picton to christchurch

...take the scenic route with apex car rentals. Sample extract from "New Zealand Driving Holidays" guidebook Picton to Christchurch chapter.

From the moment you disembark from the inter-island ferry in Picton after cruising through breathtaking Queen Charlotte Sound, there’s no doubt in any visitor’s mind that the South Island is very special. SH1 takes us south to Blenheim, NZ’s premier wine growing region, then follows a rocky, kelp-strewn shoreline to Kaikoura, where snowy mountains plunge dramatically into the sea. Amid this stunning coastal alpine scenery, a wealth of ecotourism oriented activities are on offer, from whale watching to seal snorkelling and much more! We take three days to travel from Picton to Christchurch. We sample the award-winning wines of the region, dine with our jolly kiwi-Italian hosts, join an awe-inspiring whale watch tour, relish the flavour of succulent Kaikoura crayfish, visit a lavender distillery and swim with dolphins that are so playful and friendly, Bob can’t believe that they’re wild!

day three: kaikoura to christchurch

Key
- Destinations
- Apex Locations

At breakfast Bob asks if I fancy a swim with the Dusky dolphins. “You never know, we might see another whale too,” he says enthusiastically. At Dolphin Encounter’s base we don wetsuits and, after a bus ride to South Bay, board a boat and travel along the shore. Before long we see our first pod of Dusky dolphins, but since they are resting near the shore, we continue to deeper waters where another group dances upon the ocean.

“Play with them,” instructs our guide, Mark, as we dive off the stern one-by-one. “They’ll go away if they get bored so I want to see lots of ducking and diving,” he says.

As Bob and I swim away from the boat I’m thankful for my wetsuit. Suddenly, from somewhere in the green murky depths comes a call. “Eeeeeeeeeeee.” It sends waves of shivers up my spine and Bob gives me a startled look as seawater fills my snorkel and I blow it out like a submerging orca.

In no time at all there’s company - a fast moving shape slides beneath. Panic is rapidly replaced with excitement as two Dusky dolphins come into view. They swim in unison and scrutinise Bob and I in our strange rubbery suits.

One dolphin leaves, obviously concluding that we’re no fun, but the other stays, peering at us playfully. We both roll and he immediately copies, and so we do it again. For a few minutes we twist around and around in the water until it’s hard to say who’s copying whom! In a final farewell he leaps up out of the water into a perfect arc and back down with a sleek splash. Bob gives it a go but fails dismally; the result is a resounding belly flop and laughter from the boat...

Please click the link to download the full Picton to Christchurch scenic drive, courtesy of apex car rentals new zealand... the kiwi way

To read more extracts from our driving holiday's guidebook please click on any of the following links:

• Auckland to Bay of Islands and Northland
• Cape Reinga and the Far North
• Auckland's West Coast Beaches
• Waiheke Island
• Auckland to Whakatane and the Bay of Plenty
• East Cape and Poverty Bay
• Whakatane to Hawkes Bay
• Rotorua - Maori Culture and Adventure Activities
• Hawkes Bay to Wellington
• Wairarapa- The home of Martinborough Wine
• Wellington to New Plymouth
• New Plymouth to Auckland

• Picton to Christchurch
• Akaroa and Banks Peninsula
• Christchurch to Queenstown
• Queenstown fabulous Queenstown
• Christchurch to Dunedin
• Dunedin to Te Anau
• Stewart Island
• Fiordland to Milford Sounds
• Central Otago
• Queenstown to Greymouth
• Greymouth to Nelson
• Murchison
• Nelson to Golden Bay
• Nelson to Picton

purchase nzdh online

If you would like to purchase a copy of this stunning nz pictorial guidebook online please click here (RRP $24.95 plus postage)

view today's best deals for picton to christchruch rental cars

With apex rental cars the longer you hire the lower the daily rate. Please click the link to view today's best picton to christchruch rental car deal.