ElendilPickle

Thanks to Air New Zealand's Cyber Monday sale, we're heading back to New Zealand next year! We'll fly from LAX to CHC May 19th and leave June 2nd.

As usual, we'd like to see as much as possible in a somewhat limited amount of time. We're in the super-early planning stages, but whatever help you all can give us will be great.

At this point, we know we want to visit Queenstown, either Milford or Doubtful Sound (I don't think we'd have time for both), Wanaka, drive up the west coast, see a bit of Abel Tasman and/or Marlborough Sounds, and head back to Christchurch for our return flight. But none of this except the flights is set in stone.

We don't mind driving, we know it takes a while to get from one place to another, and we're OK with not spending tons of time in an area. Yes, it would be great to have another week or two, but this is as long as Mr. Pickle can take for this trip.

Can someone suggest a fairly logical route around the island?

Thanks so much. I am super-excited about finally getting to visit the South Island!

Lee Ann

rellie2

A driving trip we did about 7 years ago was as follows:

- Christchurch (1 night)
- Fox Glacier (2 nights) driving though Arthurs Pass - it started snowing as we were driving through here and it was breath taking. We also did a glacier tour which was amazing.
- Queenstown (4 nights) - we stopped at Wanaka on the way and also did a day trip to Milford Sound. We're not snow sport people so found that 3 nights would have been sufficient in Queenstown.
- Dunedin (3 nights) - this was my favourite destination (that may have something to do with the Cadbury Chocolate factory being here). Lonarch Castle is worth a visit and sits above the harbour.
- Hamner Springs (2 nights) - I just had to try the thermal springs.
- Christchurch (2 nights).

If I was you I'd try and do a circle as follows (or the reverse):

- Christchurch
- Queenstown/Wanaka (day trip to Milford or Doubtful Sound)
- Abel Tasman and/or Malborough Sound (this is a long drive from Wanaka so you would need a stop over somewhere, perhaps Greymouth.
- Christchurch

It all depends on what interests you. Hubby found the drive quite easy (though I didn't like the bendy roads and sharp drops on the roads from Christchurch to Queenstown).

tasmangirl

Hello..you have two weeks and that's not enough time to hit Abel Tasman National Park or Marlborough.
Rellie's first itinerary is good if you want to see Dunedin. Or if the West Coast and glaciers are more appealing go that way.
It's heading to winter here in May and the days are shorter with the weather not so good.
Wanaka to Abel Tasman is about an 8 to 9 hour drive and madness for a tourist. Driving here is hard work on our narrow roads and IMO Abel Tasman is best in the summer. In May it could be cold, grey and miserable and a waste of your time and effort.
I'd get a rental from Christchurch and do a loop of the bottom half of the South Island..Tekapo to Queenstown/Wanaka, a day trip to Milford or Doubtful, up the West Coast to Greymouth and back to Christchurch. Hanmer Springs is a cute little place with thermal pools and the weather won't matter there.
Use aa.maps.co.nz for planning the trip. Google maps are so inaccurate it's not funny. Trust me we have tested them out and the drive times are far too short.

FromDC

My trip report will be coming soon and will have more detail on what we did. We were on the South Island for 11 nights and driving from place to place took a long time. I don't think you have time for a loop, you might want to fly one way. But here are some quick suggestions if you skip Abel Tasman:fly to Queenstown (you'll need to spend several nights to be sure you get a clear day for Milford Sound), then Fox Glacier, stay one night in Hokitika, then drive to the east coast through Arthur's Pass (we spent 2 nights at the Wilderness Lodge there which may or may not appeal to you). From there you could either go to the Malborough area via a night in Kaikoura (which is what we did), then back to CC. Or after crossing to east you could go in a different direction, like Akakroa or to Hamner Springs, then to CC. A lot depends on what you are interested in seeing. I don't think you'd want to stay at both Queenstown and Wanaka because that would give you less time for "non lake" sightseeing. .

ElendilPickle

>>Wanaka to Abel Tasman is about an 8 to 9 hour drive and madness for a tourist. Driving here is hard work on our narrow roads and IMO Abel Tasman is best in the summer. In May it could be cold, grey and miserable and a waste of your time and effort.<<

I grew up driving on narrow mountain roads, and Mr. Pickle has done his share as well, so I'm not worried about that. I remember from our trip to the North Island in 2004 that it takes a while to get where you want to go, too. But we're in the really early planning stages, and we're willing to be somewhat flexible.

I'll have more specific questions as we start to plan more carefully. Thanks for the input so far!

Lee Ann

tasmangirl

Hi Lee Ann
That's all good then. I re read your post and realised had been here before so you know what it is like.
Sometimes I think people come here expecting the freeways and road systems of the US but there aren't any. My point about the driving is that long distances like up the West Coast is not something you would want to do every day of a trip because it would be exhausting and not much fun.
I grew up in the Nelson area and every summer we went to ATNP and it was gorgeous so it's a personal thing that I don't think of going there at other times of the year but don't let my opinions put you off!

martharap

We were in Queen Charlotte Sound, Abel Tasman and Farewell Spit during the last week of May this year. The weather was great, as was the hiking.