New Zealand Wrap-up

The Great: Driving in general in South Island

In South Island there are often two ways to get to any destination: the standard route or the longer scenic route. We’ll break the suspense for you: there is no need to take the scenic route. Almost all roads, scenic or not, offer the visitor an amazing visual experience, specifically in Fiordland and Southland where we drove against a backdrop of mountains.

The roads are also in excellent condition, which makes it a true paradise for campervan lovers. So go ahead and rent that Lamborghini if you visit South Island :).


The Hidden: Bealy Glacier and Arthurs Pass

Bealy Glacier may not win a boxing match against heavyweights such as Fox Glacier and Franz Joseph Glacier, but it is surely the champion of the lightweight division.

Most tourists would surely not know of the existence of Bealy Glacier. At a respectable but small 900 meters, Bealy sits hidden from the view, an hour walk away from the road.

The real gem is that you can have a walk on the glacier for free! (an activity that will set you back 80 $ for an hour on Fox Glacier). You can also take all the pictures you want without having 50 tourists in your picture.

Other highlights in the area surrounding this Glacier makes it a perfect half-day stop: the cute village at Arthurs Pass, the other trails, and the great camping spots.


The Overrated: Franz Josef on a cloudy day

One cannot but feel a bit cheated. We wanted so much to see the glacier all the way to Mount Cook. After all, isn’t it what we are showed on tourist brochures?

Unfortunately, chances are you are not going to see Franz Josef Glacier, or Fox Glacier for that matter, under a sunny sky (see our post).

Both glaciers may draw thousands of tourists every year, but without help from Mother Nature, you’ll be slightly disappointed.


The Ugly: Prices of tours

If you choose to travel to New Zealand, you’ll be careful to avoid most of the outrageously priced tours and create your own itinerary if possible.


Other observations:


• Milford Sound (South Island) receives a staggering 6088 mm of rain every year. We were extremely lucky to arrive there on a sunny day.
• The native people of New Zealand are Maori. Strangely, we did not see a single Maori on South Island.