calling MrsJohnCusack!!!!

[bamamama]

hello, I believe you're in Christchurch.....We're going to be starting a tour of the south island from Christchurch in December. It's me, dh, ds (who will then be 18 months) and a huge motorhome. My question is will we be able to stock up on toddler friendly food and not have to negotiate really busy streets in something bigger than we've ever driven??? Just need some insider info on food shops..... Thanks!

hello - yes I am in ChCh

well, the roads aren't really that busy here - but then I come from London so my busy-ness standards are quite stringent! However, the roads are wide and filled with other people driving motorhomes so I don't think you will have any problems there.

food shops - well we have several supermarket chains and I think you'll be able to get pretty much anything you need in them. Also, there will be supermarkets elsewhere in the SI, not just ChCh. if there's any specific food you're worried about, let me know.

sounds great. Where are you planning on going and how long for?

hi, thanks for getting back to me - forgot that I was in the right time zone (currently in oz) so assumed it would be much later....
We've got 12 day's in the south island, haven't decided where we're going to go yet but I'm (irrationally accordng to dh) thinking of practicalities like food! Any suggestions for good places to go greatfully recieved....have to go, ds up from nap and demanding sandwiches.

food not a problem really

great places in the SI - WELL! take your pick
Christchurch - all the tourist stuff like the cathedral, ride on the tram, the gondola, Antarctic Centre etc
Akaroa - 90 mins from ChCh, pretty French settlement plus boat trips to see dolphins and other wildlife (possibly not ideal with 18 month old though depending on his disposition)
Kaikoura - go whale watching (ditto re your DS) plus seals and dolphins
Lake Tekapo, LAke Pukaki & the Mount Cook national park
Queenstown and surrounds - loads to do and such amazing scenery
Penguin watching at Oamaru
Wanaka
Te Anau & Milford Sound
Fox and Franz Josef glaciers
Arthurs Pass drive
Waipara Valley (vineyards) and Hanmer Springs
Visit Dunedin + the wildlife sanctuary on the peninsula
The Catlins
plus also Nelsona and the MArlborough Sounds

That's far too much for 12 days, but I would definitely make sure you drive via Tekapo/Mount Cook/Queenstown/Wanaka and then possibly down to Te Anau and Milford Sound.
we did all that plus Gore,Dunedin & Oamaru in 8 days, but we were without children then!

Kaikoura is lovely too, can be an overnight trip from ChCh

Hey - thanks for all that. So useful to have some suggestions - was concerned that we'd spend our holiday constantly round the corner from somewhere fantastic! (although by the sound of it everywhere is pretty spectacular) Thanks again.

Streets are massive in Christchurch - some of the windy steep roads to get to out of the way tourist places I find hair raising in my station wagon (estate car), but you would have had more practise by the time you get to those. Remember to pull over and let the 2 car traffic jam behind you pass when you see a layby, as you will be slower up the hills, and you will be fine.

What is toddler friendly food? What does he eat in Oz?

yes I thought you were from Oz. I should imagine the food available here would be very similar...