Nu Zulund Trip

[Kunama]

I'm doing a little South Is. trip in a few weeks with my son and wonder about the temperatures in early November....

Going to Christchurch, MtCook Lodge, Queentown, Milford Sound, Franz Joseph and around to Greymouth then ditching the hire car and taking the train back across to Christchurch....

Also doing some helicopter flights to the glaciers and around MtCook.....

I guess short and jandals are out???

I would have thought the NZ Gov, would have paid for the trip since I employed dozens of Kiwis in a prior life..... but no they insist I pay my own way.....eh bro...

[LewisM]

Sweet as bro! Remimber to brung beck some Spaights in a chully bun.

[Atmos (Colin)]

The South Island is much like Melbourne and Hobart mixed together which makes sense as it extends that far

I’d say mid 20s and potentially wet bro.

I did a 45-60 minute light plane flight over Mount Cook and loved it, left from Franz Joseph.

If you can go down south I would suggest getting down to Milford Sound. I didn’t make it and regretted it.

[OzEclipse (Joe Cali)]

I went XC ski mountaineering on Fox, Tasman and Franz Jozef Glaciers late Sept & early Oct. Altitudes 8000-10000 ft. Little pack keyring thermometers indicated -8C during the day. Temps were maybe -15C -> -18C at night. We didn't have accurate thermometers. If the Sun was out, we were above the clouds most of the time, tee shirts and thin thermal or lycra ski pants. As soon as clouds & accompanying wind came in, we dove straight into our packs for goretex overpants, down parkas gloves etc.

Joe

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

Don't forget to take your thongs

[OzEclipse (Joe Cali)]

They're called flup flops

[LewisM]

Oh gawd, that'd be a crack up! (pun intended )

Jandals...sounds more like a toasted sandwich.

[OzEclipse (Joe Cali)]

Matt

To go from Fox Glacier to Queenstown, we chartered a light plane. The plane driver drove the plane down the Landsborough Valley between the mountains. One of four of the most spectacular flights I've ever taken. Compares equally with a heli flight over Iguaçu Falls and another one over the Purnululu NP and a balloon flight over Cappadocia in Turkey.

It was a long time ago, plane driver's name was "Longdrop" he'd probably be retired now. He owned and operated his aircraft out of a sheep paddock at the base of Franz Jozef Glacier.

Joe

[N1 (Mirko)]

Strewth mite, plenty of sound advice here already. Picturing OP arriving at Chch dressed in furry thongs & jandals, ready to tackle those -18°C



Matt, expect similar temps to what you have at home now. Bit wetter in the east, potentially much wetter in the west. Morning frosts should be all but finished. Unless it's another one like last year with temps approaching 30 inland some days. In which case non furry thongs, and jandals, might be in order.

[GrahamL]

I found the daytime weather pretty reasonable almost hot on a couple of days , though around sunset particularly at a bit of altitude it got cool fast .Much like tassie I'd guess if something lurches up out of the southern ocean weather wise things can change very quickly. The casino in queenstown was good for exchanging currency they are hopefull by giving a good rate you'll spend some there .

[Kunama]

Thanks All,
I will consider all advice.....

The itinerary will be set by my son, apparently involves jumping off bridges, giant swings, helicopter landings on glaciers, lots of walks and a few beers...

[ZeroID (Brent)]

If you going to be up any mountains make sure you have warm clothing with you at least. It can change in minutes at any time of the year when a southerly blows from in from Antarctic way. Tassie as GrahamL says is a good comparison.

[Shano592 (Shane)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Jandals...sounds more like a toasted sandwich.

At least Matt's feet would be warm, then!

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Originally Posted by Kunama

Thanks All,
I will consider all advice.....

.... and a few beers...

Forget Speights, try Emersons,