Travel to the Northern South Island of New Zealand - Episode 962

Travel to the Northern South Island of New Zealand – Episode 962

September 20, 2025 Journeyhour.net

Hear about travel to the top half of New Zealand’s South Island as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jonty Crane from Jonty Travels about his adopted country.

Why should you visit the top half of New Zealand’s South Island? Jonty says that this area has “spectacular scenery, natural hot springs, beautiful beaches, world-class vineyards, and whale watching”.

Jonty suggests a two-week road trip (with additional optional side trips, particularly for multi-day hikes) starting in Christchurch and looping north through North Canterbury, Nelson/Tasman, Marlborough, and Kaikōura before returning to Christchurch. The trip combines cities, hot springs, alpine passes, national parks, short walks and multi-day hikes, vineyards, wildlife, and heritage.

Suggested Itinerary

Days 1–2: Christchurch

Explore the city centre, largely rebuilt post the devastating 2010/11 earthquakes: Hagley Park, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Avon River punting, and the Christchurch Earthquake Memorial.
Visit cultural sites: Canterbury Museum, Christ Church Cathedral ruins, Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, aka the cardboard cathedral, Christchurch Art Centre, Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities, Rutherford’s Den, and Christchurch Art Gallery.
Take excursions to:
- New Brighton (beach + He Puna Taimoana hot pools)
- Port Hills for views and exercise
- Taylors Mistake beach and Godley Head Walk (see Scott’s Cabin)
- Lyttelton with its Timeball Station
- Banks Peninsula & Akaroa (French heritage, swimming with dolphins, Banks Track multi-day hike, little penguin colonies)
- International Antarctic Centre (connection to Antarctic expeditions, McMurdo/Scott Base resupply)

Days 3-4: Hanmer Springs & Lewis Pass

Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa – 22 pools, hydro slides, alpine resort feel.
Local walks: Woodland Walk, Forest Amble, Conical Hill, or Mount Isobel.
Scenic drive via Lewis Pass – alpine nature walk, Lewis Tops Track, or St James Walkway multi-day hike.
Relax at Maruia Hot Springs.

Day 5: Nelson Lakes National Park (St Arnaud)

Hiking hub with trails from short lakeside walks to multi-day tramps:
- Angelus Hut trek (2–3 days)
- Travers–Sabine Circuit (4–7 days)
- Side trip to Blue Lake (clearest freshwater in the world).
In St Arnaud: visit the Classic Boat Museum.

Days 6–7: Nelson & Abel Tasman

In Nelson:
- World of Wearable Art Museum
- Founders Heritage Park (aviation buffs: step inside a Bristol freighter)
- Gardens of the World and Historic Melrose House (with café)
- Brook Sanctuary (native wildlife).
Day trip to Abel Tasman National Park: coastal hiking, kayaking, swimming, camping on golden beaches.

Day 8-9: Golden Bay & Farewell Spit

Tākaka (hippie town, crystal shops, rock formations).
Visit Te Waikoropupū Springs (with some of the clearest water in the world) and Pupu Hydro Power Scheme Walkway.
Overnight in Collingwood for the full-day Farewell Spit Eco Tour (sand dunes, lighthouse, migratory birds, whale bones, shifting sands).

Days 10–11: Marlborough Sounds & Picton

Stop in Havelock (green-shell mussels + Pelorus Mail Boat Cruise).
Explore Marlborough Sounds (Queen Charlotte, Pelorus).
In Picton:
- Edwin Fox Maritime Museum (1853 teak sailing ship, one of the oldest surviving wooden sailing ships in the world)
- Picton Museum (whaling history)
- Hike the Queen Charlotte Track (3–5 days, with luggage transfer or lodges).

Day 12: Blenheim

World-famous wine country – Marlborough vineyards.
Aviation lovers: Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre (Peter Jackson’s WWI/WWII aircraft in dramatic dioramas).

Optional detour between Blenheim and Hanmer Springs:

Molesworth Station route (requires 4WD vehicle; the largest working farm in NZ, arid landscapes, dirt roads, spectacular scenery, road only open between late October and Easter).

Days 13–14: Kaikōura and Return to Christchurch

Scenic coastal drive (fur seal colonies).
Kaikōura highlights:
Return to Christchurch, closing the loop.

Practical Notes

Transport: Best done as a self-drive road trip; buses exist, but they have limited flexibility.
Accommodation: Mix of hotels, motels, AirBnBs, and Bookabach (NZ’s holiday home rental).
Best time: March–April (autumn) – fewer crowds, settled weather, fall colors from late April.
Food highlights: Christchurch, Nelson, and Blenheim have excellent dining scenes.

Show Notes

Jonty travels
Christchurch
Hagley Park
Riverside
Canterbury Museum
Christ Church Cathedral
Cardboard Cathedral
Christchurch Art Center
Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities
Rutherfords Den
New Brighton, New Zealand
He Puna Taimoana: New Brighton hot pools
Port Hills
Taylors Mistake
The Godley Head Walk
Scott’s Cabin
Terra Nova (ship)
Lyttelton, New Zealand
Lyttelton Timeball Station
Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula Walking Holiday and Hike
Little penguin
Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa
Lewis Pass
St James Walkway
Maruia Hot Springs
Saint Arnaud, New Zealand
Nelson Lakes National Park
Blue Lake (Tasman)
Saint Arnaud Classic Boat Museum
Nelson, New Zealand
World of Wearable Art
Founders Heritage Park
Gardens of the World
Historic Melrose House Nelson
Brook Sanctuary
Abel Tasman
New Zealand Great Walks – More Travel #8
Tākaka
Te Waikoropupū Springs
Pupu Hydro Power Scheme
Collingwood, New Zealand
Farewell Spit Eco Tours
Marlborough Sounds
Havelock, New Zealand
Pelorus Mail Boat Cruise and Tour
Picton, New Zealand
Edwin Fox Maritime Museum
Edwin Fox
Picton Museum
Queen Charlotte Track
Blenheim, New Zealand
Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
Molesworth Station
Kaikōura
Whale Watching in Kaikoura
Kaikōura Whale Watching Scenic Flight
Bookabach
International Antarctic Centre | Christchurch, New Zealand
Plantation Peperpot Tour – Waterproof Tours Suriname

Community

Hi Chris,

I enjoyed the latest episode on the Galapagos Islands. It brought back memories from when I visited in 2016.

I went on an Intrepid Travel tour, which they no longer run, which was land-based in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz but with boat trips out to a number of islands. I’d agree with Michael’s recommendations, particularly Tortuga Bay and Las Grietas.

I would also suggest visiting Laguna de las Ninfas, a beautiful saltwater lagoon filled with mangroves, a short walk from Puerto Ayora, and Playa de la Estación, the closest beach to Puerto Ayora, near the Charles Darwin Research Station, which has good swimming and snorkeling.

Jonty

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Cruising the Peruvian Amazon with G Adventures – Episode 957

Hi Chris!

I am a relatively recent listener to your podcast, but a lifelong avid traveler! I am looking forward to catching up on your years’ worth of back episodes. I am writing because I just finished listening to your Peruvian Amazon episode, which was so amazing because I was actually in the same location, but on a different boat, the exact same week. We were probably on the same flights! Your experience was very similar to mine- including your take on the weather and the mosquitoes (less hot and fewer mosquitoes than expected). We definitely met with the same woman shaman, got to take a swim, and had the same breakfast on the water and night excursion experiences. Our boat- the Delfin II (with Lindblad Expeditions) had a very similar setup with the big open bar/lounge on top where we loved to hang out, and even excellent musical performances several nights from some of the staff! What an adventure. It was amazing to relive my own experience while listening to yours!

Also, thank you for the recent episode on Andorra as well, which was timely as I am traveling to Andorra in early September for a few days at the front end of a longer trip to Northern Spain and Bordeaux.

I look forward to hearing many more of your adventures!

Karen

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