Scotiabank Gold American Express® CardScotiabank Gold American Express® Card•Earn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points + no annual fee in your first year†
FR
FR
FRBest offers

New Zealand: South Island Family Tour

  • Family
  • 5 months around the world with your family
7 min read
Editorial integrity
New Zealand: South Island Family Tour
Share

Our week was quite intense as we wanted to cover as much of the South Island as possible to maximize our time on site, and so we drove about 3 to 5 hours a day.

Of course we made choices, as we couldn’t possibly seen everything. Apart from the island beauties, we went to many play parks, in order to reward the children to the maximum.

The children kept up the pace and surprised us a lot, I’ll tell you all about it in pictures, if you want details, ask me!

New Zealand: South Island Family Tour - Itinéraire Ile Du Sud Nouvelle Zélande

Visiting the South Island of New Zealand

Christchurch City and its surroundings

At the beginning of the week, we ended our visit to Christchurch with a stroll down Regent Street, a street cited as one of the prettiest in New Zealand, with a lunch break at the Casa Publica restaurant.

Finally, the children had a great time at the Margaret Mahy Family Playground. It must be said that this park is quite exceptional!

New Zealand: South Island Family Tour - semaine -----

We took the road to discover the coast around Sumner. A wide beach where surfers also meet. A simple local market is set up every weekend and seemed very friendly.

At the end of the beach there is a big children’s park.

I must say that the parks are excellent in New Zealand if I compare them to Canada or France. Multiple games are available. They all have zip lines, water areas or in some cases a swimming pool and toilets.

We continued on to Littleton, and caught a glimpse of a splendid view from the scenic route!

New Zealand: South Island Family Tour - semaine ------

Clear blue water with golden mountains. Littleton was cute but small, a simple shopping street.

We didn’t have time to go down to Akaroa, we chose to move forward to find something to eat on the way.

Once again we found something for the children to enjoy in terms of games, in the sun and in a garden.

New Zealand: South Island Family Tour - semaine ------

Along the way, the landscapes are simple, varied and beautiful. We saw many golden fields, sheep, cliffs and beaches.

Our arrival point being Blenheim and in order to limit the kilometers with the children, we skipped Hanmer Springs where several natural hot springs were located but made several stops before Kaikoura.

Kaikoura

Kaikoura is a small, transient town that is famous for its dolphin and whale watching boat trips.

No boat for us. We enjoyed observing several dolphins along the coast as well as sea lions; we went higher to benefit from the marvellous panorama on the heights of the centre.

New Zealand: South Island Family Tour - semaine ------

Blenheim

A smaller city with a significantly older population than Christchurch.

It’s easy to see why. The North gets a lot of sunshine all year round and the Marlborough region has about 30 vineyards, so there’s plenty to enjoy!

The town is relaxing, very flowery and has a small, lively centre.

New Zealand: South Island Family Tour - semaine ------

We visited Pollak Park, which is very pleasant and relaxing and offers activities for all ages: a golf course, a playground, tennis courts and croquet lawns!

Its flower gardens are beautiful and you can walk along a stream where the ducks come.

We tested wines from two vineyards. First of all, those of Cloudy Bay. Settled in the garden, we enjoyed glasses of sauvignon blanc. This domain feels less authentic, and very modern (it is the most famous domain owned by LVMH).

We continued our tasting with a tray of 7 wines for two (which was enough, considering the road ahead of us), at Forrest ‘s family vineyard ($10!) from which we left with a small bottle, since we liked the place and our hostess’ warm welcome.

New Zealand: South Island Family Tour - Forrest Nouvelle Zélande
New Zealand: South Island Family Tour - Forrest Nouvelle Zélande

Picton

Ferries pick up passengers in Wellington and drop them off in Picton, a peaceful harbour town with mountainous scenery in the background.

The children once again enjoyed the beautiful park to stretch their legs and refresh themselves. Dairy farms punctuated the landscape. It’s hard to resist the urge to photograph some cows.

The winding road to Nelson wasn’t the easiest. However, we passed by beautiful green forests, to the sound of cicadas.

Upon arrival in Nelson, we made a small detour to the lively and friendly center before reaching our Airbnb. Unfortunately, I didn’t think of taking pictures of the center thinking that we would come back there but Jean-Maximilien and I had a lot of work the following days so we couldn’t go back. Too bad. Some pictures of the main beach, Tahunanui and its playground:

New Zealand: South Island Family Tour - semaine ------
New Zealand: South Island Family Tour - semaine ------
New Zealand: South Island Family Tour - semaine ------

Abel Tasman Park

Abel Tasman National Park is not accessible by car. So we chose to take a taxi boat cruise with Wilsons ($67/person; children under 5 years free) which makes stops all along the coast.

After a few tourist stops, the boat stopped at Anchorage Beach. From there we wanted to trek to Te Pukatea beach and, if possible, to the viewpoint of Pitt Head.

That’s when we realized once again what our limit was with the children, Alexandra refusing to walk when she got off the boat.

After a good moment of negotiation, we succeeded in finally deciding to walk to the beach of Te Pukatea.

Our walk helped us realize we should have stayed on the main beach, which was prettier and more in line with our taste. But this little hike had the merit of testing the children and training them for the next ones.

A little aside. During the trip, we always move at the pace of our children, using playgrounds as carrots. We

must mention that our children are quick to balk at the idea of going for a little walk (sometimes they barely put their foot down, but it’s a different story when they know that a playground is waiting for them).

It can be frustrating to miss out on great walks, or to do them while enduring screams and tears. We know they are still young.

In the end, they will have seen and participated in other activities, which is comforting in spite of everything. We try to open their eyes, to help them to be more attentive, to feel, or to listen to nature.

Greymouth

On the way, we saw amazing landscapes which pleased us from the start: these mountains and golden fields gradually turn into an immense green forest.

Few possible stops; we made one in Murchison, the only town we saw, for a lunch break. Not much choice of restaurants on the few streets, especially since several establishments were closed.

We used the WiFi and went to a small park before getting back in the car and making a short stop on the historic route.

Greymouth is a stopover town and you can feel it. Lots of rentals, a few restaurants, but the center really feels like a ghost town. Maybe we went there at the wrong time? Even so, we were regularly alone during our walks except at the supermarket (phew!).

Arthur’s Path

This is a road that seduced us with its mountains, some misty, others snowy, or lakes where the mountains are reflected, rocky formations, before finding the plains and fields of farmers where cows and sheep wander.

We had very good weather, which really allowed us to see the beautiful scenery and have a nice family picnic.

Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki

Before arriving on the lakes, we crossed several small towns, including the rather cute town of Fairlie.

It’s quite amazing when you arrive at Lake Tekapo, especially with the good weather (we had our doubts as we had a lot of clouds and some rain during the climb).

The lake is indeed a nice turquoise colour. We found a nice place around the lake to enjoy with our family and eat our snacks.

The most beautiful place to look at the lake as a whole was from the observatory on Mount John, the view is splendid!

Pukaki Lake was a 30-minute drive away. Here again, we were dazzled by its beautiful blue. The place was much quieter than the previous one, making it more pleasant, less popular and touristy. We savoured the moment!

Mount Cook

We wanted to do some hiking but actually had some doubts with the children. This time, they surprised us and Alexandra asked for more! We went to Mount Cook.

New Zealand: South Island Family Tour - semaine ------

From there, you can do several hikes, including easy ones. We did two short hikes, one of which gave us a view of Lake Tasman. Unfortunately, the sun was not out that day and the colour of the lake did not stand out as much as the day before.

Afterwards, we walked along the Hooker track to have a magnificent view of Mueller Lake. It was a nice day, even though it was cloudy.

Accommodation

Hotels being rare for a family like us (there is much more choice for backpackers or rooms for 2 people), we opted for Airbnb or sometimes motel and were not disappointed.

I won’t detail all of them but here are some pictures of the 3 we liked.

Blenheim Motel

Airbnb Greymouth

Airbnb Ashburton

Bottom line

Notre rythme était assez intense cette semaine. Next stop: Queenstown!

American Express Cobalt® Card

American ExpressAmex Membership Rewards
Annual fee
$191.88
Our valuation
$255
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 15,000 points
Apply Now

on American Express's website

Apply with confidence — no impact on your credit scoreApply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).

The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer

The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.

Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.

You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.

You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:

  • 15,000 Aeroplan points
  • 15,000 Avios points
  • 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
  • 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

If hotel points are what you are after, our ultimate guide to Marriott Bonvoy and our complete map of Marriott Bonvoy hotels by category show what those points can actually buy.

American Express Cobalt® Card benefits

Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.

  • 5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
  • 3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
  • 2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
  • 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
  • 1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
  • Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
  • No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
  • Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
  • The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
  • Front Of The Line® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
  • A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.

To see how it compares with the rest of the line-up, read our round-up of the best credit cards from American Express in Canada.

The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:

  • Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
  • Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
  • Home food delivery.
  • Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.

The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.

With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.) 5
Home food delivery 5
Restaurants and bars 5
Convenience stores 5
Streaming services 3
Service station 2
Transport 2
Travel 1
Other 1

That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.

You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.

American Express Cobalt® Card insurance coverage

The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.

Travel insurance

  • Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
  • Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
  • Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
  • Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
  • Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
  • Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.

Rental car insurance

Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.

Mobile device insurance

Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.

American Express Cobalt® Card fees

  • Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
  • Additional cards: $0.
  • Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
  • Minimum income required: none.

Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.

Legal

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Annual fee

Primary card$191.88
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xConvenience
  • 3xStreaming
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,828
2nd Year Value$799

Transfer partners

  • AeroplanAirline
  • British Airways ClubAirline
  • Cathay Asia MilesAirline
  • Etihad GuestAirline
  • Flying BlueAirline
  • Hilton HonorsHotel
  • Marriott BonvoyHotel

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $250,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

Our featured card

Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Card

ScotiabankScene+
Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350
Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points
Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Legal

* The potential value of savings and rewards during the first 12 months includes the value of the welcome offer, the potential value of points earned in the first year, the value of savings on foreign currency transaction fees and the cost of airport lounge access as of May 22, 2026:

$250 in travel rewards (25,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite +* Cardholders who charge $2,000 in purchases to their account within the first three (3) months;

$100 in travel rewards (10,000 bonus Scene+ points) for cardholders who charge $40,000 in purchases to their account;

$50 in savings from the annual fee waiver on the first additional card for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card account holders;

$132 in savings on foreign currency transaction fees based on the average amount of foreign currency purchases made per active account over the past 24 months (by saving on the 2.5% foreign currency transaction fees typically charged by other credit card issuers);

$364 representing the potential value of points earned in the first year (36,400 Scene+ points) based on the average amount of purchases made per active account over the past 24 months, assuming an average spend of 21% of purchases in categories eligible for accelerated earn rates of 2X and 3X points;

$358 representing the value of complimentary membership in the Visa Airport Companion program which includes 6 airport lounge passes (based on « Preferred » membership valued at approximately $357 CAD/$259 USD). Based on the exchange rate in effect on May 22, 2026.

Maximum potential value after the first year = $1,254 (rounded to $1,250)

The actual value of offers, savings realized and points earned will vary depending on card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.

1 Offer description and conditions: The 25,000 Scene+ points offer (the « offer ») applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card accounts (the « accounts ») opened between August 4, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the account) subject to the conditions below. The offer may be modified, cancelled or extended at any time without notice, and it cannot be combined with any other offer.

In addition, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Cardholder, you are eligible for an annual bonus of 10,000 Scene+ points if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible everyday purchases to your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account over the course of one year. Conditions apply; see below for more details.

Description and conditions of the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer: To be eligible for the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer (« 25,000 bonus points »), you must charge at least $2,000 in total eligible purchases to your account within the first three months following the account opening date.

Conditions for the annual 10,000 Scene+ points bonus:
As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit cardholder, you can earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points (the « annual points bonus ») if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible purchases to your account over the course of one year (12-month period). The annual period begins on the account opening date; a new period starts again every twelve months thereafter. If you replace another Scene+-eligible credit card with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card (i.e., it is not a new card or an additional card), the opening date of your original account will be carried over to your new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account and your annual period under this offer will begin on the next anniversary date of your original account opening. For example, if you originally opened a Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card account on January 15, 2022 and you switch to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card on July 15, 2025, your annual period under the 10,000 Scene+ points annual bonus offer will begin on January 15, 2026 (your next anniversary date) and a new period will start again on January 15 each year thereafter. You will earn 2,000 bonus Scene+ points for each additional $10,000 in purchases made during the same year once you have reached the $40,000 annual purchase threshold.

Eligible purchases means purchases, less refunds, returns and any other similar credits, and excludes payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions), interest charges, as well as card fees and other fees.

Fulfillment of the annual points bonus: Bonus points will be credited within approximately eight weeks after you become eligible for a bonus, provided the account is open and in good standing. In the case of a joint account with a primary borrower and a co-borrower, bonus points will be credited as follows: (i) the 25,000 bonus points and the annual points bonus will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the account of the borrower who made the transaction that reached the eligible purchase threshold ($2,000, or $40,000) within the appropriate timeframe (the first three months, or the first 12 months). If an additional cardholder makes the transaction that reaches the eligible purchase threshold for the 25,000 bonus points, or the annual points bonus, the bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the primary borrower’s account. It is possible to transfer points between the Scene+ accounts of a primary borrower, a co-borrower or an additional cardholder by contacting Scene+. An account is in good standing if it is not past due, there is no over-limit, and the cardholder(s) have complied with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the account. All other program conditions continue to apply during the offer period.

Offer eligibility and exclusions: You cannot take advantage of the offer if you are currently a primary or secondary cardholder of a Scotiabank personal credit card or have been one in the past two years, including if you transfer your balance from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card account, and if you are a Scotiabank employee. Subject to the exclusions mentioned above, small business credit cardholders are eligible for this offer.

Rates and fees: The annual fees are $150 for the primary card, $0 for the first additional card and $50 for each additional card thereafter (including those issued to joint account holders and additional cardholders). The preferred annual interest rates applicable to the account are as follows: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions). The rates, fees, and features and benefits, which are described in the disclosure statement accompanying the application, may be changed.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Our editorial integrity

Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.