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New Zealand, South Island - tips? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Tick
- Start date
Ursa M
Footballguy
We did that exact vacation five years ago, only we did three and a half weeks and did the north island too.
We went counter-clockwise around the island, starting at the ferry port and obviously ending there too. Two weeks was just right to see the entire island.
If you want to terrify the life out of your wife, take the narrow winding road over the mountain past Dunedin. Do it as night falls and the rain starts. She'll love you for it.
Visit the Frans Josef glacier on the west side of the island.
If you're into dangerous sports, Queenstown is probably the world capital. Bunjee jumping and all manner of lunacy there and the surrounding area.
Milford Sound is down in the south west, it's a longish side trip there and back but well worth it. The parrots at the entrance to the tunnel will try to rip all the rubber off your car door seals.
Christchurch is a pretty city but we were there before the earthquake so I'm not so sure about that now.
Most of Lord of the Rings was filmed on south island and the map book I had showed all the main locations. Hema New Zealand road atlas.
There's a million places to stop and admire the most beautiful scenery on Earth.
Last edited by a moderator:
Tick
Footballguy
We're back. We did similar stuff to this:
Day 1: Christchurch, just arrived and went to sleep in a hotel. Inlaws arrived late.
Day 2: Christchurch to Kaikura. Picked up the RV, got groceries, drove to Kaikura and checked in at a Holiday Park. Got fish-n-chips at some spot in Kaikura. All subsequent nights at holiday parks.
Day 3: Kaikura to Picton. Did a great hike at Kaikura, saw some fur seals up close, scrambled on lots of rocks. Shopped again in Picton.
Day 4: Picton to Kaiteriteri. Fishing charter at Picton, caught a shag bird, barracuda, and shark along with normal fish. Walked on beach at Kaiteriteri and ate the fish we had caught.
Day 5: Kaiteriteri. Took a water taxi from Kaiteriteri to a spot in Abel Tasman park, did a hike there, were the only people on a beach we had to cross a cold stream to reach, water taxi back.
Day 6: Kaiteriteri to Marahau to Greymouth. Went kayaking from Marahau to the Split Apple Rock and other spots.
Day 7: Greymouth to Haast. Spelunked a glow worm cave, tubed out of it. Saw Pancake Rocks area (most spectacular thing I've ever seen, I'd say), ate at some random stream along the way while the kids waded around.
Day 8: Haast to Queenstown. Hiked as far as we could at Franz Josef Glacier, saw a kiwi sanctuary, shopped at tourist part of Arrowtown.
Day 9: Queenstown. Rented mountain bikes with my 9yo and biked their bike park, which was around 1600 vertical feet with a gondola - great stuff. Rafted some ridiculous river after a bus ride on the insane Skippers Canyon road.
Day 10: Queenstown. Horseback riding through some LOTR/Wolverine/Prince Caspian movie locations, hiked halfway up the ski area/bike park mountain.
Day 11: Queenstown to Christchurch. Not much fun - stopped for some scenery, but mainly heading for the plane.
Day 12/13: Christchurch. Return RV, catch various flights out.
I'd say it was the best vacation I've ever been on, and I'm not sure how another one is ever going to top it. For one thing, I can't see spending that much money on another vacation in my life. Every activity for five people costs a buttload.
