South Island Travel Forum

Hi all, I am wondering which time of the day would it be ideal for the milford sound cruise. I am targetting 9am cruise due to being cheapest and no traffic or parking worries. But I am not sure if the sun's altitude might affect photography and view. Can you please advise? Thanks!

We're planning to do an overnight cruise on Milford Sound. What do we do with our luggage and car? Is there secure parking at Milford Sound? Would appreciate suggestions as we would not normally leave car and luggage just parked in a public car park.

Hi,

As we will be in Christchurch for 2 weeks,
we are thinking of getting a prepaid card from Vodafone
to call back home (Singapore), since my husband will need
to communicate to his clients frequently.

Can we get this prepaid card easily from the Christchurch Intl Airport?
Can the locations of the topping-up of value be easily found?

Thanks,
Melissa.

Hi,

Would like to have some advices/recommendations:

Due to our work commitment
we can only have our honeymoon either in Summer Jan or Winter July.

Besides the rates difference (accommodation/vehicle rental etc) in both season, are there any other issues we should keep a lookout for?

Cheers!

Well we are less than three weeks away from starting our long planned holiday to New Zealand and I have been following the weather reports religiously. My dilemma is that the temperatures still seem very cool (compared to Brisbane weather). My thoughts are to pack mainly jeans and long pants with layers of t-shirts, jumpers and jackets, with maybe one or two shorts thrown in. Also, a waterproof jacket.
Am I on the right track? Do we need thermals - I get cold in Brisbane in winter weather with temperatures higher than I am seeing here. (When my son travelled to South Island in July, he advised that it didn't feel as cold as the temperatures indicated.)
Your advice would be welcomed. Leigh

We will be in Queenstown in late Nov. We often enjoy visiting weekend markets whenever they are available.

Is there any Sunday oe weekend market in Queenstown or Arrowtown that is worth exploring? We will be in Queenstown on the last Sat and Sunday of Nov 2009.

We heard there is a nice weekend market in Christchurch at the Art Centre/Cathedral - unfortunately we will not be there on a weekend.

Thanks.

Low

Hi
Does NZ - North and South Island. participate in daylight savings time? If so, when does it start?
Thanks

Currently planing my first trip to NZ from 2.12.09 to 11.12.09. Unfortunately have only 10 days in beautiful NZ and trying to plan a road trip which enables to see hopefully the best of the South island and yet not rush around too much.

This is my plan and I got the road distances and estimated travelling time (BTW is it accurate?) from a website.

Day 1 ; Christchurch to Lake Tekapo (overnight in lake Tekapo) 226 km 2:45 h
Day 2: Lake Tekapo to Queenstown (overnight in Queenstown)258 km 3:15h
Day 3: Queenstown (Visit to Milford sound, overnight in Queenstown)
Day 4: Queenstown (overnight in Queenstown)
Day 5 : Queenstown (overnight in Queenstown)
Day 6: Fox Glacier (overnight in Fox glacier) 404 km 5:00 h
Day 7: Fox Glacier (overnight in Fox glacier)
Day 8: Christchurch (overnight in Christchurch) 395 km 5:30 h
Day 9: Christchurch (overnight in Christchurch)
Day 10: Christchurch (fly home)

I would appreciate all tips, comments or suggested improvement to my plan thanks to all.

I want to book an apartment at Hotel The Point but I have been told that there are works around. Is that right ?

thank you for your answer
Tille
in Belgium

Hi,

Will be in Queenstown with family for 5 days in Late Nove 2009. Quite keen to fish at the lake but the fishing tours are really expensive. We will be bring our own fishing rods and equipments. If we get a fishing license, wonder if fishing off the shore of Lake Wakatipu is permitted? and whether anyone has experience catching any fish just fishing from the shore of the lake.

Thanks

Low

Hello! Thank you for all the advice on NZ! Sooo helpful! After our penguin tour, we will have 3-4 hours left. Debating whether to walk around Dunedin or Port Chalmers, where our cruise ship will be docked. Any suggestions? Thanks,Diane

Hello! I so appreciate all the info offered in this forum! We are from the US traveling to NZ for the first time and want to do as many excursions on our own and not via the cruise ship's excursions. Where do we board a Metro in Lyttelton Harbour to get to Christchurch city center? Are the Botanic Gardens too large to walk on our own or can we walk though them? Thank you so much for your advice.

Hi everyone
We'd like to camp on the QC Track but can't seem to find much info or photos of campsites, private and DOC. We will be on the track next month (OCT) and would love to hear from anyone who has camped along the way.
Thanks,
Moprad

Hi there, just trying to decide on where to stay for 5 nights in Nelson next January.
Has anyone stayed or has anyone got any thoughts on the 3 apartments that I have been looking at.
SPINNAKER apartment in Latitude 41 Building
MAIOLICA apartment in Latitude 41 building
The Town House apartment Britannia Heights
Wondering if any of them suffer from traffic or bar noise.
Any opinions would be appreciated. Many thanks, Denise

HI,
We are a family of 5(2adults/3 children aged 10,13,14) planning to tbe in Queen Charlotte Sound in early Dec. Looking to stay in one of the lodges in the sound for 3 nights and explore the Queen Charlotte track around the accomodation.
Considering Endeavour Resort and Fishing Lodge. NOt much info on the net except their Website.

Wonder if anyone has experience at the Resort or if they have other family self contained units (moderate price range NZ$200-300)to recommend for the family.

Thanks.

Low
(Singapore)

I am finally down to the last of my planning and now onto accommodation. Hoping someone can advise me on the areas best to stay while in Christchurch. Please advise if you can an area that is accessible to everything that we would wish to see, on foot, or advise whether driving into Christchurch from an outer suburb is easy enough to do, and parking availability? I also noticed a place in my searching that is on the beach - is this close to Christchurch, as it doesnt look too far out from my map? Unfortunately, my map only shows bits of everything but not the whole picture so it is unclear where I am. Any suggestions appreciated.
Also, any suggestions for Dunedin would be appreciated.
Thanks

Hi my name is Dusan. I'm looking for one person to share this van from 13.11.09 Christchurch - 25.11.09 Christchurch for travel throughout South New Zealand on a budget.
Please email me if you are interested for more details.
Thanks Dusan

Hi,

I am going to the Franz Gosef Glacier. As I am bringing my aged parents, I don't think I will sign up for the ice walks. Probably do one of the short DIY walks from the car parks. Read about the Sentinel Rock Walk and Glacier Valley Walk. Pardon me for my ignorance, but can you feel and touch the ice along these walks?

Also, plan to take a heli ride. Can I check if Alpine Adventure is ok? As compared to New Zealand Helicopter Scenic Flights, they are NZ$30 cheaper per pax for the same flight. Anyone has any knowledge or reviews on these 2 companies? Any other realiable heli cos to recommend?

Thanks!

Hi,
We have planned a 21 day itinery in the South Island, but because we have cancelled one of our planned trips, find that we now have an additional night to spend somewhere between Fox Glacier and Marahau. Unforunately this is as flexible as I can be now as accommodation has been booked. We were planning to spend one night in Fox and do the helihike, the next night in Greymouth, drive up to Wesport and then via Buller Gorge to Marahau (via Nelson). Someone suggested stopping at Nelson, but I was wondering whether St Arnauds is okay, and from here we can do a walk also (we like doing bushwalking).
Can anyone suggest anything else, or does this sound a reasonable suggestion?
Thanks
Leigh

Hi!

Im going to New Zealand in April next year and I will only have 2 days to spend in Christchurch. What attractions would be best to see in my limited time?

Thanks!!!

Hi there,

My best friend and I are doing the Milford Sound trek on November 28th and I am wondering if anyone can tell me what to bring that maybe they didn't think of or wished they'd had, essentials etc. Are the bags they have for hire good enough or do you wish you'd bought your own?

I also have bought some clothes though want to make sure I have got the right type of stuff... I have 2 t-shirts, singlet, a polofleece jumper, a jacket(water & wind proof etc), some long johns, wind & water proof pants and shorts all from Kathmandu is this enough warmth?

thanking you in advance!

What's the normal water temp in the Nelson area in the NZ summer?

Kind regards
Frederik

Hi hi,

can any one help me with the driving route from the Westland National Park to Lake Tekapo? Is there a road to connect these two places? I can't quite figure that out on the maps that are available to me right now. Reason being, I intend to cover these places in the following sequence:

1) Christchurch (across Arthur's Pass)
2) Glaciers (along highway number 6)--> can we bash through to lake tekapo area from here?
3) Lake Tekapo/ Mt Cook (down highway 8 towards arrowtown)
4) Queenstown (intend to fly off from here)

Thanks.

we are travelling to NZ arriving christchurch13th August late nite and then flying out 18th early morning. We want to spend most time in queenstown but the airfare being almost double we are flying in and out of christchurch. Is it a east drive from christchurch to queenstown and back??/

I knew this questions has been asked many times in this forum, but my question is slightly different.

We will be arriving Christchurch on 13Jul2009 at 12:40 afternoon and will be leaving Christchurch on 19Jul2009 at 6:00am in the morning by plane.

We are two adults and two little children of 7year and 4year.

We will be hiring a motorhome for all the time (13Jul to 19Jul).

There are three things we definitely wanted to do:

Tram in Christchuch,
Antarctica in Christchurch
Lake Tekapo

Now our question is:

With two littlies, only six days and myself being a nature photographer, is it possible to go to Queenstown. We are definitely after beautifull scenery and kids activities. We are not looking for advanture like bungy-jump, jet boat or scenic flight.

We love waterfalls, beautifull scenery, snow, lakes and streams.

So please help us how to plan our journey, where to stay, what to see and what routes to take for taking beautiful photos.

Thanks in advance

We're thinking of staying in Sumner while visiting Christchurch. We found a very nice apt w/ a view and since we'll have a car, we thought it would be nice to stay in Sumner and drive into town if it strike our fancy. Is the Sumner road to and from the city center easy to drive or is the traffic too much to make it a worthwhile place for lodging? On the map there seems to be but one road in and out. Any suggestions? Thanks

Hello, Is there anyone can tell me if it is a good idea to drive to Milford Sound from Queenstown and back in one day? How is driving condition in mid June?

Thanks.

Hey there,

I would like to visit NZ during august.
I'd really like to hike camp and do all sorts of activities besides snowboarding. What are the possibilities? Where can I find useful information (Good books, Web sites and etc)?

Thanks a lot.

Tzachi

Hi all.
As I mentioned at the other post, I'm planning to go to South Island either end of this year or early month next year

Now, the confusing part is that I have not decided whether I should join a group tour or I should just drive my self. Well, according to Kakapo, on the other post, she mentioned it depends on several issues such as age, my mobility, etc.

I'm currently 27 and will be traveling just with my girlfriend. The problem is I only can spend about 7 to 8 days, because I have to come back to work. Can somebody here help me to decide.

Thanks

Regards,
Suwandy

I am hoping someone can advise me, who has visited both Doubtful and Milford Sound. We are wanting to visit one of these for a day excursion, but have only spoken to people who have visited Milford Sound. They have loved it but said it was a little busy, and suggested that Doubtful may be better. We only have one day to do either. Any advice?
Leigh