New Zealand South Island
Discussion
dont bother with Greymouth... its.. Grey... after you pass over Arthurs Pass, ( and do stop for a look around ), about 15 miles from Greymouth there is a campervan park called 'Jackson's Retreat'..
Stop there for the night, its really nice, great views, facilites etc...
then the next day drive to Franz Joseph..
I'd spend more time in Queenstown than Wannaka, but then, then beauty of the campervan is you can change your schedule as you see fit.
Also, dont try and do to much, you just cant fit it all in, and it gives you an excuse to go back again in a few years
We had a 'backpacker' van which is a maui, but a few years older and rebranded.. great bits of kit
I've very jealous, you'll have a great time !
Stop there for the night, its really nice, great views, facilites etc...
then the next day drive to Franz Joseph..
I'd spend more time in Queenstown than Wannaka, but then, then beauty of the campervan is you can change your schedule as you see fit.
Also, dont try and do to much, you just cant fit it all in, and it gives you an excuse to go back again in a few years
We had a 'backpacker' van which is a maui, but a few years older and rebranded.. great bits of kit
I've very jealous, you'll have a great time !
We flew into Milford Sound to avoid the long drive. Worth considering, wasn't crazy expensive.
Wanaka. Liked it so much we stayed four days instead of one. Really great. Some of that had to do with the place we stayed
http://www.wanakahomestead.co.nz/lodge_wanaka.html but we really enjoyed it. Make sure you go to the cinema if anything good is on whilst you are there.
Wanaka. Liked it so much we stayed four days instead of one. Really great. Some of that had to do with the place we stayed
http://www.wanakahomestead.co.nz/lodge_wanaka.html but we really enjoyed it. Make sure you go to the cinema if anything good is on whilst you are there.
Nimbus said:
audidoody said:
No Milford Sound trip?
I'm guessing thats what the 2 days in Te Anau are for... 
Some new tracks have recently been opened up at Wanaka.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/lifestyle/4344079...
A friend doen the Motatapu track as part of an insane challenge earlier in the year, dont try it unless your up to it! But theres tons or great tracks round wanaka, also checkout the ski field access roads for good views without the effort!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/lifestyle/4344079...
A friend doen the Motatapu track as part of an insane challenge earlier in the year, dont try it unless your up to it! But theres tons or great tracks round wanaka, also checkout the ski field access roads for good views without the effort!
Just a quick question for those who have motorhomed previously, did you book any sites in advance?
Also, from Fox/Franz Josef to Wanaka is quite a stretch and I'm sure I'll be looking for photo opportunities along the way. Is it worth stopping somewhere between or do I just accept the hike to Wanaka?
Also, from Fox/Franz Josef to Wanaka is quite a stretch and I'm sure I'll be looking for photo opportunities along the way. Is it worth stopping somewhere between or do I just accept the hike to Wanaka?
Edited by Rob13 on Monday 15th November 19:59
Yeah I thought that we should be ok.....
We've refined our trip a bit more so with a good wind looking as follows:
Christchurch 2 nights
Arthurs Pass at Jacksons
Franz Josef
Fox? (Or miss out and do a night elsewhere)
Wanaka 2 nights
Queenstown
Te Anau 2 nights
Queenstown
Mt Cook
Akaroa
Gives us 2 spare nights where we can spend on somewhere we really like. Tekapo is tempting but might spend 3 nights in wanaka, 3 in QT and 3 in Te Anau (inc overnighter at Milford or Doubtful) if we just do one of Franz Josef & Fox.
We've refined our trip a bit more so with a good wind looking as follows:
Christchurch 2 nights
Arthurs Pass at Jacksons
Franz Josef
Fox? (Or miss out and do a night elsewhere)
Wanaka 2 nights
Queenstown
Te Anau 2 nights
Queenstown
Mt Cook
Akaroa
Gives us 2 spare nights where we can spend on somewhere we really like. Tekapo is tempting but might spend 3 nights in wanaka, 3 in QT and 3 in Te Anau (inc overnighter at Milford or Doubtful) if we just do one of Franz Josef & Fox.
The classic photo op is Lake Matheson - it's down the road from Fox Glacier and has really still water that reflects Mt Cook nicely.
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&source...
Going before dawn and watching the sun come up is fantastic.
Not sure if you'd want to do both franz josef and fox glaciers - we were happy with just the latter!
The road from there to Queenstown also had a great view over Lake Hawea - although tbh much of the south island has "stop the car, I'll take a picture" moments every few miles.
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&source...
Going before dawn and watching the sun come up is fantastic.
Not sure if you'd want to do both franz josef and fox glaciers - we were happy with just the latter!
The road from there to Queenstown also had a great view over Lake Hawea - although tbh much of the south island has "stop the car, I'll take a picture" moments every few miles.
Rob13 said:
Tekapo is tempting but might spend 3 nights in wanaka.
You have to drive straight past Lake Tekapo on the way from Mt Cook to Christchurch, so you wont miss it It's a perfect stop off place for a few hours.It may also be easiest to do Akaroa whist staying Christchurch as it's only 1.5hrs away, and so a good day trip.
Edited by Matt.. on Monday 15th November 21:16
sjg said:
The classic photo op is Lake Matheson - it's down the road from Fox Glacier and has really still water that reflects Mt Cook nicely.
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&source...
Going before dawn and watching the sun come up is fantastic.
Here's one from the Mt Cook area...http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&source...
Going before dawn and watching the sun come up is fantastic.
That said, aside from the views and the opportunity to ski-plane onto the Tasman Glacier, there's absolutely nothing around Mt Cook worth staying the night - felt surprisingly back-woods, so we carried-on down to Wanaka!
Edited by havoc on Monday 15th November 21:18
so much to do and so little time to do it!
Its easy to say "oh just one night there" but then its a 3 hour drive to get there so you're looking at just an afternoon really! Lake Matheson sounds like an ace place to get some stunning shots.
I've packed a 9 stop filter to see if I can capture some big country scenery! I'm looking to make a canvas out of one if its that good.
Its easy to say "oh just one night there" but then its a 3 hour drive to get there so you're looking at just an afternoon really! Lake Matheson sounds like an ace place to get some stunning shots.
I've packed a 9 stop filter to see if I can capture some big country scenery! I'm looking to make a canvas out of one if its that good.
havoc said:
That said, aside from the views and the opportunity to ski-plane onto the Tasman Glacier, there's absolutely nothing around Mt Cook worth staying the night - felt surprisingly back-woods, so we carried-on down to Wanaka!
You can do some very good walking trails from Mt Cook The Hooker Valley walk is one that i did, and it really is worth doing.
I'll repeat the warnings though... It will rain, and don't expect to be able to do everything you plan to, and make sure your timings are flexible (especially for the glacier walks).
This is what i saw most of whilst driving through Haast on the way to Franz Josef:
You do have less chance of getting stopped for speeding in a camper though. I have a souvenir speeding ticket
Edited by Matt.. on Monday 15th November 21:26
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