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sandytemp22
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Franz Josef ▷
Franz Josef Glacier Guides
We did the new Ice Explorer heli hike.
This was an awesome experience and really good value for money. It included a helicopter flight onto the ice and then a guided walk around the glacier. Spectacular views, well worth doing
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South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Hanmer Springs ▷
Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa
We did this on our way from Greymouth to Christchurch.
It was really good relaxing in the various pools of different temperatures. It took an extra two hours to get back to Christchurch this way but it was worth it.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Punakaiki ▷
Punakaiki Horse Treks
I have done a few horse treks but this would have to be the best of them.
Neil set us up with just the right horses for each of our abilities and then we went on a tour that covered beaches, river crossings, rainforest and some amazing limestone escarpments. It is near the Pancake Rocks so you can do both at the same time. Trip was a good value price as well.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Greymouth ▷
Wild West Adventure Company
We did a grade 3 white water kayaking adventure with these guys.
The boats were inflatable 2 person kayaks that proved to be quite stable compared to what I was expecting. They took us on a 4x4 tour into the mountains and then we kayaked back down the river. Awesome country and an amazing canyon that you go through with pale blue water. The rapids were really good fun and I enjoyed having to be responsible for steering our own kayak. The guide was with us all the time and we stopped often to look at the next section of river so we could see which way we wanted to go. There were only four people on our tour so we got an awesome experience.
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South Island ▷ Queenstown Region ▷ Queenstown Township ▷
TSS Earnslaw Cruise
We had a wonderful day on this old paddle steamer and at the sheep station.
The boat leaves from Queenstown and takes you over to the farm station where we watched the sheep dogs rounding up the sheep.
We could also pat the sheep and some people had a go at trying to shear one! Well worth the day.
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Greymouth ▷
Shantytown Heritage Park
We ended up staying in Greymouth for 5 days!
as the area had so much interesting stuff to do and this was one of them. Its an 1860's gold rush town made up from buildings rescued from ghost towns on the West Coast. There is steam train called the Climax which takes you on a shortish ride through the rainforest to an early sawmill experience. I enjoyed the gold panning and even found some gold at the area where you dig for yourself. This was a laid back experience where yo could stop and talk to the locals who staffed it, they were enthusiasts and many had their families as pioneers in the area so we got to hear the history first hand so to speak. What those early gold miners had to put up with was amazing. Well worth half a day and good value for money. The whole area has plenty to do and see that doesnt cost anything as well and the locals were very helpful in telling how to get to the various places. You can cook your dinner on a bonfire on the beach as well. It was great.