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Driving condition in South Island

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ich
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Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2004 2:56 am Post subject: Driving condition in South Island

I am planning for a self-drive trip round the S Island in Dec. Just want to know the 'easiness' or drving condition in some areas. the reason I ask for help is that I plan to rent a minibus but I've never driven a large size van before. My proposed itinerary wold look like this: Christchurch..Arthur's Pas.. Greymouth.. Punakaiki-Greymouth..Hokitika..Franz Josef..Fox..Wanaka..Queenstown..TeAnau Milford Sound....Cromwell..Twizel..Christchurch. My big 2 concerns are: 1) The short cut from Wanaka to Arrowtoen: is it safe and not too difficult to drive? Sealed or Un-sealed road? Worth to take the short cut instaed of SH6? 2) From Te Anau to Milford Sound: is the road dangerous in some sort or widehillside drive? Any particular point in drving safely in S Island? ps I usu drive on the left side of the road like the New Zealanders. Looking forward to your valuable input. ich

Garry
Site Admin

Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 290
Location: New Zealander in Scotland

Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 11:00 pm Post subject:

Hi ich, the crown range road (Arrowtown to Wanaka) is now thankfully sealed. Although I haven't been over it since I was a kid it is still apparently a narrow windy road, here is a photo off it http://rcd.typepad.com/photos/travel/cnv00143.html it is very senic so if you are confident it would be worth it, the zig zag section would proberbly be the most difficult section (Map). The same with the road to Milford Sounds, in some parts the road is very narrow, there are also numourous one lane bridges, when I went their in 2001 I left very early in the morning when the roads were fairly quite. The westcoast is hilly and windy as well but you won't have a problem, as is the last 15kms or so to Arthurs Pass. Just take it easy, no hurry eh. Typical stretch of road on the Westcoast Good ol' one lane bridge

ich
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 12:42 am Post subject: Thanks Garry

That is exactly the information what I want thank you very much. I joined a Contiki like package to the S Island in 1988. Since I was not the driver, iI would not worry about how to drive. Now I will take up 3 familes' responsibility. And getting older makes me more conservtaive and cautious. So better know more about the driving before I really getting there. Great hint , thanks again. ich

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