SOUTH ISLAND HOLIDAY

[lisa_g]

WEVE GOT 10 DAYS TO SEE THE SOUTH ISLAND WITH A 9 YEAR OLD CHILD.
ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR AN ITINERARY?

[netchicken]

Get a fast car

Walk some of the Abel Tasman track, you can catch a boat in to part of the track and catch a boat out for day walks,

Hamner hot pools and mtb bike tracks, great for kids...

Queenstown ... naturally bunjy jumping etc...

Punakieki blow holes - make sure its high tide or stormy, otherwise its boring...

On the way to Arthurs pass is a neat cave that you walk through with a stream in it, really good adventure for kids, I have taken some through there

Do a day walk in on the south part of the Heaphy track, beautiful, beaches and forest, - more neat cathedral type caves down there as well...

Kaikoura to see the whales, walk around the peninsular, great 2 hour walk see the seals (smell them first!!)

[johnynz]

I presume you are landing in Christchurch.

Day One/two: Head toward Queenstown via Mt Cook, stay a night at Mt Cook village (if the weather is fair) and take a walk up the Hooker valley the next morning then continue on to Queenstown.

There is plenty to do in Queenstown, especially if you have a 9yo
allow 3 to 4 days there.

From Queenstown, do a day trip to Milford sound (long day in a car if you are returning to Queenstown, but still worth it, even if it is raining!) oh, and do the boat trip on the sound. Alternatively you could take a flight to Milford (if the weather is fine) also brilliant!

From Queenstown head for the "West Coast" . Drive to Fox or Franz Josef Glacier, stay the night, next morning if the weather is fine do a helicopter flight/landing on the Glacier. If it is raining (West Coast is wonderful in the rain) Put on wet weather gear and walk to the Glacier terminal or do a guided Glacier walk (Both great).

From the Glaciers drive north to Punakaiki, stay the night. Hire canoes and paddle up the river that flows through the township (beautiful). Drive a few minutes north of the township and take the short walk to Trumans beach (awesome). Oh yeah and check out the pancake rocks and blowholes. Contrary to Netchickens opinion it is a beautiful and spectacular area no matter what the weather.

Final day or so...Drive back to Greymouth from Punkaiki and head to Christchurch via Arthur Pass (Netchickens suggestion of the cave sounds good).

You probably haven't enough time to do the northern section of the South Island (Heaphy Track, Kaikoura) unless you want to on the road most of the time.

I am a local of Queenstown and know the South Island very well.

Enjoy