oscar90 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2011 Hey guys, Planning on doing a drive around the lower south island in march, having a hard time thinking of everywhere so I want to know where people reccommend stopping/ looking..there must be some hidden gems along the way! were leaving from CHCH and will be going inland to Queenstown/Arrowtown(will stop at cromwell and all those places along the way) Te Anau All the hydro lakes Benmore and Manapouri, so Milford sounds Dunedin Bluff..not my choice haha been there once that was enough And we'll come back to ChCh up the east coast Soooo go! Andrew Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shaneg 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2011 Well.. Cromwell not much to see their really. Wanaka? Glenorchy Pretty much all these little towns on the link below are worth a visit and away from major touristy things to do. All are old school mining era towns, or left over towns from aroun the mid 1800's Macetown is cool, old stone huts etc, St Bathans is worth a look, Naseby etc. http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/histor...y-region/otago/ If you come up from Bluff i would suggest go through the catlins, stop of at Papatowai, through Owaka, stop off at Nugget Point, then up through Dunedin ways.. Moeraki, check out the Boulders. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tristan 338 Report post Posted January 30, 2011 The Millbrook Golf Club is absolutely spectacular. Also great food at the Amisfield vineyard just out've Queenstown. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted January 31, 2011 If your starting off from CHCH, head north to Nelson, then cut inland over SH6 to Westport then Greymouth, head down the west coast, (Franz Joeseph e.t.c.) stay on the west coast road which will take you to Wanaka, then you can do Queenstown, and through Qtown you can reach Te Anau and Manapouri, if you have the time do the Manapouri dam tour it is epic. Head back to Omarama which will hook you onto Twizel, Lake Tekapo, you can get to Christchurch easily from there. I'd take about 5 days to do it, depending on weather or not you have kids really! I've created this for you! LINK! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phatputer 3 Report post Posted January 31, 2011 Kinda have to agree with Clinton on this one, we did a similar road trip a few Easter's ago, absolutely stunning driving, almost identical drive although we skipped Kaikora and headed up under Hamner Springs to Nelson then back down the West Coast. Do not skip out Milford Sound, also best to hit Milford Sound early, they have a 10:00am ish boat trip out from there which all the bus tourists miss due to the Bus run only getting it around midday. You can skip the boat trip but it is one of those things you would regret later not doing. The trip down to Milford Sound however is worth the drive alone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deeveus 81 Report post Posted January 31, 2011 Kinda have to agree with Clinton on this one, we did a similar road trip a few Easter's ago, absolutely stunning driving, almost identical drive although we skipped Kaikora and headed up under Hamner Springs to Nelson then back down the West Coast. Do not skip out Milford Sound, also best to hit Milford Sound early, they have a 10:00am ish boat trip out from there which all the bus tourists miss due to the Bus run only getting it around midday. You can skip the boat trip but it is one of those things you would regret later not doing. The trip down to Milford Sound however is worth the drive alone. Hmm, I agree, Hamner Springs then to Nelson, didn't think of that! Better drive too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leithcm 0 Report post Posted February 2, 2011 If you get to Southland, instead of the dreary drive Invercargill (or Bluff) to Dunedin via SH1, I strongly suggest you go Invercargill to Balclutha via the Catlins. The Catlins has the most awesome coastal scenery you could imagine, it is wild, rugged, and rough. Curio Bay with the petrified forest you can see on the beach, the wind blown trees that are sharply deformed by the winds - and not to mention the waterfall at Purakaunui, most spectacular! The road is tarseal all the way, fairly new so is in good order - a trip not to be missed! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shaneg 0 Report post Posted February 2, 2011 (edited) And if you surf, purukanui bay has some pretty amazing surf.. Make sure you keep the speed down between Fairlie and Tekapo, drove through this morning and between 9 and 915 I saw 4 patrol cars, 1 wagon and 2 undercovers, and 1 of those were following me. And all between Burkes Pass and Tekapo. Crazy. Edited February 3, 2011 by shaneg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oscar90 0 Report post Posted February 8, 2011 Cheers for the replys... no kids..im too young for that! thanks for that link Clinton! im liking that idea now Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cliffdunedin 8 Report post Posted February 9, 2011 These boys are on too it, all awesome suggestions. Bluff though...not even oyster season? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phatputer 3 Report post Posted February 9, 2011 Bluff is only 20 odd km from Invers, its good for a quick look see and on a clear day you can see Stewart Island. Other than that, the road from Invercargill to Te-Anau is all farmland unless you travel via Manapouri which I highly recommend. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oscar90 0 Report post Posted February 9, 2011 Bluff... yeahhhh not me that wants to go...been once, that was enough Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
