Destination: New Zealand

Both the New Zealand’s North Island and New Zealand’s South Island are full of spectacular scenery, can’t miss sights, we would suggest though;

• Auckland; City of sails
• The Bay of islands; early history of NZ
• The Hawke’s bay; find your wine
• Tongariro National Park; UNESCO site
• Abel Tasman National Park
• The Franz Josef Glacier
• Queenstown
• Milford sound UNESCO site

Cities and towns are rich in history, with interesting, unique attractions and museums, lovely cafes and restaurants with helpful and friendly locals. And on top of that we all know mother nature in New Zealand is just as important, that is why visiting the national park (s), mountains, lakes, forests, beaches, and bays for there stunning scenery are on the bucket lists as well. Odyssey has coach tours of New Zealand for seniors to enjoy as an inspiring journey for a holiday.

Most tours of New Zealand start or finish in Auckland. The City of Sails, famous for its two harbours, Manukau and the Hauraki gulf, the nearby islands and the volcanic activity that formed the area’s topography is the most populous city of New Zealand and a buzzing multicultural hub driving the country’s economy. Auckland‘s inner city beaches are beautiful bays to explore or take the ferry to Waiheke island, whilst on the west coast is the wild beach of Piha.

Further north the Bay of Islands is a sub-tropical region, known for the Winterless North. The region encompasses 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula. You can visit the lovely towns of Paihia, Russel and Kerikeri, stand on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds or take a day trip to Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of New Zealand.

On the east coast of the North Island wine lovers should definitely pay a visit to Hawke’s Bay. Nicknamed as Wine Country, Hawke’s Bay is the first stop of the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail offering 30+ cellars and some 200 kilometres of easy biking trails connecting them. It is also known as New Zealand’s Art Deco capital with cities such as Napier. Lovers of a good hike should have the Te Mata peak as a day tour on their itinerary.

Still on the North Island, the Tongariro National Park is the oldest national park of the country and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. The park encompasses several volcanic mountains, Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro, sacred Maori places and the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, regard as one of the greatest one-day hikes in the world.

For the South Island travelling down the wild west coast is an absolute must, the spectacular scenery on this rugged coastline of New Zealand’s south island is a must see.

You can start with the Abel Tasman National Park (named after the 17^th century Dutch explorer Abel Tasman who was the first European to reach New Zealand), the smallest national park of the country. It is an easily accessible coastal paradise, dramatic scenery, with plenty of options to explore the sand beaches and hiking tracks. Kayaking one way and taking a hike back is one of the most popular choice by visitors.

Travelling further south, the little town of Franz Josef (named after the then emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) is the ideal base to explore the west coast glacier, Franz Josef Glacier and/or the Fox Glacier. Unfortunately as the glacier retreat they are becoming less and less accessible on foot but you can still take a scenic flight over the landscape, or be more adventurous and get dropped on Franz Josef glacier with a professional guide for a unique hike back.

Queenstown is often called the adventure capital of the world. The town is located on the lakeshore of Lake Wakatipuwith the spectacular scenery of the Remarkables in the background. It is a great base to explore the Central Otago wine region, nearby historic towns such as Arrowtown, and of course a Milford Sound cruise, the key highlight of the Fjordland National Park.

Milford Sound is located in the UNESCO World Heritage site Fiordland National Park, approximately 4 hours from Queenstown and 2 hours from Te Anau, the nearest inhabited town. At Milford sound the Southern Alps finally collapse into the Tasman Sea, creating a dramatic and beautiful scenery, best enjoyed on a milford sound cruise.

You may wish to read this article “Questions about New Zealand” as well.

The easiest way to get around in New Zealand is using your own vehicle, providing access even to the most remote areas of the country.

On our small group tours of New Zealand for seniors we use coaches and occasionally local transport such as buses within a city or ferry services.

Even though New Zealand is a huge country with low population density, long-distance buses are widely available among bigger cities and popular tourist destinations. Train services are more limited but where available, it is definitely a scenic way of getting around. Such example is the Tranzalpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth. And if you are in a hurry, you can always use domestic flights to hop around key destinations.

Driving around yourself also has the advantage of giving you the opportunity to wonder off the beaten track anywhere in the country. While the places listed below are not exactly unknown, they are certainly less exposed to tourists.

Waikawau beach tunnel

Waikawau is a small community in the Waitomo district of the North Island. It has the only publicly accessible beach between Marokopa and Awakino via a tunnel which was completed in 1911 by local farmers. The tunnel was originally built by three local farmers to drive their cattle on the beach to the nearby station rather than the rough terrain.

Mine bay Maori rock carvings

This giant carving of Ngatoroirangi is considered to be one of the best contemporary Maori artworks. Master carver Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell was asked by his grandmother to carve the tattooed face of their ancestor to create a connection of the family to the land. In 1976 the young carver had a vision while paddling on the water, and it took him 4 summers to complete this extraordinary piece of art. The carvings are towering 14 metres above Lake Taupo on the North Island and displaying the traditional Maori knowledge and skills passed down by each generation. This icon of the region can only be reached by boat, and can be best viewed from a kayak.

Pancake rocks

Punakaiki is a small village located between Westport and Greymouth on the west coast of the South Island. And just outside of the main village you will find the amazing pancake rocks and blowholes, the curious limestone formations which are over 30 million years in the making. You can see the rocks during an easy, accessible walk. It is recommended to wear something you don’t mind getting wet, as during the high tide, the Tasman sea forces large amounts of water and compressed air to race upward creating geyser like ‘eruptions’ across the holes and pools.

Blue Pools

Stop here while navigating through the scenic Haast Pass which brings you from the West Coast through the dramatic scenery of the Southern alps on your coach tour to Wanaka on the South Island. Near the small village of Makarora you can take an easy walk to the beautiful turquoise waters of the Blue Pools, which colour is the result of light refraction on the clear and icy cold water. Blue Pools is where Blue River joins the Makarora River, and after checking it is safe to do so, you can take a leap into the pools from the two suspension bridges. Makarora is also a starting point for several hikes in the Mount Aspiring National Park.

Lake Quill

This one is not easy to reach but well worth the effort. Lake Quill is on the South Island in Fiordland National Park, near Milford Sound. The lake is fed by several glaciers and falls under in three cascades as Sutherland Falls, which was long thought to be the tallest waterfall of New Zealand at 580 meters. The falls can be seen from Milford Track, the popular multi-day hike, or you can take a scenic flight over the national park to enjoy the untouched beauty of the lake.

While the South Island gets most of the attention thanks to Franz Josef Glacier, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Christchurch and more, the North Island has just as much to offer. You can learn about the volcanic and geothermal activity of the island and the Maori culture. Destinations worth a visit are the beautiful Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga up north with the Waitangi treaty grounds, Auckland and its volcanic islands, such as Waiheke Island and Rangitoto Island, Rotorua, Tongariro, the Waitomo glowworm caves, the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington.

Some of the main cities of the North Island are Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier, Rotorua, Hastings and Gisborne.

Maui is a very important demigod in the Maori mythology. One day he overheard his four brothers that they wanted to leave him behind while going fishing. Maui made a fishhook from a magical ancestral jawbone and hid in the brothers’ canoe. When they were far out on the sea, Maui revealed himself, and threw the magical fishhook in the sea while chanting powerful incantations. The hook caught fast, and with the help of his brothers Maui brought the fish to the surface. He then begged them to wait until he had appeased to Tangaroa, the god of the sea, but the brothers did not listen and started to carve out pieces for themselves, forming the many mountains, valleys, lakes, rivers and coastlines of the island.

If you want to cross from the North to the South Island, you either have to fly or take the ferry across the Cook Strait. The Interislander ferry operates between Wellington and Picton since 1962, and it takes about 3-3.5 hours to complete the crossing. The ferry route is one of the great journeys of New Zealand. On your journey, marvel at the beauty of Marlborough Sounds, the north coast of the South Island, which is made up of 1500 kilometres of sunken river valleys.

The population of New Zealand is around 4.9 million people, and according to the latest census, 76% lives on the North Island, equalling about 3.7 million people, while the South Island accounts for 23%, and the rest of the 600 islands for 1%. This means the North Island is the smaller but more populous island between the two main islands.

Initially Pakeha (European New Zealanders) settled on the South Island, and it wasn’t until 1911 that the population of the North Island overtook the South Island (56% vs 44%). The drift north still continues, with Auckland, the biggest economic hub of the country being the main driver of the change.

New Zealand is home to some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, and there’s no better way to explore than by walking. Walking tours get you away from freeways, cities, and suburbs and into the heart of the pristine wilderness of New Zealand.

New Zealand offers a range of walks and hikes for different fitness levels, spanning from easy beach walks to the nine Great Walks, multi-day treks through some of the country’s most spectacular scenery.

Essentials include hat, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, warm clothing, a water bottle and a camera! For more suggestions, take a look at our list of things to bring on an Odyssey walking tour.

We also have a number of packing guides:

• Women’s walking shoes
• Packing advice for small group tours
• Footwear and clothing tips

Our tour of New Zealand exploring Maori and Wairua is rated as Level 2 – Moderate on our fitness scale. For more information on our fitness levels click here.

Our Level 2 guidelines suggest that:

Participants must be able to carry their own luggage, climb and descend stairs, be in good health, mobile and able to participate in 3-5 hours of physical activity per day, the equivalent of walking/hiking up to 8 kilometres on uneven ground per day.

If you enjoy the many outdoor activities available, such as hiking and mountain biking, you should visit New Zealand during the summer months of December to March, which brings long, bright and sunny days and temperatures of 16°C to 24°C. If you are a winter sports fan, you should visit from June to the first week in October, Though temperatures in the mountains are cold; once you get away from there, the winters are relatively short and mild.

There are many stunning glaciers in New Zealand. There are few places in the world you can easily access glaciers at low altitudes and New Zealand is one of them. There are over 3,000 glaciers in New Zealand. The South Island’s West Coast is home to New Zealand’s two most famous glaciers – Fox and Franz Josef. It’s an easy walk to the terminal faces of both glaciers. Or, if you’re adventurous, then a helicopter ride or a guided ice walk are simply unforgettable experiences.

On the other side of the Southern Alps, the Tasman Glacier is the largest in New Zealand. The Tasman Glacier has a beautiful terminal lake. It’s a short walk to view the glacier.

Both Milford and Doubtful Sound are located in Fiordland National Park on New Zealand’s South Island. Milford Sound sits to the north of Fiordland and is the last fiord in the national park. Doubtful Sound, on the other hand, is located much further south and is roughly in the middle of Fiordland National Park. Milford Sound is easily the most visited place in Fiordland National Park and arguably the most beautiful and offers the widest range of experiences out of the two fiords. This makes Milford an easy front runner for those who love to personalize their experience and make it one the whole family will love. Doubtful Sound is a rather untouched paradise that’s off the beaten path. It’s an adventurous journey and one you’ll share with fewer people.

Auckland is a bustling urban city, that also offers beautiful lush native rainforests, golden sand beaches, rolling hills of wine country, hiking trails, picturesque country gardens, unspoilt forest and tranquil bays to explore. Auckland region is dotted with 48 volcanic cones which provide spectacular panoramic views of the city and harbour. Auckland is also famous for its shopping, nightlife and diverse range of cafes and restaurants. Don’t forget to go north to visit the amazing Bay of Islands. The Bay of Islands consists of 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula.

Wellington is a small and creative city with a mix of culture, history, nature and cuisine and surrounded by nature.

There are many museums, art galleries and theatre shows that make up the city’s pulsing cultural scene. If you’re into the outdoors, you can relax at Oriental Bay, Wellington’s golden-sand inner-city beach and delve into the Wellington has action-packed adventure activities like mountain biking and sea-water kayaking, as well as beautiful walks around the harbour and surrounding hills. Try the visually Ride the cable

New Zealand’s national museum, or Te Papa, as it’s colloquially known, means ‘our place’ and is one of the best interactive museums in the world.

Rotorua is renowned for its geothermal activity and Maori culture. In Te Puia’s Whakarewarewa Valley, there are bubbling mud pools and the 30m-tall Pohutu Geyser, which erupts many times daily. It’s also home to a living Maori village and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Besides exploring the geothermal hot pools, you can:

• Ride world-class mountain bike trails.
• Swim in natural hot springs.
• Walk among natural springs and river trails.

Christchurch, known for its English heritage, is the most walkable city in New Zealand. The city is constantly evolving, always giving locals and visitors something new to explore. After the devastating earthquakes in 2011, Christchurch was rebuilt as a more creative and funky urban centre. Wander through the streets admiring the colourful murals that tell stories of the city’s resilience and indomitable spirit.

Visit Castle Hill, 80min north-west of Christchurch, famous for beautiful landscapes and being declared by the Dalai Lama as a ‘spiritual centre of the universe”.

Take a day trip to Kaikoura, 180 km north of Christchurch, many New Zealanders number one most beautiful place in their country.

Queenstown is famous for offering adventure and adrenaline. Surrounded by towering mountains, positioned on the edge of a lake,

Queenstown sits on the shore of Lake Wakatipu among dramatic alpine ranges.

There’s skiing from winter right through to spring, and activities such as bungy jumping, sky diving, canyon swinging, jet boating, horse trekking and river rafting all year round.

If hardcore adventure isn’t your thing, there are plenty of mellow options available. Experience one of the many walking and hiking trails, sightseeing tours or indulge yourself with spa treatments, boutique shopping and excellent food and wine.

You should plan to spend around NZ$185 ($129) per day on your vacation in New Zealand, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travellers have spent, on average, NZ$41 ($29) on meals for one day and NZ$27 ($19) on local transportation.

The answer really depends on your preferences – what do you want to see and do, would you like to avoid peak season, etc.

Summer in New Zealand is from December to February and has the best overall weather, and all outdoor activities (such as world-famous multi day hikes, flights, water sports, etc) are operating. Yet, New Zealand is also famous for having four seasons in one day, so make sure you’re well prepared with layered clothing even during the hottest days. This is also the peak season for both domestic and international tourism, so you have to book in advance to avoid the disappointment of missing out on anything.

Fall is from March to May, and it is the time for spectacular colours, New Zealand’s south island especially around Wanaka and the Otago region is any time after Easter is usually the most quiet time of the year to travel so you can enjoy most of the attractions in peace in fairly good weather.This is a good season to enjoy a New Zealand walking tours seniors itinerary from Odyssey.

Winter is from June to August and it’s time for winter sport season. Luckily the temperatures only get cold in the mountains, and in general you can enjoy many days with clear skies. Ski season runs from June until early October in the South island, for those who have Southern Hemisphere skiing on their bucket list. Some of the tracks to hike are closed for security reasons. On the positive side, there is very little traffic on the roads and only the heaviest snow falling would result in a few days of snow in the lowlands, which is rare.

Spring is from September to November, and many say you get the best of all words if you visit during that time. Mountains look majestic with their snowcaps on, you can catch the last weeks of the ski season, while this is the wildest season for any water sport, especially rafting as the melting snow speeds up the rivers and falls. This is also the time for garden lowers as flowers and leaves are blossoming across the country.

How does time of the year affect the weather and travel conditions in New Zealand?

In general the weather in New Zealand is fairly mild all year around with many hours of sunshine due to the proximity of the mountains and sea across all islands. The far north is considered subtropical (earning the nickname of ‘Winterless North’), while the inland alpine areas of the South Island can get as cold as -10 degrees Celsius in winter.

You should be aware that torrential rain falls can cause floods and result in roads closures especially on the South Island among the ranges of the Southern Alps all year round.

Due to the temperature difference of the mountains and valleys, some mornings will be foggy but it can clear very quickly. In general weather conditions can change in a minute across the country, so always be cautious, adhere to rules and be up to date with travel information.

In general roads are in great condition and maintained regularly. The biggest threat is probably self-driving international travellers who might be unfamiliar with driving on the right hand side, so you might want to avoid the peak season because of them.

In general the weather in New Zealand is fairly mild all year around with many hours of sunshine due to the proximity of the mountains and sea across both the North Island and South Island. The far north is considered subtropical (earning the nickname of ‘Winterless North’), while the inland alpine areas of the South Island can get as cold as -10 degrees Celsius in winter.

You should be aware that torrential rain falls can cause floods and result in roads closures especially on the South Island among the ranges of the Southern Alps all year round.

Due to the temperature difference of the mountains and valleys, some mornings will be foggy but it can clear very quickly. In general weather conditions can change in a minute across the country, so always be cautious, adhere to rules and be up to date with travel information.

In general roads are in great condition and maintained regularly. The biggest threat is probably self-driving international travellers who might be unfamiliar with driving on the right hand side, so you might want to avoid the peak season because of them.

Main factors are your own preferences for activities, weather conditions (see above), number of other visitors and pricing. Since the country offers a lot to visitors all year around, prices tend to be stable with no off season drops. Interislander ferries, bus services and domestic flights operate all year round.

Escorted tours to New Zealand typically travellers can visit both islands during one trip and the itinerary in our New Zealand tour package reflects this. Key stops on these New Zealand small group tours itineraries are usually Auckland, Rotorua, Milford Sound, Queenstown and Christchurch. Odyssey Traveller offers New Zealand coach tours seniors enjoy. A group tour package which takes senior travellers around New Zealand in 14 days and offers them a chance to learn about history, culture and experience the landscapes settings and breathtaking scenery as well as see the unique wildlife using the expertise and knowledge of local guides. These new Zealand tours packages are a popular New Zealand escorted tour for seniors.

Odyssey’ s small group Tour of the North Island only takes travellers off the beaten track. The North Island tour starts in Auckland before travelling down the east coast through the Coromandel peninsula, Hawke’s Bay, The Wairarapa and finishes in Wellington in 13 days. Senior travellers can travel with like-minded people and learn about the landscape and wines with local guides.

Of the two islands the South Islands is regarded as an inspiring journey offering the more dramatic scenery with the Southern Alpes, Aorangi/Mt Cook, Milford Sound, Franz Josef Glacier and more. Odyssey Traveller ’s 15-day long South Island tour starts in Wellington before we take the interislander ferry and stop at Nelson, Westport, Fox Glacier, Wanaka, Te Anau, Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch.

Odyssey Traveller ’s tours of New Zealand for seniors that travllers seek to book is the New Zealand holiday where travelers visit the key highlights of both islands in a small group. With the help of the local guides seniors can learn about new aspects of the history and culture of New Zealand, even if they have visited the country before.

Doing only one of the islands has the advantage of travelling less and going further off the beaten track, with more time to explore hidden gems and learn about a specific region. Odyssey has North Island New Zealand tours and South IslandNew Zealand tours for travellers.

New Zealand has a single time zone, New Zealand Standard Time (UTC+12). Daylight savings in New Zealand commence on the last Sunday of September, and conclude on the first Sunday of April.

If you’re on an Odyssey New Zealand escorted tour, we take care of tipping so you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it’s essential that you tip an appropriate amount for services. Tipping is not common in New Zealand, with service charges often included in bills. Tour guides and hotel staff are a general exception however, with a small tip of a few dollars not going astray in showing appreciation for their services.

Wifi is widely available in New Zealand, and should be freely accessible in most hotels, cafes and restaurants.

Check with your cell phone provider to see whether you’re able to make calls and use data while in New Zealand. Many providers will allow you to pay a daily fee that allows you to make calls and check the internet while only being charged your regular rates. However, be certain to inform your provider that you’re heading overseas, because just like a bank they can turn off your service as a result of unusual activity.