springstein

Background:
Have friends who are retiring in 2017 and joining them for (their choice) a trans-Pacific cruise leaving Sydney and ending up in Honolulu with two stops in NZ (Picton and Wellington) plus three stops in French Polynesian islands. We decided to fly into Sydney pre-trip for 6 nights/five days. This is in mid April, 2017.

I started looking at air fares and of course thinking - "Go all this way and only have two days in New Zealand?!" So my wife and I are going to go a week early to NS South Island. Of course that's not enough time, but it's better than two days, right??

Both my wife and I will be 65 at the time, we enjoy moderate hikes (1/2 day), living in the mountains we enjoy mountain scenery, but we really miss water and enjoy beaches. (Some of our favorite places are the walks above the Atlantic in Portugal and on the Amalfi Coast on Footpaths of the Gods.)

With that background, here is what I currently have for our time on the South Island:
April 5 Wed Arrive Auckland, connect to Queenstown
Overnight at Intercontinental Hotel

April 6 Thu Explore Queenstown
Hike ??
Overnight at Intercontinental Hotel

April 7 Fri Bus/Cruise to Milford Sound
Overnight on Milford Sound (realjourneys.co.nz)

April 8 Sat Bus back to Queenstown, arrive 3:30 pm
Overnight at Intercontinental Hotel

April 9 Sun Check out of hotel
Pick up a rental car
Drive to Oamaru??
Overnight at ??

April 10 Mon Drive to Akaroa
Overnight at ??

April 11 Tue Day trip from Akaroa
???

April 12 Wed Check out of hotel
Drive to Christchurch, return rental car
5:00 pm Fly to Sydney

I'm pretty sure we want to do the overnight cruise to Milfors Sound. My question primarily is what should we do from April 9-12 when we leave Queenstown? I have us going up the east coast - but am wondering if that's the best option for a first time visitor?

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Melnq8

<<Of course that's not enough time, but it's better than two days, right??>>

Yes, indeed!

Hikes in Queesntown - YES. Plenty of nice trails to choose from, particularly on the road between Queenstown and Glenorchy and in Glenorchy itself. Spectacular scenery too.

You might be interested in the Mt Crichton Loop Track, one of my personal favorites:

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...on-loop-track/

Or you might like to walk a section of the Routeburn Track, from Glenorchy:

http://www.doc.govt.nz/routeburntrack

You can walk in to the first hut and return in about half a day. Expect sandflies.

Other walks in the area can be found here:

http://www.qldc.govt.nz/leisure-and-...tipu-walkways/

From Queenstown, I'd suggest you drive to Mt Cook, visiting Wanaka along the way, or just stay over in Wanaka. It's a pretty little lakeside town (and you said you like water). It's also the gateway to Mt Aspiring Nat'l Park, which is stunning, but you'd need at least a full day in Wanaka to get there and back.

This could throw a spanner in the works though, as the drive from Wanaka to Akaroa is about 6:15 w/o stops.

Mt Cook is more about mountain scenery, although there are some spectacular glacial lakes en route (Lake Pukaki) and of course you'd go right by Lake Tekapo if you took this route to Christchurch.

Oamaru is a pretty town, but keep in mind that driving to Christchurch this way will take you along the least scenic route on the SI. If you do take this route, you will probably want to spend the night in Oamaru, as the drive the next day to Akaroa will take over four hours.

Akaroa is an ideal choice for those who enjoy bays and water - very pretty French settlement with some nice walking tracks and water activities. Day trips from Akaroa? Well, if it were me I'd sit tight and enjoy where I was - although there are some very nice drives and walks in the hills above the settlement.

springstein

Thank you, Mel - very helpful. I appreciate the links as well!

FromDC

You have so little time, I would recommend flying at least one way from Queenstown to Milford Sound. When we flew (both ways) from Glenorchy to Milford Sound, there was a wait list for the flight going back....so many people decided after the bus ride there to fly on the way back (which was much more expensive than when done in advance).

Diamantina

I second Melnq8's suggestion that you visit, and overnight in, Mt. Cook Village. Mt. Cook Village is gorgeous (especially if the weather is fine). From Mt. Cook Village, you can do some great short walks, such as the Hooker Valley Track (about 3 hours roundtrip/return, easy, well-maintained, highly scenic with swing bridges and glacier views). Here's a link to a You Tube video of the track and the wonderful drive into Mt. Cook Village:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuWJKVpGmfc

Mt. Cook/Aoraki is NZ's highest mountain (though short compared to many U.S. peaks) and of historic and cultural importance. It's where Sir Edmund Hillary trained for his historic climb of Mt. Everest. Aoraki also holds great meaning for the Ngāi Tahu (or Kāi Tahu), the South Island's principal Māori iwi (tribe).
http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-us/our-...ki-mount-cook/

Here's a link to a brochure for Mt. Cook Village walking tracks (if it doesn't work, try later):
http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/par...ki-village.pdf

The last time we were there, the couple staying in the room next door to us at the Aoraki Court Motel told us it'd taken them about 5 hours to drive from Akaroa (with short stops).

It'll take you about 3.25 hours to drive from Queenstown to Mt. Cook Village. If you check out of your hotel at 10 a.m., you'll get to Mt. Cook Village with time to do the Hooker Valley Track or the shorter Kea Point Track. Mt. Cook Village is tiny, not many (but enough) restaurants, but motels have kitchens, should you self cater.

To get from Queenstown or Wanaka to Mt. Cook Village, you'll be driving through Lindis Pass and then Mackenzie Country. In April, this area puts on a photogenic autumn leaves show (introduced oaks, elms, birches, poplars and willows). While in Queenstown, you might want to see the autumn leaves in Arrowtown—it's only a 20-minute drive or bus ride away. You can easily pass through on your way to Mt. Cook Village or Wanaka.
http://www.newzealandtravelinsider.c...ew-zealand.htm

If you don't plan on renting a car until you leave Queenstown, note that the public bus goes to both Arrowtown or Wanaka. Wanaka's farther away, but at least this would give you a chance to see it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlmXI7zkNk4
http://www.connectabus.com/
There's also transport to some of Glenorchy's walking tracks:
http://www.glenorchyjourneys.co.nz/

Having a car for your one day in Queenstown would allow you to drive to Glenorchy (45 minutes away), Arrowtown, even Wanaka (1.25 hours away) and back, if you choose. Would you feel well-rested enough to drive on the left side of a challenging road (roads to Glenorchy or Crown Range Road to Wanaka)? The road to Arrowtown is easy, as is the road to nearby Gibbston Valley (closest wine region).

I also second FromDC's suggestion that you fly back from Milford Sound, if possible, as this would buy you more time. These flights can be cancelled due to weather (which is what happened to us on our first trip to Milford Sound, so we had to take the bus back, which wasn't as eventful as the first time round). Here's a video of the flight on You Tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rjg0pvcN9eA

The weather will start to cool by April, though right now we're experiencing a heat wave down south—maybe El Niño related. NZ's weather is highly unpredictable and variable. Down south, it could be freezing one day, warm the next.

Are you interested in wildlife? If so, while you are in Akaroa, you might want to take a Black Cat Cruise or swim with the dolphins. Rare endemic Hector's Dolphins inhabit Akaroa Harbor. You might also see some Little Blue Penguins swimming around (we did).
https://blackcat.co.nz/
http://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native...ctors-dolphin/

Just curious, why did you want to visit Oamaru? Though it is coastal, it is not known for its beaches.

springstein

Thanks for the replies! A lot of great information. I'm sure I'll be readjusting our itinerary to go to Mt Cook.

Diamantina, in regard to your question re Oamaru - there were not any great reasons other than it was coastal and seemed to make reasonable driving distances. So I have no qualms about making changes to the itinerary. I knew I would get good tips coming here!

Thelittlestkiwi

I'd give Oamaru a miss - it has it's plus points, but I don't think it's a must see for a short first trip and makes for a long not very interesting drive from Oamaru to Akaroa the next day.

As you can fly direct from Queenstown to Sydney - an option could be to stay in Queenstown for the entire time or add Wanaka or Te Anau and return to Queenstown to fly out.

I was down in Queenstown last weekend and can I add to previous recommendations for Mt Difficulty winery in Bannockburn behind Cromwell. Delicious lunch and wine tasting on a terrace overlooking the vineyards. Sometimes I get to play tourist too!

springstein

TLK, I had thought of staying in Queenstown area the whole time. We might still consider that. When I pulled Denver to Queenstown to Sydney on Kayak, it took me through Christchurch. That was my rationale of moving up from QTown to CChurch.

Thelittlestkiwi

Air NZ, Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar all fly Qtown to Sydney. Air NZ is part of the Star Alliance, so for example, you'd be able to rustle up an itinerary that could use Air NZ and United.

I really think there's enough around Queenstown/Milford/Wanaka to keep you happily amused without having to add in the extra driving to Christchurch in such a short stay. It would be kind of like me travelling to LA and then fitting in Seattle and a drive to Vancouver in 6 days - possible...but not really allowing time to be still and properly enjoy any of them.

Queenstown will also be a nice contrast to your cruise (scenery and weather).

capekidnappers

You've been given some great advice. Here's my penny's worth.
- There isn't any InterContinental Hotel in Queenstown - there is a Crowne Plaza which is the same company, IHG, and it's got great waterfront views.
- If you fly in or out of Milford Sound there's a chance of bad weather and the flight cancelled. The drive is long but beautiful, enjoy the journey. Alternatively try one night less in Queenstown and head to Te Anau - beautiful little lakeside town looking across the lake to Fiordland National Park. Fewer people. Lower prices. A lot of people perhaps don't realise that they don't have to go to Milford Sound from Queenstown.
- And yet another option, I know Milford Sound is the big drawcard but with hand on heart I will tell you that Doubtful Sound is also magnificent. You can day cruise or overnight cruise there with Real Journeys. These leave from Manapouri, very close to Te Anau and about 2 hours closer to Queenstown than Milford Sound. And yes, you cruise across beautiful Lake Manapouri first then drive a short, spectacular mountain pass over to Doubtful Sound.
- And definitely drive to Christchurch/Akaroa via Aoraki/Mt Cook.

Diamantina

You wouldn't run out of activities if you based all your nights in Q'town, as it's surrounded by attractions and gorgeous scenery: nearby wineries, Arrowtown's autumn leaves, Skipper's Canyon tour and jet boat, Milford Sound day trip, Glenorchy and Dart River Valley, Lake Wakitipu cruises, Wanaka and all it offers, and the attractions in Q'town itself. "Great Sights" even offers a Q'town to Mt. Cook Village day tour.

It's beautiful, convenient, the South Island's adventure capital, and also a bustling tourist resort. Its center is full of shops, restaurants, tour agencies, hotels, etc. The main road into its center can be clogged with traffic, including trucks and tour busses. You'll be there before school holidays (Friday 14 April – Sunday 30 April, 2017), but it'll still be busy.

The South Island has one million people (350,000 in Christchurch). So it's easy to get away from buildings and other people, and feel as if you have the landscape nearly to yourselves, sharing nature with only wildlife or sheep. I don't know if you'll experience this if just staying in Queenstown because, though it only has an urban population of 13,000, there are lots of people around. Renting a car to explore surrounding areas opens up more possibilities, such as driving in the direction of Glenorchy and beyond to do a hikes/tramp that Melnq8 suggested.

The Milford Sound overnight cruise will feel as if you've gotten away from it all. The fiord's not large, but quiet and serene at night.

A self-drive trip from Queenstown to Akaroa/Christchurch via Mt. Cook, would allow you to see a variety of landscapes and environments with their own unique histories. You'd have the freedom of detouring off more heavily trodden tourist paths, possibly discovering some hidden treasures of your own. You'd potentially gain a richer impression of the South Island.

Though you come from a state with 53 peaks above 14,000 feet, I think you'd find Mt. Cook Village impressive. It's in a valley surrounded glaciated peaks. The village sits at 2,450 ft., but Mt. Cook itself rises to 12,316 ft., so you'd be looking at a vertical gain of almost 10,000 feet (the apex is often obscured by clouds, hence its Maori name "Aoraki," or "cloud in the sky"). You'll pass Lake Pukaki and Tekapo, which are an unusual blue, due to "glacial flour," finely ground rock particles from glaciers. The view from Tekapo's Mt. John Observatory is fantastic. You can drive up ($5) or walk from the lakeshore via the Mt. John Summit Circuit Track (2.5 to 3 hours roundtrip).

If you decide against driving between Christchurch and Q'town, you could still incorporate a short driving trip. You could spend four to five nights in Q'town, drive to MS for your overnight cruise, then overnight in Te Anau, as thelittlestkiwi suggested, before returning to Q'town. Q'town to MS will take 4.5 hours without stops, but you'll want to make short stops, at least at Mirror Lake, the Chasm, and before Homer Tunnel. It's a beautiful drive. See:
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/proje...re-Milford.pdf
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...s-for-drivers/

The next morning you'll return to the dock around 9 a.m., early enough to hike the Key Summit track enroute to Te Anau (walk takes 3 hours roundtrip). Then overnight in Te Anau, where there's lots to do. About the Key Summit Track:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...-summit-track/

Anyhow, you have time to plan. Maybe you can return for a second trip during summer, when there's a greater chance of enjoying beach weather.

Melnq8

I'd missed the bit about the OP being from (or at least beginning their trip from) my home state.

There's a bit of debate about whether we have 53 or 54 peaks over 14,000 feet, but as a Colorado girl myself, I whole-heartedly agree with Diamantina that Mount Cook is impressive non-the-less, particularly as it rises from such a low elevation whereas here in CO we're at much higher elevation to begin with so the mountains can seem less dramatic. Think Tetons!

Assuming of course, one can actually see the top of Mount Cook, which in my experience is usually obscured by clouds/fog.

And those glacial lakes and rainforests in such close proximity - nothing like that here in Colorful Colorado.

capekidnappers

Yes, flying in and out of Queenstown probably does make sense - you'll find enough stunning landscape drama around the Queenstown-Te Anau-Fiordland regions (and great wines from the adjacent Central Otago), without spending the long driving time via Aoraki/Mount Cook (beautiful though that all is too).

If you like busy frenetic resort/tourism type destinations Queenstown is your place. If you'd like something more relaxing on the edge of Fiordland, closer to Milford Sound, the gorgeous Milford Highway also Doubtful Sound and Lake Manapouri, it's worth thinking about spending at least some time in Te Anau. There is a farming community around here as well as park rangers and some tourism companies.

And just a note re the 'Maori name of Mt Cook'. Yes the peak can often be hiding in the clouds however the commonly suggested translation of Aoraki as 'cloud piercer' is incorrect, repeated in error by many tour guides/drivers etc. In fact Aoraki is the name of the ancestral chief of the Ngai Tahu Maori people of the South Island. The mountain was known as Aoraki until Captain James Cook sailed by and put his name to it. The importance of Aoraki is recognized in the now official dual name of both the mountain and national park; Aoraki/Mount Cook. Here endeth the history lesson.

Diamantina

Hi Melnq8, I thought it was 54 peaks over 14,000 ft. too, had to check Wikipedia (if it's to be trusted). Whatever it is, it's a lot! Maybe one of your peaks shrunk, just as Mt. Cook did.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/28...settled-survey

Yes, I don't know if springstein is from Colo. or just connecting through there. My husband, who lived in your beautiful state for a while, said the same thing as you, that the peaks didn't seem as high because you're already starting at such a higher elevation to begin with. He says the area around Mt. Cook reminds him more of the Washington's North Cascades National Park, only less green and, of course, Wa. lakes lack the distinctive blue of Pukaki, Tekapo, and Ohau.

This is the first time in five years we won't be driving up to Tekapo-Mt. Cook Village/Aoraki during April and I'm already missing it.

springstein

Cape Kid - you are right, it is the Crowne Plaza - I have a relative who works for IMG (why I often use them) and I was going totally by memory! At my age I should know better!

And yes, Mel, I live in Monument - on top of infamous Monument Hill. So we still have snow in our yard. Diamantina, your husband is right. We are at 7,300' - so our view of Pikes Peak that is 14,000' is not as dramatic of say, Mt Ranier in Washington when you are at sea level.

Thanks for EVERY reply - each one has been immensely helpful. I'm quite sure we will love every bit of NZ, but your input makes that even more certain to be the case.

Melnq8

springstein - Ah, I know Monument well. Always amused that a mere hill of 7,343 feet gets all the press

We'd looked for a house there last summer, but decided against the I-25 corridor and the infamous hill. We still have snow up my way too, quite a bit of it, at 8,500 feet.

FWIW, I once met a B&B owner in NZ (Dunedin) who said they get large numbers of visitors from Colorado. I guess a lot of us love NZ. I hope you do too.

springstein

Here we are a year later - and a week away from departure. We will depart Denver next Sunday evening and fly to Queenstown with stops in SF and Auckland arriving early Tuesday afternoon. I took the advice of many of you and we're basically concentrating in the Queenstown area for the 8 days we have before going on to Sydney. After a couple days in Queenstown, we will get a car and venture up to Mt Cook and then head back to Te Anau and spend a couple nights there going to Milford Sound.

Ended up booking at the St Moritz in Queenstown for the first three nights and at the Sofitel for the last night after driving around for a few days. Long range weather is looking cloudy with some good chances of rain - but we are excited to be there!

Thanks for the input from a year ago! I did use many of your ideas as our itinerary from first thoughts to the final one have changed quite a bit.

Melnq8

Have a good trip springstein and please report back to let us know how it went!

Diamantina

Have a great trip. Your itinerary sounds perfect for 8 days.