Best VA destination in NZ to start a Camper Drive Trip from

[mark4217]

Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone has comments as to which VA destination in NZ is best to start a drive holiday at Christmas.

We are flexible as to where we fly in and out from.

Thanks for any help.
M

 

[Nicholas Wood]

How long are you going for?

My recommendation would be in & out of Christchurch. Travel South to down the east coast to Queenstown, then up the West Coast via Hast. towards Abel Tasman/Nelson then through Marlborough and back to Christchurch.

Thats just my recommendation as a bias Cantabrian (You can skip the North Island all together.

Alternatively if you are staying for more than a couple of weeks follow the above plan as far as Marlborough and then jump on the ferry to Wellington and make your way up the North Island to Auckland and fly out of there.

 

[mark4217]

Hi Nicholas,

Thanks for that. We are going for 14 days from 15th Dec. OK, so in and out Christchurch. Your plan sounds great... So for 14 days we are better just to see South Island..

I'm Ok with that.

Thank... and if you have any other little secret spots please let me know. Much appreciated.

M

 

[Nicholas Wood]

consider something based on this:

https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=C...cVjSC8ybTFFmXmEhu8ABQ&oq=Chris&mra=ls&t=m&z=7

 

[samh004]

I'd have flown into ZQN, and travelled North, eventually hitting the North Island and leaving from AKL, though it really depends what you're into, what you want to see and do etc... summer is a busy time!

IMHO the only reason worth travelling South of ZQN is in the winter for some Bluff oysters fresh from the source

 

[mark4217]

Thanks samh004,
I was thinking I start in Christchurch down south to Bluff, then up to Queenstown along west coast to Marlborough and back to Christchurch. We should be able to
cover all that in 14 days,,,

Not sure what I'm into, just great scenery and eats..etc...

M

 

[mark4217]

Maybe we cut out Bluff...

 

[Nicholas Wood]

If you are going as far as Bluff I would highly recommend a couple of days on Stuart Island. It really is an untouched gem of NZ

 

[mark4217]

WOW, Stewart Island is nice. I just had a look on google images... really nice.. Yes, will take a look... Guess its a ferry from Bluff?

Cheers and thanks

 

[bass_ke]

we did 2 weeks on the south island in a rough circular route and loved it although it was in winter.

I absolutely preferred Wanaka over Queenstown, just that little bit more chilled out.

The west coast of the south island is great, rugged and wild!

 

[mark4217]

Wanaka is now on the itinerary.. many thanks... Starting to build a nice list of places..
Thanks very much.

 

[RB]

If you are looking at the South Island I can make some recommendations from our motorhome trip in 2009. We did a bit of reading on rankers.co.nz for background-great to get opinions on things. We had a great holiday & enjoyed visits to (not in order) Kaikoura, Blenheim, Havelock ( mussel pies) Hokitika, Westport (Carters Beach) Pohara in Golden Bay (well worth the drive) & Kerr Bay & Lake Rotoroa.
We also visited in 2010 & covered a bit of Nth Island-loved Hot Water Beach.
We used Gateway Motorhomes both times & they were great & I notice they are still owned by the same family. You are going to get slugged high season rates if you go at Xmas & things will be very busy at camps

 

[quokka77]

Highlights of the South Island:
Abel Tasman National Park (outside town of Nelson): I would recommend at least 2 to 3 days, maybe more.
Glaciers on the West Coast (if they are still accessible); Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier.
Brewery tours (eg Speights in Dunedin).
Wineries if you're into that.
You are probably too late to get onto the famous walking tracks near Milford Sound - these are on my bucket list, but I haven't done them yet.
Start booking things (like your camper for example), some of the good sites (possibly Abel Tasman, Wanaka) need to be reserved well in advance
check whether you can get a good deal on a one way heading North. Many people fly into Auckland and then drive south, then drop off their camper and fly out. Sometimes they have relocation specials (although you will need to cover ground quickly if you accept, but maybe you can a free day or something).
Bluff is a good photo op (there is a lighthouse with signposts to major world cities). THere is a similar lighthouse at the northern most tip of the north island (I have the matching set from my hitch-hiking days in the 1990s).
Have fun, this is a really good trip.
North Island is awesome too (I can post suggestions if you are keen), but if you are only going for two weeks, just pick one or the other.

 

[mark4217]

Lovely, thanks for that.. I will add this to my itinerary options.. Its looking pretty good now. I will check out Gateway Motorhomes.

Having trouble getting a Points tickets for 4pax to Christchurch
14th Dec OOL - Christchurch
28th Dec Christchurch -OOL

Will give Auckland a go.

no tickets.

Cheers..

 

[mark4217]

Thanks for the tips... Yes, just South Island I think... Dam, didn't think about booking camping sites...
Do you have to have them all booked in advance?
Have a 3 week USA trip in November, now by the sounds of it, this trip is needing much more attention to detail...
Thanks for the tips..

 

[phantompharter]

If you do end up spending some time around Christchurch then don't miss out on Akaroa. Its magic there.

 

[Warks]

We did a two week trip around the North Island in Sept-Oct last year and were planning on a three week trip around the South Island this January. However I left it too late to book with points (waiting for the fuel surcharge to go down?) with QF and I could never get any flights on VA with points even 12 months out to ZQN and I think CHC. Plan on doing it in Jan 2015 now.

Probably won't go with the camper van - have heard that it's no fun to be a driver on those mountain roads in one of them. We tend to stay in ensuite cabins in caravan parks (not those 'cabins' they have in NZ which are basically four walls a floor and a roof) or 'bach' type accommodation which is pretty reasonable. Not as cheap as camping but probably more enjoyable for the females of the species who don't like the treks to the showers and toilets at night!

But I am interested in the list of suggested places to visit. I've been to Christchurch (and Akaroa) and also to Queenstown - all work but nowhere else. It's hard to plot out a course without too much backtracking though. Also a circuit means you miss the middle. I guess we can always do another trip to fill in the blanks, after all it's easier and cheaper to get to than WA!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

If choosing the Sth Island, then I'd recommend a night out on Milford Sound. We did it years ago and it was absolutely spectacular. They take you out to the mouth, right up to the sheer rock faces and then moor closer in. After a day on the Sound and some wining and dining, you'll never have a better, more peaceful sleep! They'll motor under a waterfall (I was able to fill a glass with the tumbling water....no easy feat.....and was rewarded with a bottle of scotch) and we were also able to view seals and penguins (some rare breed....Emperor or King or something). For us, it was well worth the drive out there.

BTW, I'm surprised the mainlanders haven't piped up more about their beloved home to the nth! FWIW, I actually enjoy the Nth Island more than than the Sth. If you go there, the Coromandel is outsatnding, as is blackwater rafting through the Waitomo Caves. A hike up to the emerald coloured but still active and bubbling crater lake at the top of Mt Ruapehu is not to be missed (but please prepare for it as the weather can change very quickly). Rotorua is very touristy but certainly worth a look (and the downhill luge track is great fun). Also don't forget north of Auckland. Some great history up there (if you're into that) and you can still shop (I believe) in the old stone store at Keri Keri (the oldest stone building in NZ). The nearby Kemp House is known to be referred to as the "Cradle of Nationhood" because it was built by the missionaries who befriended and were protected by a powerful Maori leader and that association part led to the famous signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. One of my great, great, great grandfather was the carpenter that built Kemp House and according to my family folklore, his sister (my great, great, great aunt) gave birth to the first white child born in NZ. His father, (my great great great, great grandfather) was the captain of the Brig Active which ferried (and was owned by) his Paramatta neighbour, the Rev. Samual Marsden, who played a large part in the leadup to the Treaty of Waitangi.

Perhaps it was just my family connections to the area (no I'm not a Kiwi), but I found the whole Bay of Islands area to be not just beautiful, but steeped in History that I could relate to and found (still find) very interesting. Reading Rev. Marsdens biography is like reading a who's who of Australian development (all the biggies were his friends, neighbours, enemies etc like Macquarie, Forbes, Brisbane, King, Banks, Bligh etc) and I found NZs Bay of Islands to be similarly as enthrawling (although very different) to a walk through Sydneys Rocks district. Not to missed in my books, but as others have said, you need a lot more than 2 weeks to see NZ and please note, due to all the bends and hills and narrow little roads, it takes far longer to drive a km over there than what it does here, so add more time to your travel calculations!

Best start planning your next trip now......you'll need it!