NZ pointers

Hello Lauren 😊

I moved this to the Oceania forum.

Mel Reply to this

Hi Lauren,

I moved to NZ almost 3 years ago and there is nowhere that I haven't been onthe North or South islands (although still lots of things still want to do and lots I want to do again).

Are you only doing the South Island? Where are you starting?

Must do's are the Marlborough Sounds (I'd particularly recommend staying at Elaine Bay, there is a DOC campsite there and its stunning), Farewell Spit is also worth a look (when we were there at xmas we camped in the beach carpark in Collingwood, a little grassy area no one seemed to mind). The West Coast is stunning, don't skip heading up to Karamea, past there 20km or so on a rough road are some really cool bush walks to limestone arches and caves. All down the West Coast (glaciers etc) are wellworth seeing, as is Hasst Pass. Queenstown area do all of it, can't go wrong.

The South Coast highway from Dunedin to Invercargill is worth doing, lots to stop and look at (pick up a leaflet from any tourist information, they contain a map and tell you what's there) a quick jaunt above Dunedin are the Moeraki boulders which are really quite different.

Of course Fiordland can't be missed either (Milford Sound) and by Christchurch Banks Peninsula is worth a look (but not worth to much time), and Kaikoura for the whales.

Oh and pack well, it is winter in NZ you know (plan for snow delays, particularly Arthurs Pass, Lewis Pass (both really nice and worth doing) and road to Milford Sound which all close often in winter. You will need snow chains, make sure hire company give them to you if renting. Check out www.metservice.co.nz to see current crap weather and road information!

Hope that helps
Marie Reply to this

Haven't tried sky diving or hang gliding sorry, more into kayaking and the like!

You don't need any equipment to camp, just a sleeping bag and sleep in the car, we did it numerous times when we hired cars to go down South, but now we have a camper van we prefer to pay to take it over on the ferry. The only thing worth getting are a few pieces of material to stuff over the windows for a bit of privacy. Some of the places you will be going to will be pretty remote and you might find a night or 2 kipping in the car helps you to make the most of your time there as places to stay for example on the West Coast are few and far between (as is fuel on the West Coast when you see signs saying last petrol for XXX kilometers, they aren't trying to pull a fast one!)

If you do a loop or something like that personally I'd plan as little time as possible in Christchurch (its not typical NZ, just a pleasant flat city!) and the stretch between Dunedin and Christchurch e.g. the Canterbury plains I'd plan to just drive through as the east coast is basically just well plains!

Enjoy! You'll have a great time wherever you go! Reply to this

Can't agree with the comment on Christchurch - and I don't live there, BTW. It has much going for it. For ideas have a look at my website If nothing else there's some great nightlife on Oxford St on the banks of the River Avon. Try to grab the window seat at Sullivan's Irish Pub in Manchester St and just enjoy the passing parade of people having a good time.

And on the road from CHC to DUD stop in at Oamaru - a beautifully preserved piece of Victorian and Edwardian architecture as well as the nightly Blue Penguin show.

As for the best, most unbelievable etc view - stand on any spot in the South Island and turn slowly through 360deg! But try these: Tekapo - the little stone Church of the Good Shepherd framed by the turquoise water of Lake Tekapo with Mt Cook and the Main Divide in the background. Or looking down the huge glaciated valley from the western portal of the Homer Tunnel towards Milford Sound. Or from the top of the lifts on any of the skifields.

I could sit here all day listing them . . . but go see for yourself. You'll love it.

Reply to this