Where to go with free flight :)

[kamchatsky]

Yeah and also worried about the road between te anau and milford sound....I haven't driven on NZ roads before let alone this road So having said that may pass on the drive from te anau to milford. The drive from Queenstown to Te Anau, was that easy? I suppose the drive from Queenstown to Te Anau is like SYD-CBR a bit less maybe ?

Also is there anything to see that warrants a 2.5hours drive from Queenstown to Te Anau? Bearing in mind a 22 month old in the back seat

Not between Queenstown and Te Anau. Beautiful scenery are between Te Anau and Milford Sound.

Roads are all single lane so not like SYD to CBR but hardly any cars on the road.

But since you have 22month old suggest you stay around ZQN. It is beautiful as it is.

Sent from my V9 using AustFreqFly

 

[k3nnis]

ok thanks edison. As you can see I am debating between ZQN and CNS. But leaning towards ZQN. I am also thinking about going to ZQN in october instead of dec/jan, but not sure how cold it is in october... And hopefully 6 nights is not too long in ZQN

 

[Ric]

I went fishing late Oct early November

What's the fishing like there in Oct? Am thinking of using my free flight to go fishing!

 

[sutho58]

Anytime you can get away fishing is a good time , Oct is start of the season on the south island and there is a large number of good rivers within 2 hours drive of Queenstown.

 

[sutho58]

k3nnis,, just google Queenstown skiing, and check what the snow cover is like,, late October is late spring and normally the snow has melted and the weather is beautiful,, the drive from Queenstown to Wanaka is very picturesque. There is a look out just out of Arrow town that gives you a view back over the top of Queenstown.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks I will check it out. Now trying to see if I should go to ZQN in Oct,Nov,Dec or Jan

 

[Ric]

Sutho58, many thanks. Will mostly be doing the trip then.

 

[k3nnis]

Hi Ric,

Welcome to the club Slight hassle is that I think only 1 flight per week from SYD-ZQN on DJ Metal.

Sutho58, many thanks. Will mostly be doing the trip then.

 

[kamchatsky]

Thanks I will check it out. Now trying to see if I should go to ZQN in Oct,Nov,Dec or Jan

Well if you go in Dec/early Jan you will have very long daylight. The sun does not set until 10pm!!!!!

Well instead of just staying in ZQN for 7 days you can always drive northern loop to Wanaka, Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook, and stay at 1 night each.

Lake Tekapo has one of the best skies to see Milky Way. You can see it with your naked eye when it is completely dark. It was an amazing experience. Of course the lake is very beautiful itself.

Welcome to Earth and Sky! We provide stargazing tours and astrophotography in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand's Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve

On southern loop of course you can go to Te Anau and Milford Sound/Doubtful Sound and do the cruise.

So as you can see, you easily fill 1 week worth of activity based from ZQN alone. I have been there twice and I will definitely going there again in the future!

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks edison. I think I have made up my mind of not going to milford as I have a 20 month old daughter. Basically nothing more than a 2 hour drive away... So I guess up to Te Anau... And would prefer to base in ZQN. I suppose wanaka is drivable as well...

Did you go there in Summer? Does it get hot like SYD summer?

 

[etops1]

It would be a shame to miss Milford, it is spectacular. Flying takes 35mins though I agree it is quite expensive, I paid ~A$320pp including a cruise on the Sound (or more correctly, the fjord) when I was over there this month.
Lots of kids around the town, school hols probably Seemed plenty of stuff around to keep them occupied.

 

[k3nnis]

Yeah will probably go again next time when my daughter is older. It must have been really cold or even snow when you were there this month? ?

It would be a shame to miss Milford, it is spectacular. Flying takes 35mins though I agree it is quite expensive, I paid ~A$320pp including a cruise on the Sound (or more correctly, the fjord) when I was over there this month.
Lots of kids around the town, school hols probably Seemed plenty of stuff around to keep them occupied.

 

[kamchatsky]

Thanks edison. I think I have made up my mind of not going to milford as I have a 20 month old daughter. Basically nothing more than a 2 hour drive away... So I guess up to Te Anau... And would prefer to base in ZQN. I suppose wanaka is drivable as well...

Did you go there in Summer? Does it get hot like SYD summer?

Even in Summer southern NZ is pretty cool. Looking at around 15-20 degrees, and sometimes 5 degrees at night!


I would not go to Te Anau if I am not going to Milford/Doubtful Sound though. I would rather go to Wanaka/Mount Cook Village/Lake Tekapo loop.

If you want to go to Milford you can join those 1 day bus-cruise tours from ZQN. It saves you hassle to drive there.



Also given you have a daughter you should do TSS Earnslaw Lake Cruises and as part of it, the Walter Peak High Country Farm tour.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks Edison. I will give Te Anau a miss then. Yeah I looked at the 1 day tour for Milford by bus from ZQN but I think it's too long in a bus for the 20 month old Everyone on the bus will be my enemy

Even in Summer southern NZ is pretty cool. Looking at around 15-20 degrees, and sometimes 5 degrees at night!


I would not go to Te Anau if I am not going to Milford/Doubtful Sound though. I would rather go to Wanaka/Mount Cook Village/Lake Tekapo loop.

If you want to go to Milford you can join those 1 day bus-cruise tours from ZQN. It saves you hassle to drive there.



Also given you have a daughter you should do TSS Earnslaw Lake Cruises and as part of it, the Walter Peak High Country Farm tour.

 

[etops1]

Yeah will probably go again next time when my daughter is older. It must have been really cold or even snow when you were there this month? ?

Yea, got down to minus 7 at night and about plus 5 degrees during the day when the sun came out
The mountain peaks looked a lot better with a cap of snow on them.

I can definitely recommend the 45 minute drive out to Glenorchy which goes along the northern edge of Lake Wakatipu. It's only a small town but you can get decent lunch and the scenery there and along the way is superlative even compared to the majesty of the general area. A famous scene from the Lord of the Rings was filmed at some point along the road; haven't seen the film (or read the books) so I dunno which one it was but the view was amazing.

 

[sutho58]

I can definitely recommend the 45 minute drive out to Glenorchy which goes along the northern edge of Lake Wakatipu. It's only a small town but you can get decent lunch and the scenery there and along the way is superlative even compared to the majesty of the general area. A famous scene from the Lord of the Rings was filmed at some point along the road; haven't seen the film (or read the books) so I dunno which one it was but the view was amazing.[/QUOTE]

+1

A fishing guide I had once suggested that I take the drive to fill in some time.. I got there and thought "what the hell am I doing here" very small town with some nice cafes and some great scenery.. when I phoned my wife she asked me what the drive was like? and I told her it took me about 1 1/2 hours with stops to take photo's.. hence,, "it's not the destination,, it's the journey". which is one of the great things about fly fishing, the scenery, even if you don't catch anything..

 

[k3nnis]

Hi Guys,

I have booked for november to go to ZQN. So hopefully nice weather and a smooth flight there and back