New Zealand - Driving Holiday

[rossub]

Did most of our trip in March - it's the equivalent of our September weather.

[peter tdci]

I was there for four weeks from the end of April last year and the weather was great (apart from a biblical deluge in Milford Sound!). However, no-one I spoke to could believe how lucky I had been!

[djc206]

bad company said:

Thanks for all the advice guys. We are planning to tour by car renting accommodation along the way.

We hadn't thought about January being peak season so difficult/ expensive to find accommodation. This has got us thinking about putting the trip back to March or even November/December.

We did ours in January arriving around the 10th I think. Bay of Islands was busy but we had no trouble finding accommodation anywhere. I'm sure if we had gone a couple of months later we would have saved a few quid but we didn't really have a choice. We never got turned away from a restaurant and nothing we went to see felt too busy like UK/US attractions do in peak season.

We were very lucky with the weather, I don't recall ever putting my waterproof jacket on! When go again in 2019 we'll probably go mid Jan and return just before Feb half term here as no chance of getting that as leave.

[mikal83]

djc206 said:

bad company said:

Thanks for all the advice guys. We are planning to tour by car renting accommodation along the way.

We hadn't thought about January being peak season so difficult/ expensive to find accommodation. This has got us thinking about putting the trip back to March or even November/December.

We did ours in January arriving around the 10th I think. Bay of Islands was busy but we had no trouble finding accommodation anywhere. I'm sure if we had gone a couple of months later we would have saved a few quid but we didn't really have a choice. We never got turned away from a restaurant and nothing we went to see felt too busy like UK/US attractions do in peak season.

We were very lucky with the weather, I don't recall ever putting my waterproof jacket on! When go again in 2019 we'll probably go mid Jan and return just before Feb half term here as no chance of getting that as leave.

Love the DOC site as so much info there on weather, walks, camping etc and time of the year. I think we will plan on early feb south island, March North...

[djc206]

mikal83 said:

Love the DOC site as so much info there on weather, walks, camping etc and time of the year. I think we will plan on early feb south island, March North...

I'm just jealous you're going sooner than me. Fantastic country.

[cheddar]

rossub said:

Did most of our trip in March - it's the equivalent of our September weather.

As with many Island countries it varies, 2 years ago Summer ran right through to May 21st, the temperature in central South Island was almost constantly mid 20's or higher whereas last Summer the chill hit in mid March and it's been cold ever since.

[mikal83]

djc206 said:

mikal83 said:

Love the DOC site as so much info there on weather, walks, camping etc and time of the year. I think we will plan on early feb south island, March North...

I'm just jealous you're going sooner than me. Fantastic country.

didn't say what year tho!

[djc206]

mikal83 said:

didn't say what year tho!

Haha you must be as bad as my girlfriend, she's got our holidays organised for the next couple of years. She's even got full itineraries written out ready to book.

[mikal83]

djc206 said:

mikal83 said:

didn't say what year tho!

Haha you must be as bad as my girlfriend, she's got our holidays organised for the next couple of years. She's even got full itineraries written out ready to book.

You better keep us apart as yep that's me. Is she a cancer? Hi I'm Larry..........

Went to SEA 2 years ago. I had the route, hotels (and 2 alternates), for everywhere we stayed. Getting from A - B etc, what the hi lites of each area was, etc and that was for 3 months. Planning on Down the Greece and back via Romania/Berlin next spring and then NZ and back via Japan/Korea 2019!

[djc206]

mikal83 said:

You better keep us apart as yep that's me. Is she a cancer? Hi I'm Larry..........

Went to SEA 2 years ago. I had the route, hotels (and 2 alternates), for everywhere we stayed. Getting from A - B etc, what the hi lites of each area was, etc and that was for 3 months. Planning on Down the Greece and back via Romania/Berlin next spring and then NZ and back via Japan/Korea 2019!

She's a nightmare

Saves me the effort though, I just google 'best bars in ....' and that's me sorted.

[mikal83]

djc206 said:

mikal83 said:

You better keep us apart as yep that's me. Is she a cancer? Hi I'm Larry..........

Went to SEA 2 years ago. I had the route, hotels (and 2 alternates), for everywhere we stayed. Getting from A - B etc, what the hi lites of each area was, etc and that was for 3 months. Planning on Down the Greece and back via Romania/Berlin next spring and then NZ and back via Japan/Korea 2019!

She's a nightmare

Saves me the effort though, I just google 'best bars in ....' and that's me sorted.

Fancy a swap you and my missus would get on fine, "where are we staying", "dunno", "oh..........errrrmmmm, lets stay here then"!

[djc206]

mikal83 said:

Fancy a swap you and my missus would get on fine, "where are we staying", "dunno", "oh..........errrrmmmm, lets stay here then"!

I'm not quite that disorganised

[Greshamst]

Well me and the gf have just booked our flights to Auckland for the beginning of Feb (thanks for the advice on the school holidays during Jan, hadn't realised that)

We've got 4 weeks to drive southwards in a rental car. We'd looked at hiring camper vans but was a lot more expensive than I thought it would have been.

Then, onto Australia to try and find jobs for a year.

[leighroy]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I was hoping to get some advice regarding an upcoming honeymoon trip in November.

We're flying in to Auckland where we'll spend a few days before flying down to Christchurch to collect a motorhome which we have for 12 nights (must be returned to Christchurch). I realise that 12 days isn't all the time in the world and won't permit us to see and do everything on the island. I've pieced together the below as a provisional plan but am slightly concerned with having enough time in some places. Kaikoura is the main concern, it's in the opposite direction to anything else and we won't have much time there...

Day 1 Kaikoura
Day 2 Hanmer Springs
Day 3 Hokitika
Day 4 Franz Josef
Day 5 Franz Josef
Day 6 Queenstown
Day 7 Queenstown
Day 8 Queenstown
Day 9 Milford Sound
Day 10 Milford Sound
Day 11 Tekapo
Day 12 Christchurch

Any advice or suggestions are very welcome.

[hornetrider]

One of the best things we did in NZ was kayaking Doubtful Sound. It was absolutely magical. To get there you take a power boat across from Manipouri to the Hydro Station. From there it's a 4x4 over the top and down to the sound, then you are out on the water and there's noone else there but you and the dolphins. It was simply amazing.

I spent two months on South Island and if I had to recommend one thing that would be it.

That said your itinerary looks pretty good, but if you can I'd advise making room for the above. Maybe lose a day at QT.

Also if you can, helihike Franz.

[cheddar]

leighroy said:

Sorry to revive an old thread but I was hoping to get some advice regarding an upcoming honeymoon trip in November.

We're flying in to Auckland where we'll spend a few days before flying down to Christchurch to collect a motorhome which we have for 12 nights (must be returned to Christchurch). I realise that 12 days isn't all the time in the world and won't permit us to see and do everything on the island. I've pieced together the below as a provisional plan but am slightly concerned with having enough time in some places. Kaikoura is the main concern, it's in the opposite direction to anything else and we won't have much time there...

Day 1 Kaikoura
Day 2 Hanmer Springs
Day 3 Hokitika
Day 4 Franz Josef
Day 5 Franz Josef
Day 6 Queenstown
Day 7 Queenstown
Day 8 Queenstown
Day 9 Milford Sound
Day 10 Milford Sound
Day 11 Tekapo
Day 12 Christchurch

Any advice or suggestions are very welcome.

I can take or leave Kaikoura, Hanmer nice, pools best at night, 2 days in Franz Josef? 1 is probably enough and use the extra day for Wanaka, Queenstown yes yes yes, Milford sound only if the weather's clear, can't see much otherwise, a scenic flight into it is money very well spent, Tekapo yep, Fairlie bakery on your way back to Christchurch, job done, sounds like a great trip.

[vsonix]

One thing to bear in mind is that Queenstown is super-expensive compared to most of the rest of the South Island. It's kinda geared towards the international jetsetting elite. One of the few parts of the country where most of the workers can't afford to live there.

[leighroy]

hornetrider said:

One of the best things we did in NZ was kayaking Doubtful Sound. It was absolutely magical. To get there you take a power boat across from Manipouri to the Hydro Station. From there it's a 4x4 over the top and down to the sound, then you are out on the water and there's noone else there but you and the dolphins. It was simply amazing.

I spent two months on South Island and if I had to recommend one thing that would be it.

That said your itinerary looks pretty good, but if you can I'd advise making room for the above. Maybe lose a day at QT.

Also if you can, helihike Franz.

Thanks for the swift response chaps.

hornetrider - we have planned for a helihike at Franz Josef, it was actually the reason for my initial post as I'm trying to confirm a date. I'll also check out the Doubtful Sound suggestion.

cheddar - I'm glad you approve, in all honesty much of the plan is lifted from you're suggestions in a previous thread and I'll be mindful of your advice re Milford & Kaikoura.

[RobDickinson]

leighroy said:

Day 1 Kaikoura
Day 2 Hanmer Springs
Day 3 Hokitika
Day 4 Franz Josef
Day 5 Franz Josef
Day 6 Queenstown
Day 7 Queenstown
Day 8 Queenstown
Day 9 Milford Sound
Day 10 Milford Sound
Day 11 Tekapo
Day 12 Christchurch

Kaikoura to Hanmer is a very very twisty slow road..

What do you want to do here, see scenery, do adventure sports..?

Milford to tekapo is going to be a long day!

[AbzST64]

I won't add to the great information that's already been given...but as a slight sidenote when i was in Queenstown it was national naked day, if you bungee naked it was free, underwear 50% off...i seen some sights that day i tell you!!

Also go to Fergburger in Queenstown!!!