South Island Holiday - is this feasible?
Discussion
I'd love to come over to NZ in a month or two for a couple of weeks and take the family on a camper van trip. We're thinking of Christchurch-Queenstown-Dunedin-C'ch or C'ch-Q'town-Milford Sound-Q'town-C'ch. We'll be renting a lumbering 4-berth jobbie for about 10 days. Are we about to bite off more than is worth chewing? Would it be better to just do C'ch-Q't-C'ch?
Camper van is a must - the missus loves these things and it'll be easier to just pull over somewhere and let our little girl have her midday snooze. We'll be staying in a hotel in Cch for a few days at either end.
All and any thoughts appreciated.
Cheers
Camper van is a must - the missus loves these things and it'll be easier to just pull over somewhere and let our little girl have her midday snooze. We'll be staying in a hotel in Cch for a few days at either end.
All and any thoughts appreciated.
Cheers
Totaly doable!
Chch to queenstown is about 7 hours drive, mebe 8 in a camper. Roads are pretty decent and theres not tons of trafic, though theres Lindis pass which is steep and will slow you down in summer it'll be fine.
Te anau is about 1.5 hours drive from Queenstown and the start(ish) of the trip to Milford.
IMO I'd do Chch -> Tekapo in half a day then stop at Ohau on the way to Wanaka which is my fav spot in NZ I think, at least overnight at Wanaka, then its 1 hr or so to Queenstown. Whilst there do Glenorchy and Arrowetown.
At Te Anau you can do Milford, avoid REAL JOURNEY like the plauge unless yu want in on pensioner coach trips, find a decent, mebe overnight, smaller trip - or do Doubtfull sound instead.
From Queenstown/Te Anau you can head 2 ways, the one I'd recomend is back up the west coast past the glaciers and back to chch via Arthurs Pass.
Or head down to catlins and up past Dunedin.
Chch to queenstown is about 7 hours drive, mebe 8 in a camper. Roads are pretty decent and theres not tons of trafic, though theres Lindis pass which is steep and will slow you down in summer it'll be fine.
Te anau is about 1.5 hours drive from Queenstown and the start(ish) of the trip to Milford.
IMO I'd do Chch -> Tekapo in half a day then stop at Ohau on the way to Wanaka which is my fav spot in NZ I think, at least overnight at Wanaka, then its 1 hr or so to Queenstown. Whilst there do Glenorchy and Arrowetown.
At Te Anau you can do Milford, avoid REAL JOURNEY like the plauge unless yu want in on pensioner coach trips, find a decent, mebe overnight, smaller trip - or do Doubtfull sound instead.
From Queenstown/Te Anau you can head 2 ways, the one I'd recomend is back up the west coast past the glaciers and back to chch via Arthurs Pass.
Or head down to catlins and up past Dunedin.
Edited by RobDickinson on Tuesday 6th January 22:37
RobDickinson said:
Totaly doable!
Chch to queenstown is about 7 hours drive, mebe 8 in a camper. Roads are pretty decent and theres not tons of trafic, though theres Lindis pass which is steep and will slow you down in summer it'll be fine.
Te anau is about 1.5 hours drive from Queenstown and the start(ish) of the trip to Milford.
IMO I'd do Chch -> Taupo in half a day then stop at Ohau on the way to Wanaka which is my fav spot in NZ I think, at least overnight at Wanaka, then its 1 hr or so to Queenstown. Whilst there do Glenorchy and Arrowetown.
At Te Anau you can do Milford, avoid REAL JOURNEY like the plauge unless yu want in on pensioner coach trips, find a decent, mebe overnight, smaller trip - or do Doubtfull sound instead.
From Queenstown/Te Anau you can head 2 ways, the one I'd recomend is back up the west coast past the glaciers and back to chch via Arthurs Pass.
Or head down to catlins and up past Dunedin.
That's shifting! I'm assuming you mean Queenstown, not Taupo Chch to queenstown is about 7 hours drive, mebe 8 in a camper. Roads are pretty decent and theres not tons of trafic, though theres Lindis pass which is steep and will slow you down in summer it'll be fine.
Te anau is about 1.5 hours drive from Queenstown and the start(ish) of the trip to Milford.
IMO I'd do Chch -> Taupo in half a day then stop at Ohau on the way to Wanaka which is my fav spot in NZ I think, at least overnight at Wanaka, then its 1 hr or so to Queenstown. Whilst there do Glenorchy and Arrowetown.
At Te Anau you can do Milford, avoid REAL JOURNEY like the plauge unless yu want in on pensioner coach trips, find a decent, mebe overnight, smaller trip - or do Doubtfull sound instead.
From Queenstown/Te Anau you can head 2 ways, the one I'd recomend is back up the west coast past the glaciers and back to chch via Arthurs Pass.
Or head down to catlins and up past Dunedin.
PomBstard said:
If anyone has any recommendations for any camping areas or a hotel in Christchurch, I'm all ears...or...er...eyes.
Cheers
What would you want from a Hotel?Cheers
Camping area in chch for the camper van? As in in the city?
http://www.southbrightonmotorcamp.co.nz/
or
http://www.spencerbeachholidaypark.co.nz/
Out of the city on the spectacular Banks Peninsular:
http://www.nzcamping.co.nz/camp.php?id=559
Cracking spot for kids and to explore Banks/Akaroa etc. About 2 hours from the airport.
RobDickinson said:
PomBstard said:
If anyone has any recommendations for any camping areas or a hotel in Christchurch, I'm all ears...or...er...eyes.
Cheers
What would you want from a Hotel?Cheers
Camping area in chch for the camper van? As in in the city?
http://www.southbrightonmotorcamp.co.nz/
or
http://www.spencerbeachholidaypark.co.nz/
Out of the city on the spectacular Banks Peninsular:
http://www.nzcamping.co.nz/camp.php?id=559
Cracking spot for kids and to explore Banks/Akaroa etc. About 2 hours from the airport.
Hotel only needs to be in a good spot, whether thats in the middle or on the beach, and be somewhere you'd recommend!
This is probably the best camp ground resource:
http://www.nzcamping.co.nz/
The 'Top 10' ( http://www.top10.co.nz/ ) campgrounds tend to be the largest and best equiped but least personal and most like butlins ever is here, not bad for kids. DOC ones tend to be rather limited in facilities ( http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places... ) but in special locations.
Not sure I can recomend anywhere to stay in Chch, Sumner is a nice place (where I live), 25min out of the CBD, seaside town, else somewhere in the city center but not on Bealy Av (motel/hoon central).
http://www.nzcamping.co.nz/
The 'Top 10' ( http://www.top10.co.nz/ ) campgrounds tend to be the largest and best equiped but least personal and most like butlins ever is here, not bad for kids. DOC ones tend to be rather limited in facilities ( http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places... ) but in special locations.
Not sure I can recomend anywhere to stay in Chch, Sumner is a nice place (where I live), 25min out of the CBD, seaside town, else somewhere in the city center but not on Bealy Av (motel/hoon central).
RobDickinson said:
This is probably the best camp ground resource:
http://www.nzcamping.co.nz/
The 'Top 10' ( http://www.top10.co.nz/ ) campgrounds tend to be the largest and best equiped but least personal and most like butlins ever is here, not bad for kids. DOC ones tend to be rather limited in facilities ( http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places... ) but in special locations.
Not sure I can recomend anywhere to stay in Chch, Sumner is a nice place (where I live), 25min out of the CBD, seaside town, else somewhere in the city center but not on Bealy Av (motel/hoon central).
Thanks mate - all good to go. I like the look of staying central Chch - Botanic Gardens and such, but will look out for Bealy Av. We live by the beach, so its a nice change to stay in a city!http://www.nzcamping.co.nz/
The 'Top 10' ( http://www.top10.co.nz/ ) campgrounds tend to be the largest and best equiped but least personal and most like butlins ever is here, not bad for kids. DOC ones tend to be rather limited in facilities ( http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places... ) but in special locations.
Not sure I can recomend anywhere to stay in Chch, Sumner is a nice place (where I live), 25min out of the CBD, seaside town, else somewhere in the city center but not on Bealy Av (motel/hoon central).
Happy to provide return service if you ever find yourself looking for places in Sydney.
Cheers
http://www.questchristchurch.co.nz/
Stayed there in Dec 07 with my folks - right on a Tram Stop, and easy walking distance to most places. Stayed in a few Quests around NZ, always found them clean and tidy.
Stayed there in Dec 07 with my folks - right on a Tram Stop, and easy walking distance to most places. Stayed in a few Quests around NZ, always found them clean and tidy.
Thought I'd resurrect an old topic to say thanks for the suggestions here. We managed a reasonable trip in 9-10 days in a 6-berth Fiat turbodiesel thingy. Reasonable poke, plenty for overtaking on the straights, but paid for it at the pumps - I reckon 15mpg was average over 1400kms.
Those 1400kms were...
Chch - Fairlie (our little girl could go no further that day!)
Fairlie - Qtown via Lake Takepo, which is indeed beautiful. Stayed in Qt for about 3 nights - great campsite up towards the gondola
Qtown - Wanaka via Cardrona - stunning road with great scenery.
Wanaka - Haast - more great roads and stunning scenery
Haast - Hoki - were going to stay at Franz Josef, but is p!ssed down the whole way and we needed a rest! Btw, great set of bends about 10km south of Hari Hari
Hoki - Jacksons - another fantastic campsite with great pub at the bottom of the lane
Jacksons to Chch to finish.
Plenty of recommendations regarding hotels and campsites if anyones interested.
Going back soon, but with a small 2-seaater, say MX5, and heading for them mountains!
Cheers
Those 1400kms were...
Chch - Fairlie (our little girl could go no further that day!)
Fairlie - Qtown via Lake Takepo, which is indeed beautiful. Stayed in Qt for about 3 nights - great campsite up towards the gondola
Qtown - Wanaka via Cardrona - stunning road with great scenery.
Wanaka - Haast - more great roads and stunning scenery
Haast - Hoki - were going to stay at Franz Josef, but is p!ssed down the whole way and we needed a rest! Btw, great set of bends about 10km south of Hari Hari
Hoki - Jacksons - another fantastic campsite with great pub at the bottom of the lane
Jacksons to Chch to finish.
Plenty of recommendations regarding hotels and campsites if anyones interested.
Going back soon, but with a small 2-seaater, say MX5, and heading for them mountains!
Cheers
PomBstard said:
Going back soon, but with a small 2-seaater, say MX5, and heading for them mountains!
Cheers
Sounded like the perfect trip, yes come back with a sports car and do the North Island.Cheers
National Park North Is is similar to Mackenzie country roads in South Island. Highway 47 is one to find out what you car can do
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