(February 20th to March 10th)
"We wanted to 'do' the motorhome thing along with everyone else. (Happy to join the procession, it seemed like every 3rd vehicle on the road was a camper of some description). The South is totally geared up for this type of travel and what better way to see the scenery unfold than through the wide screen format of those high seats in a van."
Travelling in a roughly clockwise direction (no real reason for this other than perhaps a sense that we wanted to see certain places first, just in case we ran out of time later on).
Our highlights were:
➣ 1. Hooker Valley walk to see Mount Cook
➣ 2. Te Anau to Milford Sound trip
➣ 3. Queenstown's Skyline Gondola
➣ 4. Lake Wanaka (cycle and hike)
➣ 5. Scenic roads: Twizel to Mt. Cook / West Coast Highway 6 / Arthur's pass
➣ 6. Coastal Pacific Train trip
- see numerous photos down the page for extra details.
✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭
MOTORHOME reality check
Having plugged back into the company and the owner we'd met in 2011, we'd secured a cheaper deal than the average £110 per day hire costs we'd found elsewhere.
Mechanically the van did the job and we managed to get to all the places we'd planned. However it was a bit 'old' and left a fair amount to be desired. The onboard facilities and sleeping plan along with the layout all rather makeshift and we weren't as self-contained as hoped for and, with the colder nights, not as warm. But we made do, while casting various envious glances towards neighbours parked nearby. Our only consolation being the money we'd saved by comparison.
✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭
INTERESTING MOMENT: Beyond cyberspace.
On the drive just north of Wanaka through the Haast pass, there was no mobile phone coverage or internet. As we pulled into the Haast Tourist Office, everything suddenly sprang back to life. Weird !
Staying with Margaret's cousins and relaxing for a few days near Christchurch (a city still very much recovering after the 2011 earthquake) was very nice, allowing us to recharge our batteries and plan the journey back north.
The Coastal Pacific train was our plan and having only recently opened again, following the Kaikoura earthquake in 2016, we were lucky it was back in operation. Shame the observation car was closed after it was deemed dangerous because tourists leaning out had caused safety concerns.
The Interislander ferry across the Cook Straits was meant to be Sea Conditions: Light (see photo) - it wasn't ! Margaret's travel sickness wristbands allowing her safe passage after we'd been blown inside from the upper deck. I just held on, wishing I'd worn mine as Wellington and the North Island gradually appeared through the mist and rain.
SOUTH ISLAND photos & videos
1. Hooker Valley walk to Mount Cook
Four pictures
TOP: one of three swing bridges
ABOVE: Snow capped Mount Cook as clouds cleared away
Just ABOVE: at Hooker Lake
LEFT: one of our dodgy selfies.
The walk was an easy uphill track. Three hours return trip.
2. Te Anau to Milford Sound trip - this was a booked day-trip with a cruise and someone else driving for a change. A good plan.
ABOVE: Three different views of Milford Sound. Fairly rare clear sunny day.
And a VIDEO > of Fairy Falls. 2019.Feb: Milford Sound, NZ
3. Queenstown's Skyline Gondola
ABOVE: Two views of mountain range the Remarkables.
LEFT: another questionable selfie taken in the Stratosfare bar.
4. Lake Wanaka (cycle and hike)
CYCLE ride from campsite around the lake. Four photos below
✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭
Roy's Peak Hike
This was a serious uphill trek. Five hours in total - 3 up and 2 down.
Starting at 9pm on a gloriously sunny day we met people on their way down having hiked up for the sunrise. Getting there before it got too warm was our master plan but we should have taken more water with us. It was tough but the views were amazing throughout and despite queueing for the viewpoint photo opportunity on a narrow ledge it was a real highlight of our trip. (Stats: car park is 350 meters and the viewpoint at 1350m. That's 4,429 feet above sea level - Ben Nevis (highest point in the UK) is only 4,413 feet high).
One curious note: many younger walkers did so with music blaring out from some speaker concealed about their person. Halfway up a mountain side this sounded odd.
See our photos and videos below >
+ Two VIDEOS >
Travelling in a roughly clockwise direction (no real reason for this other than perhaps a sense that we wanted to see certain places first, just in case we ran out of time later on).
Our highlights were:
➣ 1. Hooker Valley walk to see Mount Cook
➣ 2. Te Anau to Milford Sound trip
➣ 3. Queenstown's Skyline Gondola
➣ 4. Lake Wanaka (cycle and hike)
➣ 5. Scenic roads: Twizel to Mt. Cook / West Coast Highway 6 / Arthur's pass
➣ 6. Coastal Pacific Train trip
- see numerous photos down the page for extra details.
 |
| Total distance driven: 1717 kilometres + 236 day trip to Milford Sound. |
MOTORHOME reality check
Having plugged back into the company and the owner we'd met in 2011, we'd secured a cheaper deal than the average £110 per day hire costs we'd found elsewhere.
Mechanically the van did the job and we managed to get to all the places we'd planned. However it was a bit 'old' and left a fair amount to be desired. The onboard facilities and sleeping plan along with the layout all rather makeshift and we weren't as self-contained as hoped for and, with the colder nights, not as warm. But we made do, while casting various envious glances towards neighbours parked nearby. Our only consolation being the money we'd saved by comparison.
✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭✭
INTERESTING MOMENT: Beyond cyberspace.
On the drive just north of Wanaka through the Haast pass, there was no mobile phone coverage or internet. As we pulled into the Haast Tourist Office, everything suddenly sprang back to life. Weird !
Staying with Margaret's cousins and relaxing for a few days near Christchurch (a city still very much recovering after the 2011 earthquake) was very nice, allowing us to recharge our batteries and plan the journey back north.
The Coastal Pacific train was our plan and having only recently opened again, following the Kaikoura earthquake in 2016, we were lucky it was back in operation. Shame the observation car was closed after it was deemed dangerous because tourists leaning out had caused safety concerns.
The Interislander ferry across the Cook Straits was meant to be Sea Conditions: Light (see photo) - it wasn't ! Margaret's travel sickness wristbands allowing her safe passage after we'd been blown inside from the upper deck. I just held on, wishing I'd worn mine as Wellington and the North Island gradually appeared through the mist and rain.
SOUTH ISLAND photos & videos
1. Hooker Valley walk to Mount Cook
TOP: one of three swing bridges
ABOVE: Snow capped Mount Cook as clouds cleared away
Just ABOVE: at Hooker Lake
LEFT: one of our dodgy selfies.
The walk was an easy uphill track. Three hours return trip.
2. Te Anau to Milford Sound trip - this was a booked day-trip with a cruise and someone else driving for a change. A good plan.
 |
| The road through Fiordland National Park |
 |
| Lights at entrance to one way Homer tunnel |
And a VIDEO > of Fairy Falls. 2019.Feb: Milford Sound, NZ
3. Queenstown's Skyline Gondola
LEFT: another questionable selfie taken in the Stratosfare bar.
4. Lake Wanaka (cycle and hike)
CYCLE ride from campsite around the lake. Four photos below
 |
| ABOVE: That Wanaka Tree |
This was a serious uphill trek. Five hours in total - 3 up and 2 down.
Starting at 9pm on a gloriously sunny day we met people on their way down having hiked up for the sunrise. Getting there before it got too warm was our master plan but we should have taken more water with us. It was tough but the views were amazing throughout and despite queueing for the viewpoint photo opportunity on a narrow ledge it was a real highlight of our trip. (Stats: car park is 350 meters and the viewpoint at 1350m. That's 4,429 feet above sea level - Ben Nevis (highest point in the UK) is only 4,413 feet high).
One curious note: many younger walkers did so with music blaring out from some speaker concealed about their person. Halfway up a mountain side this sounded odd.
See our photos and videos below >
 |
| Lake Wanaka |
 |
| Steep slopes |
 |
| The pathway winding behind us |
 |
| The queue for the viewpoint - left of centre |
+ Two VIDEOS >
2019.03.02 Hike up Roy's Peak, NZ
2019.03.02 View from point, Roy's Peak, NZ
2019.03.02 View from point, Roy's Peak, NZ
 |
| At the viewpoint - looking north. See map above for ID |
 |
| Our 1350 meter 'high' ! |
5. Scenic roads: Just some of the open roads
VIDEOS >
VID 2019.03.03. On Highway 6
VID 2019.03.07. Otira Gorge. Arthur's Pass
VID 2019.03.07 Thru Arthur's Pass
 |
| The road to Mount Cook - beside Lake Pukaki |
 |
| West Coast, Highway 6 |
 |
| The Otira Viaduct, built in 1999. Arthur's Pass. |
 |
| This and the three pictures below, all Arthur's Pass. NOT rush hour ! |
6. Coastal Pacific Train trip
Not easy to get pictures from a moving train, but here's a few.
 |
| Vineyards near Blenheim |
 |
| ABOVE: Salt pans. BELOW: Cloudy Bay |
All aboard for the next section.
NORTH ISLAND here we come... again >>>
Stunning photos! I can see what you mean about section like Austria, Switzerland, England, etc.
ReplyDelete