Westland Tai Poutini National Park

The West Coast is home to some of the world’s most beautiful scenery and the National Parks are a great way to explore this untouched beauty. Tai National Park established in 1960, the centenary of the European settlement of Westland District, and covers 1160 kms2

Westland Tai Poutini National Park, situated on the Western Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Tai Poutini National Park can be explored from Franz Josef or Fox Glacier. It is the proud home of over 60 Glaciers including Franz Josef and Fox Glacier villages. From its highest point in the snow capped mountains of the Southern Alps you are rewarded with a visual feast encompassing, ancient forests, crackling blue glaciers, pristine rivers, lagoons thriving with birds and an immense stretch of untouched coastline. It also remains of gold mining towns along the coast. Tai Poutini is the very popular National Park to visit a bunch of walking tracks, biking trails on mountain, daring ski slopes and an area of fossicking gold.  Between the glaciers and the sea the park is a bird watcher’s paradise. The best way to appreciate Tai Poutini National Park is to take to the air, the Twin Glacier Scenic Flight, takes you to both glaciers for amazing views before you are landing at the head of either Franz Josef or Fox Glacier for a precisely memorable snow landing.

Activities

Camping
Climbing
Hunting
Kayaking and canoeing
Mountain biking
Skiing and ski touring
Walking and tramping

Facilities

Opening hours for the centre are:

• Summer: 8.30am to 6.00pm (late October to mid April)
• Winter: 8.30am to 5.00pm

There are lots more must visit places in New Zealand, visit New Zealand Travel Blog for more information

Photo Credit to : Julian Apse

Water Activities in New Zealand

Thousands of kilometers of coastline, lakes and rivers herald New Zealand as a water sports mecca.
Kayaking, sailing, surfing, diving, fishing – Kiwis love the water and we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to water activities. Indulging your passion for the water is easy to do here in New Zealand and limited only by your imagination.

Kayaking

Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a boat where the paddler faces forward, legs in front, using a double-bladed paddle. Most kayaks have closed decks, although sit-on-top and inflatable kayaks are growing in popularity as well.

White Water Kayaking: is the sport of paddling a kayak on a moving body of water, typically a whitewater river. Whitewater kayaking can range from active, moving water, to demanding, extreme whitewater.

Surf Kayaking: is the sport, technique, and equipment, used in surfing ocean waves with kayaks. Surf kayaking has many similarities to surf board surfing, but with boats designed for use in surf zones, and with a paddle. A number of kayak designs are used, but all are aimed at better using the waves to propel the craft.

Canoeing: is a paddle sport in which you kneel or sit facing forward in an open or closed-decked canoe, and propel yourself with a single-bladed paddle, under your own power. Kayaking is a comparable activity in a kayak which usually has a closed deck and is propelled with a double bladed paddle. In a kayak the paddler typically sits with legs extended forward

Paddleboarding: Stand Up Paddleboarding is one of the the best ways to explore New Zealand’s stunning coastline, lakes and islands.

Improve your balance and co-ordination while you explore the best of what New Zealand's coastline and beaches have to offer. The perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors, stand up paddleboarding is an activity suitable for all ages and abilities.

Sea Kayaking: Sea kayaking tours are a splendid way to enjoy New Zealand's pristine coastline, amazing sounds and rugged fiords. Because we cater for both beginners and advanced paddlers you won't need any previous sea kayaking experience, just a partner to paddle with in a modern double sea kayak.

Sea Kayaking Tour Options:
1. Marlborough Sounds: Sea Kayaking on Queen Charlotte Sound
2. Sea Kayaking on Okarito Lagoon
3. Sea Kayaking tours on Milford Sound
4. Other Sea Kayaking Vacation Options
5. Coromandel Peninsula
6. Bay of Islands
7. Dusky Sound
8. Able Tasman

For more information about New Zealand Tourism info visit New Zealand Travel Blog

Photo Credits - Respectively - Julian-Apse, Adam Bryce, Camilla Stoddart

Kiwi - The National Bird of New Zealand

Have you ever seen Kiwi? Maybe you are confused what is Kiwi, Is it a fruit? Or is it a bird? Yes, we are talking about KIWI Bird. The National Bird of New Zealand . The Kiwi evolved 70 million years ago from a flightless ancestor from the great southern continent of Gondawana. Kiwi represents New Zealand, the word Kiwi came from Maori Language. Kiwi has given his name to New Zealanders and now New Zealanders known as Kiwis in the world over. There are about approx. 70,000 Kiwis left in New Zealand. It can often seen in daylight.

If we talk about Kiwi size, it grows as a size of little chicken. A flightless bird has coarse, bristly, hair like feathers. Brown Kiwis can be found in forested areas in the North Island. Spotted Kiwis are found on offshore islands. Kiwi is a unique bird, it cannot fly. Kiwi loose hair like feathers and little Kiwi has no tail.

Types of Kiwi Birds:

Brown Kiwis

The Little Spotted Kiwi

Great Spotted Kiwi

Activities:

Kiwi Birdlife Park, Queenstown

Hours:

9am to 5pm (Winter)

9am to 6pm (Summer)

Watch out more tourist activities in New Zealand

Photo Credit @ Tourism New Zealand

South Island Cities, Locations & Attractions

South Island is the larger than the North Island, it has Cook Strait to the north, Tasman Sea to the west, Pacific Ocean to the south & east, 23% of New Zealand's 4.5 million inhabitants live in the South Island.

Largest city is Christchurch & know as 'Garden City'.

South Island offers wide varieties of tourist attractions in New Zealand for family vacations & couples for their honeymoon.

Main Cities are:

• Christchurch
• Dunedin
• Fox Glacier
• Franz Josef
• Greymouth
• Hanmer Springs
• Kaikoura
• Lake Tekapo
• Milford Sound
• Mount Cook
• Queenstown
• Wanaka

For more information about places to visit in South Island, do visit Freedom Tourism website

Click here for family holiday packages for South Island, New Zealand

White Heron Sanctuary Tours - Franz Josef - New Zealand

When you plan to visit Franz Josef do not forget to visit beautiful white heron at Waitangi roto Nature Reserve. It is a must visit place at Franz Josef, the best time to visit heron is during summer between September to early March. Enjoy your family holidays with white heron( kotuku), royal spoonbill and little shag, without this your holidays will be nearly incomplete, so don't forget to visit heron and yaa don't forget to click pictures for your memories at Franz Josef glacier visit.

Visit Information about White Heron Sanctuary Tours

Tour time: Around 2.5 Hours
Adults: $110 per person
Child: (12 years and under)$45
Minimum boatload 4 adults and maximum 12 adults
Tour Timings: 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm (For sufficient demand we can organize extra tours)

For more details and travel packages for Franz Josef, visit - FreedomTourism.com

Photo credits to - whiteherontours.co.nz