FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Is it possible? New Zealand South Island 8-9 days by train and bus?!
Old Dec 11, 2017, 7:02 pm
  #10  
SoloTravelerinRed
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: AA Platinum, UA Silver, Hilton Diamond, SPG Preferred
Posts: 58
Originally Posted by Mwenenzi
As above, you have no hope is going to all those places in 8-9 days. Even 8-9 weeks would be better.
The day of arrival and day of departure will be wasted days.
It will take longer than you think to get between destinations. The roads are mainly 2 lane & twisty: no freeways at 60 mph/100kph

There are bus's but the only SI passenger rail is Christchurch to Greymouth
You may not be able to get to places like Arrowtown & the glaciers without a car.
Dunedin & Oamaru are not worth stopping at.

Note Easter weekend is 30 March - 2 April. Places like Queenstown get sold out. There is also a big air-show at Wanaka (near Queenstown) that weekend

For 8-9 days you need to be realistic on what you can see

Edit:
Some good realistic posts here New Zealand for 8-10 days
Including post 30 and post 35 as quote below
Good to know that I can skip Dunedin & Oamaru if I have to pick and choose. I think I probably will as my time is very limited in NZ.
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