Lonely Planet New Zealand's South Island Road Trips , livre ebook

CONTENTS

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Welcome to New Zealand’s South Island
New Zealand’s South Island Map
New Zealand’s South Island Highlights
Christchurch City Guide
Queenstown City Guide
Need to Know

ROAD TRIPS

1 Sunshine & Wine
2 Kaikoura Coast
3 Southern Alps Circuit
4 Milford Sound Majesty
DESTINATIONS

Marlborough & Nelson
Picton
Havelock
Blenheim
Kaikoura
Nelson
Moutere Hills
Motueka
Christchurch & Canterbury
Christchurch
Waipara Valley
Arthur’s Pass
Methven
Geraldine
Lake Tekapo
Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
Queenstown & Wanaka
Queenstown
Wanaka
Makarora
Cromwell
The West Coast
Hokitika
Fox Glacier
Fiordland & Southland
Te Anau
Milford Sound
DRIVING IN NZ

Driving in New Zealand
Driving Licence & Documents
Insurance
Hiring a Car
Buying a Vehicle in New Zealand
Bringing Your Own Vehicle
Maps
Roads & Conditions
Road Rules
Parking
Fuel
Safety
Doc Campsites & Freedom Camping
Radio

Behind the Scenes
Our Writers
WELCOME TO NEW ZEALAND’S SOUTH ISLAND

Welcome to one of the world’s ultimate outdoor playgrounds, bursting with opportunities for adventure amid diverse and inspiring landscapes. Top-of-the-South neighbours, Marlborough and Nelson make for splendid road-trip country with an emphasis on sunshine and good times. The scenic drive along the Kaikoura Coast rewards with whale-watching and seals, plus swimming and surfing at pristine beaches. Head inland from Christchurch along the Southern Alps Circuit for stunning vistas of glaciers, Aoraki/Mt Cook and turquoise Lake Tekapo. The mountains, fiords, lakes and coastlines of New Zealand’s deep south will not disappoint. The road from adventure capital Queenstown leads to spectacular Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park – one of the world’s great remaining wildernesses.

View of Lake Te Anau from Mt Luxmore on the Kepler Track NARUEDOM Y/500PX ©

NEW ZEALAND’S SOUTH ISLAND HIGHLIGHTS
Milford Sound
A collage of verdant cliffs and cobalt waters reveals the iconic Mitre Peak. See it on Trip

INBALRUBIN/500PX ©
 
Kaikoura
A great spot to take a boat tour or flight to see whales, dolphins and seals. Watch them on Trip

KONRAD MOSTERT/SHUTTERSTOCK ©
 
Queenstown
Against a backdrop of jagged mountains and a snake-shaped lake, travellers can hike, bike or raft, then spend the evening enjoying cosmopolitan restaurants and bars. Hit it on Trips

PETER WALTON PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES ©
CITY GUIDE
CHRISTCHURCH
Christchurch is a vibrant city in transition, coping creatively with the aftermath of the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. The city centre is graced by numerous notable arts institutions, the stunning Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park. Inner-city streets conceal art projects, pocket gardens and dynamic businesses repopulating the thinned-out cityscape.

Shipping container cafe in Re:START Mall PETER UNGER/GETTY IMAGES ©
Getting Around
Christchurch’s flat topography and gridlike structure make getting around on foot or by bike a breeze. The extensive bus network ( www.metroinfo.co.nz ) is a cheap and convenient way of reaching the city’s suburban attractions.
Parking
All-day parking is available throughout the city centre ($2 to $3.10 per hour), although roadworks and one-way systems may test your patience.
Where to Eat
While many cafes and restaurants still occupy the suburbs they fled to after the earthquakes – particularly around Addington, Riccarton, Merivale and Sumner – many new places are springing up in the CBD. Expect plenty of high-quality, exciting surprises, especially around Victoria St.
Where to Stay
As the rebuild progresses, more beds (for all budgets) are becoming available in the city centre and its inner fringes. If you’re camping or touring in a campervan there are decent holiday parks within 20 minutes’ drive of the city centre.
Useful Websites
Tourist Information ( www.christchurchnz.com ) Sights, accommodation, restaurants and events.
Neat Places ( www.neatplaces.co.nz ) Authoritative local blogger’s views on the best of Christchurch.
Lonely Planet ( www.lonelyplanet.com/christchurch ) Destination low-down, hotels and traveller forum.
Trips Through Christchurch
 
QUEENSTOWN
Framed by mountains and the meandering coves of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is a right show-off. It wears its ‘Global Adventure Capital’ crown with pride. The town’s bamboozling array of adrenalised activities is bolstered by cosmopolitan restaurants galore, and excellent vineyards nearby. Boredom is definitely off the menu.

Lake Wakatipu seen from the Remarkables ANDREW PEACOCK / GETTY IMAGES ©
Getting Around
Queenstown’s compact centre is easy to navigate on foot with the mountains and lakes allowing visitors to find their bearings. Connectabus ( www.connectabus.com ) has various colour-coded routes, reaching the suburbs and as far as Arrowtown.
Parking
There’s plenty of cheap parking around the town but securing a space during busy times can be frustrating, especially near the lakefront. The Queenstown Lakes District Council website ( www.qldc.govt.nz ) shows car-park locations.
Where to Eat
The town centre is peppered with busy eateries. Many target the tourist dollar, but dig a little deeper and you’ll discover local favourites covering a wide range of international cuisines. Reservations are recommended for the more popular places.
Where to Stay
Queenstown has endless accommodation options, but midpriced rooms are hard to come by. Hostels, however, are extremely competitive, and there are a couple of great holiday parks for campervanners. Places book out and prices rocket during the peak summer (Christmas to February) and ski (June to September) seasons; book well in advance.
Useful Websites
Tourist Information ( www.queenstownnz.co.nz ) Official Queenstown tourism website.
Queenstown i-SITE ( www.queenstownisite.co.nz ) Queenstown visitor information centre.
Trips Through Queenstown
NEED TO KNOW

MOBILE PHONES
European phones work on New Zealand’s networks; most American or Japanese phones won’t. Use roaming or a local prepaid SIM card.
INTERNET ACCESS
Wi-fi is available in most decent size towns and cities; sometimes free, sometimes hideously expensive. Internet cafes are few.
FUEL
Unleaded fuel (petrol, aka gasoline) is available from service stations across NZ, although be prepared in remote locations where there may be 100km between stations. Prices don’t vary too much: per-litre costs at the time of research were around $1.80.
RENTAL CARS
Ace Rental Cars ( www.acerentalcars.co.nz )
Apex Rentals ( www.apexrentals.co.nz )
Go Rentals ( www.gorentals.co.nz )
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Country code ( 64)
Emergencies ( 111)
 

When to Go
Climate

High Season (Dec–Feb)
A Summer: busy beaches, outdoor explorations, festivals and sporting events.
A Big-city accommodation prices rise.
A High season in ski towns and resorts is winter (June to August).
Shoulder Season (Mar–Apr & Sep–Nov)
A Prime travelling time: fine weather, short queues, kids in school and warm(ish) ocean.
A Long evenings sipping Kiwi wines and craft beers.
Low Season (May–Aug)
A Head for the slopes of the Southern Alps for some brilliant southern-hemisphere skiing.
A Few crowds, good accommodation deals and a seat in any restaurant.
A Warm-weather beach towns may be half asleep.
Daily Costs
Budget: Less than $150
A Dorm beds or campsites: $25−38 per night
A Main course in a budget eatery: less than $15
Midrange: $150–250
A Double room in a midrange hotel/motel: $120–200
A Main course in a midrange restaurant: $15–32
A Hire a car: from $30 per day
Top End: More than $250
A Double room in a top-end hotel: from $200
A Three-course meal in a classy restaurant: $80
A Scenic flight: from $210
Eating
Restaurants From cheap ’n’ cheerful, to world-class showcasing NZ’s top-notch ingredients.
Cafes Freshly roasted coffee, expert baristas, brunch-mad and family friendly.
Pubs & Bars All serve some kind of food, good and bad!
Vegetarians Well catered for, especially in cities and ethnic restaurants.
Price indicators for average cost of a main course:
$
less than $15
$$
15–32
$$$
more than $32
Sleeping
Motels Most towns have decent, low-rise, midrange motels.
Holiday Parks Myriad options from tent sites to family units.
Hostels From party zones to family-friendly ‘flashpackers’.
Hotels Range from small-town pubs to slick global-chain operations.
Price indicators for double room with bathroom in high season:
$
less than $120
$$
$120–200
$$$
more than $200
Arriving in New Zealand’s South Island
Christchurch Airport
Rental Cars Major companies have desks at airport.
Buses Metro Red Bus (Nos 3 and 29) runs regularly into the city from 6.30am to 11pm; door-to-door shuttles run 24 hours.
Taxis To city centre around $50 (20 minutes).
Money
ATMs are available in all cities and most towns. Credit cards are accepted almost universally, although not American Express or Diners Club.
Tipping
Optional, but 10% for great service goes down well.
Useful Websites
Lonely Planet ( www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand ) Destination information, bookings, traveller forum and more.
100% Pure New Zealand ( www.newzealand.com ) Official tourism site.
Department of Conservation ( www.doc.govt.nz ) Essential information on national parks and reserves.
Te Ara ( www.teara.govt.nz ) Online NZ encyclopedia.

For more, see Driving in New Zealand .
Road Trips

Sunshine & Wine, 5–7 Days
A seductive blend of wineries, alfresco dining and gentle leisure pursuits.
Kaikoura Coast, 3–4 Days
Enjoy wine tasting and whale-watching along the Pacific Coast.
Southern Alps Circuit, 12–14 Days
A seriously grand tour taking in sublime scenery and stacks of sights.
Milford Sound Majesty, 3–4 Days
Absorb magnificent lake, mountain and forest scenery en route to NZ’s ultimate rev