Nelson Travel Forum

Friends are planning to drive from Nelson to Queenstown in one day, via the west coast. Firstly is this practical and roughly how long a drive is it? Secondly would they be better going via Christchurch,and is this a quicker route?

AA Travel has a website with a lot of information about travelling in New Zealand(travel planner, map, and driving routes and times).
See: www.aatravel.co.nz

happy travels
Jaap

CRAZY!!!!! It's approx a 2 day drive to QT from Nelson. If you drive it in 1 go it would take around 14 - 15 hrs. Passing some spectacular scenery on the way.

Hope this helps

Took us about 9&1/2 hours to drive from Kaikoura to Hokitika. We could have done it in about 6 hours but the scenery was too nice lol. Nelson to Queenstown is 850km and 11&1/2 hours min.

Trying to get somewhere a lot quicker than is recommended is very dangerous, especially in places that are not familiar.

Col & Sue

As incey22 already pointed out: It would be absolutely crazy to even consider this!

The trip is about 900 kilometres, and this means 13 hours pure driving time, idiots and snails on the road not considered.

Although the trip via the West Coast is slightly shorter it takes about the same time to get to Queenstown but it is also more dangerous with the narrow West Coast roads starting to wind up and down from Franz Josef to Haast. The route via Christchurch is easier to drive, and you have two alternatives from Chch, the first on SH 1 to Timaru/Geraldine (faster), the second one via scenic route 72 via Rakaia Gorge/Methven/Geraldine (more scenic, as the name already suggests, and a lot less traffic). Also after Lindis Pass you have alternatives: via Wanaka and the Crown Range (historic Cardrona pub, highest main road in NZ), or via Tarras and Cromwell (wine, fruit; spectacular Kawarau Gorge, wine, bungy jump).

But if you do not plan to stop between Nelson and Queenstown this does probably not matter LOL

Sissi

i think the most crazy part of it is not the long but doable drive (like going across central U.S.) but as others have said, you are going to miss the most majestic and awe inspiring scenery. Tons to pick at from mountain peaks to jagged cliffs meeting the ocean.

We had to drive from Lake Hawea up to Murchison via the west Coast one day last month. We set off at around 7.30am and didn't get to Murchison till around 6pm and that was with just a quick stop at Franz Josef. Nelson to Queenstown is quite a bit further. It's a long drive, you'll be shattered and won't really see anything.