[moe]

Hey Everyone :::waves::: :)

My friend and I will be going to NZ in December for 4 weeks, until early Jan, and I am currently trying to work out where is best to visit while we are there. We will be flying into Christchurch, then getting a Motorhome van to go around in. We have planned to stay in the South for the majority of the time then are going to catch one of the Ferries back to the North (with the van) and travel up to Auckland to fly out.

Have been told the boat trip from South to North is extremely beautiful, so definitely am looking forward to the scenery along the way. We have been to Auckland before and travelled around the North for a week, Rotorua etc. So hoped approx. 5 days to travel from the Ferry drop-off up to Auckland would be enough time? (hoping to spend as much time in the South as possible)

Was hoping you guys might let me know where you think is the best places to visit to in the South? Or places that are not well known tourist areas but are definitely worth the drive to? I know that sometimes the best places to see are when you come across a beautiful place when lost or off the 'beaten track'. It's happened to me before a lot, lol!

Also, as we will be there over Christmas and New Year, is there anywhere known where we should 'stay clear' of in the South over that time period? I've heard Wanaka is a place not to go to over New Year. Do you know of anywhere else in the South we should not go to?

Do you know of any beautiful scenic routes we should drive along, and is it best to drive along the East or West coast first? Any preference as to which one would be best to do first? Once we hit Christchurch, we're not really sure where to go to first.....

And lastly, as out van is equipped to pull over to spend the night and not have to go to camp sites every night, does anyone know if it's okay to just pull over virtually anywhere throughout NZ (South) in the countryside to spend the night, or would we be in trouble with the police if we did? I know some countries only have certain places you can pull over to sleep in a van, but I wasn't sure if NZ did?

Thanks a lot guys! Sorry for so many questions, I just have so much in my head trying to work everything out and trying to get some sort of an itinery together. Thanks so much. Any info at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! :raebanana

Moe aka Jo

[marcia]

Jo just wanted to say welcome properly on the borad - know we've pm'd a bit about the motorhome - but make a note that you have to empty the waste water at approved stations not just down any drain you find - there is a hefty fine if you do.

Can't help on the south Island stuff but someone will come along soon that will know for sure!1

have a great time and welcome to the forum and the world of the nutters!! :D

[Smiler]

Hi Jo

I'll let the peeps from the SI come up with their recommendations (and then follow you round in February when we visit with MIL :laugh)

Just wanted to say welcome to the forum. :clap

[nippa&pippa]

done tour around south island with campervan, fab :nice1 Pancake rock is worth a visit, as well as fox's gracier. wish had more time to visit malford sounds and hammer springs but will do next time! queen charlotte drive is very neckbreaking route but beautiful views. the route in south island took longer to get around from one place to another, so don't expect you get there quick as long winding road doesn't appear on the map!! so allow few hours to get from a to b if look like just an hour to get there! :laugh and also watch your diesel levels as petrol stations is spread out!
Sophia

[Angie and Mick]

Moe

The camp sites are great. If you are considering staying at the TOP Ten sites it is worth buying the discount card. As stated above Fox Glaziers worth a visit as are Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki and Blow holes, need to time this right to see Blow holes. Depending on what you want to do, i.e. if planning to swim with the dolphins as this may also decide where you want to go. If you are planning to swim with the dolphins I think the best place is Kaikoura, best to book in advance. We could not get a suitable date there so we drove to Akaroa, which is a beautiful place as well and swam with the hector dolphin there. I must say though I did not see a great deal, water murky and choppy however oh said I had a lot of dolphins swimming around me. It is a shame it was to choppy to film, oh had to look after 3yrs old. Not sure if you have children. If you do and you and your partner want to swim I would say no, paid for both of us, they would not take one fee although only one of us could swim at a time. Mick spent little time in the water.

We stopped at many places, liked Queenstown, and went up the gondola, great views. Came down the Luge, great fun. Great 10 Ten in Queenstown, not the cheapest but definitely handy for walking into the centre. Not far from Queenstown you can go to the Shotover that was good. The bungee jumping as you go towards Queenstown. (Did NOT do that) I think that is the first place they did it.

If you stop at Punakaiki a camp site at the bottom of hill, pub at the entrance to it, do meals.


It is definitely worth planning your route. We went MId Nov to December. The only place we pre booked with the campsites, or would recommend to would be at the Glaciers, Queenstown Top Ten.

Have a great trip
. :)

[moe]

Aww, that you guys for such a sweet, warm, welcome! Y'all are so kind and it's so great to be here :)

Marcia thanks so much for the PMing help, it really has helped me a lot, thanks a bunch. Thanks for the info regarding the waste water, I will most definitey follow your instructions.

Thank you Sohpia for all the info too! Greatly appreicate it. Thanks for the tip about the routes in the South taking more time than first thought would be needed. I will definitely take that into heed when planning where to go from one place to the next. Also thanks for the diesel level tip! I didn't know the stations were far apart in the South, so I will keep that in mind and fill up regularly.

Angie thanks for all the info about the campsites and TOP Ten sites. They sound awesome. I had heard about them before, but it's good to hear of ppl who have stayed at them before so you know that they are a good one to stop at and reliable. Sounds like they can book up fast, but as we don't know where we'll be just yet, I don't think I can pre-book any just yet, but the Glacier one sounds like one that we should once we know when we'll be there. Thanks for the tip about the discount card, that sounds really good. And wow! Swimming with the dolphins! That would be so nice. No don't have any children, so that's ok for that part of it. Akaroa sounds great. The gondola in Queenstown sounds like scary fun! lol. I must try it. Was it expensive?

Bungee jumping, on the other hand, I don't know if I'll try that, lol. Thanks for the info about Punakaiki camp site and the pub that does meals too.

Smiler you're more than welcome to follow my route! LOL! Thanks for the warm welcome :)

Thanks again guys for all the information and places/routes mentioned to visit and drive down, this has helped me a lot and means a lot to me, thanks!

~ Jo

[Angie and Mick]

Hi Moe

Gondola for adults is $20.00. See link for information on cost for the Luge.

Some of sites which may help with deciding an itinerary

Happy Hols.


http://www.skyline.co.nz/

http://nzsouth.co.nz/pleasantlodge/

http://www.camp.co.nz/ Creeksyde top ten Queenstown.

www.shotoverjet.com Queenstown

One of the companys that do the helicopter rides at glaciers.
www.glacierhelicopters.co.nz

http://www.jasons.com/ Information to help with travelling.

[moe]

Oh my gosh! Thank you sooooooooooooo much! This is excellent and will help me so much, I'm going to check out the links right away. That is so sweet of you to provide that information for me (and for the price of the Gondola) Thank you so much!

Top stuff! :nice1

Thank you for the holiday wishes too, we truly can't wait, we are SO excited!

<-- happy happy joy joy :raebanana :raebanana :raebanana