Driving advice in New Zealand please

[dodgyviper]

Hi people

Hoping you can help with some advice.

My girlfriend and I are starting a 3 week driving holiday starting on the 19th June.

The trip is as follows

North Island

Auckland - Glow Worm Caves - Rotorua - Napier

Napier - Ohakune (for the boarding) - Wellington

South Island

Christchurch - Arthurs Pass - Fox Glacier - Queenstown

Queenstown - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Te Anau - Oamaru - Christchurch

We've hired a Mitsubishi Lancer and we've been told conflicting opinions on its suitability.

Should we upgrade to a small 4x4 for the South Island?

Looking forward to seeing your beautiful country.

Thanks in advance

Ged

[GravelBen]

There may be a bit of snow in the southern high country while you're down here, and aften during winter if there is much snow they won't let vehicles through Arthur's Pass, the Milford Road, or sometimes the Lindis pass (on the way between Queenstown and Oamaru) without chains (or sometimes at all, but that doesn't happen too often), so its worth checking that snow chains are included with whichever rental you get, unless you don't mind the risk of a few delays.

The route you're taking through the South Island includes some amazing driving roads, so make sure you get something you can enjoy going round corners in (oh and also plenty of hills, so you don't want anything too gutless)

As far as rentals go, I'm slightly biased here but what I'd recommend is to see if you can get a Subaru (Legacy, Forester or Impreza, doesn't mattter which as long as its AWD) - that way you get the best of both worlds to a degree, having 4wd for the slippy stuff and a nicely handling car for the twisty stuff. (better handling than a normal Lancer too).

I don't know how they compare to other rental options for price, but if its within price range that'd be my pick.

HTH

[GravelBen]

PS which way are you going from Te Anau to Oamaru? back through Queenstown and via the lakes, or around the bottom through Southland and Dunedin?

[dodgyviper]

Open to suggestions on that route -its the only route we haven't decided on.

by the way thanks for the advice

[GravelBen]

Well the roads are more fun and the scenery more impressive going through the central route - Te Anau to Queenstown, from there you have a choice of going through the Kawarau gorge to the Lindis Pass via Cromwell (or Wanaka with a bit of a detour), or over the Crown Range to the Lindis via Wanaka. The Kawarau gorge and Crown range are both very fun pieces of road, the Crown range being the highest sealed road in New Zealand may be closed by snow though. Wanaka is nice, a bit like a smaller, less touristey version of Queenstown. Either way you'll have excellent views and fun roads though. After the Lindis Pass I'd be inclined to skip Oamaru and turn off North at Omarama into the McKenzie country and go to Mt Cook. (probably staying in either Twizel or Tekapo, but you could keep going to Geraldine or Timaru for the night - both less than 2 hrs drive from Christchurch). Omarama to Oamaru (which is a 2.5-3 hr fairly boring drive from Chch) down the Waitaki valley is also a nice drive, but the Mt Cook area really is spectacular.

The other route from Te Anau - Gore - Dunedin - Oamaru is not as scenic and the roads are mostly less interesting, but does show a different part of the country, mostly rolling hills and long, open roads. ( Gore is the "country music capital of New Zealand" if your that way inclined)

[simpo two]

I did 4,500km in a Nissan Pulsar around both islands and lived to tell the tale. Got it up to 160km/h as well

Unsealed roads are bit of a surprise the first time you meet them but apart from the Paris-Dakar-style plume of dust you throw up, they're no problem. I'd recommend you get a 'Kiwimap' (I got their 'Compact Traveller's Atlas', brilliant thing) and head for the white roads, but keep an eye on fuel as you won't find many garages and they tend to close early!

I only saw NZ in summer when it was lovely and warm - is it grey and dull in winter like England?


NB: See some of my pix at www.blokewithacamera.co.uk > Creative > New Zealand.

Edited by simpo two on Monday 5th June 15:24

[robdickinson]

I did 4,500k in a pulsar too, box of junk but it got us around.

Would rather go for a scoob in winter though, a lot of roads on the S island will be chains only for 2wd cars, especialy the ski field access roads/passes. Make sure you have chains even for the 4wd cars, and enough supplies to keep you going a day or two in case you get stuck somewhere.

It'll be -5 or colder on the S island overnight now (-8 in queenstown last night), was -6 on mt dobson yesterday.

[robdickinson]

simpo two said:

I only saw NZ in summer when it was lovely and warm - is it grey and dull in winter like England?

No. sometimes its wet here in chch so far, but at least half the time its crystal clear & were getting stunning views of the southern Alps today, yesterday was great also. Heres me yesterday on dobson :



And the view :

[Ffirg 005]

Ohakune for boarding? Unless you particularly want to do it there and then I'd recommend you do your boarding in the South Island as the snow tends to be better and more of it, and less queues, also if you go for a 4x4 there you'll be better equipped for the drive up the mountain.

Have a good one whatever you decide
Don

[robdickinson]

"Auckland - Glow Worm Caves - Rotorua - Napier"

Rotorua is OK but I'd rather do Taupo , much nicer place even if the geothermal stuff is less impressive. Glowworm caves are everywhere, will see them in TeAnau if you want (tho very commercial) do something else at Waitomo (loved the lost world 100m abseil, the black water rafting is supposed to be excelent).

Havnt done napier.

Napier - Ohakune (for the boarding) - Wellington

As said , north island snow is rarer, more comercial, more crowded. South already has a good base. Your looking at $150 or so for a day at Mt hutt (ski pass + rental) $100 at mt Dobson. (Mt hutt is 1.5 hrs from chch, dobson is 2.5). If your thinking of going boarding a lot on s island & know what your doing look out for a 'chill' pass which gets you 10 days club site access and can use some days for someone else.

South Island

"Christchurch - Arthurs Pass - Fox Glacier - Queenstown "

Arthurs Pass is spectacular, well worth it. Chch isnt a tourist place realy(compared to Queenstown etc, it has some attractions but is fairly tame low grade stuff. great base for East coast stuff tho (Kaikoura, Akaroa, Mt Hutt etc). Fox & franz joseph are both good, IMO if you can afford it go for a heli hike.

"Queenstown - Te Anau - Milford Sound - Te Anau - Oamaru - Christchurch "

Queenstown is Commercial with a capital. Stunning place, lots of things to do. Te Anau is very nice, done Doubtfull sounds which was excelent, small tour, try and avoid the 'real journey' thing, big & industrial. Dont miss out on Wanaka.

Also consider Abel Tasmen, Goledn bay & Nelson, tho first 2 are prob better when its warm.

[dodgyviper]

Thank you all for cracking advice - we're flying out tomorrow.

Can't wait.

Ged n Julie

[robdickinson]

:O well watch the roads on the S island now, make sure you carry a warm blanket or pref decent sleeping bags, snow chains and some food/drink!

Dont think they've dug tekapo out yet from the last dump and we are getting 30-40cm of snow in the next few days...

[kylie]

robdickinson said:

simpo two said:

I only saw NZ in summer when it was lovely and warm - is it grey and dull in winter like England?

No. sometimes its wet here in chch so far, but at least half the time its crystal clear & were getting stunning views of the southern Alps today, yesterday was great also. Heres me yesterday on dobson :



And the view :

Arrh feel a bit home sick now after seeing these incredible skiing conditions. Dobson was my local stomping ground. Worked for the owners "foote family" for a season on that field as a teen.

Thanks for the great pic!!

[pawsmcgraw]

Hi, we are based on the high country in south island nz 70kms from Queenstown.Today, you will need 4x4 and chains.Do not come this way without a four wheel drive as you won't get over many of the main highways.Be prepared, carry lots of everything.
Having said that, the weather here changes in minutes so you may need sun block and shorts in the morning and you could be cruising around in a zonda.

[GravelBen]

Just realised I still have some nice photos on the net to inspire you, this is why you should visit the Southern Alps/Mount Cook area etc:









Well I like it down here anyway