Hi all,
I am estimating a cost for a 10 days backpacking trip to the South Island. Thinking to visit Christchurch, Kaikoura, and Queenstown. Activities planning to do are sea kayaking, hiking, bungee jump, whale watching and LOTR filming area Queensway. Planning to stay in backpacker hostel and food spending will be minimum. Transport probably by driving ourselves.
Please advise if NZD1200-1500/person excluding airfares is able to cover the trip.

Thanks and best regards.

edit: any idea where would be the best place for glacier?

This post has been edited by lencent: Dec 24 2011, 03:43 AM

Thanks alot for the estimation. i was thinking bout the Fox Glacier as well, however it is on the west coast and i was planning to travel along the east coast only. Thanks for the input

woah... lucky i flying there in May, got a mini heart attack when i read the news... i doing Christchurch - franz josepf - lake wanaka - queenstown - te anau - lake tekapo (Mt cook) - kaikoura - christchurh in 12 days. will be driving on our own. any recommendation for places that die die must go that i missed out?

any reliable car rental company? we are a grp of 8 ppl, not sure renting a MPV or van is enough to hold our backpacks...

This post has been edited by lencent: Mar 13 2012, 07:54 PM

yea yea... going te anau just to go there btw, do we really need to get IDP to drive in NZ? seems very troublesome

seems liek they need IDP now damn...
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/licence/residents-...driving-nz.html

How to do that? how much do i need to pay for that?

personally, i wouldnt recommend to stay in Queenstown for too long. It's a tourist spot where everything is expensive. I would recommend to have 1 day exploring the town, 1 day to Milford Sound (dont stay overnight there, nothing to do at all).

And you must try the Fergburger! it's superb huge and delicious!!

Driving in the NZ is really easy. they do not have highway like malaysia, but the roads are well maintained. The roads on west coast has very few traffic, but on east coast, you will encounter a lot trucks and police cars

gosh, visiting this page brings back a lot of my memories in NZ... went there in May 2012 for about 2 weeks before the AAX cancelled the route to CHC. Spent about RM5k inclusive on flight ticket, accomodation, expenses, transport etc. Well spent i would say

My driving course was: CHC-Fox glacier-Wanaka-Milford-Queenstown-Tekapo-Mt Cook-Kaikoura-CHC
The most enjoyable drive was from Queenstown to lake tekapo where you will pass by lake wakatipu, mountain ways reaching altitude of 900m, patches of greenery etc. Lake Tekapo itself is a very beautiful and quiet town. IMO, it is the most beautiful town that i have visited in NZ to relax

Wanaka is another beautiful town! Comparable to Lake Tekapo but with more civilization, ie: have shopping districts etc. Initially we wanted to left Wanaka 9am in the morning, but the scenery was so beautiful that we decided to sit at the lakeside to enjoy the scenery while having our breakfast lovin' it!!

For stargazing, Lake Tekapo and Mt Cook are some of the best spots. First time in my life to see a belt of stars so bright and clear right smack in my face! and managed to see few meteors too!!!

I guess when i have earned enough, i will definitely go back to south island again!!