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Which Island is better if I only have two weeks.
I want to play in the outdoors and I am open for almost anything.
Asked by hayden on Tuesday February 5th
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In World » New Zealand
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Depends on where arrive/depart, can you spend $$ on airfare between the two islands, how much time you would spend in one spot, what you decide to do. See our 2007 NZ trip at: http://www.ballofdirt.com/members/109220.html
We had 18 days including travel time from USA. Flew into Aukland, took train/ferry/train to Christchurch, rented a car there and drove around South Is, back to North Is on ferry, drove around there, back to Aukland and home.
If you want to focus your time on being outdoors and seeing spectacular scenery, go to the South Island. The western coast has some excellent glaciers and glacier hiking (Fox and Franz Joseph), the southern part has Milford Sound, opportunities for trekking, and an almost rural Scottish character in places such as Invercargill. Near Nelson, at the northern end of the South Island, is the Abel Tasman National Park and a town that boasts over 340 days of sun per year. Excellent beach hiking as well as sea kayaking. The extreme sports mecca of Queenstown is also on the South Island.
The North Island has plenty to do as well, but if you want to focus your time and spend more than a day or two in each place (and minimize your travel time in order to maximize outdoor enjoyment), I'd vote for the South Island.
If you are the outdoorsie, adventurous type then I would hit the south island (but stay one night at least in Auckland). 2 weeks isn't a huge amount of time but enough to get around to some pretty awesome spots for bungy, kayaking, mountain biking etc. How are you getting around? If I can recommend anything, it's going in a campervan. I have rented a backpackers van (www.backpackercampervans.co.nz) and it has been awesome because you are completely the master of your own destiny! Have fun!
Go to the South Island, without a doubt!!! I live in the North Island, so I don't have anything against it as a destination but most of the major sights in NZ are around the South Island: Milford Sound, Franz Josef glacier, pancake rocks, Catlin Mountains, Mt Cook, Hamner Springs, Kaikoura whale watching, Banks peninsula, Dunedin, Stewart Island, Golden Bay... the list goes on and on.
It would probably be best to fly in and out of Christchurch. Maybe spend the first 2 or 3 days there adjusting to the time difference, then hire a car or campervan for the rest of your trip. The distances do not seem very far on a map, but it always seems to take at least twice as long as anticipated; especially when you have to constantly stop to take in another breathtaking view. Enjoy!
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