NZ for 12 days with 2 tots - Nth or Sth island?

[AndiE]

Have you considered tossing a coin

Brilliant idea I swear it's starting to do my head in ... One minute DH and I say "North, definitely". Half an hour later we're like "But the south island sounds good". And we're generally good decision makers!

All the comments from BB plus friends IRL lead us to think the south may well be the place to go this holiday.

How hair-raising is the driving in the south given the country is so mountainous? Are we talking windy (as in lots of corners, not breezy!) roads with sheer drops over the edge? We should be able to drive a circuit around the island, right?

Thank you all SO MUCH. You're all helping to put this trip into some perspective for us. God forbid if we ever decide to travel Europe - eek, it'd take us a year just to work out our itinerary !

And finally - should we go all the way to Milford Sound or is Doubtful Sound just as speccy?

Thanks again.

[Visitor7]

To drive around the South Island is just magical! DH & I found it really cruisy. We were there for 12 days and that was plenty of time in the campervan to see most of the Island.

[Artechim]

I don't think the driving is too windy but it is what I grew up with so I don't tend to notice it. There is a bit on the way to Queenstown called The Devils Staircase, that is quite windy and hilly. There are usually metal barriers on the the side if it has a steep drop off. But the best plan is just to stay on the road lol.

You can definitely drive a circuit around, cheapest to fly into Christchurch and go from there. I would personally cut Southland out of the tour, so go straight from Qtown/Wanaka/Te Anau over to Dunedin (via Milton). If you are feeling adventurous you can go via Alexandra and Ranfurly to come out at Palmerston, beautiful countryside but last time I was that way the road wasn't entirely tar sealed -although it may be now. Unless you like to look at sheep and cows, then Southland would be good.

Milford Sound is totally beautiful. IMO it is the prettiest place in the entire country. When you are driving down the road to get there and the rain is making all the rock face turn into waterfalls... amazing. It isn't that much further from Te Anau than Doubtful Sound and totally worth it.

[AndiE]

Quick update - we've decided to postpone our trip to NZ till possibly November 2011. Reason being, it seems most of the less expensive accommodation or 6-berth motorhomes (which we'd prefer over a 4-berth) are booked fairly solid.
Seems silly to pay top dollar to go in January (with school hols in full swing in both countries), when we could go in November. This will give us time to save a bit more $$ and get some better deals on fly/drive/accomm or a motorhome.

Thanks to everyone for your help in giving us some good ideas on where to go. Can't wait to finally get to NZ.

Bring on November (... that is unless we DO end up TTC#3 successfully. Hmmmmm!)

[Artechim]

Keep in mind that the world cup is in NZ until late October, so accommodation etc might book up quickly as people confirm their itineraries - some will probably decide to stay and have a look around after the final.

[AndiE]

Ah, righto. Cheers for the heads up : )