Back from South island New Zealand

[hawkwind]

Hi, I planning 2 weeks south NZ around Dec. Traveling with my wife and our 3yrs old.

First time, it's easy to self drive between Christchurch via lake tekapo to Queenstown? We plan for more relax traveling so we not planning to go glacier or hiking.

Or any recommendation will be much appreciate!

If you don't go to the main glaciers at Fox and Franz Joseph, I suggest a more leisurely loop covering Dunedin, the Catlins, Invercargill as well as the main destinations like Queenstown, MT Cook, etc. Different scenery in that area including more forest, wild beaches, lighthouses, no mountains.

 

[BlackCube]

They check for soil /mud in hiking boots and equipments. Coz tt is a potential source of contamination from organisms and bacteria in the soil. Australia also same.

Gum xia. Didn't know that.

 

[Dontmessme2016]

tekapo i feel 1 night can alrdy,

Is catlins worth the stay for 1N? I am adjusting my itinerary for mount cook 2N and tekapo 1N. Also likely to remove hanmer springs too and distribute the days elsewhere.

 

[Dontmessme2016]

amended itinerary. removed hanmer springs. added doubtful sound. what do you all think?

20 Oct [Sat] --- 1 O/N --- christchurch (arrive 10.30am) --- O/N reason: jet lag
21 Oct [Sun] --- 1 O/N --- akaroa --- O/N reason: Shamarra Alpacas, stay outside city
22 Oct [Mon] --- 1 O/N --- arthur's pass --- O/N reason: darfield bakery, castle hill, Devils Punchbowl Waterfall track, long drive from akaroa to punakaiki
23 Oct [Tue] --- 0 O/N --- punakaiki --- O/N reason: n.a.
23 Oct [Tue] --- 1 O/N --- hokitika --- O/N reason: glow worm dell
24 Oct [Wed] --- 2 O/N --- franz josef --- O/N reason: helihike
26 Oct [Fri] --- 3 O/N --- wanaka --- O/N reason: arrive late afternoon due to long journey, roys peak track, rest, sky diving, depart noon
29 Oct [Mon] --- 1 O/N --- moeraki --- O/N reason: arrive late afternoon due to long journey, catch sunrise the next day
30 Oct [Tue] --- 1 O/N --- dunedin --- O/N reason: otaga peninsula, sight seeing in city, tunnel beach track, brighton to taieri route during daytime
31 Oct [Wed] --- 1 O/N --- kaka point --- O/N reason: catch sunrise in nugget point
01 Nov [Thu] --- 0 O/N --- te anau --- O/N reason: n.a.
01 Nov [Thu] --- 1 O/N --- doubtful sound --- O/N reason: overnight cruise
02 Nov [Fri] --- 1 O/N --- te anau --- O/N reason: rest
03 Nov [Sat] --- 1 O/N --- milford sound --- O/N reason: overnight cruise
04 Nov [Sun] --- 3 O/N --- queenstown --- O/N reason: activities
07 Nov [Wed] --- 2 O/N --- mount cook --- O/N reason: rest, track, star gazing (1st day new moon on 8th)
09 Nov [Fri] --- 1 O/N --- tekapo --- O/N reason: star gazing
10 Nov [Sat] --- 1 O/N --- christchurch --- O/N reason: overnight at place of depart
11 Nov [Sun] --- 0 O/N --- christchurch (depart 12noon) --- O/N reason: n.a.

 

[ZigguratZ]

Need to declare.
Anyway, can get buy from there also. Can easily get indomee, both cup and package version from their supermarket, as well as many other instant noodles

thanks for the information.... any idea whether their supermarket stuffs are expensive ? cos thinking of whether to buy it from Singapore and bring it over or just buy directly from there ..

 

[BlackCube]

thanks for the information.... any idea whether their supermarket stuffs are expensive ? cos thinking of whether to buy it from Singapore and bring it over or just buy directly from there ..

Don't rmb most of the pricing liao. But I rmb the meat there are like cheaper than sg. Drinks I think same same +-? In general, I think quite ok price compared to sg.

based on memory so may not be so accurate.

 

[Sakagamii]

the price difference isnt worth the hassle of bringing the items over from sg. supermarkets are everywhere, even in the smaller towns and the cup noodles cost ard $2 NZD iirc.

 

[evilerniex]

thanks for the information.... any idea whether their supermarket stuffs are expensive ? cos thinking of whether to buy it from Singapore and bring it over or just buy directly from there ..

indomee are around twice the price here iirc. biscuits and chips are cheaper if u get their local brands. most of the meat and daily products are cheaper or similarly priced. i suggest just buy from there.. not worth the hassle of bringing in. even at 2x the cost, indomee is still very cheap lah

 

[BlackCube]

Yeah. I mean you can bring a few then get most of your stuff there. I bought rice there so can cook.

 

[angcsbenny]

Luggage got space just bring over lor.

Sent from OPPO X9076 using GAGT

 

[NoTimeToWaitAr]

my few cents:

- I would prefer Wanaka > QTN > Te anau > Milford > Te anau > kaka point > dunedin > pukaki
- Didn't try doubtful before, but I think both milford and doubtful are quite similar.
- Dunedin must try BEST CAFE << blue cod and oyster
- moeraki < overated
- can stay one night in pukaki
- mt cook 2nights is a little too long

amended itinerary. removed hanmer springs. added doubtful sound. what do you all think?

20 Oct [Sat] --- 1 O/N --- christchurch (arrive 10.30am) --- O/N reason: jet lag
21 Oct [Sun] --- 1 O/N --- akaroa --- O/N reason: Shamarra Alpacas, stay outside city
22 Oct [Mon] --- 1 O/N --- arthur's pass --- O/N reason: darfield bakery, castle hill, Devils Punchbowl Waterfall track, long drive from akaroa to punakaiki
23 Oct [Tue] --- 0 O/N --- punakaiki --- O/N reason: n.a.
23 Oct [Tue] --- 1 O/N --- hokitika --- O/N reason: glow worm dell
24 Oct [Wed] --- 2 O/N --- franz josef --- O/N reason: helihike
26 Oct [Fri] --- 3 O/N --- wanaka --- O/N reason: arrive late afternoon due to long journey, roys peak track, rest, sky diving, depart noon
29 Oct [Mon] --- 1 O/N --- moeraki --- O/N reason: arrive late afternoon due to long journey, catch sunrise the next day
30 Oct [Tue] --- 1 O/N --- dunedin --- O/N reason: otaga peninsula, sight seeing in city, tunnel beach track, brighton to taieri route during daytime
31 Oct [Wed] --- 1 O/N --- kaka point --- O/N reason: catch sunrise in nugget point
01 Nov [Thu] --- 0 O/N --- te anau --- O/N reason: n.a.
01 Nov [Thu] --- 1 O/N --- doubtful sound --- O/N reason: overnight cruise
02 Nov [Fri] --- 1 O/N --- te anau --- O/N reason: rest
03 Nov [Sat] --- 1 O/N --- milford sound --- O/N reason: overnight cruise
04 Nov [Sun] --- 3 O/N --- queenstown --- O/N reason: activities
07 Nov [Wed] --- 2 O/N --- mount cook --- O/N reason: rest, track, star gazing (1st day new moon on 8th)
09 Nov [Fri] --- 1 O/N --- tekapo --- O/N reason: star gazing
10 Nov [Sat] --- 1 O/N --- christchurch --- O/N reason: overnight at place of depart
11 Nov [Sun] --- 0 O/N --- christchurch (depart 12noon) --- O/N reason: n.a.

 

[mata_hippo]

Never go catlins before in my last 2 trips

I only focus on places where there's mountains and hikes to do

Is catlins worth the stay for 1N? I am adjusting my itinerary for mount cook 2N and tekapo 1N. Also likely to remove hanmer springs too and distribute the days elsewhere.

 

[hawkwind]

Is catlins worth the stay for 1N? I am adjusting my itinerary for mount cook 2N and tekapo 1N. Also likely to remove hanmer springs too and distribute the days elsewhere.

Different kind of scenery. Coasts are more rugged. Perhaps a day just to break the pattern of usual snow peaked mountains of the interior.

[/url]Nugget by Milliwatt, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[ZigguratZ]

indomee are around twice the price here iirc. biscuits and chips are cheaper if u get their local brands. most of the meat and daily products are cheaper or similarly priced. i suggest just buy from there.. not worth the hassle of bringing in. even at 2x the cost, indomee is still very cheap lah

thanks for the head up .. just to check .. in kaikoura is there any must visit food place ?

 

[ZigguratZ]

the price difference isnt worth the hassle of bringing the items over from sg. supermarkets are everywhere, even in the smaller towns and the cup noodles cost ard $2 NZD iirc.

most probably will buy a few from singapore .. if there a need, then I'll get from nz

 

[winguy]

Use credit card there need pin? Eg patrol station, supermarket, restaurants. Thanks

And any advice on how much cash to bring per day?

 

[BlackCube]

Use credit card there need pin? Eg patrol station, supermarket, restaurants. Thanks

And any advice on how much cash to bring per day?

People say sg one no pin. So if ask for pin just press enter and transaction should get through.

Usually they have signature one also la. Unless unattended petrol station that kind.

Go back a couple of pages and u will find info on spending cash. In short, u don't need alot of cash since most of the stuff can be paid using card.

 

[belgarathc]

I only encountered the need for pin at Mt Cook's petrol station which was unmanned.

 

[evilerniex]

I didnt encountered any tt require pin. But just to be safe, just remember ur pin loh

 

[Careful Investor]

I didnt encountered any tt require pin. But just to be safe, just remember ur pin loh

Many places accept credit cards. Just tell them u want to sign, they will print for u to sign instead of keying in pin no. Credit card with pin no are needed mainly for unmanned petrol kiosks since no cashiers to process credit card with signature and u will need to key in pin no and pay before u can activate to pump petrol. Eg when the cashiers are off duty at night. Some small villages have unmanned petrol kiosks where the pin is needed too. To play safe, pump petrol when the cashiers are still open or ensure u have sufficient petrol to last thru the small town.

Hope this helps.