Is child/booster seats mandatory in NZ for travellers ?

[kiwieagle]

Normally I would agree with you but the OP ask about September, so I venture to say it is very unlikely. September is a little warmer for the whole of NZ. For black ice to form, the water should fall to the ground at below freezing temperature. However mud is a real issue since there is a lot of rain in September. Fortunately mud can be seen quite clearly and a responsible driver should slow down considerably when driving.

There is black ice on the road in September. Just be careful around corners. Weather can change in an instant and it might be sunny and fine where you are only to be terrible a few km a way.

[nms.sun3]

There is black ice on the road in September. Just be careful around corners. Weather can change in an instant and it might be sunny and fine where you are only to be terrible a few km a way.

Thanks for the headsup Kiwieagle. Is snowchains sufficient enough or do we need any more accessories to drive in SI during september ?

[Hagabel]

Nelson?

I thought it was a cute place when I did my recce trip, loved Abel Tasman and Marlborough area as well. Now Hamilton? that I am laughing at..

[dharder]

Hamilton was chosen as we can travel to Waitomo/Matamata/Rotorua in a day trip so we spend about 4 days to travel in and around hamilton.

With all due respect to the people living in Hamilton, but what are you going to do with the remaining 3.5 days once you covered Hamilton and surroundings?

I think there are probably better places to see if one has only a limited time to travel, from a touristy point of view.

[nms.sun3]

Hamilton - Rotorua = 200 KM (to/fro)
Hamilton - Matamata = 150 KM(to/fro)
Hamilton - Waitamo = 150 KM(to/fro)
Hamilton - Taupo = 400 KM(to/fro)

4 days/3 nights should be sufficient enough for us to cover these places. You have bear in mind that we are travelling with three kids between the ages of 1-3 and you know how kids could be cranky during road travel. We may have to stop multiple times during the drive to let them out for few mins of fresh air else they would be difficult to handle.

We are just covering main attractions as we are travelling as a group.We will have ample time to cover NZ we move to permanently next year if our SMC visa comes through.

[batgirl1001]

I believe that your planning is not well-thought out and requires a lot of unnecessary back-and-forth driving for no other reason except simply because you believe Hamilton makes a wonderful base for travelling around the area.

Many people (residents) and tourists choose to drive straight through Hamilton (some like me don't want to stop at Hamilton at all, preferring to make my stop in Cambridge where it is much lovelier. My kid loves the park and we like to buy seasonal fruits from Cambridge markets and spend a hour relaxing, letting her run around, feed the ducks etc.

Anyway if you are becoming a resident soon, it may not matter in the long run how you plan the trip. But if you want to maximize time and perhaps enjoy the trip more, you could make Rotorua your base instead.

Spend only 1 night in Hamilton after Matamata. The next day drive to Waitomo and spend the afternoon in Rotorua. You have a full day in Rotorua on the 3rd day and can visit Taupo on the 4th. Drive back to Auckland on your last day. Rotorua and Taupo are more scenic tourist towns with several attractions that appeal to families.

[Hagabel]

I believe that your planning is not well-thought out and requires a lot of unnecessary back-and-forth driving for no other reason except simply because you believe Hamilton makes a wonderful base for travelling around the area.

Many people (residents) and tourists choose to drive straight through Hamilton (some like me don't want to stop at Hamilton at all, preferring to make my stop in Cambridge where it is much lovelier. My kid loves the park and we like to buy seasonal fruits from Cambridge markets and spend a hour relaxing, letting her run around, feed the ducks etc.

Anyway if you are becoming a resident soon, it may not matter in the long run how you plan the trip. But if you want to maximize time and perhaps enjoy the trip more, you could make Rotorua your base instead.

Spend only 1 night in Hamilton after Matamata. The next day drive to Waitomo and spend the afternoon in Rotorua. You have a full day in Rotorua on the 3rd day and can visit Taupo on the 4th. Drive back to Auckland on your last day. Rotorua and Taupo are more scenic tourist towns with several attractions that appeal to families.

I totally agree with above suggestion. Cambridge is a lot nicer(I live there so may be a bit biased). Waitomo is in the same direction as Rotorua(South) and Cambridge is about 40 mins ish to Matamata.

[72andsunny]

Or if you prefer spend the night in Te Anau, which is just 10 mins from Milford and gives you more time to explore the fiordland and catch the cruise.

I must have made a wrong turn, because that drive took me two hours without stops.

[72andsunny]

I haven't been to Milford in September (usually winter and summer) but September for NZ as a whole is not great. It is a transitional period and in the N. Island, there's usually a lot of rain - sometimes torrential, strong wind. Miserable usually for Auckland. In the S. Island, there is less rain with some likelihood for snow (ice is unlikely) but there are more possibility for slips and mud.

Between Queenstown to Te Anau, usually open or if not, then there would be alternative routes. Milford Road, yes; it can close for several hours if there is an especially bad slip or rockfall. Takes them a couple of hours to clean up.

In Queenstown, you can check 'i' to find out about the weather before proceeding on the journey. Or if you prefer spend the night in Te Anau, which is just 10 mins from Milford and gives you more time to explore the fiordland and catch the cruise. I believe the last cruise is 2 or 3pm.

Hamilton - Rotorua = 200 KM (to/fro)
Hamilton - Matamata = 150 KM(to/fro)
Hamilton - Waitamo = 150 KM(to/fro)
Hamilton - Taupo = 400 KM(to/fro)

4 days/3 nights should be sufficient enough for us to cover these places. You have bear in mind that we are travelling with three kids between the ages of 1-3 and you know how kids could be cranky during road travel. We may have to stop multiple times during the drive to let them out for few mins of fresh air else they would be difficult to handle.

We are just covering main attractions as we are travelling as a group.We will have ample time to cover NZ we move to permanently next year if our SMC visa comes through.

Do not mistake NZ distances for what you are used to driving. The roads here are windier, the speed limits are lower, and you go through every small town on the way (as in right through the middle of town). What you think will take an hour will take 2 hours. I love Taupo, but I would never consider driving there for a day trip, and I'm only 140k away.

[batgirl1001]

I must have made a wrong turn, because that drive took me two hours without stops.

Milford Road, not the Sound.