Damian_Maxcash

I take it you know the layout - you said you have the Lonley Planet guide?

If you come from the North Island by car/camper you will arrive in Picton - DONT head south towards Christchurch!!

Head west towards Nelson - you will go through a nice wine region - Marlbourough - have a look at the sounds as you go through, nice but not a lot to hang around for.

Then head to Golden Bay - stop in Kaiteriteri - Its a stunning little bay town.....

Check out Golden Bay - its a bit of a hippy area - then, if you ever straighten up (the weed will blow your mind if you are into that sort of thing) backtrack a bit and head for Murcheson - not much there, it was the site of a massive earthquake and it has lots of info about that.

Then head to the West coast - the first town is Westport.... drive as fast as you can, its a horrid place.

Then the West Coast proper - one of the wettest places on the planet it will be the highlight of your trip..... Sub-Tropical rainforest, lakes that will take your breathe away and all backed by the Southern Alps incredible moutain scenery.

You will find a few small towns - all amazingly friendly - hang around for a few days, you will make more friends than you have in your whole life before.

Next is Greyton and Hokitia - both rugged towns on the coast - if you miss the cafes etc then stay for a few..... the aquarium in Hokitika is cool - they have these eels that are at least 10 feet long....

Carry on south - you will hit the glaciers next - Fox and then Frans Josef (I think in that order) - they almost hit the sea - well worth seeing - the pure power cant fail to impress and in the middle of summer its a bit of a mind fuck seeing that much snow and ice heading towards the sea.

Stunning views and then more stunning views..... then you will have to head east towards Wanaka - STUNNING views over the lake from the town.... I lived here for a few months.

Then down to Queenstown - about an hour away - VERY touristy, big money etc.... abolutley stunning - but unless you have a big pocket there are better places.

Head down south (not east) to Te Anau - then back north to Milford Sound - Here is the highlight of your trip - It is mind blowing. Its size can not be described.... the waterfalls are incredible. Rudyard Kipling described it as the 8th wonder of the world.

If you have time then do a trip to Doubtful Sound as well - less touristy but just as amazing - you can do this

from Milford Sound by boat or from Te Anau by boat and coach. You cant drive yourself.

When you have got your breathe back head north torwards from Te Anau to the road to Dunedin, about 3 hours away -

this is my 'home town' - its ok - - It has a great 'alternitive' scene - a huge uni (find five Drs anywhere in

the world and at least one will have studied in Dunedin). Then head north along SH1, you will see a lot of small

towns on the way - stop of in Karitane and say hi from Damian to Di in the shop.


The next main town is Christchurch - Capitol of the South Island - If you havnt been to the UK then stay for a

while here - its famous for being the most English city outside England - I think it is even more English than

anywhere in England!

Head north again and you will hit Kaikoura (Kai is maori for food - koura for crayfish) and you can pig out on the

best lobster (cray) you will ever find. Then north again back to Picton.

On your next trip I will show you the rest of the island - Mt Cook, Central Otago etc.....

You will be back.....