agnoli

Hi there,

We are a young couple, excited about our first trip to NZ at the end of the year. Currently, we are overwhelmed by all the things we could do, the little time we have, and how everything is about to be booked out. Till now, we booked our flights and a 2 day trip in the Abel Tasman NP.

What was important to us, when we made our itinerary:
- Have time for little hikes now and then
- No hiking on one of the glacier, as we already hiked on glaciers before
- Not to be in Queenstown on New Year
- Doubtful or Milford Sound
- Catlins
- Overnight stay in Oamaru to see penguins
- Overnight stay in Dark Sky Reserve
- 2 day trip in Abel Tasman NP
- Visit Wellington
- Do Tongariro Alpine Crossing
- Rotorua and Maori Culture

We were so fare able to pack everything in one plan, but are a little afraid that we will be sitting in the car a lot, without having time for spontaneous excursions and to enjoy NZ nature.
What do you think? Any idea on what we should/could skip?

Thank you for your time and answers.
Agnoli

Sa, 26. Dez. 2015 Auckland (Arrival 8am)
So, 27. Dez. 2015 Christchurch (Arrival 2pm)
Mo, 28. Dez. 2015 Christchurch - Arthur's Pass - Hokitika (252 km, 3h 45')
Di, 29. Dez. 2015 Hokitika - Fox Glacier (159 km, 2h 17')
Mi, 30. Dez. 2015 Fox Glacier - Queenstown (327 km, 5h 32')
Do, 31. Dez. 2015 Queenstown - Te Anau (171 km, 2h 25')
Fr, 01. Jan. 2016 Milford or Doubtful Sound
Sa, 02. Jan. 2016 Te Anau - Curio Bay (266 km, 4h 02')
So, 03. Jan. 2016 Curio Bay - Nugget Point (091 km, 1h 38')
Mo, 04. Jan. 2016 Nugget Point - Oamaru (221 km, 3h 19')
Di, 05. Jan. 2016 Oamaru (- Mount-Cook-Nationalpark) - Lake Tekapo (175 km, 2h 34')
Mi, 06. Jan. 2016 Lake Tekapo - Christchurch (227 km, 3h 11')
Do, 07. Jan. 2016 Christchurch - Maruia Springs (193 km, 2h 37')
Fr, 08. Jan. 2016 Maruia Springs - Kaiteriteri (235 km, 3h 26')
Sa, 09. Jan. 2016 Abel Tasman National Park
So, 10. Jan. 2016 Abel Tasman National Park
Mo, 11. Jan. 2016 Nelson - Picton - Wellington (134 km, 1h 52' + Ferry)
Di, 12. Jan. 2016 Wellington
Mi, 13. Jan. 2016 Welltington - Tongariro (333 km, 4h 33')
Do, 14. Jan. 2016 Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Fr, 15. Jan. 2016 Tongariro - Rotorua (151 km, 2h 02')
Sa, 16. Jan. 2016 Rotorura - Te Puke - Hot Water Beach (229 km, 3h 47')
So, 17. Jan. 2016 Hot Water Beach - Orewa (208 km, 2h 57')
Mo, 18. Jan. 2016 Orewa - Paihia (197 km, 2h 50')
Di, 19. Jan. 2016 Paihia - Hokianga Harbour (90 Miles Beach) (089 km, 1h 22')
Mi, 20. Jan. 2016 Hokianga Harbour - Kaihu (063 km, 1h 12')
Do, 21. Jan. 2016 Kaihu - Auckland (Departure 8pm) (223 km, 3h 13')

Melnq8

My first suggestion, continue directly to Christchurch w/o that overnight in Auckland on 12/26. This will eliminate a one night stay, transport to/from the airport, collecting and re-checking luggage, checking back in the next day for your flight to CHC, etc. I assume you can change your domestic flight easily enough?

I count over 20 one night stays...do you really want to check in and out of hotels, pack up and unpack that many times? I find one night stays don't allow sufficient time to experience a place because so much time is spent locating accommodation and getting settled, just to up and leave the following morning (check out in NZ is usually 10 am).

tasmangirl

You have squeezed it all in and it just won't work.
Please rethink most of your plan and drop some places to actually enjoy your holiday. With this plan you WILL be sitting in the car an awful lots of time.
You arrive on Boxing Day which is the day all of New Zealand head of on their holidays. Melnq8 is so right with the suggestion of getting out of Auckland ASAP.
The holiday rush not be so bad in the South Island as there is not the same population but will still be peak holiday time so other people all booking tours, on the road driving with caravans, etc.
The other thing is to get all this booked up ASAP as well. You probably won't get accommodation in Queenstown for NYE now as it's all booked. Also book your Milford tour now as well.
Hot Water Beach for just one night is not worth it. Check the tides as there is no point going there if the tide is not right. It has to be 2 hours either side of low tide to dig a hot pool.
Spend more time in Taupo or Rotorua and forget going to the Bay of Islands. Or if you really want the BOI you have to give up Coromandel.

agnoli

Unfortunately you're confirming our concerns.
We already changed our domestic flight to the 26th December. The Hotel for New Year's and the ferry on 11th January are booked already.
We will rethink our itinerary on the weekend, trying to include your advises.
Coromandel and BOI will probably be very crowded. Would Hicks Bay area be a better option. Although, we would love to visit Waipoua Forest.

tasmangirl

Hicks Bay is 4 hour drive from Rotorua to the remote East Cape area. It is very beautiful and will be less crowded but you don't really have time to go there. Most people do an East Cape loop down to Gisborne to avoid backtracking.
Head to BOI then if you would like to see the forest
Rotorua to Orewa is 3.5 hours so that's doable on 16 Jan.
This gives you 3d/4n for exploring in the BOI.
On your last day you have plenty of time but the Auckland motorway will clog up from about 3 pm so aim to be at the airport early afternoon. It's a choice of having time to kill at the airport or sitting in the traffic stressing about missing a flight.