Looking at booking a trip to the South Island over Chrissy / NYE (about 7 days). Would love to do some outdoor activities (hiking, zorbing etc) and just looking for suggestions on the best places to go.
Suggestions for New Zealand South Island?
MollyJ77 on 29/08/2022 - 15:29
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Awesome! Thank you - is it easily accessible from Queenstown?
You can drive to Milford from Queenstown approx 4hrs
If you don't want to drive, there's also coach busses that can take you there. Most have a coach + cruise package to Milford Sound. It'll be a whole day trip.
The view from the Queenstown Skyline is incredible. The buffet is meh.
I second both of these. The day I did the Milford Sound trip was rainy and miserable but the cruise was still amazing.
Do keep in mind the road to Milford Sound quite often gets closed in bad weather etc and there is a long tunnel where you have to turn on your lights and many forget to switch them off when you get out of it.
Suggestions for New Zealand South Island?
I think it should stay where it it…
Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo
Wanaka is beautiful and worth staying for a night or two. You can hike Roy's Peak while you're there.
Mackenzie Alpine Horse Trekking is a great way to see Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki. Worth every cent! Maybe add a half day trip to Arrowtown while you're in QT for their famous pies
I am actually going on November, so following this thread. Going for 12 days.
Keen to get peoples view on the best SIM CARD to get for best bang for buck data plan for this period
The best SIM card is 100% the Kogan Mobile $5 15GB Prepaid. Can get it sent to your hotel or Airbnb address in the mail, takes about 14 days so make sure to order early so you get the SIM pack.
Data is expensive in NZ, this is definitely the cheapest and best option as it includes calls to AU free also.
Get a few in separate orders if you need more data and just activate them each time you run out.
Can you buy this Kogan Mobile $5 15GB Prepaid SIM and delivered to Australian no? Also how is the network particularly outside CBD's? Any option to buy this prepaid sim in the Airport or Shopping Centre like Woolworths etc?
We went from Christchurch to Queenstown via the eastern route much more scenic - took much longer than what Google mentioned (we left 4AM and arrived at Queenstown at 7PM). We visited Hokitika, Wanaka, Milford Sound (we did a tour), Mt Cook (would've loved to stay overnight and do some hiking through there), Lake Tekapo and for some reason, took a daytrip to Bluff (it was meh).
Lake Hawea was amazing - to be honest, I've never seen water like that before, literally looked like a deep blue silk cover
The return trip via the western route was a bit bland- just alot of farmland. Although, Arthurs Pass was quite nice.
Great place for a roadtrip - wife and I are thinking of going back and staying a bit longer, we only stayed a week and driving around took much of the time.
Thanks for sharing these ideas. I was only planning on going for about a week - would you say this isn't really enough time? I was only planning to go to Queenstown and surrounds - or would you recommend the drive down from Christchurch? Is there anything worth seeing in Christchurch?
You got your west/east backwards :D
Sup, been in central South Island for 3+ months now, and have covered area extensively, and also other places in previous years. Ask Me Anything.
OP, you say a week? Fly in/out of Queenstown? A week ain't much - I'd probably stick to that area and check it out in detail, lots to do.
If you're doing for two+ weeks, a trip to Christchurch via Pukaki/Tekapo. Side trips of Arthur's Pass (recommend), Kaikoura, and Akaroa.
Quick dump of highly recommended places to go: (I really like nature)
North:
- Nelson, Blenheim, and surrounds.
- Some Great Walks to be done here if you're into that.
- Wineries. Cruises.
- North-west is crazy cool mountain wilderness forest, though check if it's recovered from wildfires.East Coast:
- Link in with adjoining areas.
- Kaikoura - surf meets the snow capped mountains. Kayaking. Seals, dolphins, whales. Earthquake-affected land.
- Arthur's Pass - LotR territory. Desolate wilderness. Epic vistas. Awesome hikes. Caves, trails, waterfalls. Castle Rock. Can snow in winter.
- Akaroa - the whole big crater peninsula east of CHCH. Can spend a few days here easily. Chill, farmstead. Hikes. Wildlife cruises.
- Hamner Springs - good spot for a night or two destress. Planted pine forest area. Hot springs. Lovely euro-inspired town.West Coast:
- Only go here if you're planning a few days+. It's not close or easy to get to. Link with CHCH area maybe.
- Hokitika Gorge
- Punakaiki Natl Park
- Further south are Tasman and Franz Josef Glaciers.
- The road even more south could be cool. But then you're committing to Otago area.Middle:
- Mackenzie District. Link with adjoining areas. Good spot to stopover or explore if going CHCH <-> Queenstown area.
- Fairlie bakehouse for morning tea pie stop
- Lake Tekapo - "peninsula walk" for best viewpoint, if strapped for time. Ignore the township, it sucks. "Church" if very time crunched.
- Lake Pukaki - ignore townships, they suck. Salmon farm? Drive into Mt Cook and stop at Peters Lookout for best accessible viewpoint. Mt Cook views with lake in foreground, and lake shore access.
- Mt Cook / Aoraki - def recommend. Highly iconic mountain, easily accessible from a huge area. Tasman Glacier viewpoint. Hooker Valley track is iconic. You get really close to some epic mountains - europe is needed to get similar experience.
- Clay Cliffs for photo stop on the way.
- If spending time in the area, ping me, I have covered in pretty high detail, so can continue with tips.Otago / Queenstown:
- Don't know too much. Web is filled with ideas.
- Sidetrip to Fiordland in south west and go on a 'sound' cruise, mega highly recommended.South-east:
- Dunedin as gateway. Cool enough city. University town. Plenty to see.
- Tunnel Beach highly recommended.
- Dunedin <-> Oamaru is mildly interesting with some stops on the way. Moeraki Boulders.
- Oamaru <-> CHCH is boring and flat.
- I'm unsure of the area more south of Dunedin, or generally south to Invercargill. Check web.Thanks so much for this! My original plan was for a week flying in / out of Queenstown, but now I think I should try to extend my trip a little and see some other places.
I'd love any tips you have for Mt Cook or Clay Cliffs or the surrounding areas.
@StickMan thanks for the details, never been to NZ and I am thinking of visiting mid-late November. My original plan was to make the trip on a Campervan but have received mixed messages hence becoming skeptical. 2 adults and 2 teens but would like to enjoy the trip and not in a rushed mode so do you think 10days enough or two weeks would be ideal? I have heard people saying you can cover North & South in a week but reading your post doesn't give me that kinda sense.
How is Airbnb in NZ and what would be best place to stay in South Island and cover most places?
R&A festival is on 29-31 DEC if you like festivals, I got asked to be a bar manager but I think I might head home to AUS soon.
Milford Sound is worth the travel (described by some as the 8th wonder of the world)