Advice on bus travel, South Island
 

Great information on this site regarding travel in New Zealand. Can anyone advise regarding the bus route from Christchurch to Queenstown in mid-March? (We'd like to relax and enjoy the scenery, rather than stress over driving.) The Newman route goes all the way to Mt. Cook, allows for lunch at The Hermitage, takes 3 hours longer and costs A LOT more than the Intercity bus. Is it worth it? Thanks!

I've only traveled NZ via car, but I have been at the Hermitage when the tour buses pull in. It's a bit of a mob scene, and on both occasions I was there during the off season.

Having said that, a stop at Mt. Cook is worthwhile IMO, but personally, I wouldn't do it on a bus.

It all comes down to the weather though. I've yet to see Mt Cook on a nice day - it rains alot in the area and the views are often obscured by fog.

The Hermitage is overhyped and way overpriced IMO (their lunch is what's driving the cost of your tour up) but it is situated with an awsome view of Mt Cook (on a clear day).

I think the best way to see NZ is by car. Driving on the South Island isn't stressful - unless of course you're concerned about driving on the left.

When driving yourself, you're free to stop whenever the mood strikes you to take a walk, have lunch, or just soak up the scenery.

Whatever you decide, you're sure to have a good time, because it's NZ!

Thanks to all for the great input. It has just about convinced us that driving from Christchurch to the Queenstown area might be O.K. and we may "pass" on the bus, in favor of the flexibility of driving. However, in the meantime, the itinerary got locked in other respects and now we only have one day in which to make the trip from ChCh to where we are staying in Arrowtown. So, a couple of questions: (1) Is that too much to tackle in one day? (Looks like it's about 7.5hrs, but hard to tell what the topography, scenery, roadway is like.) (2) It seems like you can save a little time by leaving SR8 and taking SR79 across from Geraldine to Fairlie to re-connect with SR8; is that really a shorter route, or is it a terrible road? Thanks again!

It will be a big day of driving but we did it easily in 2 days. SH8 is great. Schedule stops at Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo. For the first part it is also a fairly straight road. It only get a big more bendy near Queenstown.

I don't know SH79. But my husband says "no no no no stick to SH8". SH79 is a windy road and leads through gorges etc.

General rule. Lower number better road.

I enjoyed the bus trip from Christchurch to Queenstown stopping at Mount Cook on the way. Note that there is only a 40% chance that you will see the mountain peak- I did see it and it was magnificent. I enjoyed lunch in the Hermitage too.

I stopped at Tekapo which on a blue, blue day was stunning. I rue the fact that I did not take a flight from there that day over the southern alps. I thought - well, I'm off to Mt Cook tomorrow (and I hadn't budgeted for the the cost of the flight!!).

So, next day, I take the coach on to Queenstown, thinking maybe I might stop at Mt Cook. Well - when we arrived, there was nothing to see, just thick mist.

So - if you are going to Mt Cook to eat in a particular restaurant - fine - if you are going to see the landscape - don't count on it!!