New Zealand Summer Itinerary: Self-Driving the South Island

Arrive in Queenstown (likely via Auckland which we can plan around accordingly). Collect your rental car at the airport and drive to Glenorchy, a small town at the northern head of Lake Wakatipu, around 26 miles. You are likely exhausted from long international travel days, but the Queenstown scenic drive to Lake Wakatipu will keep you alert. Once you arrive settle into your hotel at Blanket Bay, Glenorchy and enjoy the rest of the day/evening. If your legs need a stretch there are scenic trails right on the hotel property. If you are ready for wine and non-airplane food snacks; indulge in the tasting dinner at the restaurant at your hotel: Blanket Bay Kitchen.

About Glenorchy: bordered on two sides by National Parks, the tiny village is surrounded by jaw dropping mountains, cascading waterfalls and rivers.

Staying at Blanket Bay means you have a menu of options at your finger tips and this is vacation so the good news is that advanced decision making is not even necessary. You can wake up (enjoy the complimentary breakfast with a view) and decide if you want to jet boat on the Dart River, raft on either the Shotover or Kawarau Rivers or go on a 5.6 hike Routeburn Track: Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Falls Hut.

If you are an experienced hiker and like me you are motivated to do an All Trails "Hard" rated hike by a lake at the top of a mountain; then Routeburn Track to Lake Harris and Harris Saddle Shelter is for you. 16.2-mile out and back trail near Glenorchy, Otago. It takes an average of 8.5 hours to complete. I can provide you a local guide to accompany you. If hiking is not your thing and wine is more your vibe; the Wine & Arts Trail takes you to the homes and galleries of some of New Zealand's pre-eminent artists coupled with sampling Otago's finest local Pinot Noir wines.

Piopiotahi / Milford Sound Marine Reserve, Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site form the largest protected area in New Zealand. There is an abundance of wildlife, including bottlenose dolphins, seals, Fiordland penguins, humpbacks and southern right whales. There are many options on how to visit the sounds.

Depending your intentions; we can discuss a longer stay overnight at the luxurious Fiordland Lodge on the shore of Lake Te Anau. This gives you time to also see Doubtful Sound and get a bit more off the beaten path.

You will spend a night or two by the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. New Zealand's largest glacier and the world's largest Gold Tier Dark Sky Reserve. If you are up for a hike after checking-in to your hotel and having a late lunch; head to Hooker Valley Track trailhead. But don't exhaust yourself too much because you will want to stay up late for star gazing.

After Mount Cook you will make your way to Arthur's Pass. On your way make a stop at Lake Tekapo (back to what I was saying earlier, this is one of those lakes you see and question if it's real - it's that turquoise!).

You will spend a couple days exploring Mount Aspiring National Park / Arthur's Pass. Then continue to drive further North and enjoy your remainder of time on the South Island at Abel Tasman National Park at a luxury lodge where you can wine, dine and continue to hike!

Depending if you spent time in Auckland at the beginning of your trip or not; we will have you fly back to Auckland.

Staying at the Huka Lodge in Taupo you will be able to relax and continue to adventure! At the Huka lodge they have a variety of activities they can arrange on site. Or you can do a private driver (or rental car again) to head up to Rotorua to take in some of the Geothermal activity that makes the region famous.