2009 Term 3 School Holiday Ideas
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Qtownmum:
Try Campervan/Motorhome - transport, dining and accommodation all in one.No plans for Term 3 hols but already planning for Term 4 hols. We wanna do a self-drive in New Zealand South Island - 15 days in all, with DH and 2 DS. These days, with the wonders of internet, it's a breeze to plan and book everything - electronically! Some say the aniticipation is already the beginning of the fun and I AGREE!
Any tips from anyone about driving in NZ or taking a self-drive holiday with 2 young boys (age 5 and 8)? We had done self-drive in Perth when we only had our elder boy. This time with 2 boys, it could be a totally different ball game??
NZ is a good place to do Campervan tour, park just next to a scenic spot, make some sandwiches and sipping a cuppa away while enjoying the great scenery. In summer (Nov-Jan) the days are very long which you don't have to rush to check in, leaving the daylights out. When night falls, drive in to any motorcamp sites with power, plug in the power, on the aircond and settle for the night. Next morn, just go to office to pay the fees for using the sites. These camp sites have en-suite rooms to check-in too, when you feel like splurging.
It'll be a great deal of experience, especially for your 8YO. But you have to work more in terms of cooking, washing, refill water and clear waste water and sewage...then convert the dining to bed after dinner, and convert back to seating space in day time.
Went NZ twice but din have the chance to rent the Campervan there, only did in Europe(6A 1K-18M), Darwin(2A) and Perth(2A1K-16M). 1st NZ trip was in 2000 with hub (then bf) and his folks- for 1 month, saw many Ang Moh Seniors driving the Campervan around, observed their traveling style and sort of like to try it. We only got the courage/chance to try it in Europe (Italy,Swiss & Austria) for 14D, it was a great experience!
You can get tips from me if you decided to try.
Happy planning.
http://www.maui-rentals.com
http://www.britz.com
http://nz.keacampers.com -
tankee:
Tankee, this one works, thanks!hmm ... tested ok for me :?
try this http://www.singaporeforkids.com/singaporeforkidshome.htm -
Thank you to all for the suggestions.
Our initial plans go like this :
Day 1 - Fly to Christchurch, head to Akarao for short cruise
Day 2 - Drive to Hanmer Springs for a day in the hot spring pools
Day 3 - Drop off rented car and take the Alpine Express from Christchurch to Greymouth
Day 4 - Explore the Punakaiki Rocks and Blowholes, Shantytown
Day 5 - Drive to Fox Glacier and picnic in Lake Matheson
Day 6 - Helicopter ride to see the 2 glaciers and do the glacier face terminal walk
Day 7 - Drive to Queenstown where we will spend the next 3 night, stopping at the lakes enroute
Day 8 - Do a 4WD Lord of the Rings tour and Shotover Jet
Day 9 - Steam train ride, gondola and luge rides
Day 10 - Drive to Te Anau and do the Milford Sound cruise and Glowworm cave tour
Day 11 - Drive to Invercargill, do a horse back riding in the bush and beach
Day 12 - Take the Catlin coast drive seeing all the blowholes and waterfalls along the way to Dunedin. Stay in Lanarch Castle for the nite
Day 13 - Visit Cadbury factory in Dunedin before heading north to Oamaru and see penguins march in that nite.
Day 14 - Drive back to Christchurch, passing through Lake Tekapo
Day 15 - Last day - drive to Kaikoura for a whale watch cruise before flying back home
We intend to stay mostly in self-contain units with kitchen (except for the night in the castle), use a rented car throughout (except for the train ride from Christchurch to Greymouth). We are just waiting for the pre-NATAS offers to buy our air tickets… -
Qtownmum:
Sounds like an activity-packed one with the kids in mind!! Didn't remember Larnach castle was open for stay before. We were last there 5 and half yrs ago though.Thank you to all for the suggestions.
Our initial plans go like this :
We intend to stay mostly in self-contain units with kitchen (except for the night in the castle), use a rented car throughout (except for the train ride from Christchurch to Greymouth). We are just waiting for the pre-NATAS offers to buy our air tickets.....
Drive to Milford Sound is winding, so be careful.
Have a great trip! -
Yeah, you can say that again. Now that we are parents, whatever we do revolve around the kids.
Yes, Lanarch Castle is open for staying, we just book "The Rose Room" for NZ$ 360 per night. We know it is expensive but figured that if we stay in any other castles (like those in UK), it will cost even more! Besides, the boys will be so thrilled that they get to sleep in a CASTLE!
5 years is a long time ago, perhaps you can make another trip there and stay in Lanarch Castle this time… -
I was discouraged by a friend to bring my 6yrs old son for the glacier walk as it is said to be very challenging, even for an adult.
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Qtownmum
I just LOVE NZ's scenes. Can't stop talking about it
*NZ's full of scenic spots, you'll see brown signs everywhere along the road, lookouts, walks, etc. Try not to rush thru' to next destination and miss all the beautiful scenes on the way. (I learn from experience)
*If you're late to check into the pre-book accommodation, call them before hand to tell them you'll be there (buy a NZ sim card upon arriving), as i know some reception close early, just ring the door bell of owner's when arrived. (most are family-run business)
*You've plan a more relaxing pace for the beginning, with tighter schedule later, good for your boys to keep up with the new routine for the 2 weeks, but some places you might have to rush thru'. Bear in mind the boys might need to take afternoon naps which might deter the physical activities like walks. (It's mainly walks and walks to get the best view)
Day 1 - Fly to Christchurch, head to Akarao for short cruise
A Relax day
Day 2 - Drive to Hanmer Springs for a day in the hot spring pools
Relax at spa resort
- I want to go NZ again....
Day 3 - Drop off rented car and take the Alpine Express from Christchurch to Greymouth
Wow! Train, the kids will love the ride.
Day 4 - Explore the Punakaiki Rocks and Blowholes, Shantytown
Never been there, i guess about the same as Pancake Rocks up north at Cape Foulwind? (near Westport)
Day 5 - Drive to Fox Glacier and picnic in Lake Matheson
Your first actual drive in NZ, - expect stops. Our 1st time, very sua-ku, eyes poped out, especially seeing sheeps everywhere, haha.
You'll reach Franz Josef before Lake Matheson, i guess you'll just take a glimpse of FJ from the outside, i find this walk to the glacier mouth/cave more challenging and tougher than Fox. You'll walk on rough uneven pebble paths, with some streams running underneath, and very long way to reach the mouth.
Lake Matheson :
Chk my old pics, the sign at the entrance to it says:
Jetty Viewpoint 20min
View of Views 45min
Reflection Island 50min
(i think is one way walk time)
Lake Circuit 1hr30min return
Bring Insect Repellent!! Loads of it!
Day 6 - Helicopter ride to see the 2 glaciers and do the glacier face terminal walk
This is fun! Land on the Glacier and get to see some insides of the ice...it should be easier than the walk to see the glacier mouth, for kids.
Day 7 - Drive to Queenstown where we will spend the next 3 night, stopping at the lakes enroute
The drive from Fox to Q-town is great, with mountain, falls and lakes on the way.
A few must stop places to soak up the scenery & snapping shots-
Knights Point
Hast Pass
Fantail Falls (2min walk)
Cameron Flat
The Neck (where 2 Lakes Wanaka and Hawea meet)
You can consider doing a day trip to Lake Wanaka (or stay a night), canoeing on the lake, there's a Puzzling World nearby, great for kids, with maze, illusions and puzzles. http://www.puzzlingworld.co.nz/attractions.html
Explore nearby Arrowtown for some old town feels, and ice cream. (i bought some sheep skin there, cheaper)
Day 8 - Do a 4WD Lord of the Rings tour and Shotover Jet
Your family can try out the 4 wheeler ride from some farm operators, quite fun! We did it at Te Anau.
Day 9 - Steam train ride, gondola and luge rides
Relax day.
Day 10 - Drive to Te Anau and do the Milford Sound cruise and Glowworm cave tour
Twins' right, the drive's windy, take it slowly.
Day 11 - Drive to Invercargill, do a horse back riding in the bush and beach
Your kids are so lucky, so many new things to try.
Day 12 - Take the Catlin coast drive seeing all the blowholes and waterfalls along the way to Dunedin. Stay in Lanarch Castle for the nite
It's a very long drive with many stops to see, you might consider staying at Caitlins, or start Caitlins from Day 11, as there are quite a numbers of falls to see along the way.
Cathedral Cave -check at the tourist office beforehand on accessibility, it closes during high tide, there's advice on specific time to visit as gate closes before the tide comes in. Worth the walk! (We saw a seal on the beach there!)
Weather gets quite cold even during Summer, esp near the coast, bring thick jackets for kids.
Larnach Castle - no offence, i find it too commercialize, the castle's too modern unlike the European ones, you might consider a 'older' castle next time you bring them to Europe - just my opinion. I prefer Windsor in the UK than this one, for the interior and size.
btw, if you're staying in Larnach Lodge, it's built on castle ground, not in the castle itself.
Day 13 - Visit Cadbury factory in Dunedin before heading north to Oamaru and see penguins march in that nite.
Visit Baldwin st in Dunedine, world's steepest st!
The fairy penguins? They are cute! If you're lucky can spot some lost ones near Caitlin coasts. I think can't bring camera coz it'll disturb them, unless u shoot w/o flash secretly.
Day 14 - Drive back to Christchurch, passing through Lake Tekapo
ermm... have you miss out Mt Cook?
Day 15 - Last day - drive to Kaikoura for a whale watch cruise before flying back home
ermm... it's the season to catch the whale? Thot it's June/july?
OPPS! sorry for the lengthy post. Looking at the old pics bring me fond memories -
Thank you all for lot’s of good tips and comments.
My boys are 5 and 8, they can zzzz in the car when we are travelling between places. Only we adults tend to appreciate sights and views as we drive, don’t think the kids are that keen. That’s why we have to ensure that every stop is an exciting stop with new things to do or else we will start hearing complaints like "It’s so boring…"
Looking at the website for the Lanarch castle, I can imagine that it is not as grand or huge as some of those I have seen in England or Wales. The kids have not been to Europe like us adults have, so I figured this should be a good 1st time experience for them.
Thanks for all the warnings about Milford Sound, I have heard the same from the motel owner in Te Anau. So we are "chickening out" - we are going to park our car in the Te Anau motel and join the Real Journeys Coach which will take us to Milford Sound for the cruise. We thought better to leave the driving to the pro to sit back and enjoy the view (usually the driver cannot enjoy the view while driving). We have to pay a little more and kind of waste the car rental for that day but for the safety of all and a more relaxed time - why not?
Would you suggest that on Day 14, spend it in Mt Cook instead of driving straight back to Christchurch? How do we access Mt Cook? What are some of the activities that you would suggest?
As for whale watching - I have read in some guide books its Jun/Jul too but the tour company promises a 80% refund if no whale is sighted. Do you really think I should forego that? I was a little skeptical but DH wanted to do it. Its $$$$ too!
In replacement of whale watch, what do you suggest? I am just wondering if it is possible to go to Malborough and back to Christchurch in 1 day? Saw some nice pics on the guide book for that place! -
Qtownmum:
Qtownmum
As for whale watching - I have read in some guide books its Jun/Jul too but the tour company promises a 80% refund if no whale is sighted. Do you really think I should forego that? I was a little skeptical but DH wanted to do it. Its $$$$ too!
In replacement of whale watch, what do you suggest? I am just wondering if it is possible to go to Malborough and back to Christchurch in 1 day? Saw some nice pics on the guide book for that place!
Just to forewarn you that the whale watching cruise could be a little choppy, so do prepare your family about it. Eg, don't have too heavy a meal before the cruise otherwise it will all go overboard
Too ambitious to go to Malborough and back to Christchurch in a day. It will end up as a \"drive and drive and drive\" only, no time to \"stop and smell the roses\", if you know what I mean.
In my view, you should not plan to cover too much distance cos you end up spending more time in the car than appreciating the surrounds itself. -
Qtownmum:
depends on which whale you are planning to see....
As for whale watching - I have read in some guide books its Jun/Jul too but the tour company promises a 80% refund if no whale is sighted. Do you really think I should forego that? I was a little skeptical but DH wanted to do it. Its $$$$ too!
...
humpbacks only passes by there during their migration, but sperm whales are residents all year around. unlikely to see migrating blue whale as their numbers are too low these days.
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