[nippa&pippa]

My parents had suddenly booked a flight and told me they are coming in easter!!! No warning, but my sister knew the possibility!

Thinking of going down to queenstown for easter weekend.

1. How long it is take roughly to drive down from christchurch? best way?
(will be people carrier car as there are 8 of us!!!)

2. Can you recommend best bach for us, there will be 6 adult and 2 under 4years?

3. My sister want to know if it possible to fly straight to queenstown from auckland where she lives? and meet us there?

4. Can you recommend activities or place to visit while we are down there?
that suit whole family from 14months old to 59 years old;) ?

Thanks

[Karen]

Queenstown is a great place to visit, we loved it!!

Can't recommend anywhere to stay as we stayed in a small self contained unit which only housed 2 but try looking up www.wotif.com they often have last minute cheaper options.

Whilst there we spent a small fortune as we wanted to make the most of the trip. The Shotover jet boats are great fun but be warned they go really fast and only just skim past the rocky mountain walls!! The Shotover boats however can only run if the water depth is at a certain level but we were also told that the yellow boats were really good and did loads of 360 degree fast spins.

We also loved the ice bar, about $25 each to get in for half an hour although that also includes a cocktail whilst inside and the loan of very fetching woolly gloves and parkas with furry hoods!!! Doing the luge was great fun and really bought out the child in us, basically it's like go-karting down the side of a mountain but there are 2 tracks a fast one and a slower one which allows you to stop and take photos of the amazing views.


There are loads of places to eat out in Queestown and some pretty good bars. Basically there's something there for everyone. Saw a fair few folks throwing themselves off of bridges etc (and actually paying for the privilage?!) and depending on your financial situation there's also the option of some pretty awesome looking helicopter rides over to the Remarkables (think they start at around $350 per person). Loads of the high-thrill companies offer mixed packages and you get to pick which things you'd like to do. We took a trip to Milford Sound for the day which was fantastic, definately recommend taking a guided trip than trying to drive it yourself as the views all the way there are fab, we left at about 8am and got back around 8pm. The trip included a boat trip around the Sound which had some pretty awesome scenery as well as lunch. You've also got the added option (for a price) of flying back to Queenstown by either plane or helicopter.

Hope that's the kind of stuff you were after?

Enjoy, l'm really jealous!!!

Karen

[nippa&pippa]

Luge, just remember doing it in rotoura, fab!

Milford sounds, didn't realise you can get there from queenstown...will look into this options as my parents haven't see it as well as us!

At the moment, we looking into fly from chch to queenstown to give us bit more time there instead of taking 6 hours to get, is i am right on taking 6hours? Depend on cost!

Anymore suggestion?

[katandbob]

we went last October
read my blog for a brief idea what we did in the 3 days that we were there,
we stayed at Amber lodge (motel - basic but just up the road from the town centre.)
we did a Shotover Jet/canyon swing combo ($250 ish if I remember) but its $50 for the DVD! the shotover jet pics were $39 for a pack, and Quad biking, (around $800 for 4)
There is also the Kingston Flyer if you like steam engines (I am sure the kids would) which goes from Kingston http://www.kingstonflyer.co.nz/

the AA's 101 things for kiwi's to do is also a good site for looking at whats available to do in the area.

have fun, oh and theres an Irish pub that does these Stone grills (your meat comes out cooking on a volcanic rock and you cook it as you eat it)

and plenty of shops too:nice1

Kat

[nippa&pippa]

Oh Kat, my children will go mad on Kingston flyer :clap :yes
Thanks!

[Keith C.]

This probably won't help you at all, but I love to tell this story.

We visited Queenstown just before Christmas in 1985. There was a restaurant that one took a chairlift to that offered a good buffet. We went up around 7:30 or so, wanting to see the sunset. Well, just before Christmas is close to the longest day of the year. We ordered some wine. We ordered some more wine. After 5 bottles of wine, the sun finally set. We managed to ride the chairlift down safely and walk to our hotel.

We did not see the sun rise.

[Serene]

Love the shotover jets. :nice1 Would definitely have go for it again next time we are there.

[ellenmelon]

i think you're looking at more than 6 hours...my grandad lives in roxburgh, which is about an hour and a half from q'town and driving there took about 7.5 hours straight driving not including stops. flying would so be the best option cause its a long trip!

im going down later in the year so it will be interesting to see what ideas people have..its been ages since i was down there...

[speckythecky]

We stayed on a campsite in Kingston very close to the kingston flyer and had a cabin there.

Also loved the shotover.

Went up the cable car

and went to a vineyard although I don't know why:cheers

Have a great trip