South Island on a budget

**5150** · 3rd July 2012, 11:31

Originally Posted by Rosie

Ya got a GPS? I've got waypoints for all the DoC campsites in the country. Colour-coded by price

As long as there is no purple I can live with it

**puddytat** · 3rd July 2012, 13:12

You'll definitely need some insect repellant....sandflies morning & evening & down the Coast knarly mosquitoes do the night shift.
Tis a bit of an off fuck when yer having a feed & are surrounded by the bastards, but a supply of HTFU pills will help

Take up unstucks offer about Franz, or try the Okarito DOC camp ground for a view of about 200km of Alps...
Small towns or villages I reckon you'll have little need to worry about the security of your stuff....the losers there have generally moved to brighter lights...or the locals help them on thier way.

**duckonin** · 3rd July 2012, 13:40

Originally Posted by skippa1

only if you camp next to the little piles of poo left by the freedom camping germans

Been watching them have u ?

And you know they were 'Germans'?

, Maybe friends of yours then ?

.. May well of been bad speaking Kiwis, they are good at what you describe also..

A small colemans hand shovel ideal for the little jobs.

**skippa1** · 3rd July 2012, 14:03

Originally Posted by duckonin

May well of been bad speaking Kiwis, they are good at what you describe also..

you been camping around there have you?

**Scotty595** · 3rd July 2012, 14:37

Originally Posted by 5150

Hi All

So I was thinking of doing a 10-12 day tour of South Island on the bike over Xmas. My question is not where to go, as I have a fair idea of where I want to go, but more, can it be done on next to no budget? Ok, ferry crossing and petrol aside, I am thinking food and accomodation? I am happy to stay under the tent, and live on bare essentials, (no restaurants or expensive hotels) camping grounds or back packers only.

So my question is: Taking into account 10-12 days, and wanting to see as much of SI as possible, what would be a realistic budget? 4 years ago me and the wife did it on a $1500 riding 8 days. Staying mainly in back packers and going out for occasional meal at a restaurant etc. this time I am doing it solo and don't mind the bare essentials.

Any suggestions?

Had some mates do it over last christmas/new years (somewhere between 10-15 days round trip from Auckland), looking at doing it again this year.

Think total was about $2k per bike, excluding service/tyres. Staying in cheapish motels most of the time, 3 days in queenstown over new years, and vodka for warmth.

**5150** · 3rd July 2012, 15:21

Originally Posted by Scotty595

Had some mates do it over last christmas/new years (somewhere between 10-15 days round trip from Auckland), looking at doing it again this year.

Think total was about $2k per bike, excluding service/tyres. Staying in cheapish motels most of the time, 3 days in queenstown over new years, and vodka for warmth.

3 days in Queenstown can certainly make $$$ dissapear no matter what budget one is on

**Scotty595** · 3rd July 2012, 15:25

Originally Posted by 5150

3 days in Queenstown can certainly make $$$ dissapear no matter what budget one is on

Yeah, I think they could have easily dropped $500+ off the price by reducing the Jager/Vodka intake and missing Queenstown.

**The Lone Rider** · 3rd July 2012, 15:28

Christchurch, to Gore and back cost me about $200 in petrol roughly.

So budget for that!

**Squiggles** · 3rd July 2012, 15:39

Join a club/organisation like BRONZ, the ferry discount pays back the membership fee a couple of times over iirc

**5150** · 3rd July 2012, 15:55

Originally Posted by Squiggles

Join a club/organisation like BRONZ, the ferry discount pays back the membership fee a couple of times over iirc

I get a discount on ferry crossings through work since we have an ongoing account and use their service on weekly basis for our trucks

**Coldrider** · 3rd July 2012, 23:20

Google ahead to find where cheapo acommadation is lurking, saves wasting a few hours each day looking for a bargain instead of enjoying the break. Most towns and localities have bunkrooms or backpackers (not all backpackers are actually cheap).

**5150** · 4th July 2012, 15:18

Ok. So the initial rout is:

Hamilton - Wellington - Picton - Nelson - Takaka - Murchison - Wesport - Karamea - back down to Hokitika - Franz Joseph - Haast - Milford Sound - Wanaka - Queenstown - Invercvargill / Bluff - Dunedin - Mt Cook - Tekapo - Hanmer Springs - St Aurnard - Kaikoura - Picton - Hamilton

Is there anything else along the proposed route I should see? Keep in mind I am allowing 12 - 15 days

And I am happy doing long days in the saddle

Also Invercargill / Bluff - Dunedin part is subject to time avaliability, but would really like to see these as I have not been this far down before

**FJRider** · 4th July 2012, 17:06

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

leave the wife behind, that'll save a fortune

Don't be stupid ... that would mean HE does the cooking/dishes ...

Work out what distance you intend to travel. What km's/litre fuel it averages now ... to give a reasonable idea of fuel costs. REMEMBER ... the south island has lots of places where fuel prices are very high. (Haast, Arthurs pass, Queenstown, Karamea, Akaroa) and as usual ... any one horse town.
Takeaway food is expensive ... so visit ... KB friends/realitives/other friends on a regular basis (at meal times) Small gas cookers will be good for quick meals (breaky/lunch/coffee)
Freedom camping is allowed in most areas ... away from the main towns/citys. Plenty of good places to camp. Best to ask for good places in pubs/shops in the area you are looking to camp. Some country pubs will let you camp in the paddock out back. Or their back lawn. ASK ...

**FJRider** · 4th July 2012, 17:14

Originally Posted by 5150

Is there anything else along the proposed route I should see? Keep in mind I am allowing 12 - 15 days

And I am happy doing long days in the saddle

Also Invercargill / Bluff - Dunedin part is subject to time avaliability, but would really like to see these as I have not been this far down before

Google "Southern Senic Route" ... and if its raining in Te Anau, it will be WORSE in Milford. (Milfords annual rainfall is 9 metres)