Two Week Itinerary: Sydney, Australia & South Island, New Zealand
With this two week itinerary one can experience two of the most diverse and beautiful countries in the world. From sunny, coastal Sydney, Australia to rugged and outdoorsy New Zealand, this itinerary takes you through some of the best of both places.
About This Itinerary
We flew in and out of Sydney, Australia (airport code: SYD) from the United States. To get to New Zealand, we also had a flight from Sydney to Queenstown, New Zealand, on New Zealand’s South Island (SYD – ZQN). We spent a week in Sydney before venturing to New Zealand, where we split our time between two areas on the South Island: the town of Wanaka, about an hour north of Queenstown, and Te Anau, about two hours west of Queenstown.
While more time is always wonderful, two weeks is just enough time to explore both of these places. We stayed in Sydney the whole time as there is so much to see and do in Australia’s largest city. And in New Zealand, we experienced some of the country’s best, from epic hikes to wineries, as well as cruising New Zealand’s most popular site, the Milford Sound.
When to go
Australia and New Zealand are located in the southern hemisphere, so their seasons are opposite of North America and Europe. We visited in January/February 2025, which was peak summer season. We had hot, sunny days in Sydney and wonderful days for hiking in New Zealand. December – February is the height of peak season travel to this part of the world and when you will get the best weather.
Sydney, Australia
Sydney is located on one of the world’s most beautiful harbors, with the Opera House and Harbor Bridge contributing to its fabulous skyline. While here, enjoy fine dining with incredible views, walk the famous Harbor Bridge, take a ferry on its waterways, explore museums, beaches, and go on beautiful coastal walks.
A Little Background on Sydney
Sydney is the largest city in the country and continent of Australia and is located in the state of New South Wales. Sydney lies within a sparkling harbor front on the eastern coast of Australia. Miles of coastline with dramatic cliffs and bluffs, golden beaches, and iconic landmarks form this incredible city.
Australia became the place Great Britain sent its convicts to in the 1700s -1800s to help alleviate overcrowding in prisons in England. Of course Australia had already been inhabited for thousands of years by Aborigines, the indigenous people. Over time, the Aborigines lost their culture and land as the new English settlers took over, building a colony on the shores of what would one day become Sydney. With this complicated past, today the Australian government is working to make amends, recognizing the Aborigines as first peoples of the land and bringing to light their culture and history as it intermixes with modern day Australia.
Getting Around
The majority of the sites you will visit are easily connected with public transport such as ferries, taxis, and ride shares, such as Uber.
The public train system is operated by the Sydney Trains Network. We used the train system and found it very easy to use as well as being very clean. You can find out more information on the website: Transport NSW Website
Driving here is on the opposite side of the road and opposite side of the car than from the United States. While renting a vehicle here is possible, it will likely be easier to use any of the above transportation options. Parking is limited in many places and there are speed and red light cameras everywhere.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The first thing we do before any international travel is check the US Department of State website. Depending on where you live, check your country’s version for up-to-date travel information to your upcoming destination. For us, as U.S. Citizens, we needed an Electronic Travel Authority. We downloaded the Australia ETA app for our iPhones and worked through the application. There is a fee associated with the ETA. The ETA allowed us entry into Australia.
- A valid passport is necessary for entry.
- Check this list of items not allowed into the country and items you will need to declare. A typical rule of thumb when traveling out of the country is you cannot bring meats, cheese, fruits, and vegetables. Prescription medications should be in their original container.
- On the plane shortly before landing we were given paper landing cards and I declared anything that could be in question. Failure to do so can possibly lead to confiscation and fines. When we walked through customs they asked what items I was declaring in those categories. They waved us through quickly. It is definitely a must to truthfully declare any of these items in by erring on the side of caution otherwise you can face hefty fines.
DAY 1
Arrival Day!
If coming from the United States, you will likely arrive early in the morning. Try to stay awake! Getting out into the sun or out for a walk will help reset your clock to Australia time.
We arrived around 7:00 a.m. on our trans-Pacific flight from Los Angeles. We weren’t sure how we would feel so we planned a very low-key day, trying to push ourselves to stay up to a reasonable bedtime.
About This Map & Itinerary
Below is a map you can use to view all the destinations in this itinerary. The map markers are color coded according to the day they are listed for. For the most part, the destinations are located near one another but on a few occasions they are a bit further apart. This accounts for what type of activity it is that day. For example, if going to a beach or a coastal walk in the morning, a dinner or evening recommendation may not be nearby. This accounts for the likely desire to head back to your accommodations to rest and freshen up before the evening activities.
DAY 2
On Today’s Agenda:
- High Tea at Gunner’s Barracks
- The Taronga Zoo
- Sydney Opera House & Circular Quay
- On the Sydney map above, the purple icons are noted for today’s destinations
Welcome to Australia! Get ready to enjoy a lovely morning tea at Gunner’s Barracks before setting off to explore some of Sydney’s most iconic sites.
High Tea at Gunner’s Barracks
Enjoying this English tradition of high tea while in Sydney is a wonderful experience. We went to Gunner’s Barracks and had a lovely time.
Gunner’s Barracks
Gunner’s Barracks was constructed in the late 1800s as a fortification to protect Sydney from attacks. It went through many historical changes until it finally became the venue that it is today.
Gunner’s Barracks
With its sturdy stone structure on the outside and the charming Victorian decor on the inside, Gunner’s Barracks delivers a unique dining experience with fabulous harbor views.
View from Gunner’s Barracks
The high tea was wonderful with a large variety of tea to choose from as well as a delicious array of small bites and desserts.
Delicious bites at Gunner’s Barracks Tea
For a laid-back experience with wonderful views and a historical twist, put Gunner’s Barracks High Tea on your list.
Taronga Zoo
Who doesn’t want to see koalas, kangaroos, and more Australian animals when visiting this part of the world?!
Just a few of Australia’s many incredible animals
The Taronga Zoo is a popular place to visit and is located very close to Gunner’s Barracks, making it a great place to head to after high tea. You can then take the ferry across the harbor to visit the next stop on the list.
Circular Quay & the Sydney Opera House
From the Taronga Zoo, a quick zip across the harbor brings you to Sydney’s most iconic site, the Sydney Opera House. Standing proudly on the harbor front like a glistening pearl, you have fabulous views from the water. Once you disembark the ferry, make your way to Circular Quay, where the Opera House is located.
The icons of Sydney: The Opera House and Harbor Bridge
We made our way past the Opera Bar, a great place to relax with views of the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge while sipping on a glass of wine or a cocktail.
The Opera Bar is where the tables and umbrellas are
We also entered the Opera House for a quick peek inside. You can arrange a tour if you are interested in exploring the interior further.
Inside the Sydney Opera House
Below are some great tour options for touring the Sydney Opera House:
DAY 3
On Today’s Agenda:
- Day on the Ferries
- Watson’s Bay
- The Gap
- Manly Beach
- On the above map, the orange icons are noted for today’s destinations
Today is a long, yet awesome day exploring Sydney on the ferries.
About The Sydney Ferries
The Sydney Ferries is the public transport entity that runs the ferries in the Sydney area. The ferries run along the Parramatta River, into downtown Sydney, the harbor front, and to several beaches. Taking the ferries is a great alternative to driving and searching for parking in the popular, crowded areas. For more information, click the link below:
Your day begins at Circular Quay to take the ferries. If you did not get to explore Circular Quay yesterday or want a nice, uncrowded morning visit, now is a great time to explore here. After exploring the Opera House, board the ferry at Circular Quay, heading to Watson’s Bay. Departing Circular Quay, we had fantastic views of Sydney Harbor.
Views of Sydney Harbor as seen from a ferry boat
Watson’s Bay & The Gap
At Watson’s Bay, we disembarked the ferry and walked straight from the ferry dock up through Robertson Park. From the park, we crossed Military Road and came to The Gap, a beautiful coastal area with magnificent sea views.
The stunning Gap
The walking path meanders along the cliff with scrub bushes and trees as well as plenty of lookout areas. Views of the cliffs plunging into the sea were breathtaking, with massive waves crashing on the flat, eroded rocks below.
The Gap
After walking from one end to the next, we made our way back down to the waterfront.
Watson’s Bay
For lunch we had a great meal at The Beach Club at Watson’s Bay. Fresh Barramundi fish was on the menu, which was so good.
Barramundi fish, yum!
After lunch it was time to get back on the ferry and head up to Manly Beach.
Manly Beach
Manly Beach is a very popular beach destination. Along its wide promenade, the shops here sell beach clothing, sunglasses, and souvenirs. Small cafes, restaurants, and ice cream parlors line the promenade, giving visitors many options.
Manly Beach Promenade
Manly Beach is a massive swath of golden sand bordered by tall Norfolk Pine. People were sunning, swimming, and surfing, enjoying this hot summer day.
Busy Manly Beach
There is a great coastal walk here, too, taking you from Manly up to Shelly Beach. Begin the walk at the sound end of Manly Beach near the Manly Surf Club.
The coastal walk from Manly to Shelly Beach
From Manly Beach, we took the ferry back to Circular Quay. Riding the ferries was a great way to see so many different areas of the Sydney. What a great day!
DAY 4
On Today’s Agenda:
- Coastal Walk: Coogee to Bondi
- Bondi Beach and Bondi Icebergs
- Mrs. Macquaries Chair
- Catch a movie at Sydney OpenAir Cinema
- On the above map, the green icons are noted for today’s destinations.
There are many awesome coastal walks in Sydney, with a nice meandering path taking you along the coast from beach to beach. Yesterday we did a short one from Manly to Shelly Beach. Today is a longer one, hitting many beaches along the way.
We started off in Coogee and the beach was already hopping at 8:00 am! Even though it was Australia Day, we were surprised at how packed the beaches were so early in the morning! After Coogee, we came up on Bronte Beach, where little swimmers were learning Australia’s popular pastime of surfing, sunbathers were soaking up the rays in the sand, and swimmers were floating in the waves.
Bronte Beach
From Bronte we continued on the path, arriving at Tamarama Beach, which is actually my favorite beach we visited in Sydney.
Tamarama Beach
With a small protective cove, the waves here were intense with surfers successfully catching waves. The water was a beautiful blue and its horseshoe shape made this beach feel intimate and cozy.
Continuing on, we stopped at Mark’s Park for our first glimpse of the famous Bondi Beach from afar.
First view of Bondi Beach from Mark’s Park
Back on the path we soon came to the Bondi Icebergs, a popular swimming pool that is refilled with ocean water as the waves crash up!
Australia’s most famous beach, Bondi
Bondi Beach is Sydney’s most famous beach. Surfers were catching waves, swimmers enjoying the surf, and people lounging in the sun worshipping the rays.
Bondi Beach
Visit Bondi Beach & the Bondi Icebergs
With Bondi being Sydney’s most famous beach it is a must see. The Iceberg Pool is neat to watch as waves crash in while swimmers are swimming in the pool.
The Bondi Beach Icebergs
Along the back wall of Bondi Beach are colorful murals, clearly marking Bondi a pride of Sydney.
Bondi Beach
There are a plethora of dining options in Bondi, from cafes to restaurants to bars and pubs as well as plentiful souvenir shops.
Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair
Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair is a viewpoint located at the end of Mrs. Macquarie’s Road. From here you have one of the best view’s of Sydney, with the Opera House and Harbor Bridge both in view.
The view of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House as seen from Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair
This is along the same road as the next stop in our itinerary, OpenAir Sydney Cinema, so Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair is a great stop pre-show.
OpenAir Sydney Cinema
Branded the world’s most beautiful outdoor cinema, Westpac OpenAir Sydney features a massive movie screen, showing popular movies with the background of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge twinkling in the distance.
OpenAir Sydney
There are multiple ticket options with various dining options available, including world-class chefs fixing high-quality fare before your movie.
DAY 5
On Today’s Agenda:
- The Sydney Harbor Bridge
- The Rocks
- Lunch: The Glenmore Hotel
- The Big Dig
- Harbord Diggers Beach Club
- Freshwater Beach
- On the above map, the red icons are noted for today’s destinations.
Sydney Harbor Bridge – Bridge Climb or South Pylon
The Sydney Harbor Bridge is one of Sydney’s most recognizable landmarks. Wherever you are in the city, chances are you’ll get a glimpse of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, whether popping up above the tree line or in the distance as part of the skyline.
The Sydney Harbor Bridge as seen from The Rocks area of Sydney
While in Sydney, you might find yourself driving over it, walking on it, taking a ferry under it, or even climbing to the top of its steel arch!
The Bridge Climb is a popular thing to do in Sydney, taking you in groups up a long flight of stairs to the top of the bridge. From here you will no doubt get incredible views.
Sydney Harbor Bridge as seen from the South Pylon
However, there are a few caveats with this. First of all, you are with a group so must move as one. Second, you cannot have anything on your person, which means no phone or camera. And finally, you are exposed to the elements the whole way up.
Sydney Harbor Bridge climbers
Depending on weather and time of year, you could be out in the scorching sun while wearing a jumpsuit. For these reasons we recommend visiting the South Pylon as an alternative to doing the Bridge Climb, which is what we did.
The South Pylon is one of four pylons that help to support the Harbor Bridge. From the South Pylon, you get incredible views of the city from every direction, including a birds eye view of the Opera House.
Views of the Opera House from the South Pylon
Enter the museum to learn about the engineering and construction of the Harbor Bridge and you will likely leave with a greater appreciation for it.
Visit the Rocks
The Rocks is my personal favorite area of Sydney as it is a beautiful, historic area located near the Harbor Bridge.
The Rocks
For lunch, we recommend the rooftop at the historic Glenmore Hotel.
The historic Glenmore Hotel
When we were there, the restaurant opened at noon and we arrived shortly before, heading straight up to the roof top for a great open-air meal with city views. It was perfect timing as people soon flooded in behind us and within ten minutes the roof top restaurant was full. This is a great option following your visit to the South Pylon at the Harbor Bridge. We parked on the street and were directly across from the hotel.
Check Out the Big Dig
Also located in The Rocks area of Sydney, The Big Dig features an excavated area of about 30 convicts’ homes and businesses dating back to the late 1700s.
The Big Dig
Digging here began in the mid 1990s and uncovered the homes, business, and various archeological finds, featuring some artifacts on display.
Archeological finds at the Big Dig
A campfire was also discovered, dating back to about 300 years before the Europeans arrived. Within the fire, remnants of various seafood were found!
Today, the Big Dig is an open site for taking in these history lessons while a hostel, YHA Sydney Harbor, sits above the site.
Today, a hostel sits at the site of the Big Dig
Harbord Diggers Beach Club & Freshwater Beach
It is time to take it down a notch in terms of activity level and relax for a bit! The Harbord Diggers Beach Club is a great place to dine and chill for a bit before a nice evening walk on Freshwater Beach.
Harbord Diggers
Harbord Diggers features a wonderful underground parking area if you are self-driving. Take the elevator up, check in, and choose to dine from several options. Sit outside at the Ocean Terrace, dine inside at Teddy Larkin’s, and enjoy drinks from the bar. This place is very family friendly with a kids club, TVs with sporting events playing, and a great view of the ocean.
From here, it is just a short walk across the street to Freshwater Beach. Don’t let the name fool you, it is actually an ocean beach! Freshwater Beach is very quiet and peaceful, especially when we visited in the evening.
Freshwater Beach
You can walk the coastal path or walk in the sand along the waters edge, taking in the stunning rock formations and steep cliffs.
Freshwater Beach
DAY 6
On Today’s Agenda:
- Helicopter Tour Over Sydney
- Queen Victoria Building and The Strand
- Dinner: The O Bar
- On the above map, the hot pink icons are for noted for today’s destinations.
A Helicopter Tour Over Sydney
For the ultimate views over Sydney, how about a helicopter ride?! Sydney HeliTours gets fabulous reviews. The views of Sydney from around the city are incredible, but nothing quite beats an aerial view.
Sydney as seen from a helicopter tour
On a one hour trip, fly over Olympic Park, the Parramatta River, Sydney Harbor, and the Heads, seeing the epic coastline from above.
Incredible views of Sydney from above!
Queen Victoria Building & The Strand
The historic Queen Victoria Building (a.k.a. the QVB) is quite possibly the most beautiful shopping mall in the world.
The gorgeous Queen Victoria Building (aka the QVB)
Filled with exceptional stores with everything from clothing to jewelry to an Aboriginal art gallery to a high end whiskey shop, the venue itself is a work of art. Featuring ornate architecture and a grand clock in the center, taking in the beauty while shopping feels like a grand venture.
The QVB
Right across the street from the QVB is The Strand, a long corridor filled with shops, including the must try chocolate shop, Haighs.
The Strand
Famous for their chocolate frogs, you can’t go wrong getting some delectable bites to snack on during your shopping trip or to save for later.
Dinner at the O Bar
Adding dinner with a view to your Sydney itinerary is a fantastic experience. What better way to see the beautiful city unfold before you than while sipping on a cocktail and dining on a delicious meal?! We dined at the O Bar and had a wonderful dining experience.
The O Bar
The restaurant completes the 360 degree rotation in two hours, giving you great views during your entire dining experience.
DAY 7
On Today’s Agenda:
- Take a Day Trip to the Blue Mountains
- On the above map, the blue icon is noted for today’s destination.
Today is a great day for a day trip! One of the most popular day trips from Sydney is to the Blue Mountains, located about an hour and half from the city.
Get Your Guide offers some great options for day trips, which includes your transportation:
With one week in Sydney, you will likely walk away with a love for the city, like we did. From its glistening harbor, stunning coastline, beautiful beaches, and iconic sites, Sydney is no doubt one of the best vacation destinations in the world!
Wanaka and Te Anau, New Zealand
Welcome to New Zealand, one of our favorite countries in the world! With spectacular scenery such as glacial lakes, mountains, and fiords coupled with wineries and epic hikes, you will never run out of amazing things to see and do here. Choosing where to go in New Zealand is the hardest part of planning a trip here! During our visit, we visited the Central Otago and Fiordland regions located on New Zealand’s South Island which has some of the country’s most stunning scenery. With this five day itinerary, explore some of New Zealand’s best!
About New Zealand’s South Island
The South Island of New Zealand is renowned for its natural beauty with snow capped mountain peaks, dramatic fjords, and beautiful lakes. While the South Island is larger than the North Island, the North Island is more densely populated. With limited time, it is best to focus on one or two areas to visit to avoid overloading your itinerary. During our time in New Zealand we visited the Central Otago and Fiordland Regions of the South Island.
This itinerary will focus on two areas: The Central Otago region, located in the middle of the South Island, and the Fiordland region, located on the southwestern part of the South Island.
The Central Otago Region
The largest city here is Queenstown, known as the adventure capital of the world. Bungee jumping was born here and remains one of the best places in the world to do it. For even more adventures try jet boating and hiking in the summer months and skiing in the winter. Adventures aside, the area around Queenstown is also a great place to kick back with a relaxing boat cruise, a visit to the region’s many wineries, and spa time with a massage and soak in hot pools.
Queenstown airport (code: ZQN) is the international airport serving the region. This is the airport we flew in and out of from Sydney, Australia.
Beyond Queenstown, head to Wanaka, just one hour away. This is where we based for our time in the Central Otago region and Wanaka remains one of our favorite towns in the world!
Fiordland
Fiordland is home to Fiordland National Park, one of the most beautiful areas in all of New Zealand. With snow capped mountains, spectacular waterfalls, and captivating fiords, exploring Fiordland is a must while in New Zealand. The town of Te Anau makes a great place to base while visiting this area of New Zealand. We really enjoyed this remote and vastly beautiful part of the world.
DAY 1
On Today’s Agenda:
- Arrive in Queenstown, pick up rental car, drive one hour to Wanaka
- Nanny Goat Vineyard
- Wanaka Lavender Farm
Upon arriving in Queenstown, we picked up our rental car and set out to drive about one hour north to the lovely town of Wanaka. The views on the drive were incredible! We stopped at lookouts a few times to take in the views. Welcome to beautiful New Zealand!
The drive from Queenstown to Wanaka
Once we arrived in Wanaka and checked in to our lodging, Lakeside Apartments, we walked to the New World Grocery Store. With groceries in tow, we walked back to our hotel to drop the groceries off before heading out for a wine tasting.
We reserved a wine tasting at Nanny Goat Vineyard for 4:00 pm, the latest tasting of the day.
Nanny Goat Vineyard
During the wine tasting, we picked five local wines over the course of our tasting while taking in the peaceful scenery around us.
Wine tasting at Nanny Goat Vineyard
We picked two bottles of our favorites to take back with us. Doing a wine tasting at Nanny Goat Vineyard was a relaxing way to end the day.
On the way back to town from Nanny Goat Vineyard you will pass the Wanaka Lavender Farm.
Wanaka Lavender Farm
If you have time, stop in for a visit. The setting is beautiful with the smell of luscious lavender wafting through the air.
This evening, we grilled dinner at our apartment and paired it with a newly acquired bottle of wine from Nanny Goat Vineyard. We enjoyed this delicious New Zealand meal outside on our deck watching the sun set over the Lake Wanaka. What a great first day!
DAY 2
On Today’s Agenda:
- Hike Roy’s Peak
- Rest and recharge
- Dinner at The Water Bar
- Take in a movie at Cinema Paradiso
Today we were up early, packing our hiking bags and preparing a picnic lunch. We had a big hike ahead of us today!
The hike up Roy’s Peak is about 10 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 4,000 feet. It took us exactly 5 hours and 55 minutes, including several short rest breaks and a 30 minute picnic break at the top. Hiking Roy’s Peak was one of our best adventures in New Zealand. The views of Wanaka and the Southern Alps are absolutely incredible and made the difficulty of the hike well worth it.
The incredible Roy’s Peak hike
We go in depth on the hike including stats, things to know before you go, as well as lots of photos in our article on Roy’s Peak, linked below:
READ: Our comprehensive guide, Hiking Roy’s Peak in Wanaka, New Zealand: A Photo Journey, documents our entire hike up and back down the mountain with stats, helpful tips, things to know before you go, and lots of photos.
In the late afternoon, we walked to The Water Bar for an early dinner. We enjoyed our meal paired with New Zealand wine while taking in the lovely views of Lake Wanaka. After dinner, we walked about 15 minutes along the gravel path that runs along Lake Wanaka.
Lake Wanaka
We came to a small crowd on the gravel beach and knew we arrived at #ThatWanakaTree!
Wanaka’s most famous resident, #ThatWanakaTree
Yes, this lovely willow tree has its own hashtag, thanks to its popularity on social media. When we visited in the evening, it was low tide so #ThatWanakaTree was on a small isthmus of land leading into the Lake Wanaka. In high tide it looks like the tree is floating in the water, a beautiful scene for sure.
After a couple minutes of snapping pics, we walked back to town as we had a movie time to meet at Cinema Paradiso. Cinema Paradiso is a small, cozy cinema located just behind the New World grocery store.
Movie time at Cinema Paradiso
Cinema Paradiso features an array of movies with popcorn, candy, sodas, and local wines available from the snack bar.
Cozy and quaint Cinema Paradiso
What makes Cinema Paradiso unique is that around the halfway mark the staff stops the movie and calls intermission. This is the time to collect the fresh baked cookie you pre-ordered before the movie started. Simply line up at the concession counter, turn in your ticket, and collect your cookie. Then return to the theatre for the remainder of the movie!
This was a great way to spend the evening after such an active day. We loved the local wine and fresh cookie while watching the American movie, A Complete Unknown, with locals in New Zealand!
Our two days in Wanaka were over as we left the next morning. As sad as we were to say goodbye to such an awesome place, we had more adventure ahead!
DAY 3
On Today’s Agenda:
- Drive from Wanaka to Queenstown
- Onsen Hot Pools, Queenstown
- Lunch: The World Bar, Queenstown
- Drive from Queenstown to Te Anau
- Check in to hotel
- Dinner: Redcliff Cafe
We departed Wanaka, a place we came to love, but had more adventures ahead in Te Anau. Our first stop on the drive from Wanaka was back to Queenstown where we enjoyed some pampering at Onsen Hot Pools.
Onsen Hot Pools has received many accolades as a top spa in Queenstown. “Onsen” means hot pools in Japanese, although these hot pools offer a “Kiwi twist”, as they remain at 38.5 degrees Celcius, perfect for year-round enjoyment. The hot pools are part of the Soak & Spa packages, which is what we did.
The 45 minute soak in hot spring water while taking in the views over the Shotover River was a great way to start the day.
Onsen Hot Pools
Next, it was time for a massage, which was one of the best massages we ever experienced! This was especially appreciated after our 10 mile hike the day prior! When we were done with our experience, we relaxed in the comfortable lobby with tea and chocolate. The entire experience from beginning to end was fabulous!
We ate lunch in Queenstown at the World Bar, a nice spot for an outdoor lunch. From here it was a two hour drive to Te Anau.
Upon arrival into Te Anau, we checked in to our hotel, Radfords on the Lake, unpacked, and headed out to dinner.
Radford’s on the Lake, our lodging in Te Anau
The feel here was quite different from Queenstown and Wanaka. It is a much smaller town with a very laid back feel. It definitely felt like we were in the far reaches of the planet!
Dinner tonight was at a special place, Redcliff Cafe. The restaurant is in a quaint and unassuming house with various rooms as dining spaces. There is also a nice biergarten out back, where many families were hanging out. Our meal here was phenomenal! We both remarked that it was one of the best meals we have ever had.
Redcliff Cafe’s claim to fame is the fact that the Lord of the Rings crew dined here frequently during filming.
Signed shirt from Lord of the Rings crew that filmed in this area
The high quality dining experience coupled with the Lord of the Rings connection definitely made the experience here memorable!
DAY 4
On Today’s Agenda:
- Drive Milford Road, allowing for many stops!
- Cruise the Milford Sound
- Lunch: Picnic at Cascade Creek
- Te Anau Glow Worm Caves
- Dinner: Water Bar
One of the most popular places to visit in New Zealand is the Milford Sound, and taking a day cruise is the best way to see it. The drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound is along Milford Road, with many worthwhile stops along the way. When I checked in to our hotel, the proprietor shared a map, highlighting all her recommended stops from Te Anau to Milford Sound. This was very helpful as we narrowed down our stops.
MORE INFORMATION ON MILFORD SOUND
We have a full guide on driving Milford Road with all our stops as well as our experience cruising Milford Sound: Guide to Cruising Milford Sound + Driving Milford Road
The drive on Milford Road from Te Anau to Milford Sound takes approximately two hours without stops. We played it safe, giving ourselves three hours and it worked out perfectly.
Beautiful scenes on Milford Road
We had plenty of time at the stops we planned out and arrived at Milford Sound with enough time to park and walk to the visitor’s center before our cruise.
Our boat for the Milford Sound Cruise
While cruising the Milford Sound, take in the beautiful waterfalls, the majestic verdant mountains, and massive cliffs jutting into the sea.
The beautiful Milford Sound
Keep your eyes out for sea life as seals and penguins frequent the area. During the cruise we saw seals sunbathing on a rock!
Seals sunbathing
Cruising through the fiords to see the spectacular scenery is a must if visiting this part of New Zealand.
The three hour cruise came to an end and we arrived back at the boat dock where the cruise began. From the Milford Sound, we headed back to Te Anau, driving the same way we came in on Milford Road.
One thing to note while driving in New Zealand is the inevitable road stops for crossing sheep!
Inevitable sheep crossing
This can delay a good 20-30 minutes, as was our experience on two different occasions!
In the late afternoon, we had another reservation with Real NZ, this time for a tour of the Te Anau Glowworm Caves. To reach the caves, our tour began with a 30 minute cruise across Lake Te Anau.
Lake Te Anau, the site of the Te Anau Glowworm Caves
In the cave, we walked quietly on the walkways, listening to our guide talk about the glowworms we would soon be seeing. We arrived at our boat and began our journey through the cave. In the distance we could hear rushing water from waterfalls within the cave.
Looking ahead into pitch black darkness, suddenly small glowing lights came into focus. It was a surreal experience, as we got closer to the glowworms. Our guide told us that everyone’s eyes see the glow worms differently. Some people see white, some see blue, and some see green. For me, what looked like a sudden display of constellations were little blue lights on the cave wall and ceiling. As we completed our tour, we were all mesmerized at this amazing natural phenomenon.
I appreciated the educational aspect and how it was an immersive learning experience. We weren’t simply shown the glowworms in a quick cycle through the cave, rather the guides took their time to explain the flora and fauna of the area and answered many questions about the glowworms.
Dinner tonight was at the Explorer Bar, located at the Distinction Hotel. Our hotel proprietor highly recommended it and we had a great dining experience. The location is fantastic, with beautiful views looking out over Lake Te Anau. The Distinction Hotel has a large on-site restaurant, MacKinnon’s, however our hotel proprietor recommended the Explorer Bar over it for its quiet and quaint atmosphere, which we appreciated as well.
A delicious meal at The Water Bar
Not only was the atmosphere great as well as the views, but both the service and the food were excellent!
DAY 5
On Today’s Agenda:
- Hike part of the Kepler Track
- Lunch: Picnic at Brod Bay Campsite
- Visit the Fiordland National Park Visitor’s Center
- Movie at Fiordland Cinema
- Dinner: Water Bar (again!)
Our morning began with hiking part of the Kepler Track, a popular multi-day hike in Te Anau. We planned out our hike to take us to the Brod Bay Campground, about 3.5 miles in, have our picnic lunch, and then hike back.
On the trail, we passed small groups of people, excitedly beginning their multi-day Kepler Track hikes. The Kepler Track also makes a great day hike with minimal elevation. A gently winding path takes you among the beautiful flora found in New Zealand.
The beautiful Kepler Track
We stopped at the Brod Bay Picnic area to enjoy our picnic lunch before heading back the way we came. Hiking this part of the Kepler Track was a nice, easy, and beautiful hike!
We also made a brief stop at Fiordland National Park Visitor’s Center.
The Fiordland National Park Visitor’s Center
This is not worth a stop, in my opinion. As New Zealand’s largest national park, I expected there to be a lot of information and displays, however it was mainly a gift shop with a couple of park rangers on hand to answer questions about hikes and to make reservations at the shelters. We only spent about five minutes here and went on with our day.
Another cinema was on the agenda for a night out in New Zealand. This evening we headed to Fiordland Cinema to watch the daily showing of Ata Whenua – Shadlowland, a beautiful 30-minute film on New Zealand’s natural wonders. We purchased our tickets plus a glass of New Zealand wine to accompany our movie watching experience!
Fiordland Cinema
The next morning it was time to leave Te Anau to drive back to Queenstown and then fly back to Sydney, Australia where we began our journey to this part of the world. From Sydney we had one more overnight before the long trek back home to the United States.
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