judilie

We are going to the South Island in February and are planning to do some hiking, cycling, and kayaking for a few hours or half day each; no overnight, multiday adventures. I would appreciate advice about the best choices among these three activities in each place, because we will typically only have time for one or two of them, and also the don’t-miss opportunities for each activity. We do each activity at an easy-to-moderate level. For bicycling, we prefer sealed roads if possible; no mountain biking. If there are places that are better for these activities than the ones I list, please let me know. Would appreciate recommendations of outfitters or rentals for biking and kayaking if you have them. Thanks in advance for your help!

PICTON
Hike Queen Charlotte Track
Kayak Queen Charlotte Sound or Marlborough Sounds

NELSON
Bike part of Tasman Great Taste Trail

MARAHAU
Hike and/or kayak in Abel Tasman N.P.

OKARITO AREA
Kayak at Okartio Lagoon or at Lake Mapourika (don’t think we’ll have time for both)

LAKE MATHESON
Glacier walk

MT. ASPIRING N.P.
Blue Pools Walk, others?

WANAKA (3 nights, so time for several several things)
Hike Rob Roy Glacier
Bike along Lake Wanaka

TE ANAU/MILFORD
Hike and kayak in Milford area

QUEENSTOWN
Bike ride from Arrowtown (possibly to Chard Farm Winery)
Routeburn Track (or start from somewhere else?)

Melnq8

I don't bike or kayak, but I'm a keen hiker, so here's my two cents:

Picton -

My favorite section of the QCT is from Ship Cove to Furneaux. You'll have to take a water taxi to Ship Cove, walk to Furneaux, and take a water taxi back to Picton.

You'll need the whole day for this, but the walk takes 4-5 hours. If you can catch the mail boat on the way back, you'll get the bonus of seeing quite a bit of the sounds on your return.

In the summer months, you cannot bike between Ship Cove and Kenepuru Saddle - it's closed to bikers (Dec-Feb).

Marahau -

Since you're right there at Marahau, just walk the Abel Tasman Track in as far as you want and then walk back, or walk in and take a water taxi back.

My favorite part of Abel Tasman is the section between Medlands and Anchorage, a stretch of about 11 km. You take a water taxi from Kaiteriteri (not too far from Marahau via car) and also get returned to Kaiteriteri.

Lake Matheson -

There's a walk around the lake, but if you want a glacier walk, you'll need to be in Fox or Franz Josef. Good walks to both terminal faces, no need for a tour, unless you want to walk ON a glacier.

You can do both the Lake Matheson Walk and a walk to either glacier in a day (assuming you have transport between the two).

Mt Aspiring - the walk to the Blue Pools is a short one. It's easily done during the drive from the glaciers to Wanaka. There are other falls too, they're just closer to the road.

There are many fabulous walks within Mt Aspiring, accessed from Wanaka (Rob Roy is but one) and from Glenorchy.

I suggest you try to fit in the walk to Mt Iron while you're in Wanaka - beautiful on a clear day - views for miles. Easy to do in a few hours.

Milford - there are no hikes in Milford. There's just the ferry terminal and a short path near the waterfront.

There are however, many tracks accessed from Milford Road. The Routeburn is one of them. The hike to Key Summit is an excellent option. It'll take a few hours.

There are loads of hikes from Te Anau. I like the Kepler Track, particularly the section from Rainbow Reach to Moturau Hut and return. It gently winds through beech forest alongside the Waiau River - just under eight miles return.

Queenstown - The Routeburn Track can also be accessed from Glenorchy. You can reach Glenorchy in about 40 minutes, then it's another 20 or so minutes to the start of the track. You can walk to the first hut and return in about 3 hours.

I also like the Crichton Loop accessed from near Queenstown, on the road to Glenorchy.

judilie

Thanks, Melnq8. We will have a (rental)
car.

judilie

Hoping to hear from kayakers and bicyclers about the best options for those activities.

tasmangirl

You are coming to New Zealand - outdoor wilderness paradise! Whatever you chose will be great so no need to angst so much about the perfect choice.
Go with the flow of serendipitous travel.
Perhaps post over on TA where there maybe more responses?

snowskifallscreek

Southern cost road is best for Thirl of Cycling