New Zealand - South Island 8 days
#1
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New Zealand - South Island 8 days
Hi
Landing Late September/early October in Queenstown (after 3 weeks in OZ - so jet-lag no problem) and proposing to fly home to UK from Christchurch. 60+ year old couple unable to walk too far and hiking certainly out.
These days we love self driving through awesome scenery. Spotting wildlife would be a BIG extra, (and live music just the icing on the cake).
On the itinerary is:
Queenstown (including Glenorchy)
Milford Sound
Wanaka
Franz Joseph Glacier
Tekapo
Mount Cook
Christchurch (perhaps 2 full days ? - looks very interesting - if needs be could make it 9 days)
Whalewatch (Kaikoura?)
What are the 'must dos' we've omitted?
Can it be done in the time suggested?
What route would you take on this self-dive?
Cheers
Landing Late September/early October in Queenstown (after 3 weeks in OZ - so jet-lag no problem) and proposing to fly home to UK from Christchurch. 60+ year old couple unable to walk too far and hiking certainly out.
These days we love self driving through awesome scenery. Spotting wildlife would be a BIG extra, (and live music just the icing on the cake).
On the itinerary is:
Queenstown (including Glenorchy)
Milford Sound
Wanaka
Franz Joseph Glacier
Tekapo
Mount Cook
Christchurch (perhaps 2 full days ? - looks very interesting - if needs be could make it 9 days)
Whalewatch (Kaikoura?)
What are the 'must dos' we've omitted?
Can it be done in the time suggested?
What route would you take on this self-dive?
Cheers
#2
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I'm not a south Island expert but that's too much to cover in 8 days.
Choose between Mount Cook and Franz Josef glacier. There is no road to 'connect' them so you have to back track.
Day 1 Queenstown and explore
Day 2 Glenorchy
Day 3 Wanaka for the day
Day 4 Milford Sound day trip
Day 5 Mt Cook
Day 6 Mt Cook
Day 7 Tekapo - Christchurch
Day 8 Christchurch and fly home
Weather is not the best for such a lot of driving in the South Island. September is the tail end of winter and it can be pretty wet and miserable.
Or swap a night at Mt Cook for one in Christchurch as there is probably more to keep you busy if it is wet.
Choose between Mount Cook and Franz Josef glacier. There is no road to 'connect' them so you have to back track.
Day 1 Queenstown and explore
Day 2 Glenorchy
Day 3 Wanaka for the day
Day 4 Milford Sound day trip
Day 5 Mt Cook
Day 6 Mt Cook
Day 7 Tekapo - Christchurch
Day 8 Christchurch and fly home
Weather is not the best for such a lot of driving in the South Island. September is the tail end of winter and it can be pretty wet and miserable.
Or swap a night at Mt Cook for one in Christchurch as there is probably more to keep you busy if it is wet.
#3
Definitely too much! Yowsa, you'll spend all your time in the car.
Mt Cook and Franz Josef are separated by a mountain range - just no way in 8 days. Pick one.
In eight days I'd do this:
Queenstown - 3-4 nights, inclusive a full day to explore Milford, and believe me it's a very full day - 13 hours return on the bus, a wee bit less if you self-drive, depending on stops. You might consider the drive/fly option to save about four hours behind the wheel or on a bus.
Also inclusive of a side trip to Glenorchy, which can take days, lol. At least the way I travel, but I'm a walker. You might find 1/2 a day more than sufficient.
QT-Wanaka - two nights - which gives you a full day to explore - highly recommend you drive to Mt Aspiring Nat'l Park from this side as well, although a rental car violation with some companies, and quite possibly some nasty fords to cross (after rain and in the off season). Fantastic views though, truly fantastic, even from inside a car.
Wanaka - Mt Cook - one night - normally I'd suggest two, but as you're not walkers, not much to do there otherwise, especially if the weather is grim, which it often is.
Mt Cook to Christchurch via Tekapo, which can been seen in a hour or so for a non-walker. Balance of time in Christchurch.
More than enough for eight days, trust me on this. Especially that time of year, short days, potentially wild weather.
Mt Cook and Franz Josef are separated by a mountain range - just no way in 8 days. Pick one.
In eight days I'd do this:
Queenstown - 3-4 nights, inclusive a full day to explore Milford, and believe me it's a very full day - 13 hours return on the bus, a wee bit less if you self-drive, depending on stops. You might consider the drive/fly option to save about four hours behind the wheel or on a bus.
Also inclusive of a side trip to Glenorchy, which can take days, lol. At least the way I travel, but I'm a walker. You might find 1/2 a day more than sufficient.
QT-Wanaka - two nights - which gives you a full day to explore - highly recommend you drive to Mt Aspiring Nat'l Park from this side as well, although a rental car violation with some companies, and quite possibly some nasty fords to cross (after rain and in the off season). Fantastic views though, truly fantastic, even from inside a car.
Wanaka - Mt Cook - one night - normally I'd suggest two, but as you're not walkers, not much to do there otherwise, especially if the weather is grim, which it often is.
Mt Cook to Christchurch via Tekapo, which can been seen in a hour or so for a non-walker. Balance of time in Christchurch.
More than enough for eight days, trust me on this. Especially that time of year, short days, potentially wild weather.
#4
Re: wildlife - with the above itinerary you'll be limited to mostly birds, seals, dolphins and maybe penguins - if you're very lucky. And of course possums, which are a pest in NZ and most often seen as splats on the road or the fur of which is sold in souvenir stores. And then there's sheep...
There's a wildlife center in Queenstown, never been, but did enjoy the Kiwi center in Hokitika. If you want to see Kiwi in the wild, your best bet is in Okariko on the West Coast, but very weather dependent, and will add many hours to your itinerary.
You might look for yellow mohua (birds) around Glenorchy - conservationists have done a remarkable job in increasing their numbers over the years and of course the Paradise duck.
There's a wildlife center in Queenstown, never been, but did enjoy the Kiwi center in Hokitika. If you want to see Kiwi in the wild, your best bet is in Okariko on the West Coast, but very weather dependent, and will add many hours to your itinerary.
You might look for yellow mohua (birds) around Glenorchy - conservationists have done a remarkable job in increasing their numbers over the years and of course the Paradise duck.
#5
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I'm just going to address your interest in seeing wildlife.
Will you have a chance to go whale watching while you're in Oz? Because you'll be there during whale watch season. Check this link for Oz whale watching:
http://www.australianwhalewatching.c...tching-season/
In Kaikoura, the main type of whale that's see is the sperm whale. Kaikoura is about a 2.5 hour drive north of Christchurch. Keep in mind, whale watch trips can be cancelled if conditions are too rough. The first time I booked a Kaikoura whale watch trip, it was cancelled. The second time I booked a Kaikoura whale watch trip (many years later), we sailed out as planned, but the sea turned rough. The boat began bouncing all around and about half of us got seasick. When we returned to shore, the day's remaining whale watch trips were cancelled. Though pelagic bird trips were still going out.
Sandwiched between the mountains and sea, Kaikoura is beautiful and offers excellent viewing of NZ fur seals, as well as dusky dolphin, whale and pelagic bird boat excursions. To make the most of it, I think you'd have to spend the night, but this will cut into you already busy itinerary. You might want try whale watching in Oz instead.
What wildlife do you hope to see besides whales?
If you do a day trip to Milford Road and Sound from Queenstown--which, in your case, would be better than self-driving as you have so little time and as winter conditions (snow, ice and risk of avalanches) continue through September--you will see wildlife.
You'll likely see the NZ alpine parrot, the Kea, along Milford Road (the tour bus will make several scenic stops).On the Milford Sound cruise, you'll see NZ fur seals lounging on rocks, probably seabirds such as albatross, and possibly bottlenose dolphins and Fiordland crested penguins. But wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
Tasmangirl's itinerary looks good. You might consider spending just one night in Mt. Cook Village as you won't be doing much walking and will mainly be enjoying the scenery on your drives and scenic stops. You might consider just stopping in Lake Tekapo on your way from Mt. Cook Village to Christchurch. While in Tekapo, I highly recommend a drive to Mt. John Observatory, is possible--the view is fantastic.
Tasmangirl is quite right about the rainy season, and if it's raining in Tekapo, you won't be thrilled about having spent the night. It's a tiny place. The night sky tours are wonderful, but depend on clear skies.
By not spending the night in Tekapo, you'd have more time for Christchurch, Akaroa or for Kaikoura, should you decide to go there.
Keep and eye out for the rare Black Stilt on the lakes, braided rivers and streams near Mt. Cook and Tekapo.
http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/black-stilt
http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native...ck-stilt-kaki/
The rare Black Fronted Tern might also be seen:
http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/spec...k-fronted-tern
I mentioned Akaroa, even though it's not on your list, because its harbor is home to rare Hector's dolphins and more common Little Blue Penguins. Little Blue Penguins can be seen in Australia as well, but these of Akaroa are a little different--they're white-flippered. Here's a link to Black Cat Cruises, which operates Akaroa boat cruises: https://blackcat.co.nz/wildlife/penguins
It's funny that one of the above photos they use of the white-flippered Little Blue Penguins is actually a Yellow Eyed Penguin! A few Yellow Eyed Penguins also live in Akaroa harbor.
Akaroa is a pretty place. http://www.akaroa.com/
Christchurch is home to Willowbank and Orana wildlife parks. I've not visited either, but they're popular and involved in conservation.
http://www.willowbank.co.nz/
http://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/
You can also see captive Little Blue Penguins at the International Antarctic Centre, which I have visited.
http://www.iceberg.co.nz/
If you drive along the West Coast instead of through the middle (Mt. Cook-Tekapo-Mackenzie Country), then you might consider a visit to the White Heron Sanctuary:
http://whiteherontours.co.nz/about.htm
Wekas, the native flightless rail, are often seen along the West Coast of the South Island, at places such as the parking lot for Punakaiki or the parking lot for Hokitika gorge.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...ka-gorge-walk/
Here's a link to a drive distance calculator for NZ:
http://www.aatravel.co.nz/main/time-...calculator.php
Sunrise/sunset times will give you an idea of how many daylight hours you can enjoy. Please try to avoid driving after dark.
http://rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/sun-rise-and-set
If you can extend your NZ trip to 9 days without reducing your days in Oz, please do.
Will you have a chance to go whale watching while you're in Oz? Because you'll be there during whale watch season. Check this link for Oz whale watching:
http://www.australianwhalewatching.c...tching-season/
In Kaikoura, the main type of whale that's see is the sperm whale. Kaikoura is about a 2.5 hour drive north of Christchurch. Keep in mind, whale watch trips can be cancelled if conditions are too rough. The first time I booked a Kaikoura whale watch trip, it was cancelled. The second time I booked a Kaikoura whale watch trip (many years later), we sailed out as planned, but the sea turned rough. The boat began bouncing all around and about half of us got seasick. When we returned to shore, the day's remaining whale watch trips were cancelled. Though pelagic bird trips were still going out.
Sandwiched between the mountains and sea, Kaikoura is beautiful and offers excellent viewing of NZ fur seals, as well as dusky dolphin, whale and pelagic bird boat excursions. To make the most of it, I think you'd have to spend the night, but this will cut into you already busy itinerary. You might want try whale watching in Oz instead.
What wildlife do you hope to see besides whales?
If you do a day trip to Milford Road and Sound from Queenstown--which, in your case, would be better than self-driving as you have so little time and as winter conditions (snow, ice and risk of avalanches) continue through September--you will see wildlife.
You'll likely see the NZ alpine parrot, the Kea, along Milford Road (the tour bus will make several scenic stops).On the Milford Sound cruise, you'll see NZ fur seals lounging on rocks, probably seabirds such as albatross, and possibly bottlenose dolphins and Fiordland crested penguins. But wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
Tasmangirl's itinerary looks good. You might consider spending just one night in Mt. Cook Village as you won't be doing much walking and will mainly be enjoying the scenery on your drives and scenic stops. You might consider just stopping in Lake Tekapo on your way from Mt. Cook Village to Christchurch. While in Tekapo, I highly recommend a drive to Mt. John Observatory, is possible--the view is fantastic.
Tasmangirl is quite right about the rainy season, and if it's raining in Tekapo, you won't be thrilled about having spent the night. It's a tiny place. The night sky tours are wonderful, but depend on clear skies.
By not spending the night in Tekapo, you'd have more time for Christchurch, Akaroa or for Kaikoura, should you decide to go there.
Keep and eye out for the rare Black Stilt on the lakes, braided rivers and streams near Mt. Cook and Tekapo.
http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/black-stilt
http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native...ck-stilt-kaki/
The rare Black Fronted Tern might also be seen:
http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/spec...k-fronted-tern
I mentioned Akaroa, even though it's not on your list, because its harbor is home to rare Hector's dolphins and more common Little Blue Penguins. Little Blue Penguins can be seen in Australia as well, but these of Akaroa are a little different--they're white-flippered. Here's a link to Black Cat Cruises, which operates Akaroa boat cruises: https://blackcat.co.nz/wildlife/penguins
It's funny that one of the above photos they use of the white-flippered Little Blue Penguins is actually a Yellow Eyed Penguin! A few Yellow Eyed Penguins also live in Akaroa harbor.
Akaroa is a pretty place. http://www.akaroa.com/
Christchurch is home to Willowbank and Orana wildlife parks. I've not visited either, but they're popular and involved in conservation.
http://www.willowbank.co.nz/
http://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/
You can also see captive Little Blue Penguins at the International Antarctic Centre, which I have visited.
http://www.iceberg.co.nz/
If you drive along the West Coast instead of through the middle (Mt. Cook-Tekapo-Mackenzie Country), then you might consider a visit to the White Heron Sanctuary:
http://whiteherontours.co.nz/about.htm
Wekas, the native flightless rail, are often seen along the West Coast of the South Island, at places such as the parking lot for Punakaiki or the parking lot for Hokitika gorge.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...ka-gorge-walk/
Here's a link to a drive distance calculator for NZ:
http://www.aatravel.co.nz/main/time-...calculator.php
Sunrise/sunset times will give you an idea of how many daylight hours you can enjoy. Please try to avoid driving after dark.
http://rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/sun-rise-and-set
If you can extend your NZ trip to 9 days without reducing your days in Oz, please do.
#6
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Melnq8, I was posting at the same time so I didn't see your post. I did the wild kiwi spotting tour in Okarito and I almost wish I'd taken a backstage tour of Franz Josef's West Coast Wildlife Centre or Hokitika's National Kiwi Centre instead! If I revisit Franz Josef or Hokitika, I'll visit one of those centres. Our local Orokonui Ecosanctuary has a kiwi creche for Haast tokoeka chicks hatched at Franz Josef's West Coast Wildlife Centre. When they've grown to the point where they can defend themselves from stoats then they're relocated to South Westland to live out their days as wild kiwis.
The Okarito wild kiwi spotting tour involved hours of standing around in the dark cold forest and being perfectly silent. Not too much walking, but lots of standing. I'm glad I did it because I saw the rare rowi kiwi, but I won't be doing it again. We saw one kiwi, heard some other kiwi and lots of morepork hooting.
Seeing wild kiwi on Stewart Island and Ulva Island was easier.
The Okarito wild kiwi spotting tour involved hours of standing around in the dark cold forest and being perfectly silent. Not too much walking, but lots of standing. I'm glad I did it because I saw the rare rowi kiwi, but I won't be doing it again. We saw one kiwi, heard some other kiwi and lots of morepork hooting.
Seeing wild kiwi on Stewart Island and Ulva Island was easier.
#7
Good to know Diamantina. We'd booked the Okarito trip on two separate occasions, both cancelled for one reason or another. It did sound a bit taxing, especially after a long day of driving/hiking/sightseeing, and it being invariably cold and wet. Glad I didn't miss anything.
I did enjoy the Hoki Kiwi experience - first time in 12 visits to the SI that I actually saw one - and a good way to fill a very wet and stormy SI day.
We took the Pohatu penguin tour out of Akaroa once - it too was a long night with lots of standing and quiet crouching, but I was tad more nimble back then
I did enjoy the Hoki Kiwi experience - first time in 12 visits to the SI that I actually saw one - and a good way to fill a very wet and stormy SI day.
We took the Pohatu penguin tour out of Akaroa once - it too was a long night with lots of standing and quiet crouching, but I was tad more nimble back then
#8
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Melnq8, thanks for the heads-up on the Pohatu tour, my creaky knees wouldn't appreciate all that crouching.
It's good to have a list of wet-weather indoor alternative activities, isn't it? Though I'm sure, you, like me, have done your fair share of walking in the South Island rain.
Your comments on Hokitika reminded me to mention the small free glowworm dell in Hokitika, just off the main road and close to the center of town. Very little walking involved. More info here:
http://www.exploring.co.nz/hokitika-glowworms.html
I often forget that small invertebrates are wildlife, too. The other day, I went looking for peripatus under wet logs, but these velvet worms are probably not on most visitors' lists.
We also had to don mosquito net hats for our Okarito kiwi walk, all I could think of was all the people who'd worn it before. I also got chewed out for having a somewhat crunchy sounding jacket (the noise could tip off the kiwi to our presence, but they could probably smell us anyhow).
It's good to have a list of wet-weather indoor alternative activities, isn't it? Though I'm sure, you, like me, have done your fair share of walking in the South Island rain.
Your comments on Hokitika reminded me to mention the small free glowworm dell in Hokitika, just off the main road and close to the center of town. Very little walking involved. More info here:
http://www.exploring.co.nz/hokitika-glowworms.html
I often forget that small invertebrates are wildlife, too. The other day, I went looking for peripatus under wet logs, but these velvet worms are probably not on most visitors' lists.
We also had to don mosquito net hats for our Okarito kiwi walk, all I could think of was all the people who'd worn it before. I also got chewed out for having a somewhat crunchy sounding jacket (the noise could tip off the kiwi to our presence, but they could probably smell us anyhow).
#9
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Oops sorry about that - I was looking at Ultimate Hikes who only run their tours from 1 November. Tracks are not closed but DOC has this sensible advice :
Outside the Great Walks season (28 April 2016 - 24 October 2016):
•facilities are greatly reduced
•there are additional safety hazards to consider.
Walking the track at this time should only be attempted by fit, experienced and well equipped people.
Outside the Great Walks season (28 April 2016 - 24 October 2016):
•facilities are greatly reduced
•there are additional safety hazards to consider.
Walking the track at this time should only be attempted by fit, experienced and well equipped people.
#10
Sensible advice indeed tasmangirl, thanks for clearing that up.
(For the benefit of norfolkanaway, tasmangirl's post is in reference to the Three Weeks Nature Oriented thread, which might also be of some assistance to you).
(For the benefit of norfolkanaway, tasmangirl's post is in reference to the Three Weeks Nature Oriented thread, which might also be of some assistance to you).
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