New Zealand - South Island

[irv]

So after a major disruption & tragedy in our lives, I have simply been a lurker on this site. I have posted a few previous enquiries about New Zealand, the trip is booked to the south island in 6 weeks. We are taking our grandson, aged 11 with us for his first overseas trip, and his first flight(s). Our plans are;


Christchurch
Kaikoura
Nelson
Punakaiki
Franz Josef
Milford Sound
Te Anau
Wanaka
Mt Cook & surrounds
Queenstown
Dunedin
Christchurch

Will try and TR same.

 

[Denali]

I love NZ, hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[VPS]

Hope this helps relieve some of the angst and you have a great time

 

[RB]

Hope the weather gods are friendly and you have a great time. What form of transport/accomodation are you using are you using?

 

[irv]

Hope this helps relieve some of the angst and you have a great time

I hope it will, hard on kids when they lose the most important person in their world. We are about to introduce him to the world of travel which we are sure he will enjoy. And an excuse for us to travel for him.

 

[jb747]

New Zealand is a wonderful place, and I’m always surprised that more Australians don’t make the minimal effort required to go there. Close enough to go for a weekend. We’ve just come back from a week on the north island, staying in Auckland, and then down near the Hobbits. Next I’ll try Wellington and Napier.

 

[Dr Bob]

Did the same trip in reverse several years ago. At Kiakoura take a day fishing trip ( about 5 hrs) if you can. My mate & I ended up with about 3kg of blue cod & 6 crays. What a feed for the 4 of us. Also just north of Kiakoura is a little advertised creek with a walk up to a seal nursery under a little waterfall. Around 40 babies when we where there & up so close. A local shop keeper told us about it.
I know you will have a great time.

 

[irv]

Hope the weather gods are friendly and you have a great time. What form of transport/accomodation are you using are you using?

Hiring a car, booked into various accommodation as we travel around. Yes weather maybe an issue, but hey, we are on holidays

 

[irv]

Did the same trip in reverse several years ago. At Kiakoura take a day fishing trip ( about 5 hrs) if you can. My mate & I ended up with about 3kg of blue cod & 6 crays. What a feed for the 4 of us. Also just north of Kiakoura is a little advertised creek with a walk up to a seal nursery under a little waterfall. Around 40 babies when we where there & up so close. A local shop keeper told us about it.
I know you will have a great time.

Can you give me a bit more info on both, I am a keen fisher, and seal nursery would be great for my grandson, and us as well. Thanks

 

[Dr Bob]

Can you give me a bit more info on both, I am a keen fisher, and seal nursery would be great for my grandson, and us as well. Thanks

The fishing wharf is on the southern side of a little headland & fishing trips were advertised on boards at the wharf. We just organised the evening before & went out to a reef about 1/2 hr out. Several boats where within view & the boats have there own cray pots out. there was around 7 on our boat & we caught heaps. Fish was filleted by the crew guy on the way in & we took what we wanted with the boat keeping the rest. Crays were divided up at 3 per person (only 5 wanted them) & another 6 or so for the boat. All gear supplied & I think around $50 NZ each.
The seal pup nursery might be 15 to 20 mins up the coast. It is past the cray caravan & the train tunnel (both obvious) & has a parking spot on the right just over a short bridge beside the beach. A scenic walk was sign posted on the other side of the road with no mention of the seals. We did see seals within the first 50 meters of the creek walk with another 50 to 100 meters up to the main area. I remember when we got back home there was a news item from NZ about the slaughter of seal pups at Kiakoura at this area so I hope it is still there.

 

[akmacca]

Queenstown and Milford are some of my favourite places in the world. Queenstown never sleeps and calls itself the Adventure Capital of the World for a good reason. Make sure you take a jetboat ride while you are there as well as a visit to Bobs Peak and Walter Peak High Country Farm on the beautiful TSS Earnslaw. One of the bugbears of travelling to Milford is the long journey there and back. Stay in Te Anau and visit Milford from there as it cuts down each way travel if staying in Queenstown by four hours.

 

[Tassieoptom]

Can you give me a bit more info on both, I am a keen fisher, and seal nursery would be great for my grandson, and us as well. Thanks

There will be options to canal fish (escaped salmon from the breeding pens) in the high country around Mt Cook, near Tekapo. Often motels will loan rods and gear.
Also options to trout fish. South Island Fly Fishing - Wild Trout Fishing | Tourism New Zealand

My boy enjoyed fishing in NZ at about that age.

 

[Major]

When in Dunedin you must take the Taieri Gorge train trip Taieri Gorge Railway and Otago Train Journeys | Dunedin Railways

Your grandson will love it.

 

[Ralphie]

Such a beautiful trip ahead. It’s such a gorgeous country. That’s a wonderful itinerary.

Arrowtown outside of Queenstown is a sweet little village.

Hope you have a wonderful time, that helps with healing.

 

[Milboo]

Can you give me a bit more info on both, I am a keen fisher, and seal nursery would be great for my grandson, and us as well. Thanks

Ohau Point is closed following the earthquake - it was one of the worst hit areas. There are still lots of seals along the coast but there was still a lot of roadworks around that area too from the last I heard.

 

[Milboo]

New Zealand is a wonderful place, and I’m always surprised that more Australians don’t make the minimal effort required to go there. Close enough to go for a weekend. We’ve just come back from a week on the north island, staying in Auckland, and then down near the Hobbits. Next I’ll try Wellington and Napier.

Always happy to share tips for Napier/ Hawkes Bay as that’s my home region.

 

[kermatu]

Hope you all have a wonderful time. It's a great part of the world.

 

[irv]

Queenstown and Milford are some of my favourite places in the world. Queenstown never sleeps and calls itself the Adventure Capital of the World for a good reason. Make sure you take a jetboat ride while you are there as well as a visit to Bobs Peak and Walter Peak High Country Farm on the beautiful TSS Earnslaw. One of the bugbears of travelling to Milford is the long journey there and back. Stay in Te Anau and visit Milford from there as it cuts down each way travel if staying in Queenstown by four hours.

We are actually staying at Milford Sound, bit exy but will be worth it. Thanks for the other tips as well.

 

[irv]

When in Dunedin you must take the Taieri Gorge train trip Taieri Gorge Railway and Otago Train Journeys | Dunedin Railways

Your grandson will love it.

Thanks Major, I have been looking at this.

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks Major, I have been looking at this.

I definitely recommend it as well.