Two weeks in December on the South Island

Hello, group!

I'm new to this group, but I've read over quite a few of the threads and
noticed some high-quality members. So, I would appreciate your input
(suggestions/experiences/opinions) on any or all of the following points.

My wife and I are planning a two week trip of the South Island by rented
car, starting in Picton (we'll be coming from Auckland) and proceeding in a
counter-clockwise direction - ie. down the west side and back up the east
side - taking as much time as we need to enjoy scenery, wildlife, and some
activities such as short trecks (on foot, horse, or bike), beaches, maybe a
balloon ride, kayaking, etc. - nothing too rigorous :-) The plan is to go
this December (6th to 20th). Here are my questions:

1) What do you think about the time of the year as far as weather, cost
(everything costs more in the high season), other tourists (too many people
like us around on a "secluded" beach), school holidays (no vacancies), etc.?
Is booking ahead absolutely necessary for those dates? Would you recommend
going at another time of the year? If so, when is the best (for price and
climate)?

2) Which is better: a car or a sleeper van?

3) Do the national/regional parks charge an entry fee? If so, how much? And
is there a pass you can buy for entry into all of them which costs less?

4) How much would you budget for other activities (ex., balloon
ride/flight/or-whatever-you-call-it, boat ride in the Milford Sound, things
like that)? I noticed a trip on a boat around Nelson is around $50/person.
Would you say most such activities are in that price range? I know there is
no way you can do it all, so how much would one realistically be able to do
(and spend) in two weeks?

5) What's your opinion on bypassing (skipping) Queenstown, Central Otago,
and Wanaka - basically the southern "interior" part - and just sticking to
the coastline? Would we miss too much, or can we see the same in other
parts?

OK, enough. As I said before, I'd appreciate an answer to any or all of the
above. Thanks in advance.

Eryk

Eryk Jomski <ex056@freenet.carleton.ca> wrote:

> 1) What do you think about the time of the year as far as weather, cost
> (everything costs more in the high season), other tourists (too many people
> like us around on a "secluded" beach), school holidays (no vacancies), etc.?
> Is booking ahead absolutely necessary for those dates? Would you recommend
> going at another time of the year? If so, when is the best (for price and
> climate)?

This is a good time of year. Less busy than Jan/Feb. You won't have any
problems on beaches.

> 2) Which is better: a car or a sleeper van?

It's a toss-up. Camper vans cost more, but then you don't need to pay for
accomodation. They are a bit more cumbersome to drive. If you get one, make
sure you let the people behind you pass often.

> 3) Do the national/regional parks charge an entry fee? If so, how much? And
> is there a pass you can buy for entry into all of them which costs less?

National parks etc are free.

> 4) How much would you budget for other activities (ex., balloon
> ride/flight/or-whatever-you-call-it, boat ride in the Milford Sound, things
> like that)? I noticed a trip on a boat around Nelson is around $50/person.
> Would you say most such activities are in that price range? I know there is
> no way you can do it all, so how much would one realistically be able to do
> (and spend) in two weeks?

I don't have pricing info, but you may want to consider Doubtful sound as an
alternative to Milford. Milford Sound can get very busy, but as there is no
road access to Doubtful it is more peaceful. You can do all-day trips to
Doubtful sound from Manapouri.

> 5) What's your opinion on bypassing (skipping) Queenstown, Central Otago,
> and Wanaka - basically the southern "interior" part - and just sticking to
> the coastline? Would we miss too much, or can we see the same in other
> parts?

You have to go via Haast Pass & central Otago to exit the southern west
coast. Queenstown is a tourist trap. Some people like that sort of thing,
but if it's not you, skip it. You can pass through and enjoy the scenery for
free 8-).

in article bgqp12$1a$1@freenet9.carleton.ca, Eryk Jomski at
ex056@freenet.carleton.ca wrote on 7/8/03 12:34 AM:

> Hello, group!
>
> I'm new to this group, but I've read over quite a few of the threads and
> noticed some high-quality members. So, I would appreciate your input
> (suggestions/experiences/opinions) on any or all of the following points.
(snip)
> 5) What's your opinion on bypassing (skipping) Queenstown, Central Otago,
> and Wanaka - basically the southern "interior" part - and just sticking to
> the coastline? Would we miss too much, or can we see the same in other
> parts?

Another thing to think about is where, in Canada, do you come from - IMO the
Icefields parkway in Alberta is heaps more spectacular than Highway 8
through the centre of the SI (although I love the sparse grandeur of the
Mckenzie Country) also if you are from an inland province you'll enjoy the
wild coastal scenery of NZ; but if you come from the East, then perhaps you
should do the inland scenic route, as well as some of the beaches around
Nelson.

vicki

Saskatchewan & Ontario - haven't seen much of the mountains or of the ocean
:-(

"vicki Steven" <vicki.steven@paradise.net.nz> wrote in message
news:BB5ACAD1.1CA3E%vicki.steven@paradise.net.nz.. .
> in article bgqp12$1a$1@freenet9.carleton.ca, Eryk Jomski at
> ex056@freenet.carleton.ca wrote on 7/8/03 12:34 AM:
>
> > Hello, group!
> >
> > I'm new to this group, but I've read over quite a few of the threads and
> > noticed some high-quality members. So, I would appreciate your input
> > (suggestions/experiences/opinions) on any or all of the following
points.
> (snip)
> > 5) What's your opinion on bypassing (skipping) Queenstown, Central
Otago,
> > and Wanaka - basically the southern "interior" part - and just sticking
to
> > the coastline? Would we miss too much, or can we see the same in other
> > parts?
>
> Another thing to think about is where, in Canada, do you come from - IMO
the
> Icefields parkway in Alberta is heaps more spectacular than Highway 8
> through the centre of the SI (although I love the sparse grandeur of the
> Mckenzie Country) also if you are from an inland province you'll enjoy the
> wild coastal scenery of NZ; but if you come from the East, then perhaps
you
> should do the inland scenic route, as well as some of the beaches around
> Nelson.
>
> vicki
>