You do not have much time to explore nelson / Abel Tasman. Maybe only spend two nights in Blenheim and it would give you a extra night near Nelson. Would also help you to recover from Jet lag ect.

It takes a bit over three hours to drive to Punakaiki from Nelson. There is not a lot of must see at Punakaiki itself, its possible to see the Blow holes in about 20 minutes, although if you want to see them at their best you have to be there over high tide (preferably with a big sea). So it might be worthwhile to try and drive on to Hokitika or Greymouth which would make the drive down to the Glaciers a bit more relaxed.

Hi Vinogirl (I like vino too) -

Agree with Thomas, you're giving short shrift to Abel Tasman. You're not going to feel up to doing much after flying in from LAX; driving to Motueka (or wherever) might be all you can manage on your arrival day (what time do you arrive in Nelson?) don't underestimate travel fatigue and jet lag, you're going to be seriously pooped.

I'd suggest spending at least a couple of nights in Marahau, which is the gateway to Abel Tasman. Even two nights will only give you one full day to explore the park and that's not much. Keep in mind that water taxis and tour operators could well be working reduced schedules as Sept/Oct is pre-season. This could affect your activities if you don't plan well.

There are some great walking tracks in/around Punakaiki, but unfortunately most visitors never experience them as they just concentrate on the Pancake Rocks, which as Thomas indicates, don't take long to see.

I always recommend a minimum of two nights at the glaciers, especially if you want to take a helihike, glacier hike or even just explore some of the tracks. One nights doesn't give you much time to do anything, as you'll have long drive days on either side.

Pinot, now you're speaking my language. Don't miss Cromwell and Bannockburn. Wanaka only has one winery that I'm aware of...Arrowtown has Amisfield, which makes lovely Pinots, but you'd be missing some fab pinot if you bypassed Lake Dunstan/Bannockburn/Cromwell. You're going to need more than one night though, as the drive from the glaciers will take the better part of a day with stops, leaving no time for wine! Maybe trim a night in Queenstown for the sake of the wine.

If you haven't already booked your flights, you might consider visiting Blenheim while you're up north, then heading south, and perhaps flying back to Christchurch/Auckland from QT for departure. This might free up time elsewhere.

If you are into scenery I would consider giving Blenheim a miss. Then you can spread the days around where you are giving other locations short shrift.

Don't worry there is plenty of wine to drink in NZ. You can do a bit around Nelson and stock up for the west coast drive.

You can visit Seifried, Neudorf, Blackenbrook, Rimu Grove, Ruby Bay, Waimea Estates, Woolaston, and often you can find local producers at the grocery in Nelson. Nelson is a diverse region, in addition to reisling and sauvignon blanc they produce interesting pinot gris and pinot noir.

Wine trail info:

http://www.wineart.co.nz/wineries.htm
http://static.wineart.co.nz/gems/Trailmap2012inside.pdf

Thanks for the replies! So a little more of my thought process about the itinerary I posted above:

Flying straight to Nelson wasn't primarily to visit Abel Tasman-but rather to pick up the car on the south island in a spot that would be more convenient for the drive to the glaciers. Would it be better to just power down to the glaciers once we land (havent booked anything, but based on the schedules im liiking at, we should get in to Nelson at around noon, maybe earlier)? My selection of Nelson and Punakaiki as an overnight had more to do with it being a decent distance to break up the drive to the glaciers. I know we'll be tired, so I want to have a scenic, leisurely way to make it down the west coast, if that makes sense? Alternatively, maybe we should do something like this:

Fly straight to Queenstown (pick up car, 1 night to rest)
Drive to glaciers (2 nights)
Drive to Central Otago (Cromwell? Arrowtown? 2 nights)
Drive to Te Anau (2 nights)
Drive to Queenstown (2 nights)
Fly to Blenheim (3 nights)
Fly to Auckland (1 night)

Honestly, I get the feeling that no matter where we go, the scenery and/or activities will be pretty fantastic, and I'm most concerned with hanging out in the Queenstown area and/or central Otago, the glaciers and Te Anau/Milford, then finishing up with a relaxing few days in the vineyards in Marlborough (we do a lot of travel to wine regions, and yes we know there are other regions, but it's the one we'd like to focus on this time) before heading home. We have a pretty high-stress careers and the days in Marlborough are sorta non-negotiable for me, because I need a few days to just unwind.

I do realize we aren't getting to it ALL, I'm just trying to be efficient (and not do too much in too short of a time) with getting to those places we really want to see. I'm operating on the assumption that one day, we'll go back Hope that helps explain our POV.

I'm gonna revisit our itinerary to see what I can do about some of the issues and suggestions you all brought up. Bear with my rambling, just trying to help you all understand us.

>Would it be better to just power down to the glaciers once we land?>

After a flight from the US? Absolutely not. You're talking about a seven hour drive w/o stops. On some narrow, squiggly winding roads. Driving on the left in an unfamiliar country. Please don't even consider this.

Why Nelson at all then?

How about arrive Christchurch, drive as far as say, Kaikoura, spend the night. Next day drive to Blenheim, visit wineries for a few days. Then head down the West Coast vis 63 and 6, maybe overnight at Punakaiki, maybe not (about 7.5 hour drive from Blenheim to Franz Josef). After the glaciers, head down to Cromwell/Bannockburn/Arrowtown/Whereever for more wineries. Then head to Te Anau as your base for Milford and then on to QT. Fly from QT to Auckland (via Christchurch probably).

Check out drive times/distances here:

http://www.newzealand.com/travel/getting-to-around-nz/travel-times-and-distances/travel-times-and-distances-home.cfm

I meant to point out that visiting the glaciers from QT will involve unnecessary backtracking..about six hours each way (slightly less to Central Otago, but still backtracking). Not a good plan.

You may be unaware that Blenheim is located in some of the least visually interesting scenery in all of New Zealand.

But hey it's your vacation/

Have a good time.

Agree with mlgb, but....it's very close to the Marlborough Sounds, which are gorgeous.

If you do stay in Blenheim, I highly recommend you stay in a vineyard cottage or someplace in the surrounding countryside away from the town, which is really quite dull.

Blenheim scenery while not spectacular or breathtaking it is probably the most diverse in the country. Its all contrasting with each other.

To the east you have the Lagoons and saltmarsh (wet) to the West you have the dry plains. To the South is the dry hills (typical of the SI east coast), to the North are the wet hills (typical of the Westcoast).

Near the coast the hills are rolling and gentle, inland are same of the tallest mountains in the country.

Geographically and biodiversity wise Marlborough is probably the most diverse in the country.

I thought I was fairly clear that we'd be "relaxing few days in the vineyards in Marlborough..." we won't be staying in the town of Blenheim. I have purposely set aside 3 nights there at the end so I can relax and unwind in my happy place (vineyards = happy place for me and my husband) for a few days before heading back to work. Like I said, I have a stressful job where I work 12-14 hour days 5-6 days a week, and most of our vacations are planned with 3 nights on a beach or a vineyard. It works for us.

Marlborough Sounds and the vineyards, while not scenic in the sense that there are jagged cliffs and mountainous terrain, are scenic in other ways, as ThomasW has pointed out. I can't think of a better way of ending my vacation in NZ than a bike ride through vineyards, driving up to the Sounds, and eating mussels to my heart's delight. I'm not sure why I need to justify this, but I guess I do.

Keeping to my original destinations, perhaps the following order would be better:
Start in Queenstown (3 nights)-->Te Anau (2 nights)-->Cromwell/Arrowtown/Bannockburn (1 night)-->glaciers (1 night)-->Punakaiki (1 night)-->Marlborough (3 nights)-->Auckland (1 night before leaving)

This gives me an extra night, which will probably be added to the glaciers or to add an extra stop along the west/northwest coast. Anyhoo, sorry for the defensiveness. This is one of the reasons it's taken us so long to pull the trigger for NZ - it's quite overwhelming because there are so many "must sees" and even more opinions about how one should spend their time. I'm just glad we get to go. If we don't get to see the most "scenic" parts of NZ this time, then I suppose we'll just have to come back to repent for the error of our ways.

oops - that should be "most of **the ends** of our vacations are planned with 3 nights on a beach or a vineyard.

You certainly don't have to justify anything Vinogirl, but we would be remiss as Fodorites if we didn't point out the drawbacks of certain locations. I think we're all in agreement that the Marlborough Sounds is incredibly scenic.

Essentially, the Marlborough Sounds and the Marlborough vineyards are two distinct areas. You can easily visit one from the other as Picton and Blenheim are only about 25 minutes apart. The wineries are situated around Blenheim.

For the best views of the sounds you'll need to take a boat into the sounds, or base yourself at a resort within the sounds. Barring that, taking Queen Charlotte drive from Picton to Havelock will give you incredible views of the sounds and is easy to do as a side trip from Blenheim.

Just to throw a spanner in the works though...if you're looking for total and complete relaxation, a night or two at Bay of Many Coves in the Marlborough Sounds might tempt you. It would mess up visiting the wineries though, as it's a water taxi in/water taxi out resort.

Regarding your revised itinerary....the drive from Te Anau to Cromwell is over three hours, so if you plan to visit wineries that day, you'll need to get an early start. Most wineries close around 4-5.

The drive from Cromwell to the glaciers is a long one, 5-6 hours, so there won't be time to visit wineries that day.

PS - I can recommend an ideal couple getaway spot in Cromwell...with vines right outside your door.

If you are not so attached to driving to the Punakaiki/Pancake Rocks (and it seems you are not, based on your revised itinerary), instead of flying into Nelson, you can fly from Auckland into Hokitika, rest up, and then drive to the glaciers the next morning.

As Melnq8 pointed out, Marlborough Sounds is not the same as the Marborough vineyard areas, which are essentially in a flat plain. It isn't necessary to chose between wineries, relaxation and scenery. Sometimes you can have all three in one place. You may want to spend more time reading up on wine regions in New Zealand, and not just go with the largest and most famous.

But by all means, don't feel a need to justify anything.

Now that I think about it, Marlborough's Scenery competes well with all of the other wine regions combined. While the other regions have their charms, the only wine region which I think is up there with Marlborough for landscapes is central Otago, the proximity of its mountains and lakes are impressive but it lacks so much which Marlborough offers. If you want jagged cliffs and mountains Marlborough has plenty to offer, they just slightly more hidden.

VinoGirl, you have made a good choice, and unless the Norwester Howls the entire time you are in Marlborough I am sure you would enjoy it. You would also get to enjoy fairly long evenings while in New Zealand, because daylight saving time starts September 30 which gives and extra hour of light in the evenings.