Family Gap Year Post #30: Road Trip Around the South Island of New Zealand (Dec 2022-Jan 2023)
Description
From mid-December through mid-January, we road tripped around nearly the entire South Island of New Zealand.
Our family’s personal “road trip formula” is that we have to spend at least three nights and two full days in a place to feel like it’s worth it. So that’s what we did in the following towns:
- Kaikōura
- Christchurch
- Akaroa
- Oamaru
- The Catlins
- Stewart Island
- Manapoura
- Wanaka
- Okarito
- Hokitika
- Arthur’s Pass
Highs
What a spectacular country! You truly feel like you are at the edge of the world.
I loved traveling to a different little town every couple of days. Every place was so different.
I loved reconnecting with our friends’ family in Christchurch and again in Akaroa. They are such a wonderful family, and we had so much fun spending time with them.
I also loved the lonely yet lovely coast in The Catlins—just me and the sea lions.
And Milford Sound is stunning. We got to do a little day hike on one of the world’s most epic trails.
In Wanaka, we loved seeing a lake on an island, in a lake, on an island. We also enjoyed our first via ferrata.
In Okarito, we loved going to a pounamu carving workshop in a woman’s garage, building fires on the beach, and seeing the Franz Josef Glacier.
In Hokitika, the gorge is one of the most beautiful places we have ever been.
Lows
Our family truly struggles with fast travel. Eleven different cities was A LOT for our nervous systems! I don’t think I would’ve done it differently (because I loved seeing the entire island and looked forward to new adventures every single day), but it did take its toll on us.
Lessons Learned
- We are a family that wants to run classes out of our garage. We don’t actually have a garage, but we need to figure out how to do this because we all love the idea!
- Roadtripping is not our ideal way to vacation. We like to settle down more than travel around!