we will be in the south island in december this year, and wonder which things we should'nt forget to pack?? (i.e. insect repellant for sandflies in milford sound or good hiking boots for those long walks...) <BR>also, as it's summer time ...will we need warm clothes?? <BR> <BR>very grateful....

Hi Mary - we live in the south of the South Island, which is quite a bit cooler than the north of the South Island. However in December it should be quite warm. If you go around the Nelson area in the north it should be full on summer time, and around Canterbury can be very hot and dry. But the further south you travel the cooler it will get - probably maximum of 20 degrees (celcius). I would definitely bring a woollen jumper as well as a couple of sweatshirts, just in case. An umbrella wouldn't go amiss either. Don't take up space with things like insect repellant - buy it over here, plus if you buy NZ made it is made for NZ conditions (and bugs). Milford Sound is beautiful rain or sun, but the sandflies are bad. Queenstown is beautiful - especially if you are into adventure tourism. The whole of the South Island is great - we have beaches, lakes, snow covered mountains, national parks, beautiful bush walks, I could go on for hours. I don't know what country you are from, but the NZ dollar is so weak at the moment you will find eating and accommodation good value for your dollar. <BR>Enjoy your stay

MaryN: <BR>Everything that Tracey writes is true. I would simply add, as a visitor to the South Island in November of 1999 and November of 2000, please do go. <BR> <BR>Don't worry about what to bring. With the exchange rate it's much cheaper to buy there than in the US. If that's where you're from. <BR> <BR>If you really want to see New Zealand, visit Dunedin and Invercargill while in the South Island. <BR> <BR>John

yep, agree - NZ dollar exchange rate makes buying things here cheap - so don't panic. <BR>Boots? If you're doing one of the big walks where you're hiking for several days on end it's worth it but they're so big and heavy and in summer the hiking trails here are pretty easy. For casual hikes I'd bring a pair of top quality "trail" sports shoes that have the agressive sole pattern and stiffer construction (this is one item where the choice is so much better than in NZ that I WOULD buy these before you leave the US).

two most significant clothing inventions in the last century <BR>- polypropolene thermals (from a cmping store) thin and easy to pack but incredibly warm <BR>- polypropolene fleece jackets. Super warm but so easy to take care of - just throw them in the washing machine. <BR> <BR>both these can be bought here - every outdoor store sells them, they're cheap and there's stores everywhere