Coddiwomple Special No.1

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I was asked the other day by a good friend of mine on recommendations on how to travel around New Zealand and the best places to see. I have been thinking about it and this is what I would do if I had limited time in New Zealand.

If you are not interested don’t read any further.

If you have been reading our bloggs you would have read quite a few different ways we have travelled. My suggestion is to fly into Auckland catch a train down to Wellington it is only a day trip. This will give you an idea of the North Island landscape and a laid-back way of travelling.

From Wellington catch a ferry to South Island. There are two ferry companies to choose from and both end in Picton. Once in Picton you can hire a car to travel around South Island. We look out for companies that hire older cars they tend to be quite a lot cheaper. We also take out extra insurance to cover everything. But compare the prices of insurance also it varies hugely.

I have spoken to a few people who have hired those large campervans. They have all said they are exhausted by the end of the day due to the concentration needed to drive in New Zealand. The car we hired was a Toyota Corolla. It just had enough power to ascend the mountain passes and overtake. In a camper van they are slow and cumbersome. I would hire a car no smaller than a Corolla but something with enough power for the mountains and something with quick acceleration when needed for overtaking those slow campervans. New Zealand is a great drive you just need a fun car to do it in.

I would only travel on the West Coast. From Picton travel to Nelson then onto Marahau where Able Tasman NP is. Then onto Westport and keep following Highway SH 6 to Queenstown. From Queenstown fly home again. This drive will take in the most spectacular scenery in NZ in the shortest time possible.

I know people hire the campervans, so they have their own accommodation with them, but it is a false value. Cars are much more fun to drive and there is plenty of cheaper accommodation around. All the caravan parks have onsite cabins there are plenty of hostels around and motels. Check all the prices online first. We are finding sometimes it is cheaper to go with apartments and cabins than hostels.

All you must do now is work out how long to stay in places and what you are going to see and do.

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