Posted by bitehard/NZ
on 4/5/2009, 6:23 am, in reply to "Re: TMMH Caps"
60.234.107.55
There's always lots to do . It 's just a case of knowing. Now what vehicle are you planning on? Auckland /Wellington is about 8 hrs with one stop for gas. In the last few years I have done the ferry trip quite a few times when I have gone south selling. Allow 4.5 hrs for that alone. 3 hrs for the boat . You have to be there 1 hr before. And not being local you could very easly get yourself on the wrong wharf and at the wrong terminal. There are 2 companies that cross over. Bewarned. Interislander and Strait Shipping. Google them.
Picton/Kaikura is about 1.5hrs
Kaikura/Christchurch is about 2.5hrs
Theo will be able to give you a better time schedule and route from ChCh to Queenstown than I would.
Queenstown/West Coast via the Haast Pass would be the route from there. The three towns that you can visit are Hokitika,Greymouth and Westport. I usualy do the Greymouth/Picton trip in about 5 hrs passing through Reefton, St. Arnaud, Renwick and Blenheim. The locals do it in about 4.25/4.5hrs. They know the roads better. That way back brings you back via the Buller Gorge. A nice drive. To return to Auckland from Greymouth I reguard as a 2 day drive. Including the boat.
Now. You will be down here in the winter time and some of the passes can be closed in an Hrs notice. Another thing to factor in the time schedule. In Auckland I am still in a teeshirt and shorts. At the moment down there they are draging out the winter woolies . It is a lot cooler when the dirty weather comes up from the Roaring Forties.
Let me know if you have sorted a car and from where so I can check if you can take it across the strait. And also date and time of arrival. Do you still want to visit Rotorua?
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