divediva

aloha...we are 2 women flying into Auckland
on sept 24th. we have 18 days total on island are propose this adventurous itinerary.

sept 24 arrive auckland...fly to queenstown sept 25
we want to go to either milford sound or doubtful sound on an overnight boat(most websites are not showing dates or prices for offseason) should be prebook or wait until we
arrive in queenstown
sept 26 pickup campervan....find nearby holiday park for overnight...gondola, luge,
zorb,
sept 27,28,29...head up westside of south island to glaciers...
sept 30....make our way to christchurch
oct 1 take the train to kaikoura (whalewatch)
oct 2 take the train to picton, watertaxi to
nelson for 3 nites
oct 5 fly from nelson to napier...spend 4 nites doing a cultural exchange with Maori
friends (rental car for 5 days)
oct 10 rotorua
oct 11 fly back to maui

our interests are scenery, glaciers, penguins, whales, and adventure. we like off the beaten path places.
any suggestions and/or recommendations ???
we have read every thread on this site and
are checking other travelogues. we are budget travellers, not 4 or 5 star...

mahalo for you advise
kai

LizzyF

yes

Melnq8

Water taxi to Nelson???

divediva

is there a water taxi from picton rail station to nelson?? or abel tasman?
we live on an island that is much smaller than south island but want to see as much as feasible on our first trip...

outrageous yes,,, but doable???

chimani

Sounds a bit manic. I am curious as to why you want to spend 3 days in Nelson (assuming a water taxi exists).

Why not take the time to explore around Picton, then take the ferry to Wellington and fly to Napier from there?

Melnq8

Divediva -

The only water taxis I'm aware of are the boats that take passengers from Picton into the Marlborough Sounds to access Queen Charlotte Track and a few resorts, the water taxis that do pick ups and drop offs at different points along the Abel Tasman Track and the water taxis that service Stewart Island. Water taxis run on a set schedule, so be sure to look into times.

Picton to Nelson is about a 90 minute drive and unlike the previous poster, I could spend weeks in the Nelson area and never run out of things to do. I think it's an excellent base, particularly if you like wineries, arts and crafts studios and outdoor activities. Nelson is about a 45-60 minute drive from Abel Tasman.

I'm not familiar with the train service in NZ other than the Tranzapline from CH to Greymouth. I'm of the impression that train service is very limited and I don't recall a station in Picton, but there very well may be. IMO NZ is best seen by car.

Doable? Maybe. Advisable, probably not. Keep in mind that although NZ looks small, the roads are very narrow and winding and it takes much longer to get from point A to point B than you might expect.

A few things to consider in your planning:

Milford Sound is a four hour drive one way from Queenstown. Arriving in QT on Sept 25, driving to Milford (or Manapouri for Doubtful) that same day for an overnight cruise (departure time for Milford Cruise is 3:30 pm per site below) is really pushing it, even if you get to QT early in the day. If you plan to leave from QT via the tour, you'll have to leave at 8:30 am, and I really doubt you can get to QT by then.

This site lists cruise times for Sept:

http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/Main/OvernightCruises/

I kinda doubt you can book the
overnight the same day you plan to take it, but suggest you contact the cruise line for clarification on booking requirements.

You might also want to take a look at this site for driving times and distances. I've found it to be pretty accurate.

http://www.accommodationz.co.nz/distances2.html

Melnq8

I stand corrected - there is a train station in Picton. Apparently you can take the train from Picton to CH via Kaikoura, but at NZ$94 one way per person, you'd be better off driving.

http://www.tranzscenic.co.nz/services/tranzcoastal.aspx

chimani

Melnq8 - some people like trains - though confess I was surprised there was a route from CHC to Picton

As for Nelson.

"and unlike the previous poster, I could spend weeks in the Nelson area and never run out of things to do."

I'm not aware of saying otherwise. I didn't say don't go there; I just offered an alternative

Please don't put words into my mouth.

mlgb

Always worthwhile checking into rail specials given the cost of a tank of gas.

There's probably a minibus shuttle from picton to nelson, and from nelson you can make connections to the Abel Tasman water taxi. If three nights in Nelson, I would at least take the day trip to Abel Tasman.

Realize that weather may affect some of your chances for wildlife viewing.

divediva

great advise and thanks for the websites to check out.
believe it or not, this is a much toned down itinerary. i appreciate all the input and advise.
questions for all you kiwi experts...

would it be as scenic to drive from queenstown to christchurch in the campervan and forgoing the west coast?

scenery and wildlife interest me more than adventure activities.
the train to kaikoura then on to picton
should be enjoyable, relaxing and hopefully scenic. when we get to picton,
we want to head toward abel tasman area
to relax and kayak..
we like driving (our island has less than 100 miles of highway so getting out on the road in a campervan is exciting.
thanks again for your help.
kai

mlgb

If (big if) the weather on the west coast is clear, it is really scenic. The first part of the drive south from Christchurch less so, but more likely to be dry. If you take the inland route, rather than coastal route from Christchurch to Dunedin, stop by Mt. Cook and the beautiful glacial lakes Pukaki and Tekapo. That area is beautiful.

Melnq8

chimani -

Sorry, didn't mean to step on your toes, just wanted the OP to know there was plenty to do in Nelson.

KathyNZ

Aloha to you
I would reconsider overnighting on a boat on your first day, once you get to Queenstown best to take a full day coach tour to Milford sound, it is quite a long drive and in september it could still be snowing. Three days to go up the west coast is plenty, take off one of these for an extra day in Queenstown. You only need two days in Nelson but lots to do there, I would fly to Napier on the 4th if you can and have an extra day in Rotorua, it still gives you 4 nights with your friends. Check out www.jasons.com for lots of info and accommodation.
I don't know of a water taxi to Nelson from Picton, it is quite a long drive over the hill but there are a couple of quaint little villages you can stop at.
As for the train, check that your timetable is up to date, our train service is so abysmal that we wonder if there are any running at all sometimes.

heathy

Hi. I would strongly recommend driving along the Westcoast - although my husband has just read this and said " NO drive up to Chch the other way " !!!!!
Personally I really love the Westcoast - even when it rains - and it ofton does. Its a very haunting and atmospheric part of the country. Lots of virgin bush and gorgeous lakes. Do it !!!

twoflower

Yes there's a rail service between Christchurch and Picton. Quite scenic in parts (e.g. the Kaikoura coastline).
No there's no water taxi between Picton and Nelson. But the drive is pleasant.
Nelson not a high priority (for me) but worth a little time, especially if you have a car and venture out of town to the wineries around Motueka, Raby Bay etc.
Which way to go south from Christchurch? I always recommend the round trip - down the inland route via Lakes Tekapo, Pukaki (detour Mt Cook), Wanaka to Queenstown, then back up via Haast Pass, the West Coast, Lake Brunner, and the spectacular Arthurs Pass. OR further up from Lake Brunner and across the Lewis Pass and Hanmer Springs. In other words, lots of choice!

joybelles

Christchurch is very english dunedin would be a far better choice The albatross colony trip is great and the castle but for really good planning have you sought advice from the new zealand govt. tourist site? definitly Milford sound over doubtful Milford has the most spectacular waterfalls and mitre peak doubtful sound you have to first cross lake manapouri and bus over the hill doubtful sound is the wettest place in NZ rains 320 days of the year the only sights there are the ships taking on water for the middle east after dropping their cargo of oil at whangarei In the north island try and get to rotorua and take the Tamaki tour moari concert and hangi at night its spectacular the whakawerawera thermal reserve also has a moari carving school and is well worth a look for genuine sovuineers anyway have a great trip

dktenor

I just posted my trip report for our 17 days in NZ. Might be of interest.