Would most South Island campgrounds be booked out in late December?

[nerrrd]

I'm in the very early stages of thinking about a trip to the south island in the second half of December, something along the lines of "I'm taking this bike to Invercargill, boy" so more of a road trip than a sightseeing tour.

Just wondering how likely it is that there'd be space for me and my tent in the average SI campground around that time, or if they'd likely be booked out? Haven't done this sort of thing much, and I'm hoping I won't have to be too organised, 'cos I'm not.

[Jantar]

Most places would have plenty of room if you have a tent. Cabin space is likely to be very limited.

[Tazz]

Some spots will be booked right out but def not all and there are plenty of free spots around too. Go for it.

[Gremlin]

South Island is a big place matey... as always it depends on the spot. The popular ones are crazy busy, but out of the way should be quieter.

Busiest time is Boxing Day onwards, spend time with family for Christmas then hit the road.

[unstuck]

Heaps of cool camping places down here, you will be fine. If you have a rough idea of where you would like to go and when, post it up and we can work out where your going to hit the crowds.:niceone:

[doc]

That's around the time of the KBr do. You could attend that. We are doing it in a car, and are not intending to make any bookings. From previous visits all the owners mention how quiet it is just before Christmas. Usual disclaimer is take wet weather gear you can find it wetter than a winter trip.

[nerrrd]

Great thanks for the info, I'll escalate this to 'definite possibility' status and do some more research :).

[Skiwi]

Most places would have plenty of room if you have a tent. Cabin space is likely to be very limited.

+1 What he said....

[kiwi cowboy]

That's around the time of the KBr do. You could attend that. We are doing it in a car, and are not intending to make any bookings. From previous visits all the owners mention how quiet it is just before Christmas. Usual disclaimer is take wet weather gear you can find it wetter than a winter trip.

:eek::eek::eek::eek::gob::rolleyes::oi-grr:YOU ARE WHAT?????????????????????????????????????????????? ???.
DRIVE????? DRIVE????FARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK.
Are ya getting too old and stiff to get ya leg over lol.
Oh well at least I can tow ya arse to a garage :devil2::devil2::bleh:

[unstuck]

:eek::eek::eek::eek::gob::rolleyes::oi-grr:YOU ARE WHAT?????????????????????????????????????????????? ???.
DRIVE????? DRIVE????FARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK.
Are ya getting too old and stiff to get ya leg over lol.
Oh well at least I can tow ya arse to a garage :devil2::devil2::bleh:

Trust you to be interested in his arse, ya freak.:bleh:

[kiwi cowboy]

Trust you to be interested in his arse, ya freak.:bleh:

Your just firkin jealous:rolleyes::tugger::nya:

[unstuck]

Your just firkin jealous:rolleyes::tugger::nya:

Nah, thats that ewe your keeping in that SPECIAL pen out in the covered yards.:shifty:

[doc]

Trust you to be interested in his arse, ya freak.:bleh:


Your just firkin jealous:rolleyes::tugger::nya:

Ok who's first ?

[unstuck]

Being the good bastard that I am, I will let Kiwi cowgirl have that one all to himself.:laugh:

[JimO]

make sure you get your sth island passport

[Maha]

Ok who's first ?

um.......at last wipe, you missed at bit :corn:

[nerrrd]

make sure you get your sth island passport

You guys'll let in just about anyone down there, won't you?:eek5: And thanks for bringing this back on topic...kind of.

[nerrrd]

So here's a route plan I whipped up minus getting from Auckland to Wellington and back. Thought it would be better to do longer distances first as I'd expect to get progressively more tired as I go along. Aiming to be there and back before Christmas so would be the week before that. Bear in mind I ride slow (ie sticking to speed limits) out of preference as much as ability.

Day One:
Arrive Picton 11:40am (depart Wellington 8:15am)
SH6 Picton to Greymouth
417 km, 5 hours 20 mins

Day Two:
SH6 Greymouth to Cromwell
504 km, 5 hours 49 mins

Day Three:
SH6 Cromwell to Invercargill SH1 to Dunedin
439 km, 5 hours 10 mins

Day Four:
SH1 Dunedin to Christchurch
361 km, 4 hours 22 mins

Day Five:
SH1 Christchurch to Picton
338 km, 4 hours 8 mins
Arrive Wellington 5:35pm (depart Picton 2:25pm)

Total 2059kms. Crikey!

[gunnyrob]

We did a SI trip a ways back. Prior to Christmas, the place is deserted, just turn up and you are in. SIslanders have a family Christmas (milford sound does not have tourist buses on that day), but come boxing day the place goes BERSERK and camping grounds go apeshit. Alexandra family park had 3000 people in it.

You may be right with a little tent, or if you stay at DOC camp sites. Enjoy

[ellipsis]

...sometimes a bit of not knowin', is good for the soul...check it out sometime...

[Gremlin]

If you want to go around the South Island, sure, your idea works, but you're going to miss out on so many cool sights and roads.

Personally, I try to head down once a year, and bite off a bit more each year (plus, leaving stuff makes you go back again). I spent two days in one trip just exploring the Sounds between Picton and Havelock.

[nerrrd]

...sometimes a bit of not knowin', is good for the soul...check it out sometime...

That's probably good advice.


If you want to go around the South Island, sure, your idea works, but you're going to miss out on so many cool sights and roads.

It's just a theory at this stage, got a few expenses to clear in the meantime (rego, bike service, rates etc) before I can look at $300 worth of ferry bookings let alone the rest...actually do the ferries get booked out? (might be a factor on the way back.) That route's just an idea, but I have to take a fair amount of my annual leave at that time, so seemed like a better one than hanging around at home for a week.

[nerrrd]

So I snoozed and now I've loozed, no bookings available on either for the return journey as far as I can tell. Shame they lost that propeller thingy.

Gives me the chance to plan a proper trip for a later date, though.