Wisdom Of The Fern Collective - South Island Tour
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Team Fern ... I am going to take the whanau on a trip around the South Island in April. I've got relatives (I've spoken about them a few times ...) in Christchurch and Greymouth, who I will be staying with. I also have a 5 year old and a 3 year old who will be occuping the back seats, so too much more driving than the below will cause, shall we say, issues. Anywhere is what we are planning - if people think I've really got somethings wrong, just let me know ...
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Fly into Queenstown from Sydney. Get an Air BNB there for 4 nights, get my folks down from the Bay of Plenty as well. In theses 4 days look to do (i) daytrip to bluff (just me and wife) as I was born that way and she wants to go there - leave the kids with the grandparents), (ii) vineyard tour around central otago way, (iii) skyline /luges with the kids, (iv) Fergburger ... because everybody talks about it, (v) something else with the kids - probably on a boat or something.
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Drive to Christchurch - take 2 days. Thinking Lindis pass and perhaps stay somewhere like Oamaru - open to Fern suggestions here for elsewhere. I do need to go via Timaru & Ashburton though, as I had grandparents here who both passed in the last 3 years, so want to go and say goodbye as such.
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2 nights in Christchurch. I've not been there since 2009, so there will be some earthquake tourism. I'd also be interested in fern collective thoughts on things to do here - especially for the kids. After a couple of days drive to get here, they will be gagging to do some running around causing shit.
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Arthurs Pass to Greymouth. 2 nights there with relatives. Quite a drive so will be looking for places to stop on way etc. My relatives there have loads for the kids to do - animals, farming, gardening, fishing etc ... this could be a proper highlight of the trip.
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Greymouth to Hanmer Springs - one night there. We all love hot springs so this a no brainer ... drive there in the morning, then spend afternoon at the hot springs.
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Hanmer to Nelson. Bit of a drive again, but then at end of it perhaps 2 nights in Nelson. Not entirely sure what to do around there, but everybody says its lovely etc etc, so seems like a good idea. Think kids will like free day too after doing Greymouth - Hanmer - Nelson on 2 previous days. Originally were going to go via Kaikoura, but that option has been taken away from us unfortunately. A shame, as that road is up there as one of the best I've ever driven.
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Nelson to Wellington ... drive to Picton early doors, then get 2pm (ish) ferry over to wellington, then off to the sisters place to reconvene.
So ... Fern Collective ... where do you think I've gone wrong? Remember the key objectives are entertaining the kids, showing the wife the highs (and the lows - WT family) of the SI, and not spending anymore than a half day in the car.
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@canefan said in Wisdom Of The Fern Collective - South Island Tour:
If you are able to drop the kids go for the chef's lunch at Amisfield near Arrowtown. Delish
Can recommend that as well. They do a great pinot noir.
Probably can cope with the kid's too, tractor outside for playing on, (wife eventually got me off it).I think Amisfield is Tom Tusher's? Used to be CEO of Levi jeans, owns Blanket Bay down the lake a bit. Seems like a good guy for a rich american.
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Well, going to Christchurch has probably ruined the trip (you do realise it is full of Cantabs?) but aside from that....
Find time while in Q'town to go out to Arrowtown. Ignore the overtly tourist aspects and it's a lovely place.
If going to Bluff then stop in Invercargill gardens and check out the best free attraction going at the Tuatara display. Dozens of the fuckers, from infants to really old. A stop at the Invercargill brewery for a flagon to take back.
Do the crown range and stop off at Wanaka lakeside for photo opportunities.
If doing the Lindis don't then miss the best parts by heading out to the coast at Omarama. Tekapo is beautiful but accomodation is crap and pricey. Either make the effort to head up to the Hermitage or if that causes problems I can recommend a night at Ohau lodge. Make sure you eat in as the food is great, they accomodate kids well and it is simply a friendly and stunning part of the country. Make sure you pick up some salmon and Ohau cheeses passing through.
If stopping in the Mackenzie county isn't good timing but you need a stopover then Geraldine has some good options (and an excellent local butcher down a side street). -
Thanks team ... so this is what I've picked up ...
- Don't take the kids. tough one,as this holiday is for hte kids before we relocate to UK
- Avoid Oamaru, go to Tekapo instead. Ok, done.
- We are able to drop the kids, so the Chef's lunch at Amisfield will work. Ok, done.
A good start of ideas there!
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In Nelson, your kids are doubtless the right age for Natureland (in Nelson) or Animal Farm (near Nelson).
http://www.animalfarm.co.nz/our-animals/
If it is a nice day, taking a boat trip into the Abel Tasman National Park (from Kaiteriteri or Marahau) is always worthwhile.
Less adventurous, but more relaxing, is a trip to Tahunanui Beach - kids playgrounds etc.
Jester House for lunch is good with kids. Food is usually very good.
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In Queenstown you really should do the drive up to glenorchy - depending on how you think kids would go a trip on the dart river from glenorchy will surpass anything you get back in qt
Personally I'd go Greymouth to Nelson via Punakaiki and Westport and hope that the blow holes perform but if you do want a hot pool experi4ence why not Maruia instead of Hanmer - save you two hours driving
QT- Bluff return is going to be 6 hours of mostly boring driving - are you mad?
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Nelson ideas look good .. cheers and have locked them onto our ideas list.
I've never driven to Glenorchy - might give it a go. Dart river trips are looking rather pricey though. We had looked at via Westport, and that is not off the table yet. But I have read that the Hanmer is supposed to be excellent for the kids.
The bluff trip - yes, I guess, but I was born in Winton and for some reason, significant other really wants to go there and check it out ...
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@MajorRage said in Wisdom Of The Fern Collective - South Island Tour:
I was born in Winton and for some reason, significant other really wants to go there and check it out ...
I'm sure that she wants some explanation as to what happened.
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@MajorRage said in Wisdom Of The Fern Collective - South Island Tour:
@Snowy I don't know if she's going to find her answer there ...
A few nights with the WT rellies will be much more enlightening.
Poor girl.
Natureland Wildlife Trust
Jester House Cafe
