South Island Trip 10 days - Suggestions on planning trip?

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mareeclara

It really depends on what you want to do!!!!!!
I have lived in Christhcurch for many years on and off and love it....however I am not sure of the tourist views ( I know its well liked).
I have added the whalewatch site, that does the whalewatching in Kaikoura, so you can e-mail or check if its open on Chrsitmas Day....I would personally be surprised if its open!!!

Are you taking a car??? Its around a 21/2hr drive from chch to Kaikoura...thats no stops and local driving...it will probably take you longer.
Hanmer Springs...from Kaikoura...hmm don't know, but you can take the back ( gravelled roads) which will proably be a couple of hours drive/
Hanmer to Greymouth....just ot point out, I prefer Hokitika over Greymouth which is cuter..there is less "civilsation"on the West Coast and they lack some facilities...just to point out. I have never heard of the French Colony....I only thought Akaroa near Chch was the only French place around)
Greymouth to Franz is around 1 1/2hr drive ( again me driving, so add extra time).....some of these roads are windy ( in fact lots of roads here are windy).....I worked at Franz for 6 months and find the whole area lovely in sightseeing!! sooooooooo pretty, with great reflective lakes ( eg Lake Matheson near Fox Glacier).....
The Franz to Queenstown will be a decent drive.....its around 2-3hrs drive to Haast and then another couple of hrs to Queenstown I think....lots in Queenstown!!!
Never been to the Milford Sound....hairy tunnel ( Homer Tunnel) to drive thru, but I envy you seeing that place!!!!!Milford to Chch will also be a long drive.....proably a good day ( if you stop anywhere).

It probably doens't matter which way you drive around to be honest, but it proably will be busy, so driving times will be longer due to traffic....and ok we don;t have massive traffic jams, but the nature of the roads means there are not many places to pass on the roads and slow drivers ( ok tourists in general) tend to drive very slowly on open roads eg 50-60km per hr on 100km per hr roads) and hold up traffic.

There are probably a few little places to visit on the West Coast I like eg Ship Creek...lovely little easy walks..off the main road...you may need a map to see it, but its sooo pretty and you can do a forest and a beach walk.
The forest around the West Coast is truely breathtaking...especially in the rain!!! ( where there is a lot of there, especially in Spring and into summer), but you just take it in your stride and have fun.

Have a great time.

suzzie

wow I think you have already got your answers, you seem to have planned a great trip. I'm here in Christchurch right now on holiday from West Australia and I love it. I'm doing transalpine train trip from ch to greymouth tomorrow, then going skiing in Mt Hutt next day. Then Franz Josefs next week. Enjoy every minute cos I have so far. Good Luck

nz-moo

Like the others said be careful about driving! Its prime holiday time when your heading to NZ so there will be alot of traffic!
I think you have a great trip planned!
Have a great trip!

Roshell

Well it sounds like a great trip. I think all the places you are visiting comes under the "must do" list and you have covered the basics. I think as far as time is concerned, i would fly from place to place if it is cost effective for you as driving can be timely as you will be stopping every 5 minutes to take photos of the view.

Also if you are a fan of Chocolate head to Duneden to see the chocolate factory, i was sorry i missed it.

Furthermore, try and get accomodation within the CBD or town as it cost us a fair bit to travel into town if we wanted to do anything.

Have a great trip.

Driver T

Mareeclara has the right answer.
Just a few points:
Visit Lyttleton and Akaroa (the French place I think you are referring to) as a day trip while you are in Christchurch.
It's at least a 2.30 drive up the coast to Kaikoura - probably longer, so check first that whale watching is being done on Christmas Day before you set out.
Kaikoura to Hanmer is a long lonely drive, don't go to sleep at the wheel.
If there's no whaling, go direct to Hamner from CH.
On the way to Greymouth check out Maruia Springs and Reefton. Greymouth's not got much to offer unless you go to Waiuta and/or Shantytown.
On the way down the coast, see if you can locate the gold dredging operation at Lake Kaniere, call in to Okarito, and check out Lake Matheson.
At the glacier (one or the other-no need to visit both) do NOT venture off the paths or duck under any safety ropes.
Go to Queenstown over the Crown Range Road from Wanaka.
Do NOT drive to Milford. Too many tourists attempt this and too many fail. It's a tricky road, especially with all those tourists in their rental cars, on it. None know where they are going or what they are meant to be viewing on the way.
Go by bus and get a knowledgeable commentary from the driver (if you're staying overnight one of the regular tour buses will be no good, but a bus service by the Barbecue Bus will get you there and back) or fly - a far better idea.
You will never drive from Milford to Christchurch in one day.
Even if you try it from Queenstown you are likely to collect a speeding ticket or two. Especially as on the way (going by Cromwell, Tarras, Lindis Pass, Tekapo and Geraldine) you are going to be stopping to take in the pass at Lindis Pass, the Merino at Omarama, the salmon farm at Lake Ruataniwha, Lake Pukaki, the Tekapo Church, and Geraldine Town Centre. New Zealanders will do this trip on a regular basis, but I don't recommend it all in one for a tourist.
Have you considered overnighting on Doubtful Sound instead of Milford. The scenery is just as spectacular and the place is not overrun with all those darn tourists. Milford gets about 5 000 visitors a day, Doubtful gets about 100. (So it's alot quieter.)
The speed on the open road is 100 kilometres per hour - no more.
Have fun while you're here!!
Driver T

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