We couldn’t agree on the same Top 5, so as a bonus we’ve done a top 5 list each!

Sally’s Top 5

Number 1 has to be wine tasting at Blenheim and through Renwick. 

The wine, there was plenty and that’s another blog post, was delicious and the stories of the wineries were fantastic. I really enjoyed the talk given at Forrest’s with my first low alcohol wine. The fact that we missed Gary Barlow visiting them by a day was not lost on me! We didn’t get pictures of my fave winery Saint Clair as we were carried away with how spectacular the wine tasted and also the lunch!

To top off our Blenheim experience on the Saturday I managed to get my PB at the very flat park run – which I think means I need to do a wine tasting before any park run PB’s?

Number 2 for me was the paradise of Abel Tasman. We arrived and the tide was out however the sea was a beautiful blue colour and the sun was shining. We took a boat trip to Anchorage Bay and hiked back to our campsite – it was a glorious day and although it was supposed to be a 12km walk it ended up being more like 15km and luckily was in the shade. It really felt like a holiday and we ended with a fantastic meal of Red Snapper with Thai salad which, was a taste sensation. 

Number 3 for me was Queenstown. We stayed at a great campsite Driftaway Camping and had a great burger and did the Jet Boat trip which was excellent.

Mount Sunday is fourth on my list. I think because I hadn’t known what to expect. Even though Toby told me we were going to one of the locations from Lord of the Rings. The drive there was not my favourite, however the quiet and the scale of the environment was breath-taking. 

I could easily say Milford Sound for number five however I’m going to be more general and say I loved driving in the South Island of New Zealand. The roads are so much quieter than in the UK, the road signs are polite, there are places for you to overtake slow vehicles or Sally driving slowly up or down the mountains and every road seems to have scenery that takes your breathe away. 

My least favourite thing was the sandfly bites! We were warned for Milford Sound however I was attacked before then and they are vicious and seem much itchier than mosquito bites. We got some great repellent however it came a few days late for me. 

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Toby’s Top 5

1. Freedom camping on the coast

We hadn’t fully appreciated the freedom camping thing before we arrived. Once we got into it though it was hard to beat.

We’ve been at this motorhome thing for 5 years now and yet I think 4 of our best 10 park-ups have been in New Zealand.

2. A new found appreciation for New Zealand pies!

They do pies right here. No mucking about. Worth the airfare alone.

We tried quite a few to make sure but our favourite ended up being ‘Miles Better Pies‘ in Te Anau.

3. The glorious mountains and lakes of Queenstown, Glenorchy and Wanaka

The landscape is just vast and the views are incredible. Everywhere.

The roads are amazing to drive and the experience is one we’ll not forget.

4. Wine tasting at Blenheim

Like Sally says, a great day out sampling some of the wines we’ve drunk and loved for years.

We were also made to feel so welcome at all the wineries which is something you don’t always experience in Europe.

5. Milford Sound

I could easily say Milford Sound for my number 5, so I will.

What do you think of our Top 5? Have you been to the South Island? Would any of these make your list?

Thanks for reading,

Love Sally and Toby