BenH
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Abel Tasman ▷
Kahu Kayaks
Did guided day trip.
Well-organised, great guide, perfect balance of exercise, relaxation, wildlife, history, site-seeing and fun. If any improvement needed some of historical stuff could be mixed up a bit, must be tough for guides to repeat every day.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Abel Tasman ▷
The Barn Cabins & Camping
Really helpful and friendly staff, great facilities, big outdoor lounge area.
Camped at edge and woke with sun coming up over sea and start of the park.
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South Island ▷ Wanaka Region ▷ Wanaka Township ▷
Cinema Paradiso
I want one.
I live in one of the greatest cities in the world (Londinium) with amazing cinemas but none as unique as Paradiso. Great films, atmosphere, staff and cookies.
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Te Anau ▷
Kepler Track
bush, river valley walk building to spectacular alpine crossing.
Billed as four days but doable in 2 or 3 depending if you're in a hurry, also can cut time by taking shuttle between Rainbow reach and control gate. I walked whole thing in 1.5, from Rainbow reach to Iris Burn for night then up bright an early for a deserted ridge-crossing with just a couple of Kia for company as the sun rose up the valley. The other direction with night on Luxmore then Iris Burn probably even more rewarding
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South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Fox Glacier ▷
Copland Track
Free natural thermal pools welcoming the end of a steady valley/river walk - billed as 7 hours but easily doable in 5 and less if you're in a hurry.
Huge Indiana Style cable bridge marks end of the journey. Floated in the steaming water watching the stars come out at night and mist rising off the mountains in the morning. If more time people recommended heading up to the hut on the mountain - but could be a day outing if you want two nights at the pools
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South Island ▷ Fiordland ▷ Manapouri ▷
Manapouri Motels and Holiday Park
DON'T EAT HERE.
bring food from the supermarket in Te Anau. Lovely, friendly waitress but moody chef, frozen fush and chups and shop-bought 'Chef Special' apple crumble (topped with cold custard). Buffet counter style buzzer telling you when food is ready as they can't be bothered carrying your $25 plate of frozen fush and chups 5 metres to your seat. Exploiting only restaurant in town status, could do with some healthy competition.
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South Island ▷ Nelson Region ▷ Golden Bay ▷
Heaphy Track
Walked to Heaphy Hut and back from Karamea end car park (good, mostly flat, day walk 8hrs perfectly doable for most with stops, I did in 6 with short stop at hut).
Amazing wild empty beaches littered with driftwood contrasted with wild tropical mountainsides. Huge waves crashing with huge rocks. Lethal seething sea. Beautiful.