New Zealnd itinerary, another go! Comments and help appreciated
Jun 23rd, 2013, 10:21 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New Zealnd itinerary, another go! Comments and help appreciated
Hieveryone
I thought I'd start a new thread with our 'new' go at our NZ itinerary. The last thread is getting quite long and confusing
We are into photography, good food, history and nice walks.
Any help or suggestions appreciated. The flights are booked but nothing else is yet.
Day 1 - fly to Wellington (arrive midnight.....!)
Day 2,3,4,5,6 - Wellington - Auckland. Will probably spend a day in Wellington. Would like to see Napier and Taupo if worth it. Definitely want to go to Rotorua, but not sure for how long but want to see the parks and try the ziplining tour. Want to arrive in Auckland day 6. Open for suggestions to fill in these days.
Day 7, 8: Working in Auckland so will only have nights free. Where is a nice place for dinner after a long day conferencing?
Day 9: midday flight to Queenstown
Day 9 (PM), 10, 11: Queenstown and surrounds. Would like to do segway tour, snowshoeing tour if there is still snow (late Sept, likely or not?), a visit to Glenorchy area and walk some of the Routeburn track (can we do this alone or do we need a guide?)... what else is recommended in Queenstown?
Day 12 - Queenstown - Te Anau - explore Te Anau (what to do?)
Day 13 / 14: Te Anau - Milford, do Milford overnight cruise. Day 14, return to Queenstown.
Day 15 - 19 - Not set in stone (well, none is really), but we are thinking of maybe another day in QT if necessary and then make our way up the East coast to do a heli tour of the glaciers and visit the lake with a mirroe reflection in it. We are thinking of leaving the car in Greymouth on Day 19 and getting the tranzalpine train back to Wellington
Day 20: Fly home.
Any thoughts, help appreciated
Cathy
I thought I'd start a new thread with our 'new' go at our NZ itinerary. The last thread is getting quite long and confusing
We are into photography, good food, history and nice walks. Any help or suggestions appreciated. The flights are booked but nothing else is yet.
Day 1 - fly to Wellington (arrive midnight.....!)
Day 2,3,4,5,6 - Wellington - Auckland. Will probably spend a day in Wellington. Would like to see Napier and Taupo if worth it. Definitely want to go to Rotorua, but not sure for how long but want to see the parks and try the ziplining tour. Want to arrive in Auckland day 6. Open for suggestions to fill in these days.
Day 7, 8: Working in Auckland so will only have nights free. Where is a nice place for dinner after a long day conferencing?
Day 9: midday flight to Queenstown
Day 9 (PM), 10, 11: Queenstown and surrounds. Would like to do segway tour, snowshoeing tour if there is still snow (late Sept, likely or not?), a visit to Glenorchy area and walk some of the Routeburn track (can we do this alone or do we need a guide?)... what else is recommended in Queenstown?
Day 12 - Queenstown - Te Anau - explore Te Anau (what to do?)
Day 13 / 14: Te Anau - Milford, do Milford overnight cruise. Day 14, return to Queenstown.
Day 15 - 19 - Not set in stone (well, none is really), but we are thinking of maybe another day in QT if necessary and then make our way up the East coast to do a heli tour of the glaciers and visit the lake with a mirroe reflection in it. We are thinking of leaving the car in Greymouth on Day 19 and getting the tranzalpine train back to Wellington
Day 20: Fly home.
Any thoughts, help appreciated
Cathy
Jun 24th, 2013, 12:05 AM
#2
No need for a guide for the Routeburn (or any public track in NZ for that matter). It can be easily accessed from both the Glenorchy and Te Anau/Milford side.
Lots of tracks near Te Anau, easy to fill your time if you like to hike. You can walk a section of the Milford as a day walk if the boat is running, but I think it may not start operating until October. There are the glow worm caves in Te Anau (accessed via boat) if that appeals.
Some ideas here:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...lks/fiordland/
September is still ski season, so there will most likely be plenty of snow in the mountains above QT.
Loads to do in QT - some ideas here:
http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/
Glaciers are up the West Coast, not the east. The lake you refer to is Lake Matheson, which is near Fox Glacier. Pretty on a clear day, just average otherwise, as it's all about the reflection. Mirror Lakes on the road to Milford offers a similar experience, as do a few lakes around Franz Josef.
The Tranz Apline runs from Greymouth to Christchurch, not Wellington, wrong island
Lots of tracks near Te Anau, easy to fill your time if you like to hike. You can walk a section of the Milford as a day walk if the boat is running, but I think it may not start operating until October. There are the glow worm caves in Te Anau (accessed via boat) if that appeals.
Some ideas here:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...lks/fiordland/
September is still ski season, so there will most likely be plenty of snow in the mountains above QT.
Loads to do in QT - some ideas here:
http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/
Glaciers are up the West Coast, not the east. The lake you refer to is Lake Matheson, which is near Fox Glacier. Pretty on a clear day, just average otherwise, as it's all about the reflection. Mirror Lakes on the road to Milford offers a similar experience, as do a few lakes around Franz Josef.
The Tranz Apline runs from Greymouth to Christchurch, not Wellington, wrong island
Jul 8th, 2013, 04:03 PM
#11
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For the NI, the Tongariro Crossing is a day-long hike (6-8 hours) across some volcanoes. It is beautiful and I highly recommend it! You will pass by Mt Ngauruhoe which was the basis for Mt Doom in the Lord of the Rings movies, if that interests you at all. Considering the season, if there is still snow you will need to hire a guide, but I went in summer so can't help there.
Another "must-do" from my list is black water tubing in Waitomo Caves. There are glow worms that live on the roof of the caves, so when you turn off the lights and float down the river it looks like you're looking at stars!
Raglan is on the west coast,just south of Auckland, and is a big surfer's spot.
East of Auckland is the Coromandel Peninsula, home of Cathedral Cove (breathtaking!) and Hot Water Beach.
North of Auckland is Bay of Islands, beach area, canoeing. Jacques Cousteau once said that he thought that the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, just off the coast here, was one of the world’s top five diving locations.
The northernmost point of NZ is Cape Reinga, where you can see the Tasman Sea meet the Pacific Ocean, as well as a spot sacred to the Maoris.
Another "must-do" from my list is black water tubing in Waitomo Caves. There are glow worms that live on the roof of the caves, so when you turn off the lights and float down the river it looks like you're looking at stars!
Raglan is on the west coast,just south of Auckland, and is a big surfer's spot.
East of Auckland is the Coromandel Peninsula, home of Cathedral Cove (breathtaking!) and Hot Water Beach.
North of Auckland is Bay of Islands, beach area, canoeing. Jacques Cousteau once said that he thought that the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, just off the coast here, was one of the world’s top five diving locations.
The northernmost point of NZ is Cape Reinga, where you can see the Tasman Sea meet the Pacific Ocean, as well as a spot sacred to the Maoris.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
navnov
Australia & the Pacific
4
Mar 31st, 2009 04:43 AM
