New Zealand - Please help me plan!

[Matt..]

I am struggling to get my route for NZ (south island) sorted out. I am only there for 17days in December, so need to have a proper plan

I have drawn up a few routes, but it's hard as everything is quite spread out around the island... and there aren't enough roads!

My list of places to go looks something like this:
- Christchurch (little option with this... as it's likely to be where i fly in/out of)
- Kaikoura
- Abel Tasman
- Mt Cook
- Te Anau
- Milford Sound
- Queenstown
- Franz Josef Glacier
- Arthurs Pass
- Wanaka

Are there any obvious ones that i am missing? I am mid 20s, will be on my own, and driving in a car stopping off at hostels. Oh and if you can think of a suitable route that would be really helpful!

Thanks everyone!

[loltolhurst]

chk out the routes the backpacker bus go on they go to the best places + if u follow them u'll get laid


http://www.magicbus.co.nz/

http://www.kiwiexperience.com/

[v15ben]

That looks like a good route to me. Maybe add Marlborough Sound too if you have time? I'd also get one of the National Conservation Service maps as they have details of some more out of the way routes and better driving routes apparently.

[grumbledoak]

I don't see Lake Tekapo on that list; so pretty a view that the church has straight, ordinary glass windows. You should be there at the right sort of time for the Lupins.

I'll see if I can get the OH to look at your list; I'd need a map...

[hornetrider]

Your list is good young padowan.

Definitely swim with the literally thousands of dusky dolphins off Kaikoura.

I'd add this: http://www.fiordlandadventure.co.nz/ - power boat ride to Doubtful Sound and Sea Kayaking - we saw dolphins here too.

Queenstown - jetboat overrated imo. Bungy a must and if you have time do the Canyon Swing which we found better than bungy: http://www.canyonswing.co.nz/index.php

If you can afford it do a heli-hike up the glacier, its frickin amazing. Heli ride in and out to a part of the glacier the plebs who walk will never get to see http://www.franzjosefglacier.com/heli-hike.html

Edited by hornetrider on Wednesday 22 July 20:50

[v15ben]

Also when you are down in the south of the South Island check out some of the unsurfaced roads
I'm sure the hire company won't mind
PHer GravelBen lives down that way and in my experience certainly knows the backroads and how to drive them (sideways!)

[Matt..]

This was my first go at a route...
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en...

I think i will change it though to include Arthurs Pass. The biggest unknown in the route is the bit between Abel Tasman National Park, and Franz Josef Glacier. It's about 500km, and a 7hr drive, but there's not a whole lot i want to see there. All i can think of it is a slight detour to Arthurs Pass half way down!

Oh and i am NOT looking for a drinking and partying holiday! It's going to be a bit more civilised than that

hornetrider, a heli hike is definately on the list, and i am quite interested in a heli ride somewhere else too. I was thinking of maybe one around Mt Cook? Only issue is i am on my own, so would need to go when i could join another group as i can't afford a whole heli for myself!

[grumbledoak]

OH's main comment was, apart from that being a pretty good itinerary, to think about the things you want to do in these places. Despite what the kiwi's will tell you, the whole country is not that big. These places are really quite close together; with seventeen days you should have quite a bit of spare time. Queenstown is a better base than Christchurch, and there is a lot to do there, too.

I'd add: be aware, driving standards are poor and tailgating common. And, they have one funny priority rule that catches all Europeans out.

And don't, whatever you do, accept an automatic Nissan Sunny as your rental car.

[loltolhurst]

my fav after queenstown was nelson - v chilled by the beach

[Matt..]

grumbledoak said:

Queenstown is a better base than Christchurch, and there is a lot to do there, too.

I don't really want to be in Christchurch very long... but i can't really avoid it as it's where the plane lands and takes off from!!

[grumbledoak]

Matt.. said:

I don't really want to be in Christchurch very long... but i can't really avoid it as it's where the plane lands and takes off from!!

I wouldn't avoid it, it is the most "English" of New Zealand's cities, well worth a walk around and an evening out. It just isn't as convenient for the rest of your journey.

Sounds like an 'orrible flight, mind, what is your route?

[SPR2]

We did the South Island and started at Blenheim but will give you the route we followed from Christchurch if it will be of any help.
Christchurch, Kirnee, Windwhistle, Rakaia Gorge, Methven, Geraldine, Fairlee, Lake Takepo, Twizel, Cromwell, Queenstown, Wanaka, Haast, Bruce Bay, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef Glacier, Whataroa, Harihari, Hokitika, Greymouth, Murchison, Nelson, Blenheim, Kaikoura,Amberly, Waikuko, and back to Christchurch.

Edited by SPR2 on Wednesday 22 July 23:02

[hornetrider]

Matt.. said:

hornetrider, a heli hike is definately on the list, and i am quite interested in a heli ride somewhere else too. I was thinking of maybe one around Mt Cook? Only issue is i am on my own, so would need to go when i could join another group as i can't afford a whole heli for myself!

We had an uber expensive day that day and also took a scenic plane ride around Mt Cook - it was a small 8 seater job and flew up the glacier. It complemented the heli-ride really well - recommended!!

Doubtful Sound:



Getting buzzed by dolphins on the sound:



The plane (thankfully they didn't let her in the left hand front seat!):



The glacier (top and bottom):




The heli:



I could go on and on and on and...., oh, you get the idea

[havoc]

hornetrider said:

Doubtful Sound:

I have a very similar pic taken in slightly less-clement conditions from a greater height!


OP - Milford Sound is the 'usual one' people go to...I would strongly suggest you do Doubtful Sound instead (as well as?). We did an overnight on a lovely ship run by Real Journeys - crew and food were very good, and we had the sound virtually to ourselves...


Wanaka is a nice place to overnight 'between' places - cheaper than Qu'town, with a very good restaurant roughly on the l-h corner of the lake-front parade as you get to the bottom of the hill. Not sure what to do/see there during summer (skydiving and watersports, probably, same as Q'town).

[hornetrider]

Yeah I'd really recommend Doubtful as its almost deserted. It's only accessible by either sea or by a boat ride across the big lake in combo with a four wheel drive ride over the power station and down to the sound. Consequently it's more off the beaten path than Milford Sound which, though beautiful as well, is much busier.

[v15ben]

Another vote for Doubtful here although the road to Milford is utterly sublime with incredible scenery!

[hornetrider]

v15ben said:

Another vote for Doubtful here although the road to Milford is utterly sublime with incredible scenery!

Not in an '84 non-turbo diesel Hiace it ain't

10mph in 1st at various points!!

[Matt..]

NZ does not do well in offering fun hire cars I think i will end up with a Ford Focus or Toyota Corolla!

[loltolhurst]

Matt.. said:

NZ does not do well in offering fun hire cars I think i will end up with a Ford Focus or Toyota Corolla!

get on the backpacker bus for a diff kind of fun

[ali_kat]

I'll see if I can find the route my Parents did - I think they covered all of it in 14 days...

Bearing in mind they were in their early 70's when they went, they preferred to stop at the hostels & backpackers places, they said the standard was amazing!