The Walker Wellness Retreat saw seven women & two men travel to NZ for a “Best of Both Island’s” tour, led by Wellness Coach Amy Walker. The majority of the group hailed from the US with newcomers from Russia & Germany. Constance, their Road Trip guide was the assigned driver.
After a welcome dinner at Oyster and Chop on Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, the group took a ferry across the Hauraki Gulf the following day, to hike to the summit (270mtrs – confirm) of NZ’s youngest volcano, Rangitoto Island. One of the hikers felt like they had stepped back in time to a type of Jurassic World.
The next day of their stay in Auckland saw the group take an early morning vehicle ferry across to Waiheke Island. Their first port of call was Awaroa, an organic winery where they thoroughly enjoyed a private wine tasting experience. They also visited Obsidian and Casita Miro wineries plus lunched at the incredible Three Seven Two on Onetangi Beach then dined back on Auckland’s waterfront at the divine White & Wong.
Then it was time for the group to head out of the city to Rotorua, via Hobbiton. Even those who had not seen The Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit movies appreciated the detail and workmanship on this unique movie set, particularly in the newly built attraction of two Hobbit holes.
Further exploring Rotorua, the group took another nature hike through the Waimangu Volcanic Valley which included a boat cruise on Lake Rotomahana to learn more about the Mt Tarawera eruption that devastated the area in the 1800’s.
After a lovely lunch at Atticus Finch in the heart of Rotorua’s Eat Street, the group took some time out to watch a televised broadcast of the Superbowl. This was followed in the evening by a wonderful interactive cultural show and Maori-fusion meal at Te Pa Tu, where John, one of our group was invited to be our Rangitira or Chief.
An early morning start saw the group travel across to Waitomo to see glow-worms in a private tour of the Footwhistle Cave. After lunch in an old Railway Station at Te Kuiti the group headed back to Auckland via a stop at Pokeno to sample NZ’s famous TipTop ice cream before flying to the South Island.
The run of glorious weather continued so the group had a free day to explore Queenstown at their leisure. Some chose to walk along the lakefront from their hotel into town via the Botanic Gardens to shop &/or visit the bird park, while others chose more adrenaline, thrill-seeking activities like doing the highest Bungy jump in NZ at Ben Nevis or taking a jet boat ride on the Shotover River.
The oldest member of the group, Marianne (69) and the youngest member, Lucia (34), accompanied by Constance their guide; decided to tick an item off their respective bucket lists and sky dive. This saw them plummet to the earth from 9,000ft…what a way to spend Valentine’s Day!
That evening the group took a cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the TSS Earnslaw, an historic Steamship to Walter Peak Station for a BBQ dinner and farm show.
The following day was a wet one but that did not deter the group from taking a drive out along the northern arm of the lake to Glenorchy. After a quick coffee stop the group drove a little further to the start of the Routeburn Track, one of the spectacular great walks of NZ. Despite the weather, all the participants thoroughly enjoyed this 1.5-2.0hr nature hike to the Bridal Veil Falls in such breath-taking mystical conditions.
Thankfully the cloud cleared for that evenings meal atop Bob’s Peak, where the group took a ride on the Skyline Gondola up to the Stratosphere Restaurant.
It was another early start the next morning as the group set off on a day trip to Wanaka via the Kawarau Gorge and Cromwell. In the morning Eco Wanaka took them on a short boat ride across the lake to the small island of Mou Waho (check spelling) for a nature hike and to plant a native tree.
This was topped off in the afternoon by a wine tour of the region with lunch at the Stoaker Room and tastings at the Nanny Goat & Maori Pt wineries and the Cardrona Distillery before dinner at the Cardrona Hotel.
Then the group did a quick drive by of Arrowtown on their return to Queenstown before bidding Constance farewell.
For their last full day in Queenstown many of the group were going to be visiting Milford Sound before their onward travel home.
