[clg]

OK, we are heading south for a couple weeks right after Christmas with all of the other tourists. I keep hearing SI makes NI look a bit bland so we will see! Do have to say it will be hard to beat welly though, I love this city!!!

We have a rough idea of where we are going, Christchurch for a couple days, followed by Queenstown then down to the Milford sound area, up the west coast and end at Abel Tasman before catching the ferry back home.

For anyone who would care to add something. Anything we should make a point of seeing? Give me some pointers to show me how great SI is!

As to where to stay, there will be four of us traveling so we are looking for family rooms at motels along the way. We have one booked for Queenstown but does anyone have any suggestions for Christchurch, Milford sound, Westcoast, and Abel Tasman?

Thanks for any input in advance!

Chris

[Moorf]

Here are some places that I'd recommend seeing:-

Akaroa - lovely old French colony (and great fush'n'chups)

Lake Coleridge - so tranquil, beautiful scenery and nice walks, off the beaten track and rarely a soul about

Drive to Queenstown via Tekapo - totally spectacular (try going via Methven and avoid the boring, long and straight coastal road via Ashburton).

Kaikoura and the seal colony etc as you drive down from Picton.

Drive around the Lyttleton harbour, through Gov's Bay and on round to Diamond Harbour (stop at Godley House for a bite to eat) and then carry on via Purau, across the hills and via the bays of Banks Peninsula to Akaroa.

[veronica]

Have a look at some of the backpackers hostels, www.bbh.co.nz not sure if they would work out cheaper than motels with a family as the pricing tends to be per person rather than a room. But some of them are lovely and as they are self catering (shared kitchen) that may help them to work out cheaper.

[Carol]

I couldnt begin to tell you how stunning the West Coast is!

Seeing the Franz Josef glacier from the air was one of the most amazing experiences ever.

And I loved driving down the coastline - it was just lovely.

THe last time we were there - with my parents - my dad turned to me at one point and said - "Do you realise we have been driving for an hour and havent seen a single soul.

Astonishing eh?:cool:
Carol

[clg]

Thanks for all of the good tips Moorf! We are excited about this, I don't know if we will do the flight over a glacier or not Carol, not real excited about the idea of flying in a small plane or hellicopter! We will give the backpack option a thought, not so sure about that but since we have never even tried it we should at least give it a go.

Chris

[tigerlily]

Stop at Mt. Cook on the way over to Queenstown. I could not get over how few cars were on the Christchurch - Queenstown road. Yes, see the glaciers- Fox Glacier etc. They come right down to see level, amazing.

[Miffy]

Milford there is only one Backpacker accomodation in Milford itself and no other types of accomodation - at all!
However the town Te Anau is a short drive away with loads of different options. (backpackers to hotels)
The drive from Te Anau to Milford is spectaular.

When we went to Milford we spend the day sea kayaking. Everything was supplied, kayaks, paddles, and all colthing. Left about 10 and returned at 3 (in the summer then even supply lunch) web : http://www.kayakmilford.co.nz/
I can;t recomend the day enough its one of the best days ever. A pod of dolphines chased and played with for about 40 mins - amazing!
You don't need to be seasoned kayker, raw beginers like me did just fine.
You really get connected with amazing majesty of place.


But do take midge replient as the sand flies are a bit keen.

Trip to Foxes glaciers is another must.

Personally I prefer Wanaka to Queenstown as its a calmer and laid back and the view of the lake with the mountains takes my breath away. Q'town is a however a good base to see the place.
We stayed at: queenstown lodge : ( http://www.qlodge.co.nz/ )
They do family rooms and backpacker styles rooms with kitchen as well as regular hotel / motel rooms. Its not in the centre of town but has amazing views of the lake and the price include b'fast.

[Miffy]

I

THe last time we were there - with my parents - my dad turned to me at one point and said - "Do you realise we have been driving for an hour and havent seen a single soul.

Astonishing eh?:cool:
Carol

:laugh :laugh so true.

You often get people waving at you as the other car appraoches as they havent seen another person for such a while :laugh

[GeorgeM]

Personally I prefer Wanaka to Queenstown as its a calmer and laid back and the view of the lake with the mountains takes my breath away.
Beware Wanaka at New Year! There are a small number of places in NZ where all the Hoons like to congregate to have a 'good' time. For the South Island Wanaka is that place. For the few days either side of New Year it isn't the place to be (full of wanakas, in fact).

Outside of this, though, I'd agree with Moorf's comments re Wanaka.

A general comment on travelling in NZ over the extended Christmas period (anything from Christmas Day to the middle of January) - much of NZ closes down and takes to the hills/seaside. Towns can seem like ghost towns whilst places that are empty for much of the year can be heaving for a couple of weeks. If you're hoping to experience empty NZ you need to choose your spot very carefully. It can still be done - there's only 4 million people here after all - but where they are just shifts for a few weeks.

For example the camp site at Okains Bay on Banks Penninsular can be practically empty for most of the year but is bursting at the seams during the busy period. Nelson/Kaiteriteri is another place that gets very busy. South Otago, on the other hand, is probably more empty that at other times of the year (if this is possible) - we spend a couple of days on the beaches of the Otago Penninsular near Dunedin, temperature in the 80s, with no other people for miles.

And if you're wanting to rent a car during the Christmas peak do book early - they can get to a situation where all companies are sold out for a few days! A couple of years ago Avis had a problem with their booking system and 130 people turned up at Christchurch Airport to be told that they had no cars for 3 days, and that none of the other companies had any either!