BlurKillerEX
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Are there any good places to go to in CHC?
Can consider driving down to akaroa for a day trip
Are there any good places to go to in CHC?
Are there any good places to go to in CHC?
Dear All,
will be going to South NZ for a holiday in mid June. !
I replied to your original thread there but better to reply here and not continue that thread.
Can consider driving down to akaroa for a day trip
You mean - inside the airport?
Your plan looks good! Nov/Dec is peak period do book your things (especially good accommodation) ASAP.Hi everybody, I am planning a 15 days self drive south island trip this Nov/Dec with my family of 4 (2 kids under 5 years old). Need some feedback/advice from experts here to see if my initial itinerary is feasible!
Day 1
arrive at CHC and rest for the day
Day 2
CHC - Lake Tekapo/Pukaki/Ohau
Will be staying 2 nights at one of the location. Any strong recommendations?
Day 3
Mt Cook National Park > Hooker Valley Track
Day 4
Lake Tekapo/Pukaki/Ohau to Queenstown via Lindis Pass (stay for 2 nights)
Day 5
Kawarau bridge bungy (for myself ) and to Glenorchy
Day 6
Queenstown to Te Anau (2 nights)
Day 7
Day trip to Milford Sound for cruise
Day 8
Te Anau to Wanaka
Day 9 Wanaka - Haast via Haast Pass
Day 10
Haast to FJG
Day 11
FJG/Fox
Day 12
FJG to Punakaiki
Day 13
Punakaiki to CHC via Arthur's Pass
Day 14
CHC
Day 15
CHC - SG
Thanks so much for any help!!!
Hi everybody, I am planning a 15 days self drive south island trip this Nov/Dec with my family of 4 (2 kids under 5 years old). Need some feedback/advice from experts here to see if my initial itinerary is feasible!
Day 1
arrive at CHC and rest for the day
Day 2
CHC - Lake Tekapo/Pukaki/Ohau
Will be staying 2 nights at one of the location. Any strong recommendations?
Day 3
Mt Cook National Park > Hooker Valley Track
Day 4
Lake Tekapo/Pukaki/Ohau to Queenstown via Lindis Pass (stay for 2 nights)
Day 5
Kawarau bridge bungy (for myself ) and to Glenorchy
Day 6
Queenstown to Te Anau (2 nights)
Day 7
Day trip to Milford Sound for cruise
Day 8
Te Anau to Wanaka
Day 9 Wanaka - Haast via Haast Pass
Day 10
Haast to FJG
Day 11
FJG/Fox
Day 12
FJG to Punakaiki
Day 13
Punakaiki to CHC via Arthur's Pass
Day 14
CHC
Day 15
CHC - SG
Thanks so much for any help!!!
Your plan looks good! Nov/Dec is peak period do book your things (especially good accommodation) ASAP.
Heard from the local the sun can be quite strong, do bring a good sunscreen for your kids.
For a south island round trip, from Trip adivsor forum typically they suggest you to do an anti-clockwise loop. i.e. CHC > Puna > FJG > Wana/QTN/ Te Anau > Mt Cook > CHC as you get to see the "nice view" in front of you
Your plan looks good! Nov/Dec is peak period do book your things (especially good accommodation) ASAP.
Heard from the local the sun can be quite strong, do bring a good sunscreen for your kids.
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Will seriously consider this. Thank you!!!
I hope this itinerary will not be too tiring as this is my first time bringing 2 kids together, so I'm basically skipping the whole southern & northern coast...
And am I missing any major scenic drives?
Hi everybody, I am planning a 15 days self drive south island trip this Nov/Dec with my family of 4 (2 kids under 5 years old). Need some feedback/advice from experts here to see if my initial itinerary is feasible!
If you have not booked flights - do it NOW. I booked mine in mid-may and it was $2230 in Economy and it was the cheapest flight available on SQ's SIN-CHC.
Sun was strong even during march, definitely need sunscreen otherwise become chaotar like I did... I only applied on my face but my arms got roasted
Location wise I think for 16 days that's pretty much it espcially with (very young?)kids who cannot sit still in a car for too long. For CHC, maybe you can consider going down to Akoroa but Dec period is peak with many cruise ship disembarking and somewhat heavier traffic.
To add the southern and northern coast, you will probably need another 2 days for each location and potentially more for northern coast due to earthquake damages to the road system.
You can consider budgetting how many days in each location and prioritizing what you want to do (more kids friendly or walks or adventure etc) based on your 16 days e.g. Your initial itinerary seems to have a 2.5 days in FJG (which is more adventure or walks, whether are they suitable for your child?)
Do take note of sandflies also, especially in Te Anau!
Hi everybody, I am planning a 15 days self drive south island trip this Nov/Dec with my family of 4 (2 kids under 5 years old). Need some feedback/advice from experts here to see if my initial itinerary is feasible!
Day 1
arrive at CHC and rest for the day
Day 2
CHC - Lake Tekapo/Pukaki/Ohau
Will be staying 2 nights at one of the location. Any strong recommendations?
Day 3
Mt Cook National Park > Hooker Valley Track
Day 4
Lake Tekapo/Pukaki/Ohau to Queenstown via Lindis Pass (stay for 2 nights)
Day 5
Kawarau bridge bungy (for myself ) and to Glenorchy
Day 6
Queenstown to Te Anau (2 nights)
Day 7
Day trip to Milford Sound for cruise
Day 8
Te Anau to Wanaka
Day 9 Wanaka - Haast via Haast Pass
Day 10
Haast to FJG
Day 11
FJG/Fox
Day 12
FJG to Punakaiki
Day 13
Punakaiki to CHC via Arthur's Pass
Day 14
CHC
Day 15
CHC - SG
Thanks so much for any help!!!
!!! the last I checked they are going for around 4k for 2 adults + 1 child + 1 infant
Ok will definitely bring along sun screen! Thanks!!!!
Planning to do it in Mid Nov, so I guess peak season only just started?
Initial plan for FJG was 1 day for helicopter tour (can't do helihike due to min age requirements for kids) and then just chill around. Maybe go to Lake Matherson? If not will add another night in Lake Tekapo/Pukaki/Ohau to visit the different lakes? If there's enough time I can also consider doing a day trip from CHC to Kaikoura for whale watching if the area is still accessible..
Is the sandfly problem very bad in Mid Nov?
!!! the last I checked they are going for around 4k for 2 adults + 1 child + 1 infant
On SQ SIN-CHC non-stop? Book these now unless you want to pay double month later.
Hi I’m a kiwi and NZ is my 2nd home other then SG. Also avoid mid Dec cause it will be summer holiday and the whole south island will be crowded.
Also go during end Nov to early Dec will be see lupin.
Nov/Dec can be still cold for kids so bring jacket (wind and rain proof type). You need sun block cause if you got sun burn in NZ, pray hard you don’t get skin cancer.
O why I say must have jacket cause if luck with you, you will encounter southerlies which summer snow.
Day 1
arrive at CHC and rest for the day
- Westfield Riccarton
- Kathmandu for jacket if you need
- PAK'nSAVE to store some food to eat along the way
- The warehouse
- Cookie Time Factory
Day 2
CHC via Arthur's Pass to Franz Josef and Fox Glacier
- At Arthur’s Pass
o Castle Hill
o Lake Lyndon
o Arthur's Pass Visitor Center for lunch
(stay 2 night if you going for Glacier but not sure how you going to settle your kids)
Day 4
Franz Josef and Fox Glacier via Haast Pass via Lake Hawea to Lake Wanaka
- Puzzling World
Stay 1 night can already
Day 5
Lake Wanaka via Cardrona Valley Rd via Crown Range Rd via Arrowtown (for lunch) to Queenstown
- Kawarau bridge bungy
- Gondola
- Cookie Time
- Flame Bar & Grill
- Fergburger
- Botswana Butchery
- During stay at Queenstown just drive to Glenorchy (1 hr slow drive, make sure to stop along the way to take photo)
o Go for Glenorchy Lagoon walkway
Recommend to stay at least 3 night in queenstown
Day 8
Since want to go Te Anau then make sure go see Glow worm else no point going cause you can go for Milford Sound cruise direct from Queenstown and back. But it will be complete dark so depend on your kids can take it or not. (Note noise and total darkness in Glow Worm cave)
- Glow worm
- Milford Sound for cruise
Stay 2 night
Day 10
Te Anau to Dunedin
- First Church of Otago
- Dunedin Railway Station (If on Saturday will have farmer market beside it)
- Scotia Bar and Bistro
- Etrusco Italian
- Signal Hill Lookout
- Larnach Castle
- Sandyfly Bay
- Royal Albatross Centre
- Go for the Elm Wildlife Tours you will love it one
Stay 2 nights
Day 12
Dunedin go to Mount Cook Village
- Along the at stop at High Country Salmon
- Lake Pukaki Information Centre
- At Mt Cook Village
o Aoraki Mt Cook National Park Visitor Centre
o Kea Point
o Hooker Valley track
o Tasman Glacier
Stay 2 night
Day 14
Lake Tekapo (Depend on the above are like I say if you have kids Franz Josef and Fox Glacier no point going since you can do anything with kids around. So give it a miss and you will be able to fit in Lake Tekapo
- Astro Café at Mount John
- Church of the Good Shepherd
Stay 1 night is enough
Back to CHC and back home.
Sandfly problem normally will be at Nelson. Forget about Kaikoura whale watching, not worth it.
On SQ SIN-CHC non-stop? Book these now unless you want to pay double month later.