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Christchurch, New Zealand
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Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
My main recommendation is to do some kind of star-gazing as Lake Tekapo is a dark sky reserve.
https://tekapostargazing.co.nz/
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Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand
Hooker Valley Track – fairly easy 3-4 hour walk to take you slightly closer to mount cook. It’s a pretty popular route.
Lake Pukaki is also very beautiful and you will drive by here to get to Mount Cook.
Mount cook so many nice hikes from white horse hill campground we stayed in glentanner holiday park campsite
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Moeraki Boulders Beach, New Zealand
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Bluff, New Zealand
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Stewart Island / Rakiura, New Zealand
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Te Anau, New Zealand
(road-side stops (Mirror Lakes, Eglinton, or Hollyford Valleys) and hikes on the way including Lake Marian, Key Summit (part of the routeburn track
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Queenstown, New Zealand
fergberger worth the line
Queenstown hill walk/hike
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Wānaka, New Zealand
Wanaka cinema
Albert town campsite wanaka
paddleboarding
Popular walk: Roys Peak – also popular to do for sunrise but does mean walking up there in the dark
Vineyards: Rippon wine estate – beautiful view of the lake
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Lake Hāwea, New Zealand
Lake hawea Sauna by the lake
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Hokitika, New Zealand
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Arthur's Pass Village, New Zealand
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Glenhope, New Zealand
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Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
Abel Tasman- totaranui campsite
Waikiti valley hotpools campsite hot pool access included that day and next morning before opens to public
We went to Nelson in order to hire bikes and cycle some of the Tasman Taste Tour. It was really fun and beautiful but was longer between stops than we expected so make sure you bring plenty of snacks and water.
Mussel Inn
Wharakiki beach - seal pups in the rock pools
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Kaikōura, New Zealand
whale watching
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Picton, New Zealand
wine tour
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Wellington, New Zealand
Stay at Chloe
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Martinborough, New Zealand
wine tasting at poppies
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Mount Taranaki, New Zealand
The Goblin Forest Hike
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Lake Taupo, New Zealand
?Shuttle to Tongariro alpine hike
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Waikite Valley, New Zealand
Waikite Valley Hot Pools Campground - hot pool access included that day and next morning before opens to public
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Rotorua, New Zealand
Last day - drive to mount maunganui sunrise hike
Recommendations:
Polynesian spa – can feel pretty luxurious after two weeks living in a van plus it’s not too expensive (back in 2019): https://www.polynesianspa.co.nz/
There are a few Maori villages/experiences in Rotorua. These can sometimes seem a bit gimicky but they are interesting, and I would say the best one to visit is Whakarewarewa: https://whakarewarewa.com/
White water rafting with Kaituna Cascades – would recommend doing the tour with the 7m waterfall! https://kaitunacascades.co.nz/
Wai-o- Tapu
Whakarewarewa Redwood forest
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Coromandel, New Zealand
Hot water beach
New chums beach
?cathedral cove