ahebron
Registered user
10 days seeing the sights of the South Island is a minimum.
I love the South Island and can see it from the end of my road.
I have been fortunate to have seen and worked through most of it.
Its not that big but the sights are stunning and the roads are narrow and not that fast moving.
No public transport trains in the South Island but several tourist trains.
Speed limits are strictly policed over public holidays when they have zero tolerance but outside these times in general 4km over is tolerated. But they have had a recent spate of ridiculous speeds down south recently so they might be a bit less tolerant these days. Our roads with the exception of in and around cities are mainly 2 lanes seperated by a painted line if you are lucky. Cambridge to Warkworth in the North Island being the big exception and is 200km of motorway/expressway.
Be aware that Chinese New Year is 17 Feb to 3 March 2026 and this does affect accomodation prices and availablility in the South Island as it is a major holiday destination for them. Also creates traffic issues.
NZ dollar is a great purchase for anyone from overseas at present so your UK Pound will go far.
Nothing in NZ will kill you except the land and the locals so walking in the bush is reasonably safe. In saying that we do loose a fair share of trampers and mountaineers who get caught out with the weather or the terrain
Be careful in Australia as they have snakes and spiders that get annoyed with humans.
But at the end enjoy your time in both countries
I love the South Island and can see it from the end of my road.
I have been fortunate to have seen and worked through most of it.
Its not that big but the sights are stunning and the roads are narrow and not that fast moving.
No public transport trains in the South Island but several tourist trains.
Speed limits are strictly policed over public holidays when they have zero tolerance but outside these times in general 4km over is tolerated. But they have had a recent spate of ridiculous speeds down south recently so they might be a bit less tolerant these days. Our roads with the exception of in and around cities are mainly 2 lanes seperated by a painted line if you are lucky. Cambridge to Warkworth in the North Island being the big exception and is 200km of motorway/expressway.
Be aware that Chinese New Year is 17 Feb to 3 March 2026 and this does affect accomodation prices and availablility in the South Island as it is a major holiday destination for them. Also creates traffic issues.
NZ dollar is a great purchase for anyone from overseas at present so your UK Pound will go far.
Nothing in NZ will kill you except the land and the locals so walking in the bush is reasonably safe. In saying that we do loose a fair share of trampers and mountaineers who get caught out with the weather or the terrain
Be careful in Australia as they have snakes and spiders that get annoyed with humans.
But at the end enjoy your time in both countries
