freetoroam

I’ve noticed a central theme to the comments on my previous posts regarding an itinerary for the SI – driving times are longer than they appear and we should stay longer in one place.

Longer in one place means fewer places. Regardless of a person’s interest, what’s that “one thing” no trip to the SI would be complete without seeing/experiencing – town/natural phenomenon/cultural activity/etc.? If choosing one thing is impossible - how about a top three? Similar suggestions for the NI would also be appreciated. /thanks

wlzmatilida

Hi Free,

That's sort of a common question on most travel boards; the problem with a response is that my one thing (or anyone else's) might be completely different from YOUR one "must do" thing....everyone's got different interests, tastes and past travel experiences. For example, the Great Ocean Road in Australia might be on someone's list of things not to be missed; however, it can also remind people of the Pacific Coast Highway here in California, so it could be a sort of "been there, done that" for some.

If you gave some info about yourself that could be helpful - as in "I love photography, being on the water, natural scenery" - I'd say - don't miss going on a Milford Sound cruise.

Hope this is helpful!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Kiwi Specialist

mlgb

Your highlights may differ

I like mountain scenery and snow because I grew up in the flatland tropics

Milford Sound
Mt. Cook/include a glacier overflight
Queenstown/Arrowtown/Glenorchy

But because I play golf I also add in Dunedin for must do golf & wildlife (in the right season)

In the North Island
Mt. Ruapehu & the Volcanoes
Muriwai/west coast
Far Northland beyond Bay of Islands

There is just too much good golf in the North Island but the must do one for me would be Titirangi.

Melnq8

That's a tough one because it's so subjective.

I suspect that most travel agents, tour guides and travel books would suggest that 'one thing' is Milford Sound.

On our first visit to the SI many moons ago we felt compelled to include Milford, Mt Cook, the glaciers and Queenstown.

Having been to the SI nine times now, my personal 'one thing' is the hiking tracks, but because they're virtually everywhere, that doesn't help you in the least. The entire West Coast is right up there at the top too.

It's all good.

crellston

A virtually impossible request! For me the highlight was travelling in a campervan for 2 months which enabled us to stay at some of the most beautiful places we probably would not have otherwise seen. Not the most famous of attractions in the country but the simple pleasure of waking up to catch the dawn break over Lake Paringa or sunset at Tekapo etc. take a lot of beating.

I also agree wit melnq8 re the hiking tracks. What an amzaing facility. We plan to return to do some serious tramping!

kiwi_rob

As I drive around NZ from time to time, there are occasional sights and landscapes that remind me that this a great place to live. Focusing just on the South Island, if I try to fit those moments into three categories, they would be (in no particular order):

The west coast and alpine bush

The east coast plains, lakes and mountains

The seascapes and beaches of the west coast, the Kaikoura coast and Abel Tasman NP.

If you did a tour of NZ and didn't give yourself the opportunity to see all of these, you would be short-changing yourself.

Rob.

freetoroam

Thanks for the feedback. When returning from our travels, my wife and I are always asked what our favorite part of the trip was, so I can appreciate the difficulty in addressing my question.

Knowing what others who have been there or who live there would chose and why is very beneficial though especially when you are time limited. We know we can't do it all and chances are this will be are only trip [constantly reminded we're not as young as we would like to be] to NZ, so experiencing the "don't miss" is important. Thanks again for your comments.

kiwi_rob
Excuse my ignorance but I want to make sure I'm interpreting your comments correctly.
<The west coast and alpine bush> - is Haast-Westport and area around Queenstown?
<The east coast plains, lakes and mountains> - is the Canterbury plains-Lakes Tekapo/Pukaki-Mt Cook area?
<The seascapes and beaches of the west coast> - is ???
<the Kaikoura coast> - is Christchurch-Blenheim or just Christchurch-Kaikoura?
/thanks

kiwi_rob

Hi, freetoroam.

If you were to do a trip covering Queenstown/Milford Sound/Te Anau and driving up the west coast to Westport, you would see the pick of the bush/west coast seascapes.

The inland route between Christchurch and Queenstown, travelling through Tekapo and Pukaki (with a side trip to Mt Cook if time permits) will cover the east coast/plains bit.

The first two hours of the drive from Christchurch to Kaikoura is mainly through farmland, but the last half an hour of that drive is along some of my favourite sea coast (I am driving up to the Marlborough Sounds tomorrow, and I always look forward to the trip). That coastal drive continues for about another hour north of Kaikoura, with the final hour to Blenheim being through fairly arid farmland, a lot of which has been converted to vineyards.

The two passes that traverse the South Island, Arthurs Pass and Lewis Pass, are also nice drives, with vastly different scenery on the east and west coast sides -- dry on the east and bush-clad on the west.

For those who have the time and want to do the Sth Island on a "one shot at it" basis, I have previously suggested a figure 8 route traversing both Passes and looping around both the top and the bottom of the island. You would need at least two weeks to do this, though, and even that would be a bit rushed.

Enjoy your planning.

Rob.

freetoroam

Thanks to all who commented on this and my other posts. I now have enough information to be dangerous, so I guess it's time for me to bite the bullet and make a decision on an SI itinerary.