Let’s start planning my NZ 14 trip!
From what I’ve gathered Treble Cone is the pick when based in Wanaka and Cardrona when in Queenstown?
TC and Cardies are ‘Wanaka resorts’, as they’re both on the Wanaka side of the Crown Range.
Keep trucking past Glenorchy to a place called Paradise, there is nothing there. Its the start of a few walks. Absolutely stunning. Its a dirt road in with a few little creek crossings. We went in there in some tiny piss ant hire car shit box thing.
From Glenorchy there are jet boat trips, I would do this one over the Shotover Jet. It does not seem as a adrenaline filled as Shotover, but the scenery is heaps better. You can also incorporate it with a canoe trip in a gorge off the side of the main river.
This trip goes up to and possibly past Paradise
Yeah, it looks like there’s SFA around the Glenorchy area, but there’s heaps of walking tracks!!!!!
Very pretty area, and absolutely nobody around!!!!!
The Heli Pilot recommended the Dart River Jet Boat as a goer, when we were flyin overhead of one!!!!!
Some of my pics of the area!!!!! (Lookin toward The Dart)
The opposite end of Wakatipu from the sky!!!!! (Of Queenstown)
West Coast Drive is definitely my pick of the way to get south. It’s a fair haul, We took a day to get to Hokitika, another day to get to Haast (where there is nothing!) and another to get to Queenstown.
There are a few club fields to check out on the way to Arthur’s pass. The glacier is definitely worth walking to/on depending on your time. either/or, they are both interesting, and the walk is quite different.
For me, Cardrona was pretty much like Thredbo up high. It was the place where I finally ditched the skis and vowed I’d never ski again. Remarks is getting a big new 6 seater detach chair right up the middle, which looks awesome… not sure of the timing, hope it will be ready for you. The drive to all those mountains is an adventure in itself. Nothing like here in Oz, except maybe to Hotham back in the day before tar was invented.
If I could go again, I’d make sure to get some fishing in, and a heap of walking. I’m hanging to get back to Tongariro NP in the Nth Island, and get up on the volcanoes.
There’s a fair bit of free camping around too. Like Chucky said, Wanaka for Cardies and TC, QT for Concrete Peak and Remarks. Anywhere for the view.
I’d only buy the 5 day ticket when I knew what the weather was up to. Planning’s half the fun, isn’t it!
unless there is fresh pow then I wouldn’t bother with TC.
Cardrona and remarks is where I’d spend my time….especially now that Snow Park is closed
So the tickets you can use at either TC or Cardrona are probably a good idea!
And then leave a few days to spend at remarks as well.
Thanks Cords, will add remarks to the list!
TC and Cardies are ‘Wanaka resorts’, as they’re both on the Wanaka side of the Crown Range.
Gotcha cheers mate, any other advice? I learnt a fair bit from your posts in the previous NZ thread.
From Glenorchy there are jet boat trips, I would do this one over the Shotover Jet. It does not seem as a adrenaline filled as Shotover, but the scenery is heaps better. You can also incorporate it with a canoe trip in a gorge off the side of the main river.
Nice, I was strongly considering the shotover so this is good to know!
The Heli Pilot recommended the Dart River Jet Boat as a goer, when we were flyin overhead of one!!!!!
Some of my pics of the area!!!!! (Lookin toward The Dart)
So that’s the same jet boat Azz recommended? Stunning photos mate I’ll be stoked with views like that.
West Coast Drive is definitely my pick of the way to get south
There’s a fair bit of free camping around too. Like Chucky said, Wanaka for Cardies and TC, QT for Concrete Peak and Remarks. Anywhere for the view.I’d only buy the 5 day ticket when I knew what the weather was up to. Planning’s half the fun, isn’t it!
Thanks again for the great info Tambo! Good to hear I’m on the right track. Yeah I have to say NZ is a bit of a breeze planning wise compare to previous and future trips but it’s great getting the input from everyone else as I don’t want to miss anything! 
From what I’ve gathered Treble Cone is the pick when based in Wanaka and Cardrona when in Queenstown?
I’d go Treble and Cardrona when in Wanaka, and Remarkables and Coronet when in Queenstown!!!!!
Although Cardrona is still a much of a muchness from Queenstown!!!!! Maybe 15 mins difference????? Which in the scheme of things it’s bugger all really!!!!!
Like I mentioned before, you might like to stay up near the Cardrona Hotel one night, have a meal and a few beers, then head straight up to Cardrona Resort first thing in the mornin and beat the crowds!!!!!
There’s bugger all up around the Hotel, but it’s a nice area that you could do from late arvo on one of ya days!!!!!
The Heli Pilot recommended the Dart River Jet Boat as a goer, when we were flyin overhead of one!!!!!
Some of my pics of the area!!!!! (Lookin toward The Dart)
So that’s the same jet boat Azz recommended? Stunning photos mate I’ll be stoked with views like that.
Yeah mate, same as Azz was on about!!!!! It’s more of a Ecological Ride as opposed to a Thrill Ride!!!!!
Lookin toward the mouth of The Dart River and where the Boat runs up!!!!!
The view from Paradise Bridge lookin up The Dart!!!!!
* I hope I’m not spoilin it for ya with my pics, but it truly is a spectacular part of NZ not to miss!!!!! (I won’t post anymore)
yeah I’d give the shotover jet a miss, personally.
I did one when I was 14 in Fiji and thought it was the best thing ever. Then did the original shotover on my first trip to NZ in ‘05 and was severely underwhelmed.
This boat the other guys are talking about sounds a lot better!
Hey DRC
I did a NZ trip last July. To be honest was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had. I spent 9 days in QT with 4 of those learning to snowboard. Some of the things that are pretty sweet to do. Skydive over Queenstown gets you some pretty sweet views. If you have the dollars have a think about doing some heli-skiing if its available. shot over jet boat was pretty cool. Getting drunk at Cowboys and riding the mechanical bull usually results in you waking up the next day wondering where all the bruises came from.
From there I rented a car and with a cute chick I meet in Queenstown I drove over to fox glacier and did some ice climbing (one of the best things I’ve ever done…scared the shit out of me) from there I drove north to greymouth and headed over towards hamner springs, from there to kaikoura to check out the seals and its pretty sweet standing on the beach and looking at mountains covered in snow. Then drove to Christchurch to fly out. (the QT to Christchurch road trip was 3 or 4 days.) and was a great wind down from the chaos that is Queenstown.
Hey DRC
I did a NZ trip last July. To be honest was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had. I spent 9 days in QT with 4 of those learning to snowboard. Some of the things that are pretty sweet to do. Skydive over Queenstown gets you some pretty sweet views. If you have the dollars have a think about doing some heli-skiing if its available. shot over jet boat was pretty cool. Getting drunk at Cowboys and riding the mechanical bull usually results in you waking up the next day wondering where all the bruises came from.
From there I rented a car and with a cute chick I meet in Queenstown I drove over to fox glacier and did some ice climbing (one of the best things I’ve ever done…scared the shit out of me) from there I drove north to greymouth and headed over towards hamner springs, from there to kaikoura to check out the seals and its pretty sweet standing on the beach and looking at mountains covered in snow. Then drove to Christchurch to fly out. (the QT to Christchurch road trip was 3 or 4 days.) and was a great wind down from the chaos that is Queenstown.
Cheers Dan!
So you’re saying a cute chick is part of the NZ experience?
Sounds like a great experience. The ice climbing has me interested, was this a tour organised out there?
Hey mate
Yep it gets cold in NZ cute chick means you save on heating costs, and means you don’t spend the whole time talking to yourself.
website for the glacier climb is http://www.foxguides.co.nz/
TC and Cardies are ‘Wanaka resorts’, as they’re both on the Wanaka side of the Crown Range.
Gotcha cheers mate, any other advice? I learnt a fair bit from your posts in the previous NZ thread.
Cool mate, happy to help with whatever you need.
One thing I’d advise is not to do the West Coast on your first trip to NZ. The inland route from Christchurch to Queenstown is FAR better in my opinion.
Can you do both?
Fly in to CC and drive inland to Queenstown then back the long way of the west coast?
I did the west coast the last time i was in NZ and can’t believe I hadn’t done it previously (5th trip)
And well if you are a LOTR fan its a must do!
I think he’s flyin outta QT though, oz!!!!!
Oh have you already booked DRC?