NZ S Island Late Sept
Aug 12th 2003, 3:36 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
NZ S Island Late Sept
Hi
The wie is keen for the family 2a 3k (5,7,10) to NZ for a holiday 12-20
Sept.
Looking at hiring a camper.
There seems to be so much to do - looking at websites so much - a bit like a
hall of mirrors!
Some Qs
1. Can you 'park for the night in NZ, or must you stay in a caravan park etc
2 Are glacier walks OK for a 5yo?
2b are there any real limitations to activities that we can take the 5yo on?
3. Rain - is this a wet time of year?
4. Does anyone have or suggest an 'essentials' itinerary
Thanks
MFE
The wie is keen for the family 2a 3k (5,7,10) to NZ for a holiday 12-20
Sept.
Looking at hiring a camper.
There seems to be so much to do - looking at websites so much - a bit like a
hall of mirrors!
Some Qs
1. Can you 'park for the night in NZ, or must you stay in a caravan park etc
2 Are glacier walks OK for a 5yo?
2b are there any real limitations to activities that we can take the 5yo on?
3. Rain - is this a wet time of year?
4. Does anyone have or suggest an 'essentials' itinerary
Thanks
MFE
Aug 13th 2003, 1:03 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: NZ S Island Late Sept
me <matt@a plusone.com.u> wrote:
> The wie is keen for the family 2a 3k (5,7,10) to NZ for a holiday 12-20
> Sept.
8 days is a very short time. If you try to do too much you'll spend all your
time travelling. I suggest you decide on a few places to go, and take your
time.
> Looking at hiring a camper.
> There seems to be so much to do - looking at websites so much - a bit like a
> hall of mirrors!
> Some Qs
> 1. Can you 'park for the night in NZ, or must you stay in a caravan park etc
You can park your van overnight without problems.
> 2 Are glacier walks OK for a 5yo?
No. You could walk up to the base of the glacier, but the walks on the
glacier would be far beyond a 5yo's capabilities.
> 2b are there any real limitations to activities that we can take the 5yo on?
??? Obviously you'll be limited by what a 5yo is capable of, and things like
bungy jumping are not going to be an option...
> 3. Rain - is this a wet time of year?
It can be, and if you'll be visiting the west coast of the South Island [as
visiting the glaciers would imply], it's always a "wet time of year".
> 4. Does anyone have or suggest an 'essentials' itinerary
8 days is a comfortable amount of time to see the west coast of the South
Island. IMHO you'd be silly to attempt more.
> The wie is keen for the family 2a 3k (5,7,10) to NZ for a holiday 12-20
> Sept.
8 days is a very short time. If you try to do too much you'll spend all your
time travelling. I suggest you decide on a few places to go, and take your
time.
> Looking at hiring a camper.
> There seems to be so much to do - looking at websites so much - a bit like a
> hall of mirrors!
> Some Qs
> 1. Can you 'park for the night in NZ, or must you stay in a caravan park etc
You can park your van overnight without problems.
> 2 Are glacier walks OK for a 5yo?
No. You could walk up to the base of the glacier, but the walks on the
glacier would be far beyond a 5yo's capabilities.
> 2b are there any real limitations to activities that we can take the 5yo on?
??? Obviously you'll be limited by what a 5yo is capable of, and things like
bungy jumping are not going to be an option...
> 3. Rain - is this a wet time of year?
It can be, and if you'll be visiting the west coast of the South Island [as
visiting the glaciers would imply], it's always a "wet time of year".
> 4. Does anyone have or suggest an 'essentials' itinerary
8 days is a comfortable amount of time to see the west coast of the South
Island. IMHO you'd be silly to attempt more.
Aug 13th 2003, 3:13 pm
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: NZ S Island Late Sept
Update - now 14 days - misread the calendar!!
Any other suggestions of must do and don't bother would be appreciated.
Also can anyone recommend a good 1/2 - 1 day fishing operator - fresh or
saltwater.
Has anyone had any experience with the Pacific Horizon Eclipse (6 berth?
Thanks
Matt
Geoff McCaughan <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> me <matt@a plusone.com.u> wrote:
> > The wie is keen for the family 2a 3k (5,7,10) to NZ for a holiday 12-20
> > Sept.
> 8 days is a very short time. If you try to do too much you'll spend all
your
> time travelling. I suggest you decide on a few places to go, and take your
> time.
> > Looking at hiring a camper.
> > There seems to be so much to do - looking at websites so much - a bit
like a
> > hall of mirrors!
> > Some Qs
> > 1. Can you 'park for the night in NZ, or must you stay in a caravan park
etc
> You can park your van overnight without problems.
> > 2 Are glacier walks OK for a 5yo?
> No. You could walk up to the base of the glacier, but the walks on the
> glacier would be far beyond a 5yo's capabilities.
> > 2b are there any real limitations to activities that we can take the 5yo
on?
> ??? Obviously you'll be limited by what a 5yo is capable of, and things
like
> bungy jumping are not going to be an option...
> > 3. Rain - is this a wet time of year?
> It can be, and if you'll be visiting the west coast of the South Island
[as
> visiting the glaciers would imply], it's always a "wet time of year".
> > 4. Does anyone have or suggest an 'essentials' itinerary
> 8 days is a comfortable amount of time to see the west coast of the South
> Island. IMHO you'd be silly to attempt more.
Any other suggestions of must do and don't bother would be appreciated.
Also can anyone recommend a good 1/2 - 1 day fishing operator - fresh or
saltwater.
Has anyone had any experience with the Pacific Horizon Eclipse (6 berth?
Thanks
Matt
Geoff McCaughan <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> me <matt@a plusone.com.u> wrote:
> > The wie is keen for the family 2a 3k (5,7,10) to NZ for a holiday 12-20
> > Sept.
> 8 days is a very short time. If you try to do too much you'll spend all
your
> time travelling. I suggest you decide on a few places to go, and take your
> time.
> > Looking at hiring a camper.
> > There seems to be so much to do - looking at websites so much - a bit
like a
> > hall of mirrors!
> > Some Qs
> > 1. Can you 'park for the night in NZ, or must you stay in a caravan park
etc
> You can park your van overnight without problems.
> > 2 Are glacier walks OK for a 5yo?
> No. You could walk up to the base of the glacier, but the walks on the
> glacier would be far beyond a 5yo's capabilities.
> > 2b are there any real limitations to activities that we can take the 5yo
on?
> ??? Obviously you'll be limited by what a 5yo is capable of, and things
like
> bungy jumping are not going to be an option...
> > 3. Rain - is this a wet time of year?
> It can be, and if you'll be visiting the west coast of the South Island
[as
> visiting the glaciers would imply], it's always a "wet time of year".
> > 4. Does anyone have or suggest an 'essentials' itinerary
> 8 days is a comfortable amount of time to see the west coast of the South
> Island. IMHO you'd be silly to attempt more.
Aug 13th 2003, 9:19 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: NZ S Island Late Sept
in article [email protected], me at matt@a
plusone.com.u wrote on 13/8/03 3:36 PM:
> Some Qs
>
> 1. Can you 'park for the night in NZ, or must you stay in a caravan park etc
It is not quite as easy as Geoff implies - obviously you can't park in towns
or cities so it may mean driving a few Km out of town to find somewhere
safe. In most tourist areas like Wanaka there are no camping/overnight
parking signs conspicuously posted along the lake front as bitter experience
has shown that many campervan operators choose to empty their grey water
right into the beautiful lakes or rivers. The other consideration for
September in the SI is that nights may be very cold & you may prefer to use
a caravan park to obtain power for heating - plus the opportunity to mix
with other campers in the TV room while your 5 y-0 sleeps.
Look at www.aaguides.co.nz or www.purenz.com for suggested itineraries in
your time frame. I've heard of a very good (but expensive) river guide
(salmon) I think he operates as Rakaia Jetboats. Your child will probably
enjoy the dolphin encounter in Akaroa Harbour more than the Kaikoura one -
only 1.5 hr & lots to see, plus a warm, spacious cabin to play in.
Otherwise encounters with kiwi (eg Southern Encounter in Cathedral Square,
Christchurch) and with small farm animals (eg Willowbank Wildlife Park, just
out of Christchurch) are musts. What about a farm stay?
Enjoy your holiday - and don't rush it.
Vicki
plusone.com.u wrote on 13/8/03 3:36 PM:
> Some Qs
>
> 1. Can you 'park for the night in NZ, or must you stay in a caravan park etc
It is not quite as easy as Geoff implies - obviously you can't park in towns
or cities so it may mean driving a few Km out of town to find somewhere
safe. In most tourist areas like Wanaka there are no camping/overnight
parking signs conspicuously posted along the lake front as bitter experience
has shown that many campervan operators choose to empty their grey water
right into the beautiful lakes or rivers. The other consideration for
September in the SI is that nights may be very cold & you may prefer to use
a caravan park to obtain power for heating - plus the opportunity to mix
with other campers in the TV room while your 5 y-0 sleeps.
Look at www.aaguides.co.nz or www.purenz.com for suggested itineraries in
your time frame. I've heard of a very good (but expensive) river guide
(salmon) I think he operates as Rakaia Jetboats. Your child will probably
enjoy the dolphin encounter in Akaroa Harbour more than the Kaikoura one -
only 1.5 hr & lots to see, plus a warm, spacious cabin to play in.
Otherwise encounters with kiwi (eg Southern Encounter in Cathedral Square,
Christchurch) and with small farm animals (eg Willowbank Wildlife Park, just
out of Christchurch) are musts. What about a farm stay?
Enjoy your holiday - and don't rush it.
Vicki
