New Zealand: SOUTH ISland
New Zealand has long been viewed as host to one of the most diverse landscapes in the world. Featured as the backdrop to countless films, the country is ideal to exploration by visitors as well.
How to Get Around
Unlike many other nature destinations, New Zealand is ideal for both luxury travelers and backpackers. Trips can be planned independently or arranged as part of a tour.
While there are many bus tours that travel among the selection of landmarks, you’ll have to read about them elsewhere. In this guide, I’ll discuss a self-drive itinerary. Roads in New Zealand are well maintained and, for the most part, paved. The driving experience is very similar to that in the US (except on the left side of the road). If you can adapt to that, you shouldn’t run into many other complications. Higher gas prices are to be expected but not so much that they should deter you from visiting. In some areas, there can be long distances between gas stations and it’s best to fill up frequently.
How to Get Around
Where To Go
The South Island is large and the most beautiful areas are spread throughout. The various areas are unique and you should allow time to visit each of them.
Arthur's Pass
Mt Cook
Wanaka
Queenstown
Milford Sound
The Catlins
ARTHUR’S PASS
Along the tourist routes, Arthur’s Pass is often skipped. The road travels through gorges and winds up and down mountain passes. While much of the country is covered in farms, here there are far fewer. These factors make the drive one of the most beautiful. Scattered along the route are a number of hikes, most of them longer day hikes. The most popular and easiest to visit site is the Devil’s Punchbowl waterfall.
MT COOK
Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki are both excellent places to start your visit to Mt Cook National Park. Both lakes offer many side roads to explore. The entrance to Mt Cook follows along Lake Pukaki and has incredible views the entire way. Once you arrive at the national park, you’ll be able to visit the Tasman glacier lagoon, hike up the 2000 steps to the Sealy Tarns or even spend a night in the Mueller Hut. No matter your specific plans, the Mt Cook area is a must.
WANAKA
Whether in Mt Aspiring National park or just outside of the city, Wanaka is an excellent base for venturing out to some of best day hikes on the island. Wanaka is a relatively quiet, laid back town that still offers all the conveniences you’d expect. If you have the time, it would be a perfect place to spend a few days to relax. It’s worth taking a short drive or hiking to an overlook to see the many lakes that dot the landscape.
QUEENSTOWN
This tourist hub is at the center of all the island’s adventure activities. Be prepared, as the activities aren’t cheap and neither are the accommodations. If you’re looking to enjoy the nightlife, you can find it here but traffic and parking are an issue. Travelling on a budget, we found it a place to generally avoid. There are a few neighboring communities that offer a more relaxing experience at reduced prices (I recommend Arrowtown.)
MILFORD SOUND
This is the most well known natural wonder on the South Island. Despite being heavily visited, it lived up to our expectations. It’s one place that’s just as beautiful on a rainy day. There are a variety of ways to experience it; whether by boat, kayak, plane or foot, it won’t disappoint. The only difficulty here can be lodging. Milford Sound Lodge is the only option within 50km of the site and prices accordingly. If you choose to stay further out, make sure to wake up early for a full day trip.
THE CATLINS
Less frequently visited, The Catlins is your chance to access the New Zealand coastline. With lots of farmland, the sights are isolated to a few small pockets that are quick to visit. There are a few waterfall hikes that take you through the lush temperate rainforest. It’s a nice detour on the way back to Christchurch but only if it makes sense with your route.
Cost
New Zealand isn’t a budget destination but that shouldn’t keep you from considering it. The costs can be kept down but you’ll have to be willing to rough it a little. Regardless, the beautiful views will be the same.
LODGING
Accommodation choices will determine the affordability of your trip. Prices aren’t unreasonable and are in-line with other first world countries. However, considering the cost of getting there, you’ve got to cut cost somewhere to keep the costs in check. That said, New Zealand does have good budget options. “Holiday parks” (~$50) are a unique category not found in many other countries. They combine private rooms with a shared bathroom and cooking facilities. If you want to save even more, there is an extensive network of campsites (~$25) with above average facilities.
FOOD
Eating out was more expensive than I expected. Most restaurants are privately owned and smaller towns don’t have many choices. Worse, there isn’t much in the way of “fast food”. If you want to save money, there are a few strategies. Grocery store prices are average and cooking your own meals works well. Alternatively, you could… eat at gas stations. I know, this doesn’t sound appealing but it’s not so bad. Many gas station owners cook their own food options and nearly all of them offer a variety of meat pies (they’re better than they sound). To put it another way, if you’re trying to stay on a budget, don’t visit New Zealand for the food.
TRANSPORTATION
If you live in the United States, flying to New Zealand is very expensive. This is a problem that is hard to work around. All you can really do is wait for a fare war or redeem points of some kind. In some cases, it may also be cheaper to purchase a ticket to Sydney, then another one to Christchurch rather than a single ticket. After you arrive, things aren’t so bad. There are plenty of vehicle rental options and the prices are low. Gas prices are in line with the rest of the world. A New Zealand roadtrip involves a lot of mileage. I’d recommend choosing an efficient vehicle to keep gas costs as low as possible.
Why New Zealand?
There are plenty of beautiful places around the world but few are as accessible as New Zealand.
For anyone new to traveling abroad or planning their own trips, New Zealand is a great trip to start with. The country is set up well for planning your own trip. Great hiking is accessible and there are accommodation choices for any budget. Outside of prime season, this is a destination where a seasoned traveler could plan a trip on the fly. That said, the natural beauty and diversity is matched by few places in the world. As evidenced by the multitude of movies filmed here, there is a little bit of everything.
Learn More
New Zealand Budget
SOUTH PACIFIC - NEW ZEALANDNew Zealand Budget Jeffrey Palmer 02 April 2019 Jeffrey Palmer 02 April 2019Before I even began to travel, New Zealand had always intrigued me. I've put off visiting for some time as it always seemed to be unaffordable. So, when we saw an...
Select Hikes
Along with New Zealand’s nine “Great Walks”, there are plenty of shorter hikes (or tramps as they call them) as well. New Zealand has more well maintained hiking trails than any other country I’ve visited. There are suitable options for everyone regardless of age or fitness level.
Sealy Tarns/Mueller Hut
Dubbed “the stairway to Heaven”, this hike offers the best views in Mt Cook National Park. Don’t expect them to come easy though. The trail presents a near constant ascent of 2,000 steep stairs on the way to the Sealy Tarns overlook. If you haven’t had enough, continue up the loose mountainside all the way to the ridge. From there, it’s a short walk to Mueller Hut. Just make sure to reserve a spot well in advance as bunk spaces books up quickly.
Mt Isthmus
If you’re interested in a mountaintop experience, this hike is a great choice. While there are other options (Roy’s Peak) near Wanaka, Mt Isthmus is one of the best and allows you to avoid the queues to get your pictures. This is a grueling hike that involves several hours of switchbacks along a 4×4 farm road. However, the ridgeline experience at the top makes it well worth the effort. Bring a plenty of snacks and allow yourself plenty of daylight.
Gertrude Saddle
The views on this hike overlooking the Milford Sound are among the best in the world. However, there are a few caveats. This hike will be dangerous if there has been rain recently. The trail isn’t maintained and can be a little difficult to follow so it’s best to have some prior alpine experience. That aside, the hike is a must do. While it is relatively short, make sure to leave some time to relax and enjoy the view from the top.
What are you waiting for?
