Travel Answers

South Island

Hi everyone. I intend to do a trip from Christchurch to Queenstown for bout 8 days in the first week of June. I've never travelled on my own (solo-virgin!) and I'm hoping to meet up with people who have done so or intend to travel during the same time as me for a drink or even a day trip. At this stage I have no idea if I'm planning to rent a campervan and drive down (winter roads??) or grab a bus tix and book into a backpackers where ever I end up for the day. Would love to hear some ideas/suggestions.. cheers!

My wife and I will be driving to Te Anau from Queenstown in mid July 2013. Is it best to book a Milford Sound tour ahead of time, or is it better to not book a tour and wait until we are in Te Anau or Queenstown with a better idea of what the weather might be? We have planned one night in Te Anau, and then thought we'd head toward Dunedin. Any suggestions?

Can anyone kindly provide me the information about travelling from Akaroa Harbour to Christchurch Airport. Is it possible to get car rental? Is there any shuttle I can book?

Hi everyone, I am a fairly seasoned kayaker and outdoorsman from Canada and am trying to organize my own kayak experience in Milford sound this March/April. I have looked at a lot of the guided tour offerings for the area but would really prefer to just rent my own equipment as I expect it should be a lot cheaper and provide more freedom to explore as well. Does anyone know of anywhere in the sound its self that will rent equipment only or anyone in Te Anau that will do this?

Thanks!

I'm a Spanish travel winemaker girl, I'm looking for a house in rent for 6 peoples for two months in Blenheim, in the harvest period!

Hi all!

I know New Zealand/Queenstown is stunning almost any time of year. But my partner and I are looking to head down for a photography trip this autumn so our question is simple but important to us: when is the best time to visit Queenstown in the autumn? We really want to see Q'town in the "true autumn" period (when everything's just a riot of orange, red and yellow). We also recognise that the period is fleeting and the timing may shift from year to year. But we just want to maximise our chances of being there when it does happen.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Specific times (eg. "second half of April") would be most appreciated.

For background, this will be our second trip. The last was this past November - and WHAT a gorgeous country.

Thanks so much in advance!

Hi Everyone, I am heading from the US to Auckland April 7th with planned departure of April 15th. I figured with the limited time and research I have done thus far, I should focus on South Island. I was wondering if you all could help me with an itinerary. It seems that there are a god few out there but sifting through everything is getting a bit confusing. I would appreciate any and all suggestions. My friends and I (resident physicians) have busy schedules and no one has taken the lead so far with time quickly approaching! In regards to getting to the South Island, I have found roundtrip tix from Auckland to Christchurch for $120 on jetstar. How reliable is this and how much time should I give myself in between flights? I realize Air New Zealand may be a more reliable route but there is a $300 price difference and we are all on a budget. I appreciate everyone's help in advance!

Has anyone tried Break One Clay Target shooting? I've always wanted to do that and it looks like a great time. Any tips or info much appreciated!

My husband and I will be in the area in March and would like recommendations for vineyards to visit and wines to taste. Thanks!

we will be traving to south island from oct 23 through nov 26, 2013 and would like itinerary suggestions. we are in our late 50's and plan to charter a sailboat in marlborough sound for 5-7 days then kayak out of nelson area for several days and finally we would like to do a trek somewhere for several days. any suggestions would be very welcome.

my husband and i will be traveling from east coast of us to south island oct, 2013. we are in late 50's and wondering if worth extra money for mid-range air new zealand flights. would appreciate hearing from anyone who has taken this trip and suggestions for making it tolerable.

We're spending two weeks taking a leisurely tour around the the southern half of South Island. We've booked return flights to Queenstown. So far we've booked 3 nights in Queenstown then 4 nights in Te Anau & exploring the fiords, glow worm cave etc. We haven't decided exactly on the second week. Our draft itinerary is to drive from Te Anau down to Dunedin (via Stirling or is there a better way?) → Lake Tekapo → Lake Pukaki → Cromwell (& visit wineries) → Queenstown (maybe for 1 night?) & catch the afternoon flight home. Also, can you recommend a good car rental company in Queenstown? Your suggestions on stopovers and/ better options are most appreciated!

hello all I am looking for advice about hiring a car in Otago. My plan is to fly into Queenstown and out of Dunedin - ideally I'd like to hire a car at Queenstown airport and drop it off at Dunedin airport, but if that's going to be very expensive I might decide to drive back to Queenstown and drop the car off there. Any advice? I want to pay the lowest rate possible - am I crazy to expect that from a smaller town? Also, I am arriving the day before the long weekend in March, will that affect prices, do you think? thanks for any input Karin

Hi, my husband, our 1 year old baby and I are going to be in New Zealand for 15 days. The first few days we will be in Aukland with family. We would like to visit Rotorua and maybe the Waitomo Cace (glow worm cave). Afterward we would like to go to the South Island. We have 10 days on the South Island. I was thinking of flying to Queenstown, stay there for 2 days, then visit Fiordland Natinal Park and Mount Cook. Questions: 1a) How many days should we stay at Fiordland, it seems quite big? 1b) I read that driving there from Queenstown is not recommended. There are a lot of buses that go there. But if we take the bus, is it easy to get around there by foot/public transportation? 1c) How much does a scenic flight cost for Fiordland? 2) Is 10 days for those three locations in the South too long? We want to rent a car and stay at hotels/motels. 3) A lot of people posted the Glacier and Franz Joseph but we won't be able to do that with our baby. Any other recommendable places to go to with a baby? We like nature and walking. Though the walks can't be too long, 2-3h is ok. 4) Should we fly back to Aukland from Christchurch or Queenstown? I look forward to your replies. Many thanks, Mel

6 of us are going to NZ end March and three are taking helicopter ride to top of glacier and three of us would like to do the trek preferably not the all day one because of our time schedule. Any suggestions please?

Hi I just ordered the flight and made a skeleton plan. With two kids,My focus is leisure, animal and photography.Here is the Itinerary. And I have follow questions: 1.does it necessary stay at hokitika? Is it hurry from christchurch direct to FOX？if it is possible,I want to stay at tekapo one day more. 2.Is Fox 'shelihike really Good? at cook take Helihike OK? 3.From HongKong to Auckland Arrive at 7:30 AM，book Flight at 10:30am from Auckland to christchurch, OK？ 4.Could anybody give me some recommendation about scenery along the trip? Thanks! Day 1: 2013.2.4 - from HongKong to Auckland Day 2: arrive at CC south newbrighton park sunset Day 3:through arthur's pass to hokitika,settle at hokitika. Goto pancake rockand Glow Worm Dell. Day 4: To FOX town，lake matheson sunset. helihike to glacier. Day 5: to wanaka,eely point track,beacon point .settle wanaka. Day 6 :to queens town，settle queenstown.visit arrowtown,lake hayes,wakatipu heights . Day 7: visit deer park and lake wakatipu. Day 8:visit paradise and lake diamond Day 9: to dunedin through cromwell，take elm wildlife tour Day 10: to tekapo ，visit moeraki boulders and lake pukaki。 Day 11: at tekapo . Day 12: through 72 Road back to CC Day 13: From christchurch Through auckland Go home.

We have never traveled on the left side of the road before. My husband and I decided to drive on our own and I would like some advice from those of you who have driven in New Zealand before. Our itinerary includes driving from Christchurch to Mt. Cook, Mt. Cook to Queenstown, Queenstown to Franz Joseph Glacier, and back, Queenstown to Te Anau, Te Anau to Dunedin, and Dunedin to Arrowtown. Are we best off leaving very early? How often should we stop and take a break? How can we avoid problems with driving on the other side of the road? Karen Kohn

We're on a cruise this coming January to NZ. One of the port will be Akaroa and I have selected 2 possible excursions. The first excursion is a drop off to Christchurch and we're are pretty much on our own to explore for about 5 hrs. The second posibble excursion is described below. Not really knowing this area of Banks Peninsula, is this a worthwhile excursion in-place of exploring Christchurch on our own (not all that interested in sheep shearing only because we will have seen this activity while in Melbourne. Board your motorcoach and set off skirting the many bays and coves bordering historic Akaroa Harbour. The Banks Peninsula was formed by three massive volcanic eruptions occurring millennia ago. The peninsula's two main harbors - Akaroa and Lyttleton - are the exploded remains of shield volcanoes. (The peninsula was named in honor of Sir Joseph Banks, the famed botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage of discovery.) Drive to Manderley Farm, an historic homestead on the shores of Lake Forsyth. The farmhouse, built of handsawn native totara wood, dates to 1876. The 750-acre farm is renowned for both its fine Merino sheep and its champion sheepdogs. Enjoy tea poolside in the landscaped gardens, and then observe a demonstration of herding skills featuring the farm's prized collies. There is also free time to browse the gift shop for New Zealand woolens and crafts. Board your coach and continue through the town of Little River en route to Gebbies Pass and Governors Bay. Enjoy views of Lyttleton Harbour. Pass the Arts-and-Crafts-style Sign of the Kiwi. In 1909, New Zealand MP Harry Ell began pushing construction of a Summit Road through the Port hills. This toll road eventually featured four roadhouses offering food and refreshment. The Sign of the Kiwi is one of the most famous of these roadhouses. Continue to the Sign of the Takahe, the other renowned Ell roadhouse. Built of stone, the Tudor-style inn offers sweeping views of Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps. Your return route travels through Tai Tapu and along the shores of Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth back to Little River. Continue to Hilltop, a scenic overlook perched atop the rim of the caldera forming Akaroa Harbor. Descend to the harbor and your ship.

Im going to have xmas day at a friends in christchurch but after that im not sure what to do. Are there any events on, are all the shops open, are they are any nice walks to do ? Is there anyone else in the same boat who would like to travel with me?

I am planning a 24 day car trip round South Island starting at the beginning of January 2013. I have been advised to book accommodation ahead, at least at the start of the month and have done so. However, we do not want to be stuck to dates too much, at least after the first 7 days and wonder what experience others have had in South Island in January when trying to book somewhere to stay (budget accommodation or mid-price on the whole suits us) c 2 days ahead? Also, our rough itinerary so far is: Day 01 Ferry to Picton Picton (1) Day 02 Blenheim Day 03 Nelson Day 04 Abel Tasman NP ( Day 05 Abel Tasman NP Day 06 Punaikiki Day 07 Punaikiki Day 08 Fox Glacier Day 09 Franz Joseph Glacier Day 10 Franz Joseph Glacier Day 11 Haast/Waukaka Day 12 Wanaka Wanaka - Milford Sound Day 13 Manapauri & Wilmot Pass to Doubtful Sound Day 14 Doubtful Sound Day 15 Invercargill Day 16 Catlins Coast Day 17 Catlins Coast Day 18 Dunedin Day 19 Oamaru Day 20 Spare day Day 21 Spare day Day 22 Kaikura Day 23 Christchurch Day 24 Leave NZ and I wonder what people think of it? We will mainly be looking at scenery and will not want to do long walks. We want to do both Milford and Doubtful Sounds if we can. :We have given ourselves some two-day stays and 2 spare days towards the end to give us some slippage time. We are not keen on staying in Queenstown. Help on the Fox to Dunedin leg of the trip would be particularly helpful as we are fiunding it hard to visualise.

Hi Folks - th eroad to Milford Sound is closed due to a rock fall and it is expected to remain this way for several days - see nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic...

Hello there I would like to travel all over the south island in this november and have no idea to pack how is the weather and would I need any equient or winter coat to visit glacier area? Cheers

We are staying one full day in fox glacier.We are planing as below: 1.Morning: Lake matheson tour (6 am to 10 am ) 2.Afternoon: Fox glacier 30 mins helicopter tour (11 am to 12 pm ) 3.Evening: Franz joseph half day tour from (2 pm to 5 pm) Please tell us above plan is suitable for one day as we have 5 yrs old child with us. If yes, which tour operator is good for above tours. If No,Please suggest other plans. thanks and regards Read more: World Travel Forum

Hi, my family of four (2 children aged 10 and 12), will travel to South Island in early Feb 2013. We would like to have a relax holiday without lots of driving in a day. I have made a preliminary schedule below and please comment if it is fine: ++++++ Feb 1 to 4: Stay in Queenstown to explore the Gondola and luge rides, beautiful views over Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Coronet Peak, The Remarkable and Arrowtown Feb 5: Checkout hotel in Queenstown and drive to Te Anau (2 hours) for old steam train at Kingston and take a short walk into the last part of the Kepler track to the Moturoa Hut. Feb 6: Check out hotel in Te Anau and drive to Milford Sound from 6 a.m. (2 hours) and take Mitre Peak Cruise for the cruise to Milford Sound. Accommodation in Milford Lodge. Joint canoeing through Milford Lodge. Feb 7: Half day mountain tracking in Milford Sound. Feb 8: Check out Milford Lodge, drive to Wanaka (5 hours) for Wanaka Lake and Puzzling World. Accommodation in Wanaka. Feb 9: Check out hotel in Wanaka, drive to Fox Glacier (3 hours) for Lake Matheson and some short walks near Fox Village. Accomodation in Fox Glacier. Feb 10: Join half day tour on Fox Glacier walk, then visit Franz Josef Glacier. Accommodation in Fox Glacier. Feb 11 Check out hotel in Fox Glacier and drive to Wanaka. Accomodation in Wanaka. Feb 12 Check out hotel in Wanaka and drive back to Queenstown for Route 6, Lake Dunstan, Cromwell, Kawarau Gorge, Glenorchy, Gibbstone Valley Wine Caves and tour. Accommodation in Queenstown. Feb 13 Fly back to Auckland. +++++++++++ Thanks a lot! It appears that the accommodation in Fox Glacier is very tight as many people will go there at that time. Once the above schedule is confirmed, I need to book the accommodation in Fox Glacier soonest possible. Thanks again.

Hi fellows, I’ll plan a trip in New Zealand between 28-th of December 2012 and 12-nd of January 2013. After 3-4 days in the Northern Island, we’ll go in the Southern Island for 10 days. We want to rent cars and go around the island. Can you suggest me some places that we shouldn’t miss? How is the trip in Stewart Island? It is enough to see some interesting places for 1 day trip? Any advice will be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your kind replies. Gabriel

Myself and my 18 year old son and 14 year old daughter are flying into Christchurch early December for 16 days. We have booked a campervan for two weeks and then we are flying back out of Christchurch. I have been doing lots of web searching and just trying to figure out the best route around the south island. Maybe thinking of going north first thru Hamner Springs on to Kauikura and then maybe over to Greymouth and then south. Should we go more north to Picton, Blenheim, Nelson etc or just cut straight across and spend more time going further south. Any ideas would be hugely appreciated.........very confused as there seems to be so much stuff and dont wont to miss anything amazing. Btw we arent all that interested in bungeeing etc but we do love the beach and sea animals, cheers,

Hi, i am coming over to christchurch in october time, and will be looking at getting a casual bar job, just to settle in and meet some New people, if anyone knows of any local pub/bars/restaurants etc , that would be fab. Also any other information about christchurch, general living costs, how it compares to other cities. Or simply of any tips and ideas for travelling around that you have! Whats the general life style like? Any feedback would be hugely hugely appreciated, as im only 19, and moving from all my comforts to experience life on the other side of the world! :D thank you x rose

Is it possible to view the sealions and seals in the Catlins during the day in August, or do they go somewhere else in winter? What about the penguins at Nugget Point and Oamaru? cheers

Hi, Me and my wife planing to go Queenstown & Chrischurch in early January 2013. We have planned to spent 10days over there. Our main interest on snow,mountain,lakes,falls.We will land Chrischurch first then go to Queenstown.We liked to hire a car but not sure from where it will be suitable in our journey. Could you please advise us what best interesting places we can visit during our tour.If you also please give us some tips on car hire and accommodation. Regards Ramkrishna

Hi Everyone, I was reading through the forum on the trans alpine train and am yet unable to decide as to what i should be doing. We are a group of 10 adults driving through most of south new zealand in the from the 14-09-12 to 29-09-12. We were planning to drop off our vehicle at Greymouth and taking the train ride back to Christchurch. Want to decide if we should drive our take the train 1) Is the drive safe 2) do you think it will be snowing and will that make the drive more difficult? 3) Well economically it makes more sense for us to drive. Cause even if we get discounted fares of say NZD 100 we will be spending NZD 1000 on the train ride add to that the premium we might have to pay to the rental car company for picking up the car at christchurch and dropping off at greymouth. But is it feasible and whats a better option in mid sept more like end of Sept. Thanks