New Zealand any location suggestions?

[rpcrowe]

Have fun and be safe!

[ST1]

Yes, I am still here, and thinking about options. At that time we will be in Stewart Island for 10 days with a number of members of our photographic group (Nature Photography Society). However looking at your last itinerary you covered much of the South Island, but I suggest Fiordland going south from Hokitika,(SH6) through the Haast Pass, to Wanaka, then to Invercargill, and along the south coast through the Catlins, to Balclutha. Follow up to Dunedin, (SH1)then up to through central Otago (SH87)to Cromwell, and take the Lindis Pass SH8) through to South Canterbury, check on Mt Cook and the Hooker glacier. Go through Fairlie, Geraldine, and take the inland road (SH72)through the upper Rakaia Gorge and down to Christchurch. Following that you could go to Hanmer,(SH7) through the Lewis Pass, to Springs Junction, up the Shenandoah (SH65)to Murchison, then through to Nelson(SH6). While there go to Golden Bay,(SH60) to Collingwood, Farewell Spit, and Totaranui.
That's my suggestion for the a South Island, but then I am biased.

Ken I've just looked at your suggested route and wonder if you could give me some idea of the timescale required to follow the suggested route.
Also as we would be coming in to the South Island on the ferry from Wellington would the route work in the reverse direction and ending in Christchurch?


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[pnodrog]

You should allow an extra two days if you are going up to Cape Reinga but it if you have the time you should enjoy it. From Paihia head north via Kerikeri, Matauri Bay and Whangaroa or more directly via Kaeo to Mangonui (Fish and chips).



Rental cars may not be allowed to use 90 Mile Beach so you may have to travel to Cape Reinga and back to Kaitaia via the road. I do enjoy the drive along the beach and it is an easier drive than the road so I tend to use road one way and the beach the other. There are tourist buses from Kaitaia that do the loop and maybe worth considering. As a photographer I much prefer to do my own driving (or stopping as my wife calls it).


From Kaitaia you can visit Ahipara (even stay there in preference to Kaitaia – great sunsets on beach) then return to Auckland via the Hokianga and Dargaville. This will take you through Rawene, Opononi, Waipoua Kauri forrest, with a possible little detours to Trounson Park and/or Kaiiwi Lakes. About 40 minutes south of Dargaville on the way to Auckland is the Matakohe Museum which is worth a visit.


As it is late summer the Coromandel area will be fairly busy and a similar but more peaceful alternative would be to travel down the Eastcoast from Whakatane (White Island trip?) then Te Kaha, Hicks Bay, Tolaga Bay to Gisborne and on to Napier that you enjoyed last time. A side trip to Lake Waikaremoana if you have the time (although you will see lots of beautiful lakes in the South Island)


If you require any specific information just send me a PM.

[pnodrog]

Why car rental companies are reluctant to have their cars use 90 Mile Beach....

I have never had any problem driving on the beach but you have to watch the tide and not be too stupid.




P.S. About two minutes after taking this photograph there was a bus load of tourists walking around it.

[William W]

Bill we arrive in Sydney on the 9th March and leave on the 12th, it really is a flying visit to catch up with old friends and relatives. I may do the Bridge climb just so I can say I've stood on the steel that was mostly produced in my home town .

OK Thanks. No time to plan any photography expeditions I expect.

Re Bridge Climb - book early if you want a good time of day and compare the prices that your rels can get locally to what you can purchase from OS.

Have fun

WW

[ST1]

Why car rental companies are reluctant to have their cars use 90 Mile Beach....

I have never had any problem driving on the beach but you have to watch the tide and not be too stupid.




P.S. About two minutes after taking this photograph there was a bus load of tourists walking around it.

Thanks Paul, I may have to drive the road as I'll have a hire car, plus I want to be able to stop and photograph when I want, rather than when the coach driver thinks I want to


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[Codebreaker]

I'm lucky enough to have family in NZ and so visit there every year and have covered both North and South Island from top to bottom. It's a wonderful country and it doesn't seem to matter where you are, you can just point your camera and get amazing shots because of the light quality. The list of places to visit is just too long to put here.

However, just one story. I decided to visit Gisborne one year as this was the place to see the first sunrise in the world for each day. ( I think the date lines got moved around a bit so this may be debatable now). Having got directions from the guy in the motel about the best place to be, I set of at 4.00am and got the equipment setup. Regretably I never checked my compass and just relied and what the guy had said. Some time later, no real sign of the sun but it was getting lighter. I then realised, albeit too late I was on the wrong side of the hill. Too late by then

Rule no. 3 should be changed from just 'Be there' to 'Be there but face the right way'

[ST1]

Just a quick response to thank everyone for their input to this rather old thread that covers both our 2014 trip and this next one.
We have finalised our itinerary, a brief outline of which is:-

Auckland (2days), Paihia (4 days), Thames (1 night), Whitianga (2 nights), Rotorua (2 nights), New Plymouth (2 nights), Wellington (2 nights). Ferry to South Island, Picton (2 nights), Motueka (2 nights), Greymouth (1 night), Wanaka (2 nights), Te Anau (2 nights), Gore (2 nights), Dunedin (2 Nights), Clyde (1 night), Mount Cook Village (1 Night), Lake Tekapo (2 nights), Christchurch/Sumner (4 nights) with a brief stay in Sydney(4 nights) to catch up with friends and rellies prior to flying back home to catch up with the garden chores!

Thanks once again everyone for your suggestions and help with our second itinerary.

[Codebreaker]

Great Itinerary. When you're near Lake Tekapo, go to coffee shop on top on Mt John. Great coffee and wonderful views. 43°59'8" S 170°27'55" E

Have fun