The South Island is arguably essentially the most lovely place on this planet. If you wish to get off the crushed path, head to Wānaka, which is dwelling to a sequence of lesser-known adventures.
How about heading to a distant valley in Tititea/Mount Aspiring Nationwide Park? Or taking up the best waterfall climb on this planet?
Listed below are 4 of the South Island’s greatest secret adventures.
U-Fly Wānaka
The easiest way to see the Southern Alps is on a scenic flight – its huge magnificence can solely be appreciated with top. The vary is dwelling to greater than 2000 named mountains and roughly 3000 glaciers.
READ MORE:
* Nine reasons to visit Wānaka
* Why nothing beats seeing Wānaka from above
* Climb Wānaka’s via Ferrata for an adrenaline-pumped high
U-Fly Wānaka affords trial flights the place you are taking the controls, permitting you to pilot a airplane into paradise.
The shortest is a 20-minute flight encompassing Lake Wānaka, the place you possibly can get pleasure from intensive mountain vistas and views of the lake. The longest flight is 60 minutes, which covers 130 kilometres and heads into the guts of Mt Aspiring Nationwide Park, getting up shut with the park’s tallest mountain Tititea/Mt Aspiring.
U-Fly Wanaka/Equipped
You don’t want any expertise to take the controls at U-Fly Wānaka.
The very best half is you get to take two buddies totally free. If you happen to break up the associated fee, this makes it one of many best-value scenic flights in New Zealand.
You do not want any expertise flying and you will have an skilled teacher guiding you thru every thing. You are capable of “take the controls as a lot or as little as you want.”
Siberia Expertise
Brook Sabin/Stuff
The view on the best way to Siberia Valley.
Siberia Valley is dwelling to hovering mountains, glacier-fed waterfalls and plush beech forest. It’s one of many jewels in Mt Aspiring Nationwide Park.
There are a number of choices to entry this beautiful slice of New Zealand. The simplest is a day journey with a airplane and jet boat, referred to as the Siberia Expertise. It begins within the village of Makarora, just below an hour’s drive from Wānaka.
You will take a shiny yellow airplane – a Cessna 185 Skywagon – which is affectionally recognized round city as ‘Buttercup’. It is specifically designed to hold 5 adults into and out of tough airstrips.
The brief however spectacular flight contains views of glaciated valleys framed by snowy peaks – you may even see an emerald lake nestled among the many mountains.
Brook Sabin/Stuff
You can begin your exploration in Siberia Valley with a fast journey to a surprising waterfall.
Buttercup then lands on a grass strip in the midst of Siberia Valley, surrounded by mountains. You can begin with a fast journey to a waterfall, earlier than making the journey via a fascinating beech forest in the direction of the Wilkin River.
Just a few hours later, if you attain the river, you may meet a jet boat for a high-speed return to Makarora.
If you happen to’re after a less expensive possibility and have a number of days to spare, you possibly can stroll in by way of the 4 to five-day Gillespie Move Circuit. This includes crossing the Makarora River and comes with a warning from DOC that river crossings are harmful, and lives have been misplaced on this one.
Brook Sabin/Stuff
New Zealand’s model of Siberia is an historic valley surrounded by snow-covered mountains. And getting there’s one mighty journey (video printed November 2020).
A a lot safer and really useful different is to make the crossing by jet boat, ranging from simply $25.
Wildwire
If you happen to love getting your coronary heart racing, Wildwire must be prime of your Wānaka bucket listing. It is dwelling to the world’s highest waterfall cable climb.
You will be ascending a “by way of ferrata”, a Latin time period roughly translated to “iron method”. These paths have been used for lots of of years around the globe – it is primarily a climbing system utilizing metallic rails, just like a ladder bolted to the rock. You are clipped on for security; climbers connect themselves to a cable alongside the route.
SUPPLIED
You don’t want any climbing expertise to offer Wildwire a go – simply the power to climb a ladder.
You might have the selection of three climbs. The primary and best is “Go Wild” – you may discover this gorgeous simple in case you can climb up a ladder and stroll for 2 hours.
The second is a mid-level climb that takes you 250 metres from the underside. The tallest – referred to as ‘Lord of the Rungs’ – includes a climb up a 60m waterfall and covers 450m in complete. For all that effort – a full half day – you may be rewarded with a helicopter flight again to the underside!
The corporate has additionally began a brand new journey referred to as the Twin Falls Canyon. You will first fly to the highest of the canyon in a helicopter earlier than studying to abseil down waterfalls – as much as 20 in complete. You will achieve confidence on the smaller ones, earlier than getting a chance to expertise a 60m drop.
Whether or not you select to climb up, or abseil down, it’s an journey you may always remember.
New Zealand’s coolest pizzeria
Cardrona/Equipped
Captain’s Pizzeria is on the finish of a ski run.
Pizzas are really easy to order in 2022. Most of us do it over an app, and it arrives at our door. However New Zealand’s most scenic pizzeria is somewhat completely different – you have to work on your lunch.
Welcome to Captain’s Pizzeria, perched on the facet of Cardrona Alpine Resort. The sprawling snow park has 40 kilometres of trails, many with distinctive views of the southern alps or valleys under.
However there is a huge catch with this pizzeria. The one option to get there’s by snowboarding or snowboarding down an intermediate-level path.
To not fear in case you’re simply beginning and do not know ski; Cardrona is a wonderful place to study on the simpler trails. After gaining somewhat confidence, you possibly can take ‘Freeway 89’ right down to the pizzeria for lunch. You will not solely expertise some nice meals, but additionally among the best restaurant views in New Zealand.
Extra info:
Getting there:
Wānaka is a one-hour drive from Queenstown. Sounds Air operates common flights from Christchurch to Wānaka. See: soundsair.com
Staying there: Tin Tub Luxurious Lodge has five-star lodging accessible from $350 an evening. See: tintubwanaka.co.nz.
Enjoying there:
U-Fly Wānaka trial flights from $278. See: u-flywanaka.co.nz
The Siberian Expertise features a 25-minute flight, three-hour stroll, and 30-minute jet boat. It departs from Makarora, 50 minutes north of Wānaka. Costs begin from $475 per grownup and $395 per little one. See: siberiaexperience.co.nz
Jet boat crossings for the Gillespie Move Circuit begin from $25. See: wilkinriverjets.co.nz
Wildwire journeys from $199. See: wildwire.co.nz
Carbon footprint: Flying generates carbon emissions. To cut back your impression, contemplate different methods of travelling, amalgamate your journeys, and when it is advisable to fly, contemplate offsetting emissions. To offset your carbon emissions, head to airnewzealand.co.nz/sustainability-customer-carbon-offset.
Staying secure: New Zealand is beneath Covid-19 restrictions. Observe the directions at covid19.govt.nz.
This story was produced as part of an editorial partnership with Tourism New Zealand. Read more about our partnership content here.
