a perfectly-working plane, but the adrenaline rush is terrific!
It turns out that Taupo is also the first stop on the Haka tour where it's possible to do a bungee jump, so we thought it would be rude not to. It's definitely worth trying to jump on the first 3-2-1 counter down as it's more difficult second time around if you bailed on the first jump attempt. The bungee jump is done over the lake and there is the option to do either a 'normal' or a 'touch water; jump. The safety seemed really good to us with a loads of checks and re-checks of ropes and harnesses before the jump.
Travelling from Taupo to Wellington
Wellington (Day 9-10) - Before leaving Taupo we had the opportunity to head over to Matamata and tour the Hobbiton film set from the Lord of the Rings, as well the Otorohonga Kiwi House where I saw the national New Zealand icon - a real kiwi. Paul preferred to pretend to be a Hobbit in the Lord of the Rings studios.
Wellington is a cool little capital on the southern tip of the North Island. Haka Tours spend a couple of days there which is plenty of time to see the interesting historic and cultural exhibits at the Museum of New Zealand, explore the botanical gardens and climb to the top of Mount Victoria for a 360 degree view of the city.
Wellington was the point where we waved off some fellow travellers on a shorter tour whilst others joined mainly for the South Island tour.
Travelling from Wellington to "Sleepy" Kaikoura
"Sleepy" Kaikoura (Day 11) - en route to Kaikoura we visited a great tucked away natural attraction - the Ohau waterfall walk and seal pups. This is a truly wonderful place for seals and we were lucky to be able to observe them in their natural habitat. Depending on the time of year you visit you may be able to see the young pups playing in the water, taking their first steps over the rocks and chasing after inflatable toy balls.
Kaikoura itself is a very laid back, mellow seaside town on the east coast of the South Island. The scenery is beautiful and the town has a rich history and culture to explore. Other potential activity options on our tour were nature and wildlife tours, dolphin and whale watching, kayaking and canoeing and a sheep shearing show, although you'd be crazy to miss the seals in my view. In the evening the group had a bonfire on the beach together and roasted marsh mellows.
Travelling from "Sleepy" Kaikoura to Christchurch
Christchurch (Day 12)
Christchurch is the gateway to New Zealand's South Island. Bordered by hills and the Pacific Ocean, it is situated on the edge of the Canterbury Plains that stretch to the Southern Alps. You can ski, bungy jump, hike, mountain bike, raft, surf, swim, play golf, see whales, dolphins and seals, visit wineries and gardens, shop and be entertained all at Christchurch or nearby. While Christchurch was seriously damaged during several earthquakes a few years ago, the city is undergoing a wonderful transformation and has nothing but potential.
Our activity of choice was a sunrise hot air balloon ride with Aoraki Balloon Safaris, followed by a glass of champagne on landing. An alternative recommended by some of our fellow travellers was swimming with the very friendly Dusky Dolphins.
Travelling from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo (Day 13) - on day 13 we explored downtown Christchurch (we'd recommend checking out some of the cool Global Culture New Zealand printed t-shirts) before heading to the striking lakes and mountains of Tekapo at the heart of the South Island. Lake Tekapo is mainly filled from water coming from the large river systems extending back into the valleys of the Southern Alps. As the mountain glaciers push down into the valley they rip off loose rock and trap it into the moving ice. This is ground into a powder as fine as flour which is carried into the downstream river systems and ultimately Tekapo, giving the lake it's magnificent turquoise colour. We we're originally just going to have a more relaxing day at Tekapo, having enjoyed an early morning run around the lake, but then thought we'd best throw in the Kawarau bridge bungy for good measure.
Travelling from Lake Tekapo to Queenstown
Queenstown (Day 14-15) - we found Queenstown to be a slightly busier town where it's worth planning a good night out at some of the many bars in town. It plays host to the Nevis Bungy, New Zealand's highest bungee jump at 134 metres with a 8.5 second free fall, but more importantly offers the globally renowned Fergburger - grab one whilst you explore the town with the group. Other adrenaline fuelled options are the Shotover canyon swing, another skydive, canyoning or tandem paragliding.
If you're looking for something more serene there are full day trips to Milton Sound which always get rave reviews, the Ben Lomond Walkway or Kiwi bird life park. Alternatively, there's always a wine tour. One thing you don't want to miss (our group did all together) is catching the Skyline gondola up the mountain, enjoying the views and taking a ride on the luge.
Travelling from Queenstown to Wanaka
Wanaka (Day 16) - start with an early journey to cross the mountains from Queenstown into wondrous Wanaka and its famous lake. The drive to Wanaka from Queenstown is spectacular, filled with great views, beautiful stops and plenty of surprises. Wanaka is the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park and, more importantly for us, close to the popular ski and snowboarding resort Treble Cone! Our guide Verve was a keen snowboarder who joined us on the slopes for the day. Conditions were good and the views over Wanaka lake stunning. During the summer, snow sports are replaced with swimming, water-skiing, kayaking and wakeboarding.
Travelling from Wanaka to Franz Josef
Franz Josef (Day 17-18) - the magnificent Franz Josef Glacier is one of the gems of New Zealand's West Coast Glaciers and a really impressive sight not to be missed on your tour. We were taken up the glacier with an expert glacier guide and there are a range of hiking tours and experiences available. We opted for a walking tour from the base but there is also a heli hike option which takes you higher up the glacier by helicopter if you're feeling a bit more adventurous (and still have enough money spare!). The walk up the glacier isn't really too demanding and everyone is able to take it at their own pace. Walking boots and essential equipment is provided with the tour. Our top tip before leaving Franz Josef is to pick up a postcard in one of the many shops to see how much the glacier has retreated in recent years.
Franz Josef itself is another really chilled out town. It only has a couple of bars but the nightlight at Ice Bar in particular is great with fancy dress and karaoke being the theme when we were there.
Travelling from Franz Josef to Punakaiki
Punakaiki (Day 19-20) - Punakaiki is the base from which to explore the natural wonders of the Paparoa National Park. The Park offers sandy beaches, rocky coastlines, lush subtropical rainforests, magical rivers and spectacular alpine tops. The area is perhaps best known for its Pancake Rocks and Blowholes, both of which are a spectacular must-see when visiting the West Coast. The Pancake rocks have been formed over 30 million years - it is actually a heavily eroded limestone area where the sea bursts through several vertical blowholes to create rock forms that really do look like pancakes!
Another fantastic, hidden gem near Punakaiki is Barrytown Knife Making. This was my favourite activity on the south island and is by no means full of tourists - in fact, it is actually in Steve's back yard (Steve is the owner)! You get to forge your own blade from red hot steel, and complete your knife with a native timber handle, brass bolsters and pins. Steve, who runs the knife making sessions himself, is a real character and there are other free activities such as axe throwing, target practice and a huge swing. Lunch is provided, usually toasted sandwiches.
Travelling from Punakaiki to Abel Tasman
Abel Tasman (Day 21-22) - Abel Tasman National Park is New Zealand's smallest national park- but it's perfectly formed for relaxation and adventure. The Park mixes physical exertion with beach life with bursts of hiking or paddling punctuated by sun bathing, swimming and sedate snorkelling. We stayed in some fantastic lodges that seemed to be in the middle of a jungle! Some of the activities available at Abel Tasman include coastal tracks and other walks, sea kayaking and day trips by water taxi.
Travelling from Abel Tasman to Wellington
Wellington (Day 23) - Wellington is the capital of New Zealand and sits near the North Island's southernmost point on the Cook Strait. It is a compact capital with waterfront promenade, sandy beaches, a working harbour and colourful timber houses on surrounding hills. Though sunny and mild most of the year, strong winter winds through the Cook Strait give it the nickname "Windy Wellington". As this was our second time in Wellington and we didn't have much time (it's basically a stop en route back to Auckland), we had a night out before heading further north.
Back to Auckland (Day 24) - time to say goodbye to our tour group and new friends and journey back up to Auckland.
General Information about the Tour
Accommodation
The 'standard' accommodation included in the trip is shared dormitory accommodation. This is what we chose - it was a great group atmosphere and helped us to better get to know other people on the tour. If you're travelling as a couple of just prefer more of your own space, it's possible to upgrade to a private double or twin room. Haka Tours were also very helpful in organising extra accommodation for us before the start of our tour. If your tour starts from Auckland, I'd recommend staying an extra night or two at to explore the City and surrounding area before your tour starts. Whichever option you choose, the lodges are clean and people friendly and helpful.
Nightlife
On our trip everyone was definitely up for a good time with a few big nights thrown in but ultimately we were also there to see the country, do lots of activities and experience the true NZ culture, so most of the evenings were entertaining but sensible. There are some places on tour that are suited to a good night out whilst others - the smaller towns and quieter areas - are better suited to a night in. The tour guide will let you know what to expect at each place throughout the trip.
Tips for Activities
The great thing about Haka Tours is that you can customise your tour by choosing which activities you want to do along the way. This is best done online before you go so you're guaranteed a place on everything you want to do. The alternative if you're more impulsive and don't mind taking a risk that activities (especially if travelling at busy times) is to chat with your tour guide en-route to find out what activities are coming up over the next few days and add on as you go. The smaller groups allow the tour guides to accommodate different preferences which we figured just wouldn't be feasible with some other companies that take larger groups.
Our favourite activities were Waitomo caves, bungee jumping, hot air ballooning, knife making, learning the Haka and diving with sharks.
Transport
Transport for the tour is provided in a mini-bus, which gives a good balance between a personal atmosphere whilst also offering a group of likeminded travellers to get to know during the trip. Our tour guide Verve was great at organising the logistics and making sure we were at the right places at the right time. Some of the journeys are a few hours long - they have to be to cover both islands over 24 days - and the odd early morning coffee was required but there was a great atmosphere throughout with plenty of stop-offs along the way. Verve kept up the atmosphere by making a point of introducing optional challenges throughout the trip - hence one of the pictures being a fellow traveller hugging someone directing traffic at a set of road works!
About Haka Tours
Haka Tours is a New Zealand travel company offering smaller group tours, rather than a mass-market off the shelf experience. This means tour guides have more time to spend with you one-to-one to answer your questions. The smaller groups also allow you to tailor your holiday and pick the activities you want to do, rather than being restricted to a set list of activities some of which you may not want to do.
From my experience, the tour guides are good at managing trips, making sure everyone knows where they are going and what's involved. My guide also stayed with the group in the evenings, showing us the best places to go and things to see, so you don't feel like you've been left stranded wondering what to do at any point. Many of the places where we stopped were the same as some of the larger bus companies but we figured it has to be nicer being on a spacious minibus rather than being crammed in with 50 other people on a much larger tour.
Haka Tours is not a 'hop-on-hop-off' bus service - instead, tours are set-up with a certain amount of time spend at each place so the group you're travelling with always stays the same. You benefit from not having to worry about organising your own accommodation and activities and properly get to know the people you're travelling, which builds a great group atmosphere.
The 24 day tour we chose was the longest 'Base Tour' available, but there are a number of other options available from just 3 days long. You can book with a small deposit and manage your tour online, including tailoring your trip by choosing from the many optional activities.
Prices include transport, accommodation, breakfast, New Zealand's best tour guides, a few unmissable experiences and a small group of friendly, likeminded travellers.
Advice to Anyone looking to book a Tour
Don't hesitate... do it!
