hello MTNZ, I hope everyone is doing great. Well, we finally made the commitment to visit NZ for the first time, I am calling it our research getaway. During May25- June09 we will be crusin the South Island in a van. Planning for a getaway/ potential new lifestyle in NZ can be difficult since we have never been there. So if anyone can recommend any must see/do/eat/meet we would appreciate it greatly. We are a young family in our 30/27/5 and very active. I have chosen a route to take and this is it, any advice would be helpful.
Arrive in Christchurch and take in the beautiful landscape and aw for the next 2 days making our way to Lyttelton Harbour for jobs/homes.
Cruise south to Lake Tekapo for some fresh air and tranquilty... and hike
Head southeast for a coastal night stay.....ocean wave lullaby
Visit Dunedin for a day, then explore the Otago peninsula before venturing off to the Catlins for a couple days.
Drive north through the remarkables making Queenstown a lunch destination and settling down in Wanaka
Continue north west to Haast...would like to hike this area. we both are horticulturalists and the travel guides rave this place for plant life.
Next plan the north route on the westcoast and see as much as we can ending the route in Karamea for major hiking, one day.
Leave the westcoast and enjoy 2 days in Abel Tasman, considering a kayak adventure
Curl back around southeast to Kaikoura for an open view and soak in the springs before returning the van in Christchurch
This wil be the end of the research getaway.
We plan to move to New Zealand in the future. I will be looking for an industrial boilermaker construction job. This will be the first time for us out of the USA, so any advice would be helpful. Thanks again and see ya soon NZ!!!