Travelling with a Baby around NZ South Island

lenlynn on 28/03/2019 - 09:06
Last edited 28/03/2019 - 09:10

Hi all,

Looking for recommendations on places to go from Dunedin New Zealand South Island in mid November.

Background: My husband has a 2-week work trip in mid Nov based in Dunedin, New Zealand South island. My mother, 4.5 month old baby (due in end June) and I will be going with him and we intend to get there the Sat before and return the Monday of the 3rd week, so in all 3 weekends there.

He's only free to join us the first Sat/Sun, 2nd Sun and 3rd Sat/Sun. I'm confident with driving but haven't driven with a baby before. Mother cannot drive but can walk lots (not that I'm making her walk while I drive! Just to say she's good for walking around places). This trip is more for my mother as she's getting on and has always wanted to go to NZ. Husband and I have been to South Island a few years ago.

Plans so far:
1st Sat - Reach Queenstown at 9.45am. Get rental car from airport. Stay in Queenstown.
1st Sun - Explore Queenstown and drive to Dunedin in the afternoon (4 hours). Stay in Dunedin.

1st week - Mum and I to explore Dunedin (Otago museum two tours, Larnach castle, Baldwin street, albatrosses, Otago uni, Northern cemetry, botanic garden), Taieri Gorge train/minibus return trip.

2nd weekend - Function for husband and I on Saturday. All to Caitlins for Sunday?

2nd week - Mum and I to Caitlins/Invercagill, or towards Queenstown to explore the towns in between more thoroughly?
Friday - Finish work at 3.30pm and all drive to Queenstown (4 hours for 282km, sunset in Nov about 8.30pm).
Sat 8.30am to Sun 3.30pm - Doubtful Sound overnight cruise. Mum and I really want to do this, husband alright with it.
Monday (3rd week) - Return rental baby stuff and car at airport and leave Queenstown at 2.30pm. Feel sad holiday has ended. Or maybe relief.

Questions:
1. Suggestions on places to go and comments on itinerary?

  1. Dunedin - worth taking the bus around for a few hours to explore? What's your favourite train route from Dunedin?

  2. Caitlins/Invercagill - We haven't been to these two areas. Are they worth a Sun trip for everyone, or for me to drive mum and baby there myself the 2nd week? Or should I look at other places west or north of Dunedin for the 2nd week?

  3. Doubtful Sound overnight cruise - I read online it can be tough taking a kid there as it consists of a coach ride, ferry and short bus trip to get there. But people have told me 4-5 months old is a good age to travel as they sleep a lot. What do you guys think?

*add on: Have been to Milford Sound and prefer to try Doubtful Sound this time. Anyone tried the overnight cruise and have any comments about it?

  1. I'm intending to buy a stroller and take it with us, and rent all the other items (bassinet, portable high chair, car capsule, set of toys) from Queenstown Tots on Tour, costs about $250 for 2.5 weeks. Any suggestions on what's definitely needed, and if these all fit into the car boot with our luggage? No experience with babies at all.

Thank you in advance!

Travel New Zealand Oceania

Comments

  • cypher67 on 28/03/2019 - 09:34
    +2

    In Queenstown … try a FergBurger

    • QW3RTY on 28/03/2019 - 09:49
      +1

      Everybody suggests this, but in my experience, the burgers were no better than Grill'd here in Australia.
      Can't understand why people would line up for 40 minutes on a Friday night, but that's just me.

      • Fergy1987 on 28/03/2019 - 10:07

        I take offense to this slander of my family's burger :P

    • lenlynn on 28/03/2019 - 17:01

      Haha yes we tried it two years ago and will have it again. What I really liked was Ferg bakery! So good.

  • DavoW on 28/03/2019 - 10:05
    +1

    The 2 pieces advice I would offer is to take care on the roads, and in the sun. Kiwi roads are smaller and more windy than Australian ones. Plus in and around Queenstown there will be a lot of tourist traffic. And the sun is MUCH harsher than here, so slip slop slap!

    • lenlynn on 28/03/2019 - 17:02

      Thanks for that! Will bring lots of sunscreen. Husband and I have only been there in winter once before.

  • Skramit on 28/03/2019 - 10:07
    +1

    Have you got time to explore the west coast? It's the prettiest part e.g. Fox Glacier, Franz Joseph Glacier, Lake Tekapo….

    • lenlynn on 28/03/2019 - 17:04

      Hmm maybe the 2nd week Monday to Friday? But it will just be me driving my mother and baby. Undecided if I should; depends on if how a 5 month old baby behaves? I have been before but not my mother.

  • LSGH on 28/03/2019 - 13:07

    if you have limited time it is not worth the 40 mins wait….back when there was no Grilld in oz, then yes Ferg was fantastic

  • sydneybargainer on 28/03/2019 - 15:54
    +1
    1. Invercagill is not worth it.
    2. cadbury factory in Dunedin has good choclate cafe.
    3. Mount cook and lake tekapo is worth the effort to got there.
    • lenlynn on 28/03/2019 - 17:05
      1. Will take your word on that!
      2. Been once but the factory has closed down :(
      3. Considering if I should drive mum and baby there in the 2nd week? Hmm
      • sydneybargainer on 29/03/2019 - 13:57

        Damm. did not know that factory closed down.

        Been to Dunedin once and I love the vibe of the town.

        • lenlynn on 30/03/2019 - 09:32

          Yeah us too, we have been to South Island once but not my mother. Two years ago and they told us during the chocolate factory tour that it was closing soon :(

  • Zenyatta on 28/03/2019 - 20:35
    +1

    Lol. My 4.5 month old was going through the four month sleep regression when we went on a short holiday and it was fairly horrific in terms of sleep. Hopefully your baby is a better sleeper than mine was.

    At 4.5 months your baby will need to be in a rear-facing infant seat/capsule if they're in a car. You need to make sure that all of these tour and travel companies can transport an infant under 12 months.
    Also worth noting that you can (likely) take your own car seat/capsule with you free of charge if you check it in with the airline. Saves you the cost and the uncertainty of the condition that the rental seat might be in, but make sure you pack it well in a box. I got a spare box from a baby supplies shop.

    My baby could not sit in a high chair at 4.5 months, most babies will still be too wobbly. If you're thinking of introducing solids earlier than 6 months, consider delaying until you get home as it's a little bit tricky, need to introduce one thing at a time, watch for allergic reactions, prepare and store food etc. The current WHO recommendation is to start at or close to 6 months anyway. I don't think you'll need a high chair. A bouncer is more handy at that age.

    My folding stroller easily fits behind the drivers seat so if you can get one that size it frees up your boot for luggage. How big is the bassinette when it's folded up?

    Dunedin is cold even in the middle of summer. Wasn't as interesting as other cities visited like Christchurch, Queenstown, Wanaka, Akaroa. Rug up when you go there.

    Queenstown is great to explore. Get yourself a good travel pram and snooze shade and do lots of walking around to get baby to sleep during nap times (if you aren't in the car).

    Happy to answer any other questions about babies or going on holidays with babies, I've done it twice now! once at 4.5 months and once at 8 months.

  • WreckTangle on 28/03/2019 - 21:26
    +2

    Don’t bother with Invercargill. Maybe drive up to Oamaru or over to Arrowtown. Maybe the West Coast…it’s beautiful

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join