Anyone from NZ? Need your help!

Hi, if you're from NZ, I'll like your opinion and help.

Is June a good month to visit NZ's South Island on a self-driven tour? How cold is the winter and how's the roads' conditions.
Or, would December be a better time to go on a self-driven trip?

My main concerns are the temperature (too cold?), road conditions (slippery, icy?) and local attractions (I know some places close for winter).
Thank you very much for your help.

BTW, my main aim is to take lots and lots of photos. But that wouldn't be possible if I snuggle up in my car all the time, wouldn't it? ;p

It does get cold but also the only time to shoot the southern alps and Queestown with snow caps, which is really a fantastic site to see. You wont freeze put it that way and it is just full of great nature to be seen.

Road conditions are not too bad, common sense is all you need for the day. Most of the roads down south are fine anyway and it can also get hot after the cold early mornings. Cant predict the weather though, who knows

December is great if you want the hot sunshine and no snow but make it early in december to avoid the tourists Right from the tip of the south isalnd to the bottom its full of great photographic sites, honestly. The west coast is one of my favourites. Wild bush country with great roads and always green.

Thats about it really and I doubt you will ever regret it at either time. If you like to shoot snow capped mountains then winter is the only time and it does look breathtaking. Summer time for cruise mode and enjoying the sun. Me, well I'm both.

All the best and you will enjoy it.

Danny.

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Macro, what a world.
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http://www.macrophotos.com

Well, thanks for answering my queries. I really hope to have good photos to share when I come back. So, do you have any photos to share with us of NZ?

Hi, The only roads that can be tricky are the ones across the Alps.But the West Coast is definitly the place to see. I havn't been down since I've had a camera but will soon. I'm only about 3 hours away. There are a couple of shots of the East Coast at the link below. (Not taken with the 707)

Kev
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http://www.pbase.com/amadeusnz/galleries

How about the roads along the alps? Anything to look out for if I'm travelling from Queenstown to Franz Josef? How much time should I allocate for taking photos along the way if i want to reach Franz Josef before sunset (about 5pm, right?)? Thanks.

BTW, thanks for your photo link. These photos are precisely the reason why I choose to go to NZ.

amadeus said:

Hi, The only roads that can be tricky are the ones across the
Alps.But the West Coast is definitly the place to see. I havn't
been down since I've had a camera but will soon. I'm only about 3
hours away. There are a couple of shots of the East Coast at the
link below. (Not taken with the 707)

Kev
--
http://www.pbase.com/amadeusnz/galleries

Click to expand...

Hi Taurian,

My lady and I bought a van/7 seater/combi last September for $800NZ and spent 2 weeks driving around the nth & sth islands of nz and had a great time, it rains a lot on the sth west island. But turns to blue skies immediately afterwards.

No grey sky bollox like you get here in UK, their winters are very mild, and I worked there all winter and we still went camper-vanning every weekend, their 'winter' only lasts about 4-6 weeks and they seem to get awfully long springs and autumns.
Any time is a good time for NZ but I'd go in December if I were you.
Steff

taurian said:

Hi, if you're from NZ, I'll like your opinion and help.
Is June a good month to visit NZ's South Island on a self-driven
tour? How cold is the winter and how's the roads' conditions.
Or, would December be a better time to go on a self-driven trip?
My main concerns are the temperature (too cold?), road conditions
(slippery, icy?) and local attractions (I know some places close
for winter).
Thank you very much for your help.
BTW, my main aim is to take lots and lots of photos. But that
wouldn't be possible if I snuggle up in my car all the time,
wouldn't it? ;p

Click to expand...

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for all your fonts pop in to the...
http://www.visualstop.com

Hi Steff, thanks for your info. So if anytime is a good time, mind telling me why you'd rather go in December? BTW, I live in Singapore, where the temp. in the day is usually 33 degrees celcius. So I guess some "coldness" will be a great change. Just hoping I can get use to using my cam. in the cold ;p

Steffan Macmillan said:

Hi Taurian,

My lady and I bought a van/7 seater/combi last September for $800NZ
and spent 2 weeks driving around the nth & sth islands of nz and
had a great time, it rains a lot on the sth west island. But turns
to blue skies immediately afterwards.
No grey sky bollox like you get here in UK, their winters are very
mild, and I worked there all winter and we still went
camper-vanning every weekend, their 'winter' only lasts about 4-6
weeks and they seem to get awfully long springs and autumns.
Any time is a good time for NZ but I'd go in December if I were you.
Steff

Click to expand...