The Top Half
The natural thermal pools at Hanmer Springs have built its reputation as a health spa. However Hanmer Springs also offers jetboating, bungy jumping and white water rafting, to name just a few activities.
Thanks to deep sea trenches just off the coast of Kaikoura , the marine wildlife of the area is amazingly diverse. Whales, seals, dolphins, pelagic birds and many other varieties can be viewed by sea or by air. Kaikoura is also known for its namesake, the local lobster (koura).
In the heart of the Marlborough wine region, Blenheim is home to excellent wines, methode champenoise, liqueurs and even local beers. Nearby is Picton, the gateway to the Queen Charlotte Sound .
There is so much to see around here that it should not be hurried – the birdlife and lighthouse at Farewell Spit, the moa bones in the Ngarua caves, walking tracks and much more.
Explore the spectacular Abel Tasman National Park by kayak or boat. You can choose to disembark in one bay and stroll part of the Abel Tasman track, rejoining the boat in another bay.
Don't miss the World of Wearable Art and Collectible Cars Museum, nor the Hoglund Art Glass gallery, where you can make your own beads.
Coaltown Museum in Westport has an excellent display on the Denniston Incline (an engineering feat once known as the eighth wonder of the world) and the now-abandoned mining town. Nearby are a seal colony at Cape Foulwind and an awesome caves system at Charleston .
As you continue down the coast the dramatic seascapes will show you why the West Coast region is known for its rugged beauty. At Punakaiki a series of boardwalks takes you out among the pancake rocks. In Greymouth, pan for gold at Shantytown or see the jade carvers at work. Take the Tranz Alpine train across the Southern Alps or drive yourself along a similar route over soaring viaducts to the broad Canterbury Plains. Alternatively you can combine this tour with the Bottom Half to create a full circuit of the South Island .
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