Huka Lodge Hotel

Otago – Home to the resort town and adventure capital of New Zeland, Queenstown. Otago is home to some of the most stunning scenery in New Zealand, with its turquoise-coloured lakes and dramatic mountain scenery. Wanaka is also a spectacular place to visit; it’s Instagram famous for that Wanaka tree. Discovering New Zealand with Distant Journeys gives you the perfect blend of an escorted tour experience, and the freedom to explore as you please. While we ensure you’ll see all the highlights of New Zealand, we also make sure you can personalise your touring experience to suit your interests.

Five international airports are available in New Zealand that accept arrivals from all parts of the world. Auckland International Airport is New Zealand’s largest and busiest airport. Direct flights are available from Asia, Australia, the USA, and the Pacific Islands. Auckland Airport is the most likely airport to arrive in New Zealand.

Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand’s South Island boasting 220 adventure activities. There’s always a good time to visit Queenstown, with plenty of fun to be had throughout the year. Award-winning restaurants, festivals and sporting events offer a wide range of adrenaline Mt Cook tours activities, including skiing, mountain biking, and all other types of extreme sports. The picturesque views and abundance of activities makes Queenstown a must on any bucketlist trip to New Zealand. Opua is a small village in Northland, about four hours from Auckland. Charter pickups can be found at the Bay of Islands Marina or on the town wharf. They are all within a short distance of each other.

a more complex multi-stop fishing/non-fishing itinerary, we are on hand to help you plan. We will coordinate your lodge stays, book the guides, arrange your rental vehicles, book domestic flights, organise lodge and helicopter transfers and impart lots of knowledge at the same time. Funyaks (dartriver.co.nz) operates in Mt Aspiring National Park, a World Heritage Area and a key setting for The Lord of the Rings. You’ll be blasted up the Dart river in a jet boat before transferring to inflatable kayaks to float downstream, via rock pools and chasms, on a guided tour of this early Maori trading route.

• On a longer charter, Whangaroa, Doubtless Bay, the Cavalli Islands, and Cape Karikari to the north and the Poor Knights Islands, Great Barrier Island, Hauraki Gulf and Auckland to the south are all in reach.
• A New Zealand charter holiday offers a broad range of experiences and sights to see.
• Within 45 minutes, you’ll reach Fox Glacier and Franz Josef township.
• You can also take a leisurely cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard TSS Earnslaw, a vintage steamboat.
• Queenstown Hill is a two-hour round trip that offers panoramic views of the lake as well as the Remarkables mountain range.

Kaikoura township is a charming location, but it’s also a great place to explore. There are many shops, restaurants, and cafes to choose from. If you want to explore further afield, you can make the most of the landscape with biking, hiking and golf. The peninsula’s west coast leads to the Firth of Thames, the steep pohutakawa Cliffs, and the east coast has more beaches.

You can also return to the country and visit Matakohe Kauri Museum for more information and history about the region’s logging and farming history, as well as social history. Matakana is located just a short distance from Warkworth. Further on, you will find a selection of quiet beaches at the Tawharanui Marine Reserve. Depart from the Bay of Islands and head west, leaving the Pacific Ocean and arriving into the Hokianga and the wild waters of the Tasman. There are some great places to stop and unwind along the way, including the small townships of Omapere and Opononi which both have a charming seaside feel. Your route will take you south to the Waipoua Forest, where you’ll find the mighty Kauri trees – be sure to allow time for a few scenic walks as you pass through the region, which are signposted.

We climb the mighty Southern Alps, where at every turn, spectacular views of the chiselled alpine landscape will take our breath away. We meet our coach at Arthur’s Pass and begin the breathtaking descent down the southern side of the Southern Alps, through thick native beech forests. Our southbound travels take us along striking wild scree-scarred territory with forests of Crimson Rata, Kahikatea, and continue onward.

Following the amazing Otago coastline to Invercargill, you’ll pass through the fishing town of Riverton and Colac Bay before heading north through Tuatapere and onto Manapouri. Upon arrival, you can embark on a day or overnight cruise to Doubtful Sound. You can find the township Te Anau just north of Fiordland National Park. It is also home to the famous Milford Sound. You should stop by Twizel if you are a film buff. It is located just south of Mt Cook, and is the setting for many Lord of the Rings scenes.

The Coromandel Peninsula is a must-see, located approximately 3 hours south from Auckland. The Coromandel is known for being “good for your soul”, with each town offering something different, whether it’s beautiful scenic beaches, biking and hiking trails or local cafes or wineries. It is also possible to arrange inshore and offshore saltwater fishing on fly and conventional gear throughout the summer period. This is a great option if you’re looking for longer stays.

A cruise and late lunch on Lake Wakatipu aboard the TSS Earnslaw is the best way to enjoy the scenery at lake level. The two-hour round trip up Queenstown Hill makes for panoramic views of the lake and Remarkables mountain range. Owen River Lodge is found near the top of South Island New Zealand. The lodge is located in a location that allows guests to access more than 29 rivers within a 90 minute drive.