Back from South island New Zealand

[TVaddict]

Awww.. These pictures bring back fond memories..

Nicely taken. Pls post more if possible..

 

[k0nnichiwa]

i am thinking of taking tranzalpine. can anyone recommend if " Greymouth to Christchurch " is more scenic or picton to christchurch view?

lets say i depart picton, stopover kaikoura for 4-5 hrs for whale watching and continue train journey to Christchuch, is this possible? I saw the website and the train departure timing are all fixed so im not sure if i have the 5 hrs to stopover at kaikoura?

 

[nicholaslee]

Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, Feeling hungry..

 

[nicholaslee]

Cows

 

[nicholaslee]

Franz Josef heli-hike

 

[nicholaslee]

Fox Glacier Trek

 

[synchronise]

I left out the glacier tour as my itinerary was quite rush.
Hopefully I can visit NZ in another season. I was wearing a layer of jacket and was trembling in cold throughout my adventure at South island in July

 

[jimmytango]

Here's a little video that i took when passing thru Haast Pass in the morning

 

[scholes25]

Hi everyone,

This is a bit late but I want to thank all of you for your help in getting my itinerary up.
Here is the latest and hopefully final one.
Please do give me advice.
Really appreciate it.

Day 1 CC to Lake Tekapo (Earth and Sky Stargazing at Mt John)
Day 2 LT to QT ( Skyline Gondola and Stargazing)
Day 3 QT (Full Day Ski Package at Remarkables)
Day 4 QT (Day Trip with BBQ Bus to Milford South)
Day 5 QT (Sky Diving, JetBoat, adventure rides day)
Day 6 QT to Franz Jocef Glacier (free and easy whole day drive to Franz Jocef, maybe 6 hours drive, start about 9am. Hope to reach by 4pm) Stay 2 nights
Day 7 Franz Jocef Ice Explorer Heli Hike
Day 8 Franz Jocef to Hokitika (Stay a night)
Day 9 Hokitika to CC (Driving through Arthur's Pass)
Day 10 CC (Free and Easy)
Day 11 CC to SG (7am flight back to SG)

Thank you for viewing. As advised by many, I am taking a more relaxed and quality approach.

Do let me know if I can improve even more.

 

[sellun]

Hi everyone,

This is a bit late but I want to thank all of you for your help in getting my itinerary up.
Here is the latest and hopefully final one.
Please do give me advice.
Really appreciate it.

Day 1 CC to Lake Tekapo (Earth and Sky Stargazing at Mt John)
Day 2 LT to QT ( Skyline Gondola and Stargazing)
Day 3 QT (Full Day Ski Package at Remarkables)
Day 4 QT (Day Trip with BBQ Bus to Milford South)
Day 5 QT (Sky Diving, JetBoat, adventure rides day)
Day 6 QT to Franz Jocef Glacier (free and easy whole day drive to Franz Jocef, maybe 6 hours drive, start about 9am. Hope to reach by 4pm) Stay 2 nights
Day 7 Franz Jocef Ice Explorer Heli Hike
Day 8 Franz Jocef to Hokitika (Stay a night)
Day 9 Hokitika to CC (Driving through Arthur's Pass)
Day 10 CC (Free and Easy)
Day 11 CC to SG (7am flight back to SG)

Thank you for viewing. As advised by many, I am taking a more relaxed and quality approach.

Do let me know if I can improve even more.

I would suggest you to break the long drive from QT to franz by adding one night at wanaka. QT-franz you will pass by haast, very beautiful place with many waterfalls. Good to spend alittle more time there. I would trade day 10 @ CC for wanaka. CC actually nothing much unless you're going to the Banks Peninsula

 

[Astron]

hi guys,

thank god for this thread which has helped a lot in planning for my upcoming NZ trip. props to the many contributors here !

I am planning a trip to south island from 6th - 20th Nov, planning to travel around by campervan (booked for 10days), 5 of us and here's our itinerary and I wonder if will be too rushed, any suggestions are welcomed !


6/11 - arrive at CHC at 2pm. just gonna spend the day settling down, nothing planned

7/11 - collect campervan / purchase of groceries etc. hokitika (via arthur pass) to visit hokitika gorge and glow worm dell

8/11 - drive to franz josef glacier (undecided between taking the hike at fox glacier or franz josef)

9/11 - franz josef to wanaka (to visit lake wanaka, bruce bay, mount iron)

10/11 - still in wanaka (puzzle world, timber creek equestrain centre, ben lomond walkway)

11 - 13/11 - drive to queenstown via kawarau gorge (queenstown hill hike, wine tour, fear factory, skydive, mount cook) will book the skydive before flying to NZ, gonna have 3 days buffer in queenstown in case of unfavourable weather but not sure what else are there to do in queenstown.

14/11 - drive to lake tekapo (church of good shepherd, earth and sky observatory)

15/11 - oamaru (this is actually a buffer day in case we can't finish previous itineraries in time, but if all goes well we will visit oamaru)

16/11 - drive back to CHC to return the campervan and rent a normal car. explore CHC (is there anything to explore?). will be booking accommodation in CHC to dump our luggage.

17/11 - akaroa (pohatu penguin habitat kayaking), return to CHC

18/11 - kaikoura (not sure what's there yet, have not done research)

19/11 - hanmer springs

20/11 - return car and flight departure at 12noon.

 

[sellun]

hi guys,

thank god for this thread which has helped a lot in planning for my upcoming NZ trip. props to the many contributors here !

I am planning a trip to south island from 6th - 20th Nov, planning to travel around by campervan (booked for 10days), 5 of us and here's our itinerary and I wonder if will be too rushed, any suggestions are welcomed !


6/11 - arrive at CHC at 2pm. just gonna spend the day settling down, nothing planned

7/11 - collect campervan / purchase of groceries etc. hokitika (via arthur pass) to visit hokitika gorge and glow worm dell

8/11 - drive to franz josef glacier (undecided between taking the hike at fox glacier or franz josef)

9/11 - franz josef to wanaka (to visit lake wanaka, bruce bay, mount iron)

10/11 - still in wanaka (puzzle world, timber creek equestrain centre, ben lomond walkway)

11 - 13/11 - drive to queenstown via kawarau gorge (queenstown hill hike, wine tour, fear factory, skydive, mount cook) will book the skydive before flying to NZ, gonna have 3 days buffer in queenstown in case of unfavourable weather but not sure what else are there to do in queenstown.

14/11 - drive to lake tekapo (church of good shepherd, earth and sky observatory)

15/11 - oamaru (this is actually a buffer day in case we can't finish previous itineraries in time, but if all goes well we will visit oamaru)

16/11 - drive back to CHC to return the campervan and rent a normal car. explore CHC (is there anything to explore?). will be booking accommodation in CHC to dump our luggage.

17/11 - akaroa (pohatu penguin habitat kayaking), return to CHC

18/11 - kaikoura (not sure what's there yet, have not done research)

19/11 - hanmer springs

20/11 - return car and flight departure at 12noon.

You itinerary is very well done and very doable!
both (CHC - hokitika) & (franz - wanaka) is quite a long but amazing drive. Be prepared to drive for hours.. We planned to drive from CHC to greymouth in the winter but couldn't make it due to lesser daylight (And we stayed at jackson's camperpark near AP in the end). You'll have good hours of daylight in nov anyway~

Have you booked all your accom? Nov will be crowded with campervans. I would recommend one night of freedom camping on Mt cook itself, amazing camping sites there. You can do hooker's valley track early in the morning after you wake up.

 

[TVaddict]

Hi everyone,

This is a bit late but I want to thank all of you for your help in getting my itinerary up.
Here is the latest and hopefully final one.
Please do give me advice.
Really appreciate it.

Day 1 CC to Lake Tekapo (Earth and Sky Stargazing at Mt John)
Day 2 LT to QT ( Skyline Gondola and Stargazing)
Day 3 QT (Full Day Ski Package at Remarkables)
Day 4 QT (Day Trip with BBQ Bus to Milford South)
Day 5 QT (Sky Diving, JetBoat, adventure rides day)
Day 6 QT to Franz Jocef Glacier (free and easy whole day drive to Franz Jocef, maybe 6 hours drive, start about 9am. Hope to reach by 4pm) Stay 2 nights
Day 7 Franz Jocef Ice Explorer Heli Hike
Day 8 Franz Jocef to Hokitika (Stay a night)
Day 9 Hokitika to CC (Driving through Arthur's Pass)
Day 10 CC (Free and Easy)
Day 11 CC to SG (7am flight back to SG)

Thank you for viewing. As advised by many, I am taking a more relaxed and quality approach.

Do let me know if I can improve even more.

Just some suggestions..

You can start day 2 by driving up Mount John for a nice breakfast and view before going to QT.

Instead of going to Milford Sound from QT, perhaps you can plan one night stay at Te Anau and drive to the Sound from there.

While at QT remember to try Fergburger. It's pretty good!
Don't forget the bungee jump at Kawarau bridge too. There's a discount for the 2nd jump on the same day.

Try the Goldfields jet at Cromwell instead of doing it at QT. You can sieve out some gold nuggets at the same place if you are lucky. Perhaps you can go there when you are leaving QT on day 6.

Go to Arrowtown if you got time. Quaint little town with nice bakieries.

Don't think you need to spend 2 nights at Franz Josef. It's a small town with the glacier as it's main attraction. If you really wish to spend 2 nights, perhaps you can go for a walk at Lake Matheson as well.

After leaving Franz Josef maybe you can drive to the nearby Fox glacier for a short walk too.

If you have more time I would recommend Wanaka and Mount Cook as well. But no worries, there's always next time.

Take care and enjoy your vacation..

 

[TVaddict]

hi guys,

thank god for this thread which has helped a lot in planning for my upcoming NZ trip. props to the many contributors here !

I am planning a trip to south island from 6th - 20th Nov, planning to travel around by campervan (booked for 10days), 5 of us and here's our itinerary and I wonder if will be too rushed, any suggestions are welcomed !


6/11 - arrive at CHC at 2pm. just gonna spend the day settling down, nothing planned

7/11 - collect campervan / purchase of groceries etc. hokitika (via arthur pass) to visit hokitika gorge and glow worm dell

8/11 - drive to franz josef glacier (undecided between taking the hike at fox glacier or franz josef)

9/11 - franz josef to wanaka (to visit lake wanaka, bruce bay, mount iron)

10/11 - still in wanaka (puzzle world, timber creek equestrain centre, ben lomond walkway)

11 - 13/11 - drive to queenstown via kawarau gorge (queenstown hill hike, wine tour, fear factory, skydive, mount cook) will book the skydive before flying to NZ, gonna have 3 days buffer in queenstown in case of unfavourable weather but not sure what else are there to do in queenstown.

14/11 - drive to lake tekapo (church of good shepherd, earth and sky observatory)

15/11 - oamaru (this is actually a buffer day in case we can't finish previous itineraries in time, but if all goes well we will visit oamaru)

16/11 - drive back to CHC to return the campervan and rent a normal car. explore CHC (is there anything to explore?). will be booking accommodation in CHC to dump our luggage.

17/11 - akaroa (pohatu penguin habitat kayaking), return to CHC

18/11 - kaikoura (not sure what's there yet, have not done research)

19/11 - hanmer springs

20/11 - return car and flight departure at 12noon.

Friend, no worries on what to do in Queenstown. There are plenty of things to do in and around Queenstown. You can visit Arrowtown and Cromwell if you got time.

Kaikoura and Hanmer Springs can be done on the same day. That frees up one day for other places. Perhaps Te Anau / Milford Sound when you are at Queenstown? Or even two days at Lake Tekapo? How about Mount Cook?

Take care and enjoy!

 

[jimmytango]

You itinerary is very well done and very doable!
both (CHC - hokitika) & (franz - wanaka) is quite a long but amazing drive. Be prepared to drive for hours.. We planned to drive from CHC to greymouth in the winter but couldn't make it due to lesser daylight (And we stayed at jackson's camperpark near AP in the end). You'll have good hours of daylight in nov anyway~

Have you booked all your accom? Nov will be crowded with campervans. I would recommend one night of freedom camping on Mt cook itself, amazing camping sites there. You can do hooker's valley track early in the morning after you wake up.

I did stay in Jackson camperpark as well, nice place. Did you went to the bush walk behind the camp? Really enjoyed that, you can find your own personal waterfall.

Agreed on the Mt.Cook/Whitehorse camp/Hooker Valley track, amazing half day hike. If the sky is clear at night, you could take some nice star pics, here's a teaser.

DSCF5100 by agsl

 

[Astron]

You itinerary is very well done and very doable!
both (CHC - hokitika) & (franz - wanaka) is quite a long but amazing drive. Be prepared to drive for hours.. We planned to drive from CHC to greymouth in the winter but couldn't make it due to lesser daylight (And we stayed at jackson's camperpark near AP in the end). You'll have good hours of daylight in nov anyway~

Have you booked all your accom? Nov will be crowded with campervans. I would recommend one night of freedom camping on Mt cook itself, amazing camping sites there. You can do hooker's valley track early in the morning after you wake up.

thanks for the feedback! we have not booked our accommodation with the campervan parks yet, will bear that in mind and book ASAP ! will being doing the freedom camping as well

still trying to finalize and find out what are there to do at the various places haha, what were the highlights or memorable food places that are a 'must-go' that you guys would recommend ?

 

[godofwar93]

Anyone knows how the parking system is like at the South Island? And is it possible to stop on the roads for a picture?

 

[sellun]

thanks for the feedback! we have not booked our accommodation with the campervan parks yet, will bear that in mind and book ASAP ! will being doing the freedom camping as well

still trying to finalize and find out what are there to do at the various places haha, what were the highlights or memorable food places that are a 'must-go' that you guys would recommend ?

Since you're travelling by campervan, my most memorable experience would be cooking on some random stop with beautiful scenery, eating self-made pizza for supper on top of mt cook in our van. Camp fire & bbq at beaches. Its really the nature and free short or long walks/treks NZ offers to us.
Not some facy buffet or fine-dining place.. And eating out in NZ is really expensive compared to sg, a typical meal (subway) cost at least about 15-18 dollars.

Anyone knows how the parking system is like at the South Island? And is it possible to stop on the roads for a picture?

Its usually free parking everywhere. We didn't have any parking issues before. Most of the roads (especially mountainous area) is one lane each direction, so please do not stop in the middle of the road hogging the traffic. They do have a small bend for slower vehicle to stop and let faster vehicle overtake every few hundred meters (Those driving campervan please allow the locals to overtake you and not hog up everyone, they will appreciate your gesture by thanking you (honk once).

Almost all the scenic place will have some sort of pit stop for you to park your vehicle and enjoy the scenery! you can stop for a picnic or photo session at those pit stops. NZ is really all about nature and beautiful scenery and their gov knows it

 

[okboy]

We just got back last week
rented a campervan from 'wilderness'

we got a portable bbq pit, running on lpg gas,
bought fresh salmon from 'high country salmon'
you can also find fresh mussels from supermarket 'countdown'
rem to get salv blanc to go with your seafood

their portobello mushroom are delicious too

cheapest place to buy groceries is from 'pak n save', u can get discount coupon from supermarket purchases for petrol

speed limit is 100km/h, but please slow down at bents, and some places are really windy, and Can literally blow your vehicle in the wind direction when you drive. speed camera are only found in christchurch,nelson and dunedin, but we saw traffic police during daytime at queenstown/wanaka area on weekends


do check out www.rankers.co.nz or bookme.co.nz for advice/deals
i recommend the app 'camping nz' that u can download for offline usage to fine camping site and attractions

Diesel is 1.50+ per litre , i drove average of 300km/day, not much cars on the road outside of city areas

must go is tekapo/pukaki for mountains + blue lakes
go downwards towards the south for penguins/animal viewing..

 

[k0nnichiwa]

Selling NZD$$ close to $5k.