New Zealand (south island) and road trip opinions

[AndyGoodyear]

Hi forum

My dad is coming to Australia for the first time in Feb and during this time we will visit NZ for 10 days. 7 of these days will be on the south island but as neither my dad or I have been to NZ before and I was hoping for some assistance/opinions on our stay and a road trip itinerary. Mainly, if I am judging the distances wrongly and being too optimistic. What is set is that we fly into Queenstown Monday afternoon and leave Christchurch the following Monday morning. Of course when we do our road trip I want plenty of time to stop, see the sights etc. Here is what I have:

Monday - arrive Queenstown
Tues, Wed, Thurs - spend this time in Queenstown including 1 day out to Milford Sound (either self drive or scenic flight-coach)
Friday - depart QT and drive up West Coast. Possibly stop overnight Franz Josef or Fox glacier.
Saturday - drive to Greymouth (I've been told I should go there?) and then head back south and into Arthurs Pass NP. Either stay overnight in APNP or continue on to Christchurch.
Sunday - Either spend the day in CC or drive to Kaikoura for whale watching. If I have not left enough time in the days prior for the rest of the road trip, the Sunday could be spent continuing through Arthurs Pass etc.

I would be really grateful to get some opinions, must sees etc. for this itinerary.

Thanks in advance

 

[ashleyn]

Hi forum

My dad is coming to Australia for the first time in Feb and during this time we will visit NZ for 10 days. 7 of these days will be on the south island but as neither my dad or I have been to NZ before and I was hoping for some assistance/opinions on our stay and a road trip itinerary. Mainly, if I am judging the distances wrongly and being too optimistic. What is set is that we fly into Queenstown Monday afternoon and leave Christchurch the following Monday morning. Of course when we do our road trip I want plenty of time to stop, see the sights etc. Here is what I have:

Monday - arrive Queenstown
Tues, Wed, Thurs - spend this time in Queenstown including 1 day out to Milford Sound (either self drive or scenic flight-coach)
Friday - depart QT and drive up West Coast. Possibly stop overnight Franz Josef or Fox glacier.
Saturday - drive to Greymouth (I've been told I should go there?) and then head back south and into Arthurs Pass NP. Either stay overnight in APNP or continue on to Christchurch.
Sunday - Either spend the day in CC or drive to Kaikoura for whale watching. If I have not left enough time in the days prior for the rest of the road trip, the Sunday could be spent continuing through Arthurs Pass etc.

I would be really grateful to get some opinions, must sees etc. for this itinerary.

Thanks in advance

Just done this a few weeks ago. Queenstown is well worth 3 days, you can do the goldola, shotover jet, Arrowtown, lake cruise. If you do either Milford or Doubtful Sounds, recommend don’t drive it the roads are a hard drive.

Drive up through the West Coast is some of the most stunning scenery you will ever see. Check that the Hast pass is open due to recent rock falls. Stay at Franz Joseph and “do” the glacier.

Greymouth is just a small town, would highly recommend dropping your car there and taking the trans alpine train to Christchurch. Spend a day in Christchurch before returning

 

[AndyGoodyear]

Just done this a few weeks ago. Queenstown is well worth 3 days, you can do the goldola, shotover jet, Arrowtown, lake cruise. If you do either Milford or Doubtful Sounds, recommend don’t drive it the roads are a hard drive.

Drive up through the West Coast is some of the most stunning scenery you will ever see. Check that the Hast pass is open due to recent rock falls. Stay at Franz Joseph and “do” the glacier.

Greymouth is just a small town, would highly recommend dropping your car there and taking the trans alpine train to Christchurch. Spend a day in Christchurch before returning

Hey Ashleyn - thanks for your reply. Do you think that the 2-3 days doing that drive then is realistic? People have told me about the Tranz Alpine train - I was just wondering though if we should do this or self drive arthurs pass which I have also heard is beautiful to do. How many days did you spend doing this? Is there much to see in Greymouth? If not we could always skip Greymouth and drive from FJ directly into Arthurs Pass.

 

[ashleyn]

Hey Ashleyn - thanks for your reply. Do you think that the 2-3 days doing that drive then is realistic? People have told me about the Tranz Alpine train - I was just wondering though if we should do this or self drive arthurs pass which I have also heard is beautiful to do. How many days did you spend doing this? Is there much to see in Greymouth? If not we could always skip Greymouth and drive from FJ directly into Arthurs Pass.

Queenstown to Franz Joseph is an easy day drive as is FJ to Greymouth. You can “see” Greymouth in a couple of hours but you have to come through it either way.

 

[JessicaTam]

When I was in NZ recently we did a 'lap' of the South Island as best we could. We did do the train from Christchurch to Greymouth, however next time would just go up to the pass, and then catch the bus back (without going all the way to Greymouth.

From memory I went to the backpackers reception to ask about the train and they said there was one in 20 minutes, so had missed it for that day. Back to the room, pack, into car to drive to the station, park the car, buy tickets and get on the train as it started moving! Who said we couldn't do it?!

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

When I was in NZ recently we did a 'lap' of the South Island as best we could. We did do the train from Christchurch to Greymouth, however next time would just go up to the pass, and then catch the bus back (without going all the way to Greymouth.

From memory I went to the backpackers reception to ask about the train and they said there was one in 20 minutes, so had missed it for that day. Back to the room, pack, into car to drive to the station, park the car, buy tickets and get on the train as it started moving! Who said we couldn't do it?!

That train trip is one of the most spectacular in the world. A Visual feast. Love the open-air observation car at the font of the train too!

 

[AndyGoodyear]

That train trip is one of the most spectacular in the world. A Visual feast. Love the open-air observation car at the font of the train too!

Would you recommend the train over the drive? We will only be travelling one direction (Greymouth - CHC) so need to try and choose between them!

 

[JessicaTam]

Would you recommend the train over the drive? We will only be travelling one direction (Greymouth - CHC) so need to try and choose between them!

The train.

 

[TraceyK90]

I second the train. There is a hire car depot at the train station in Greymouth, lovely drive to the glaciers. Make sure you stay here.