Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is close to the geographical centre of the country, at the southern tip of the North Island. It is also the cultural centre of NZ, with a lively ‘café culture’, arts scene (with several theatres, and various festivals running throughout the summer), and Te Papa, the new national museum.

All this in a compact, user-friendly city, squeezed between lush hills and the sea.

Wellington is also the mountain biking capital of NZ, with top class routes only minutes from the city; and mountain hiking possible in the Tararua and Rimutaka ranges only an hour’s drive away.

With its central position, access to other parts of NZ is easy - our itinerary includes taking the ferry to the South Island to visit the Marlborough area for mountain hikes and winery tours, and Kaikoura for whale watching, or swimming with dolphins.

Itinerary -

• Day 1

  We will transfer you to your accommodation, Koromiko Homestays, situated in a leafy suburb with great views over the city. The day is yours to relax, visit the city (a half-hour walk, or we’ll take you and guide you around the city).

   

• Day 2

  Go mountain biking in the hills around Wellington. Andy will guide you on a half-day cycle from the homestay, taking in fantastic views of the city and the South Island. There is plenty of great off road cycling down to the south coast (where fur seals often haul out on the rocks), and finish at the Brass Monkey Café, for a well deserved drink and cake!

  If cycling isn’t your scene, Chris will take you on the harbour ferry to Soames Island, a nature reserve, for a short hike, then to Butterfly valley on the Eastern side of the harbour for a beautiful bushwalk (ending at the Blue Penguin Café, of course!).

  Alternatively, visit Te Papa, the national museum, and enjoy Wellington at your own pace.

   

• Day 3

  A visit to Kapiti Island. This island, a few miles off the coast north of Wellington, is a mecca for birdwatchers. As one of the few places in New Zealand that is free of introduced animals (even rats and mice have been recently eradicated), Kapiti has large populations of birds which are now rare or extinct on the mainland. These include Lesser spotted Kiwi, red crowned parakeet (kakariki), Kaka (a large parrot), Weka (a large flightless rail), and Takahe (an even larger flightless rail once believed to be extinct).

  The island also has a number of excellent bushwalks, up to the highest point of the island at around 1600ft.

• Days 4-7

  Travel on the ferry to Picton, at the top of the South Island. From here, we will go backpacking . Two trips are possible (depending on your fitness level or preferences).

  Mt. Tapuaenuku is, at 10,000ft (3000m), the highest mountain north of the Mt. Cook region. It is also the easiest mountain of its size to walk up! Being in a rain shadow area, the weather is better and more predictable than most of NZs mountains, and snow doesn’t persist in summer.

  The first day of the tramp follows the Hodder River deep into the mountains, and includes seventy or so river crossings ( Its shallow, but expect wet boots!). We’ll stay in the DoC (Department of Conservation) hut overnight , then (weather permitting) conquer the summit and return to the hut for a second night. It’s a stiff walk through wild alpine meadows, but well worth the view. On a clear day, Wellington is visible to the north, and the entire Southern Alps to Mt. Cook in the south. On the third day, we retrace our steps out.

  Alternatively, the Queen Charlotte Walkway offers easier hiking. This is a well made track which follows edge of Queen Charlotte Sound through regenerating bush and farmland. It’s a beautiful track, popular with New Zealanders, and has guesthouses along the way for more luxurious evenings!

• Day 8

  Go swimming with Dusky Dolphins off the Kaikoura Peninsula, or, if you prefer, go whale watching for Sperm Whales. Enjoy the small seaside resort of Kaikoura and its nearby fur seal colony, and (if you haven’t had enough already!), you can go snorkeling with them too!

• Day 9

  Return to Wellington, stopping at some Marlborough wineries for some wine tasting on the way!

• Day 10

  Travel to the Wairarapa, to the north of Wellington. If you wish to, you can cross the main dividing range into the Wairarapa by bicycle via. the Rimutaka Incline, a disused historic railroad, and be picked up on the other side. A museum in Featherstone gives the fascinating history of this line.

  We will stay at the Fresh Egg Homestay, a farmhouse tucked away in the rugged hills of the eastern Wairarapa. Your hosts will be Randy and Danny, an American gay couple who cook wicked food!

• Day 11

  Visit Castlepoint, a truly spectacular coastal headland on the isolated eastern coastline of the Wairarapa, and enjoy some great coastal walks. Enjoy a great meal again at the Fresh Egg (all that salt air improves the appetite!).

• Day 12

  Back to Wellington. On the way, possible diversions include wine tasting in Martinborough, and a visit to the unusual formations of the Pinnacles (eroded spires of mudstone).

  An energetic diversion would be a day’s walk up Mt. Holdsworth (4600ft) in the Tararuas.

  For something a little easier why not try, mountain biking along the coastal track at the base of the Rimutaka Range. You start in the southern Wairarapa and end with a ferry crossing of the harbour in downtown Wellington. A particularly good trip for people with an interest in geology. For example the succession of raised beaches at Cape ??, a consequence of past earthquakes.

• Day 13

  Wind down in Wellington again, enjoy the city cafes, bars, saunas etc. For the more energetic, we can arrange more adventure - possibly tandem paragliding, mountain biking, or even floating down the Hutt River through the Kaitoke Gorge on truck inner tubes!

• Day 14

  End of the adventures! We will transfer you to the airport, ferry, or bus station as you wish. Alternatively, you can stay on at Koromiko Homestay to enjoy Wellington at your leisure.

  If you don’t have a full 14 days holiday, but like the look of this itinerary, why not join us for part of the time?

Prices include:

• All transport/ transfers during the holiday (starting and finishing in Wellington)

• All accommodation, evening meals and breakfasts at the accommodation (or elsewhere if none provided)

• All group activities.

• Whale watching or Dolphin swimming tour at Kaikoura (not both)

• Local tax -12.5%

Prices do not include:

• Optional activities such as tandem paragliding

• Lunches (except when wilderness hiking)

• Entry fees for clubs/ bars/ museum exhibits etc

Prices and contents of the above Package are for guidance and subject to confirmation.