A question for the Kiwi's

[owen426]

How buggered are the roads after the recent weather? Anywhere to avoid?

I'm hiring a car and taking the family for a  trip, North and South Island. Any local knowledge you care to share?

[KiwiCol]

Hi Owen, As far as I know, north island roads are fine. Down south it's a different story (at the moment anyway). Roads you can't travel & roads I'd avoid at this time are: Motueka - Takaka, hill has many slips & is convoy only.  State Highway 1 Blenhein - CHCH. Road is closed both side of Kaikoura, making travel impossible, have to use the alternate route - Lewis Pass road.  Sections of the West Coast highway, anywhere around West Port / Karamea, down to Punakaiki I'd avoid.
As far as I know, Hokitika south & Haast Pass is open, but I'd be checking with LTNZ website for road closures.

I'll dig out the web address & post it up.  This will assist with daily updates.

https://onthemove.govt.nz/

[KiwiCol]

So when you coming over?

[owen426]

Thanks for that I'll work my route around it. Bit of a spontaneous decision I fly out this  Friday for 25 days. Landing in Auckland driving around for a few weeks and plan to spend a couple of days in Christchurch at the end which is we're I fly back from.

[KiwiCol]

Car or Camper?   Things to see (if time permits) down south, Tekapo, Mt Cook, Lakes, Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau / Milford Sound, Haast Pass, West Coast Rd to Franz & Fox Glacier, up the coast to Hokitika & back through Arthurs Pass to CHCH.  There are heaps of good places to visit, but that little lot covers a lot of bases & would take 5-6 days at a minimum. More relaxed if ya took 10 days.

If time permits, catch up for a coldie while in Christchurch.

[owen426]

Car, staying in motels as I've got a young daughter and an old mother in law along for the trip. I've got 11 days on the north island, accross the ferry and 14 days on the south so I'm planning to travel to most of the main attractions.

I'll try and catch up when I get to Christchurch mate, nothing more insightful than meeting the locals

[KiwiCol]

Will do, 

[Kiwifruit]

Hi Owen. I havn't been up North of Auckland for a long time but the Bay of Islands, Russell, Kerikeri and Waitangi are all places worth a look. Oh before I forget don't try going over the Auckland Harbour bridge on a Friday after work. I really enjoy the Coromandel Peninsular, its a fav ride for the wifey and I. If you start at Thames and head to Coromandel town that is the best way as the sea is on you left. Some of the road was washed out in the recent storms but I checked yesterday and its back to two lanes (S/Hway 25). From Coromandel you cross over the range to the eastern side with some lovely beaches. Whitianga is the largest town on the Coromandel Peninsular. Food and accomodation, bars along the waterfront by the little wharf. Staying on the east coast and heading south, more beaches, some of the main ones being Whangamata and Waihi. Continue south through Katikati and you come to Tauranga.....the home of yours truly. Mt Maunganui is a must see with a good walking track around the base, or maybe a walk to the top for an amazing view. We often go and watch the cruise ships leaving. Rotorua would be your next place to visit, Boilng mud and Maori culture. Some nice lakes too. Then off to Lake Taupo, largest lake in the southern hemisphere. Taupo is another of our day rides, cafes and bars on lakefront, on a clear day you can see Mt Ruapehu in the far distance. Thats a start. There is a pretty cool little railway at Coromandel called the Driving Creek Railway and Pottery, goes through native bush. (One mans lifes endeavour)

[owen426]

Thanks for the tips, I had planned some of these but will do some more research on the others. Still deciding exactly where we are going but Tauranga is on the list.