nvl325

I have a question about visiting Milford Sound, but first I'll set the stage: couple from California, mid-60s, first trip to NZ, no driving, arriving and departing Auckland. Have been creating and rejecting itineraries like crazy.

This would probably be Nov/Dec time frame, possibly March.
Arrive Auckland, immediately fly on to Queenstown- 5 nights.
Fly to Wellington- 3 nights.
Fly to Rotorua- 3 nights.
Bus to Auckland- 4/5 nights.

So here's the question- we're already at 4 locations, really don't want to add more. But when I see that doing a day trip to Milford Sound is a 12 hr trip- long ride there on the coach, a fairly short visit- time for the cruise and I guess a look around, then get back on for the ride back.

I thought spending a night would be preferable, but the two places to stay at Milford don't sound enticing. What about staying a night or two at Te Anau? Is that a nice place to arrive from QT, enjoy the area, go to Milford the next morning, then back to QT later in the day. Oh heck, what would we do with our stuff? Just trying to figure out a way to avoid that long day on the bus, and also not be so rushed at Milford. Thoughts?
(also posted this on that other forum)

Diamantina

What will you do with your stuff? Do you mean you'd like to leave your suitcases in Queenstown while you travel for two days to Te Anau, from where you'll take a day tour and cruise of Milford Sound? If you're returning to the same hotel in Queenstown, they would probably store your luggage for you. If not, email different accommodations until you find one that will.

On our first trip to Milford Sound 19 years ago, we did a bus tour from Queenstown because we planned to overnight on the boat, and then fly back the next morning. Even though we checked out of our room, the hotel was happy to store our luggage until our return.

On one trip to Perth, West Australia, a hotel stored our luggage for a week free-of-charge, while we flew off to Exmouth and back.

Te Anau is on Lake Te Anau. Without a car, you could walk along the lake to the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary, take a glow worm tour, go to Fiordland Cinema, eat a pie from Miles Better Pies, enjoy the lakeside ambience. It's a pretty, small town (population under 2,000), so completely different from the other, larger, busier places you plan to visit. Did you look at the Intercity bus schedule? Naked Bus also travels Q'town to Te Anau, but their schedules don't go out as far.

Checking a random day in March 2017, Intercity Bus has a direct bus from Queenstown to Te Anau, leaving at 7:20 a.m. arriving TA at 9:45 am. The return bus to Queenstown leaves Te Anau at 5:15 p.m. and arrives Q'town at 7:45 p.m. Even though this is a short trip, less than 2.5 hours, I was surprised at how high the fare was, but this could change in a few months. I've traveled on Intercity bus from Dunedin to Te Anau, which is a longer trip and only paid a third as much. Naked Bus would be cheaper.

Some of the Milford Sound coach tours will take you from Queenstown to Milford Sound and leave you at Te Anau on the way back, if you let them know ahead of time, that is, if you'd like to overnight in Te Anau. The coach tours make scenic and "comfort" stops, though I would ask ahead of time if you're concerned about this.

Here's links to a couple of the many companies that do coach tours to Milford Sound:
https://www.jucycruize.co.nz/milford-sound-day-trip/
https://www.realjourneys.co.nz/en/ex...s/coach-tours/

FromDC

You can fly from Queenstown to Milford Sound to avoid the drive. We enjoyed the flight more than the cruise.

Melnq8

I agree the bus trip from QT is entirely too long, especially as the bulk of it is spent on the bus and not exploring Milford Road which has a treasure trove of fantastic walking tracks.

We always base ourselves in Te Anau, Manapouri or Knob's Flat. This enables us to spend a few days exploring the tracks, and wander into Milford if we're so inclined.

I always suggest self-drive, which is THE way to see the SI, but as you seem to have made up your mind, do be aware that the same buses that take passengers from QT to Milford stop in Te Anau and will pick you up/drop you off there - you need only book it that way and get pick up instructions. Doing so will shave four hours off the bus journey.

mlgb

I've done the bus trip. It was fine. Someone else is driving. You make a few stops along the way.

I've also done the hike in on the Milford Track, and no one was interested in Mitre Peak or the cruise afterwards!

nvl325

I like the idea of getting dropped off in Te Anau on the way back- or maybe the way there. Still not sure what order of things make sense.

Where did you all stay in Te Anau? Nice to start with a recommendation.

Will also consider the flight, although it is so pricey. Have to weigh that- including the scenery- to a few more hours on the bus!

Melnq8

In Te Anau we like The Croft, Birchwood Cottages and Amber Court Motel.

As you're flying into Queenstown - assuming you arrive by mid-afternoon or so, why not collect the rental car and head immediately to Te Anau for a couple of nights? The bus to Milford can collect you from there one of the days you're in Te Anau, and then you can drive to Queenstown at your leisure, where you can spend how every many nights. This will prevent you having to stay in QT twice.

Or, you can drive yourself to Milford and forgo the bus altogether (that's what we do).

Oops, forgot you don't want to drive. Bummer. So much easier.

annhig

and the drive to Te Anau is very easy - we did it a couple of years ago en route to the Doubtful Sound cruise [less driving, possibly not as scenic] - and there were no problems at all.

nvl325

I like the idea of going straight to Te Anau after arriving Queenstown airport. Will look into buses, but does anyone know of a car/driver to whisk us there? Would be kind of a splurge but at that point we'd have been on the flight from the US to Auckland, and then to Queenstown.

Now I'm thinking we might need 3 nights in Te Anau; otherwise we'd be doing the Milford Sound trip the day after our arrival. Would that be overkill?

Melnq8

Nope, not overkill. We routinely spend three nights in Te Anau - gives us two full days to explore, which is how we like it.

Don't know about 'whisking' as QT to Te Anau is about a two hour drive, but here are some options for private transport:

http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/inform...ury-transport/

mlgb

I would probably rest up in Queenstown the day you arrive. The restaurants and weather also tend to be better than in Te Anau.

Then catch a bus/tour the next day.

Or, tracknet.net may be able to arrange the whole thing for you.

nvl325

thank you, I had found the limo transport site, but was hoping to find "a guy with a car".

The idea of going straight to Te Anau was to avoid 2 stays in Queenstown.

With 3 nights we could do the glow worms and stroll around and see the local sights the first full day, then go to the Sound the second full day, then head to QT the next morning.

Please let me know if any refinements to this make sense!

deSchenke

You are willing to splurge on a private car/driver, but not the coach/cruise/fly option from Queenstown? It's the best of both worlds! You get all the commentary and scenic stops and walks on the way to Milford. Then see it all from above on the scenic flight back!

Then you have the rest of the day to do other things.

Melnq8

Yeah, a private driver is going to cost a mint. My understanding is that drivers in NZ need a special license to transport passengers commercially, so I doubt you'll find a 'guy with a car' (although I've been known to pick up hitchhikers in NZ, but they're not usually loaded down with luggage).

I suspect you'll find a bus the most economical option.

If you choose your hotel wisely, you can get around in Te Anau on foot, but if you want to get out to some tracks, you'll need shuttle/bus transport again.

As for taking walks on the way to Milford while on the bus...they're very limited, as in overlooks and short strolls and are done en masse. For any real hiking (assuming that even appeals to you) you'll need wheels of some sort - either your own, which I doubt I can talk you into - or a shuttle as in the link provided by mlgb.