South Island driving route
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@voodoo said in South Island driving route:
@Bovidae that puts me at about 14 hours though?
Yes, but I was suggesting stopping in Chch for the night to break up the journey. The next day you drive to Picton to arrive for whatever ferry you have booked, have a rest on the ferry before the final drive from Wellington to PN (based on your 2-day timetable).
It really depends on what you want to see on the SI drive (glaciers/West Coast/Arthurs Pass vs Mt Cook/Tekapo). The latter would be an inland route via Lindis Pass.
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@taniwharugby absolutely! π€£
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6hr max driving time? You need to train your clan if you want to see things.
Hereβs the pros and cons of the two routes
Via Mackenzie country:
Pros: Kawarau Gorge, Lindis Pass, Aoraki ( if weather good), Kaikoura coast.
Cons: Need to break trip in Canterbury (Geraldine is an option), Cantab plains ( for ages and ages), boring once you leave the coast Through to Picton.Via West Coast
Pros: Crown range, Wanaka, Haast Pass,
Glaciers, coast drive, Buller Gorge.
Cons: need to find somewhere interesting to stay, boring once you get through Buller. -
@Crucial thanks for this. On the basis tjat we can leave home and the ferry is operating, I think we will go West. Stay in Greymouth (I know) as it's just over halfway. We will need to be on the ferry at 2pm on Day 2 as it's sold out after that
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@Chris-B said in South Island driving route:
@voodoo If the weather is clear, I reckon it's a no contest - go via the West Coast.
I reckon Hokitika is a nicer place to stay than Greymouth and time-wise it's not a huge difference.
If you need to cover some serious distance in one day, then you can't go wrong with the 5am start with kids (depending on age). Get up, have a coffee, get the car ready, then very last thing move the kids, strap them in, throw a blanket on top. You then get a solid 2-3 hours of uninterrupted driving time before you stop for breakfast.
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@voodoo said in South Island driving route:
Thanks fellas. All looking a bit moot now, but fingers crossed π
So how are you getting home? I see you have until Friday but do you have a ticket on the ferry?
Just hoping you're not stuck away from home, even if it is the beautiful Queenstown.
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@Hooroo said in South Island driving route:
@voodoo said in South Island driving route:
Thanks fellas. All looking a bit moot now, but fingers crossed π
So how are you getting home? I see you have until Friday but do you have a ticket on the ferry?
Just hoping you're not stuck away from home, even if it is the beautiful Queenstown.
Hi mate
Woke up this morning in a bit of a state to be honest!
Latest guidance has extended travel until Friday as you say, but we are technically supposed to stay in self isolation until next Wednesday. Friday will be Day 10
I can't see anything clear for people like us who still haven't reached final destination.
There are also flights to Welly from here on Friday, and they all have social distancing measures in place.
Really confusing time. Mum is ok for now, but she is on her own, and could easily go downhill fast. Really don't want to be stuck away for an extended period.
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@voodoo said in South Island driving route:
@Hooroo said in South Island driving route:
@voodoo said in South Island driving route:
Thanks fellas. All looking a bit moot now, but fingers crossed π
So how are you getting home? I see you have until Friday but do you have a ticket on the ferry?
Just hoping you're not stuck away from home, even if it is the beautiful Queenstown.
Hi mate
Woke up this morning in a bit of a state to be honest!
Latest guidance has extended travel until Friday as you say, but we are technically supposed to stay in self isolation until next Wednesday. Friday will be Day 10
I can't see anything clear for people like us who still haven't reached final destination.
There are also flights to Welly from here on Friday, and they all have social distancing measures in place.
Really confusing time. Mum is ok for now, but she is on her own, and could easily go downhill fast. Really don't want to be stuck away for an extended period.
Oh man! Good luck. Genuinely mean that. Keep us updated.
Don't forget that we are a community (The Fern) as your Fern Help thread suggests. If you need anything post to you, let us know as we are still mobile.
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@Hooroo appreciate that mate.
Went for a 2hr walk up the QT track and came to the decision to stay put here. Feels like the right decision. Hopefully Mum's condition doesn't change in the time between now and us being able to get there, whenever that is!
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good luck man! i hope it works out, i really do.