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New Zealand South Island Road Trip from Hokitika to Wanaka. Top 5 Places Where You Need to Stop.

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I wished we had stayed a few more days in Hokitika. We got on the road near lunchtime. The distance from Hokitika to Wanaka is 418 km. The trip, including decent breaks, is possible in 7 1/2 hrs. We didn’t make the trip at this time as we did stop a lot. There is just too much to see. We decided to stop overnight in Fairlie and continue the rest of the trip the following morning. I will tell you a bit about the places we stopped and why you should too! If you have more time to explore, add other places on the way, but I definitely think you…

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Penelope D.

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Exploring Hokitika, The Amazing Coast’s Craft Mecca and Why You Should Go.

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Top things to do in Nelson and Best places to visit in Nelson Tasman Region in 2 days
Exploring Hokitika, The Amazing Coast’s Craft Mecca and Why You Should Go.

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Continuing on Highway 6 from Greymouth, we arrived in Hokitika just before noon. We stayed at Mountain Jade Backpackers in a private room for my mom, daughter and I. Only a week before, the weather was chaotic with heavy rainfall caused a huge slip in the area, leaving hundreds of people stranded. The road between Hokitika and Wanaka was closed and unfortunately, this has been terrible for everyone working in the tourism industry. We had to change our plans as Franz Joseph was not going to be accessible. Hokitika wasn’t that busy as it should have at this time of the year. The day had cooled down and more rain…

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Penelope D.

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New Zealand South Island Road Trip from Westport to Greymouth. How to Stay Safe and the 4 Places You Need to See.

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After a few days in Nelson, our plan was to continue to Greymouth stopping in Murchison, Westport, Punakaiki and finally Greymouth. A road trip can be very exciting but it can drain your energy when you fit in many activities in a short period of time. It is important to rest and be fit enough to drive. Make sure to take regular brakes and if you feel extremely tired, there is no problem with having a short nap in a resting area. Remember, it is better to get to your destination a bit later than planned than causing an accident when not fully alert. I will share with you some…

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Penelope D.

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24 Great Hrs in Wellington

Exploring Hokitika, The Amazing Coast’s Craft Mecca and Why You Should Go.

The Great New Zealand Interislander Ferry Journey from Wellington to Picton.
Top things to do in Nelson and Best places to visit in Nelson Tasman Region in 2 days

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It was a long drive. By the time we arrived in Nelson, it was getting dark. We stayed 3 nights at the Tudor Lodge Motel. The room was very spacious with a great kitchen. I love the fact that in New Zealand most hotels and motels have all the facilities and kitchen supplies needed to cook a meal. Upon our arrival, we went to get our keys at the reception. Staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming. Having limited time in Nelson and proximities, I will share with you what we did in 2 days and give you some recommendations of the best places to go when you are short of…

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Penelope D.

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The Great New Zealand Interislander Ferry Journey from Wellington to Picton.

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The Great New Zealand Interislander Ferry Journey from Wellington to Picton.

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The Interislander ferry trip from Wellington to Picton. Is it worth it? From Picton we hired a car with the intention to stay in Blenheim, but drove to Nelson. Read about the options you have and our experience on this ferry.

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Penelope D.

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24 Great Hrs in Wellington
24 Great Hrs in Wellington

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We had a couple of days to settle into NZ time after arrival, trying to adjust to the new time zone. When going through 4 time zones or more one expects to feel the effects of jet lag. I always do. New Zealand time is GMT + 12 hours. According to researchers the brain and body are able to adapt to a new time zone of about one hour per day. This means for us over a week of jet lag. Our plan was to travel to the South Island. First stop, Wellington. To get to Wellington from Auckland, there are several options depending on the time and budget you have…

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Penelope D.

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In Transit Adventures On Our Way To NZ

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On our way After getting organised for this journey, I thought this time our schedule was not that bad. Only 4 flights to catch this time. This could be fun. We had plenty of time in between flights. Taking the first flight to Edinburgh with Logan Air the night before was a good idea before the long trip to NZ. We had a hotel booked ages ago and ended up not going on the original date but managed to move the booking for this purpose. We stayed at the Holiday Inn, located next to Edinburgh Zoo and just 15 from the airport. Upon arrival, we took the Airlink Express. You…

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Penelope D.

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