Hi everyone, I'd like your expert advice on how to plan an extensive scenic landscape route of the south island, given limited time (4 weeks). I'm starting in Christchurch, and I'd like to visit high lakes, high mountain regions, and wild/rough coastline of the south island. At the same time, I prefer to avoid farmscape, urban sprawl, suburbia, industrial coastline, livestock regions or mundane flatlands.
My idea is to head south after Chrictshurch to Timaru, and head inland to Lake Tekapo, and then Wanaka. After which, a loop around Cromwell, Queenstown, Te Anau, and back to Wanaka. Then up the west coast to Greymouth (with a sidetrip to Arthus pass). Con't to Westport, and maybe Karamea. Heading next to Motueka, Takaka, Collinwood, and Wharaiki beach. And then from Nelson to Picton (ferry) bypassing Bleinheim.
According to this route, areas to be skipped will be Hanmer Springs pass. And basically the entire area between Invercargill, and Timaru (including Oamaru, Dunedin, Gore, Balchutta, Oawaka).
Areas that WILL be visited on this route include Akaroa, Twizel, Pomahaka, Alexandra, Ohai, Tuatepere, and as mentioned before, Te Anau, Queens, Cromwell, Wanaka. Possible stops on my suggested route include Lake Hawea, Haast, Fox Glacier/Franz Josef, Hari Hari, Greymouth, Rapahoe, Berytown, (Spring Junction sidetrip), Charleston, Westport, Waimangaroa, Murchission sidetrip, Granity, Karamea, Kotinga, Takaka, Motueka, Collingwood, Mapua, Nelson, Wakefield, Anakiwa, as well as most of the national parks.
Of course, i may not stop at all these points, but i will pass them, unless of course you wish to suggest a change to the route. What do you think?
