Considering going to NZ for 8 days later in the year, and probably South Island in May. At this stage we are looking Dunedin and Queenstown and would love some experienced folks to let me know of their experiences...

Thanks.

well last time i was in auckland 2 mates and i were dragged in to a pub by 4 chicks

I spent 3 weeks there on a SLSA tour, but only the north island.

The people are fantastic.

i will be there from the 8/3to 23/3 south is so i can give you a full rundown then..i'll keep in touch jim:beer:beer:beer

Dont miss Christchurch & Akaroa. Have a look at the link below.
http://www.akaroa.com/Category.cfm?RealmID=10&CategoryID=26 

I did see some splitty campers that were available to rent while I was there. I think they were from a business in Picton.
When are you going?
Rob...

I was there in december of last year.

here is my itenerary

Day One - Christchurch
Kia Ora! Arrive in Christchurch - the Garden City - and transfer to Christchurch City YHA. Christchurch is known as the most English City in New Zealand and is the largest city in the South Island. There are many options available to fill in your day, some examples are shown below:

* Ride the Tram around the inner city
* Visit the Arts Centre or Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
* Punt on the Avon
* Ride the Gondola up Mount Cavendish - an extinct volcano
* Stroll through Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens
* Visit the International Antarctic Centre

Overnight: Christchurch City YHA

Day Two - Christchurch
Today is a free day to explore this city or you may choose to take a day trip to Akaroa - Canterbury's oldest town. Akaroa was an early French settlement, which is reflected today in the street names and early architecture. This town is home to the world's smallest and rarest dolphin, the Hectors Dolphin. Take a cruise on the Harbour for a chance of sighting one, you may also see little blue penguins and seals.

Overnight: Christchurch City YHA

Intercity Coach LinesDay Three - Christchurch to Franz Josef (via Greymouth)
TranzScenic Train Depart Christchurch at 08:15
Arrive Greymouth at 13:25
InterCity Coach Depart Greymouth at 13:50
Arrive Franz Josef at 17:20

Sit back and enjoy a spectacular rail journey across the South Island. The TranzAlpine excursion is rated in the top six rail journeys in the world. The TranzAlpine travels over huge viaducts, through gorges and river valleys before tracking across New Zealand's greatest mountain range - the Southern Alps.

At Greymouth, board the coach for Franz Josef. The township of Franz Josef is surrounded by Westland National Park.

Overnight: Franz Josef YHA

Day Four - Franz Josef
This glacier was first explored back in 1865 by Austrian, Julius Haast. Haast named the glacier after the Austrian emperor. The glacier is currently moving forward at about 30 centimetres a day. You may choose to take part in a Glacier Walk, alternatively you may prefer to view the glacier from the air. If you take the helicopter flight option, you will experience an on-glacier landing.

Overnight: Franz Josef YHA

Day Five - Franz Josef to Queenstown
InterCity Coach Depart Franz Josef at 08:00
Arrive Queenstown at 15:50

Leave behind the picture postcard scenery of the West Coast and travel inland to Queenstown - New Zealand's adrenalin capital. In 1862, two shearers discovered gold in the Shotover River and began the gold rush that led to the birth of Queenstown.

Overnight: Queenstown YHA

Day Six - Queenstown
Today you can explore Queenstown at your leisure. The town of Queenstown is on the shores of Lake Wakatipu - meaning place of the giant. The lake "breathes" every five minutes - the water level rises and falls. Maori legend tells of an evil giant who abducted a Maori maiden. He was set alight by the maiden's rescuer and his burning body melted the surrounding glaciers to form a huge water-filled crater. Only the giant's beating heart survived, which is the cause of the lake's regular rising and falling.
This evening be sure to take in a Maori Concert and Hangi.

Options:

* Ride the Skyline Gondola to the top of Bob's Peak for inspiring views of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains
* Ride the Shotover Jet
* Bungy-jump
* Cruise aboard the steamship TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu
* White Water Rafting
* Parapenting
* Wine Trail
* River Surfing
* Ride the Double Decker Bus over to Arrowtown - one of the few goldmining towns to survive the Gold Rush of the 1800s

Overnight: Queenstown YHA

Newmans Coach LinesDay Seven - Queenstown to Te Anau (via Milford Sound)
Newmans Coach Depart Queenstown at 07:50
Arrive Milford Sound at 13:15
Red Boat Cruise from 13:15 to 15:00
Newmans Coach Depart Milford Sound at 15:15
Arrive Te Anau at 17:10

Travel south along the shores of Lake Wakatipu to Te Anau - gateway to Fiordland National Park and the Milford Track. Leave Te Anau behind and you're on your way to Milford Sound. The drive into Milford Sound is through Fiordland National Park and is truly spectacular. Numerous photo stops will be made along the way. Milford Sound is the only fiord accessible by road. Upon arrival in Milford, board the "Red Boat" for a one and a half hour cruise on the Sound. Majestic waterfalls, crested penguins, Mitre Peak, dolphins, seals and sandflies - Milford Sound has it all.

At the end of the cruise, reboard the coach and return to Te Anau.

Overnight: Te Anau YHA

Day Eight - Te Anau to Dunedin
InterCity Coach Depart Te Anau at 08:00
Arrive Dunedin at 12:30

Dunedin is known as the Edinburgh of the South. The name Dunedin is in fact, the Celtic word for Edinburgh. Dunedin was settled in 1848, but shortly after the first settlers arrived gold was discovered in Otago. Dunedin quickly became the commercial capital of New Zealand and the richest city in the province. Today Dunedin is largely a student town - it is home to New Zealand's first (and finest) university.
Options:

* Cruise on the Otago Harbour
* Ride the Taieri Gorge Railway
* Visit the Albatross Colony, Larnach's Castle (New Zealand's only castle)
* Stroll through the grounds of Otago University

Overnight: Stafford Gables YHA, Dunedin

Day Nine - Dunedin to Christchurch
InterCity Coach Depart Dunedin at 12:40
Arrive Christchurch at 18:30

This afternoon farewell Dunedin and board the coach for your journey to Christchurch. Travel along the coastline, past the Moeraki Boulders. These spherical boulders were formed in the seabed over 60 million years ago by the gradual accumulation of lime salt. Each boulder weighs several tonnes and measures up to four metres in circumference. Travel through Oamaru, Timaru and across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.

Tour ends upon arrival in Christchurch.

What Package Includes:

* Daily Coach Travel as specified with InterCity and Newmans Coachlines
* YHA Accommodation - 8 days pre-booked accommodation depending on the tour you select
* Transport from Airport to YHA hostel on arrival
* Information and Discounts pack
* TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth
* Milford Sound cruise.

Yeah, the plans are similar to the bottom half of your iternary Zac.

May we will be going, so not a lot on, and starting to get cold, but thats cool, there will be snow on the Remarkables(even though we aren't big skiers, it will make great snaps I am thinking). 6 days in Queenstown, 2 days in Dunedin including the Cadbury factory.. hmmm... chocolate....

I spent 2 1/2 years in NZ but lived in Auckland.

Milford Sound is pretty spectacular scenery... but Queenstown / shotover jet boat sticks very vividly in the mind.

I grew up in the South Island, mainly in Dunedin (did the Cadburys tour every school holidays), lived in Cromwell, Wanaka and Queenstown all at different times. If you're into horse riding at all check out Back Country Saddle Expeditions in the Cardrona Valley, (my dad started the business, but he lives in the USA now) lovely scenery and beatiful horses (they use appaloosas instead of your traditional old bored trail nags)
Make sure you go to Arrowtown (near Queenstown) very pretty spot (especially in autumn as the leaves change). Queenstown doesn't do much for me these days, way too touristy. But apparently it is now very popular with the stars, Shania Twain bought property that my dad used to pass through on his horse trek tours (so i heard) Sam Neill owns a winery in the Kawara gorge. And of course its popular with the thrill seekers too

While you're there make sure to do the Speights Brewery tour. it's good fun and you get to pour your own beers if you do the evening tour around 7pm :P

christchurch is good. franz joseph is amazing. i've done ice climbing, glacier walks and kayaking

the cadbury factory is very good fun as well. you'll have a ball mate.

Zac

Dont do the bus tour thing, way too boring.
Hire a car and enjoy some great roads and mad drivers.

Love the place, better than Oz in some ways.

I spent 8 hours there 1 day

then i left n turned the lights off

People,

Bear with me - this is my first post.

My wife and I travelled the South Island last year - the place is magic!! We found hiring a van the best choice.
Just to add a few options.
Wanaka - check out Puzzling World and the Lake itself; the trout are amazing.
Te Anau - check out the glow worm caves.
Te Anau to Milford Sound - stop at the tunnel and check the Kia (largest Alpine parrot in the world - they will eat the window rubbers off your car!)
Mt Cook and Lake Tekapo - stay at Lake Tekapo and check out Mt Cook and the Church of the Good Shepard.
Geraldine - fantastic bakery and cheeses.
Otherwise, ask for a MUG of coffee at any coffee shop - it is actually a soup bowl! Watch the single lane bridges!! And the Transalpine train shouldn't be missed.

Good luck

Rob

i 2nd the glow worm caves, wanaka is cool too.

oh and i and my 3 mates would've driven a hire car, but they're not really happy renting to a 19year old aussie p plater.

I'm going on the 8th, yay never been before....

I'm feeling homesick.. Was back on my farm for a week at Xmas and want to go back again!!..

campervans are the go. They are catered for much better than over here.

Forgot about the kea's, destructive bastards. Wouldnt want to take your own car to the glaciers thats for sure.

been snowboarding around NZ, loved it.. can't say i saw much else than snow there.. oh and weed.

^^yeh they seem to really like that over there don't they?

i swear our rafting guide wanted to lite one up on the way down lol

they love it

Just came back yesterday. I am from there and have been living in Townsville for a year.
If you have never been there then you should take longer if you can - at least 2 weeks, you wont regret it.
My brother in law hires out VW campers. No better way to get around NZ - bar none!
http://www.classic-campers.com 

Flick him an email - say Karl put you on to him.

His website is a bit slack and he actually has more vans than what he shows.

Karl, I would love to go that option and looked at the three Splitties there and thought that would be awesome, but it is for our honeymoon, and the minister for war and finance said that she would prefer to lie around than drive around..

Hopefully next time.

Thanks everyone for your input, it is very helpful, and our holiday has been booked!!!!

Jim.. South Island in May is getting a bit wet and getting cold.. Suggest (seeing its your honeymoon) you take in Mt Cook (stay at the 5 star heritage and take a plane flight up onto franz josef glacier.. mind blowing.. plane lands on ice).. Then possibly a wine tour up to marlborough.. Then return to Oz via AKL.. Stay overnight in any good hotel in AKL and do a bit of shopping..