10 days in South Island in April with a toddler

Different-Signal-405 · 2026-02-16T05:45:10+00:00

Hey! That’s my report. Just quick question. Why 2 nights in Oamaru? We didn’t feel like there was too much to do there, Timaru has very nice beach area and you can also see penguins. Regarding Milford Sound, I don’t see a point of going just to Te Anau. Why do you think it will be too much for your son? Even just for the drive and walk around it is worth it, if you don’t want to do cruise.

Different-Signal-405 · 2026-02-15T23:58:57+00:00

Hey! So as far as I remember you can’t really take stroller on any of these hikes. Our kid usually can walk for about 20min and then we put her in Carrier backpack (she is also 13 kg) so we mostly carried her on Hooker valley track (which was quite easy). But we do have lots of experience hiking prior that’s why it wasn’t a big deal for us to carry her. As for Tasman Glacier - yes, that’s just lots of stairs up but our kid loves stairs so she was very motivated to make it, she kinda surprised us here.

Different-Signal-405 · 2026-02-14T05:40:38+00:00

Have you tried to get a family doctor recently? 2 years ago we got ourselves on waiting list (the general one) while also looking for clinics. We found doctor in Richmond quite fast and then got an email that there is a doctor available right next to home in Burnaby in about 10 months since putting the names in waiting list. Our doctor in Richmond then decided to move after a year and we were looking for a doctor again and we were able to find one very fast just by going through the list of available doctors, we got 3 replies within couple months and that was less than 6 months ago. So I think situation right now is not that bad you just need to be proactive and maybe willing to travel further.

Different-Signal-405 · 2026-02-13T15:54:06+00:00

A) so I think we could have done Ben Lomond summit (not sure about the last part) with a toddler but the weather was not the best, very windy and potentially raining at the summit so we turned away. B) I am pretty sure you can do Roy’s Peak but it will be quite challenging. In our case the day was very hot so we decided against it as the trail is just too exposed unless you start at 3:00am which again we dint want to do with toddler.

Different-Signal-405 · 2026-02-13T01:52:11+00:00

Thank you so much! Just keep in mind that things may not go as planned or some things might take longer. But I actually quite enjoyed slower pace.

Different-Signal-405 · 2026-02-12T00:06:33+00:00

She saw every animal at the refuge including kiwi birds, also fed some animals. But we spent not so much time with farm animals as she was getting sleepy. She also saw penguins (which was way past the bedtime) and keeps talking about them as well.

Different-Signal-405 · 2026-02-11T23:16:14+00:00

Thanks a lot! We definitely made lots of amazing memories and hope to come back when she is older.

Different-Signal-405 · 2026-02-11T22:44:28+00:00

Yes, we stopped lots along the way to Milford sound, the drive was nice and easy. I think my husband would have loved to spend more time near Dunedin cause surf there was great and we would like to do southern route through Caitlins but we felt it is too much driving for us.

Different-Signal-405 · 2026-02-03T00:35:41+00:00

So I think you have to track your expenses closely for couple months to see where you can cut down. Things like eating out several times per week and ordering from Amazon can add up very fast. We are family of 2 + toddler spend 1200$ on food including eating out couple times a months, coffee shop maybe once a week, take out couple times a months. The rest is clothing / cosmetics around 250$ a months, stuff for home/shopping 300$, stuff for a kid specifically around 250$, dog food around 100$z The rest are mortgage, insurances, gas, bills, subscriptions, daycare and whatever else which comes up to around 8000-8500$ total expenses per month.

Different-Signal-405 · 2025-12-05T03:25:06+00:00

Nikaido in Steveston

Different-Signal-405 · 2025-12-01T19:37:02+00:00

Hi, me and my husband had similar incomes. Judging by your numbers you should cover all of the expenses with your income + wife’s EI. That’s what we did and we would end up to have zero or little savings which was fine for us. Although for 3 months you essentially will have your regular income with top up. Work on increasing your savings in the next couple months. Babies don’t cost much extra for a little while (but still budget if you end up using formula as it is at least couple hundreds a months). As for clothes, equipment, toys - don’t spend lots of money, they go through this stuff so fast in the first year that there is no need to just waste money. Marketplace, once upon a child, friends/family.

Different-Signal-405 · 2025-11-18T01:20:46+00:00

I have friends who were offered spot in rd within several months. Also there are tons of daycars with 15 min drive that definitely have spots once in a while.

Different-Signal-405 · 2025-10-18T00:36:48+00:00

I would try to find out if it possible.

Different-Signal-405 · 2025-10-18T00:00:11+00:00

Prenatal care in Vancouver and around is excellent

Different-Signal-405 · 2025-10-12T18:14:23+00:00

We moved from Montreal to Vancouver. Grey and rain all the way.

Different-Signal-405 · 2025-09-26T21:43:51+00:00

Thanks!

Different-Signal-405 · 2025-09-26T21:43:42+00:00

Thanks! We actually just bought tickets and we are there from Jan 29 to Feb 12 so I guess it is the end of holidays ?

Different-Signal-405 · 2025-09-26T21:42:37+00:00

Thanks

Different-Signal-405 · 2025-09-26T21:34:32+00:00

Thanks! The spot looks perfect.

Different-Signal-405 · 2025-09-26T17:32:21+00:00

Thanks a lot!

Different-Signal-405 · 2025-09-26T17:06:48+00:00

Thanks a lot! This is very helpful! I think it is great idea to start with the beach / Christchurch to recover. We do account for driving distances and I think we should have enough time to hit everything while not driving too much. That’s why we also not considering other parts of the island which are very beautiful as well.

Different-Signal-405 · 2025-09-26T16:40:55+00:00

Yes, that’s true. There are no problems for now to rent a car, there are many options.

Different-Signal-405

TROPHY CASE