Jeff1957

Part of our 3 week NZ & Australia trip will include a self drive in rental car from Queenstown to Christchurch on Oct. 31 - Nov. 7. My husband and I enjoy day hikes (2 - 3 hour types), scenery, 4 - 5 star accommodations, fine wine and food. We have already viewed some lodging options and day trips but are looking for more insight on destinations along the way and comments on this itinerary draft. Many thanks in advance. If anyone needs similar help for a Northern CA trip, just let us know:
Oct. 31 - pick up car in QT, drive through Arrowtown and arrive Wanaka (2 nights Wanaka). Lodging recommendations?
Nov. 2 - drive to Fox/Franz Joseph - probably 2 nights here. Lodging recommendations?
Nov. 5, 6, 7 - Will drive to and stay in either Waipara area or Kaikoura. Possible stay in Hokitika before venturing to the East coast.

Diamantina

I'm assuming you'll be flying into Queenstown from Australia. Because you shouldn't attempt to drive from Queenstown Airport to Wanaka via Arrowtown unless you are well-rested, especially as the weather can be wet and wild at this time of year (or it can be beautiful, but you won't know until you get here). The distance is not far, but it is curvy, particularly over Crown Range Road.

You can check the conditions on Crown Range Road on a newly installed webcam (click on the camera icon shown on the map):
http://www.metservice.com/national/t...ams/queenstown
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queens...tion-installed

Have you been to New Zealand's South Island before? If not, I'm wondering why you're not spending any time in Queenstown or visiting Fiordland (Milford Sound, for instance, for those on a tight schedule, can be visited on long day trip from Queenstown).

Central Queenstown is busy and bustling, but scenic, nonetheless, and the areas surrounding Queenstown offer several days worth of enjoyment, particularly when it comes to "scenery, 4 - 5 star accommodations, fine wine and food", day trips and hiking. Queenstown would make a great base for the activities you're interested in, and then some.

There are wine regions relatively close to Queenstown. Gibbston Valley is only about a 20-minute drive away. Cromwell/Bannockburn is about a 45-minute drive away (and you'll drive through Gibbston Valley enroute). Amisfield Winery is the closest to Queenstown. You'd pass it when traveling to Arrowtown. It's bistro is consistently rated one of NZ's top restaurants. There are also wineries in and around Wanaka, with Rippon Winery being a must-see for its panoramic views.

Is there a reason you are more interested in the wineries of Waipara (which, granted, are also nice)? You wrote you plan to stay in Waipara or Kaikoura. Does this mean, if you stay in Waipara, you'll also use it as a base to visit Kaikoura? If so, what activities do you have planned for Kaikoura?

What time is your departing flight from Christchurch?

Yes, spend two nights in the glacier area, especially if hoping to do a glacier heli hike. These are cancelled in poor weather, so staying two nights increases your chances of success. Many other things to do here as well.

Staying overnight in Hokitika will make your drive to Waipara shorter, for sure, but, this means you'll have to spend one less night at the glaciers or in the Waipara/Kaikoura area. So can you do this and still spend sufficient time to see and do what you hope to in your major destinations?

Are you using this link to calculate your drive distances?
https://www.aa.co.nz/travel/time-and...ce-calculator/
Keep in mind, you'll be making many scenic stops along the way, so the drive time will actually be longer.

Melnq8

Wanaka accommodation suggestion - http://www.clearbrook.co.nz/

Franz Josef accommodation suggestion- Glen Fern Villas, http://www.glenfern.co.nz/, 58 on Cron - http://58oncron.co.nz/

<<Nov. 5, 6, 7 - Will drive to and stay in either Waipara area or Kaikoura. Possible stay in Hokitika before venturing to the East coast.>>

While I agree that it's smart to break up the drive to Waipara or Kaikoura as both are very long drives, I wouldn't choose Hokitika, as it's only 1:45 minutes from Franz Josef (45 minutes further from Fox Glacier) and there's just not enough in Hoki to warrant an overnight with such a tight schedule IMO.

I'd suggest Arthur's Pass - while there's not a lot to Arthur's Pass either, it's hiking nirvana and beautiful on a nice day.

You could just forge on of course, but it's such a pretty drive that it will take you much longer than the advertised 5.5 hours.

Crossing over at Lewis Pass makes sense if you want to go to Kaikoura first and end up in Waipara, which is then just a 40 minute drive to Christchurch for your departing flight, but I doubt you have time to do both, unless you just want to see the scenery from the car.

I assume you're headed to Waipara for the wine?

We liked this place in Amberley - http://www.teviotview.co.nz/. We also stayed here once and enjoyed it -

http://www.arra.biz/cottage/index.ph...=accommodation

Don't miss the Nor'Wester Cafe in Amberley - http://www.norwestercafe.co.nz/

I'm not up-to-date on current road conditions to Kaikoura since the earthquake, although Diamantina will know if she chimes in.

Melnq8

And there she is!

Jeff1957

Thanks to all for your excellent input and links! A bit more on us: First trip to NZ! We fly from Sydney to QT and stay 4 nights here. Includes a day trip via bus to Milford. We're reading a lot about the bus options - would like more input if you have? I talked to our concierge at the QT Crown Plaza and he said we can probably just book the bus tour on our day of arrival. Will definitely check out Amisfield Winery on route to Wanaka. 2 nights Wanaka. 2 nights Fox/Franz Joseph. Still pondering next leg, as stated towards East. Kaikoura looks good since we love the marine life. Then we have The George in Christchurch booked on Nov. 6. Turn in car at airport on Nov. 7 and fly to Auckland for 4 night stay at Sofitel Viaduct Harbour. Auckland day trip recommendations?

Melnq8

Regarding the bus to Milford - I just don't get why people won't drive themselves - if you're a confident driver, by all means drive yourself! So much more flexibility and you will see a lot more - by that I mean you can take the side roads, explore the tracks and see things you won't see on the tour and at your own pace.

I also suggest a night in Te Anau on either side of your self-drive - that way you can get to Milford ahead of the bus crowd.

Milford as a day trip from Queenstown is a 13 hour slog, most of it spent on the bus. What's the fun in that?

As for Milford tour companies, they're all pretty similar. The major differences are size of boat and whether or not they offer lunch, or side activities. It's the same road, one way in, one way out, the same sound, etc.

I guess our favorite Milford cruise was on Red Boat - we've also been on Real Journeys and Jucy. Liked Red Boat the best, Jucy the least, but it was more about time of day, number of people on the boat, etc.

Diamantina

Good to know you won't miss Queenstown and surrounds. So 4 nts. in Queenstown are in addition to your other 7 to 8 nights on the South Island, meaning you can still spend 2 to 3 nights in Waipara/Kaikoura?

If you do the day trip to Milford Sound, consider a scenic flight back to Q'town. Please be aware these flights are cancelled in poor weather.

The Skyline Gondola is a must. The Ben Lomond Track starts from near the top of the gondola (my own plans to walk this track were thwarted by super-wet weather, but it looks great). Check track conditions with the DOC visitor centre at 50 Stanley Street before walking it.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...-lomond-track/

Will you have a car for Queenstown or picking one up when leaving for Wanaka? Because the 45-minute drive along Lake Wakitipu from Q'town to Glenorchy drive is stunning, particularly in good weather. Glenorchy offers gentle walking along its wetlands boardwalk, with more hiking trails beyond Glenorchy. I like the easy Lake Sylvan track that meanders through a moss-covered native beech forest. Melnq8 can suggest other walking tracks, as she knows this area well. Here's a link to the DOC brochure for this area:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/par...e-wakatipu.pdf

You could also drive to the aforementioned Gibbston Valley wine region. There are some beautiful wineries here, such as Chard Farm, at the end of dramatic Chard Road (the turnoff is 100 metres from the AJ Hackett Kawarau Bungy Bridge, NZ's original bungy jump—if you'd like to see folks leaping off a bridge).
http://www.chardfarm.co.nz/the-farm/cellar-door/

Peregrine Winery, whose design was inspired by a falcon's wing, has helped re-establish populations of NZ's own endemic falcon, the karearea, which you might see soaring over Central Otago. When we lived in the Bay Area, we often bought Peregrine Pinot Noir at Costco, but the winery offers tastings of wines not sold in the U.S.

I also like Brennan on Gibbston Back Road. And Mt. Rosa Winery is practically next door.
http://www.brennanwines.com

Gibbston Highway (SH6) continues into curvy but beautiful Kawarau Gorge. Wild Earth Winery and Restaurant is on the banks of the Kawarau River in the historic Goldfields Mining Centre (like California, Otago had its own Gold Rush in the 1860s).

Beyond Kawarau Gorge, are the terrific wineries of Bannockburn and Cromwell. Mt. Difficulty Winery's restaurant, with views over the vineyards, is a top pick for lunch. Cellar door staff are welcoming and the wine is great.
https://www.mtdifficulty.nz/pages/cellar-door

If you have time, consider the Skippers Canyon Jet Boat tour, which includes a drive along highly scenic and historic Skippers Road (rental cars are prohibited here).
https://www.skipperscanyonjet.co.nz/.../jet-boat-tour

Kaikoura is beautiful, sandwiched between the Kaikoura Mountains and the rugged coastline. I recommend pre booking your planned activities, as this is the major reason people go there. I've done the dolphin swim and whale watch, if you have questions about these activities. Please be aware that these trips can be cancelled in poor ocean conditions, especially the whale watch.

Walk the Kaikoura Peninusla Walkway, if you can. You can read about it here:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...nsula-walkway/

I've stayed at the George (though it was pre-earthquake). Nice hotel with a good location. If you enjoy walking, you can walk to the Botanic Garden, Canterbury Museum, Art Gallery, Container Mall, the Cardboard Cathedral is a bit farther out. One of my favourite wine stores is in this part of Christchurch, Vino Fino.

While in Auckland (without a car), if the weather is fine, you'll want to catch the ferry to Waiheke, the island of wine (and gorgeous winery restaurants). One of the local buses that meets the ferry will take you several wineries or you can take a tour. You can ever walk to wineries from the ferry stop (though it's an uphill walk).
http://www.waihekewine.co.nz

There are so many day trip options from Auckland. I've enjoyed ferry trips to Tiritiri Matangi Island (ecosanctuary island with great walking tracks) and Rangitoto Island (volcanic island with walking tracks).
Are you interested in walking, beaches, culture? Great Sights is just one of the companies that offers tour options:
https://www.greatsights.co.nz/new-ze...ions/auckland/

Diamantina

My "preview" button never works. I meant to write with respect to Waiheke Island, "You can even [not ever] walk to wineries from the ferry stop (though it's an uphill walk).
http://www.waihekewine.co.nz

Melnq8

The preview button hasn't work in months, makes me nuts.

tasmangirl

Diamantina has mentioned the good spots! I love Waiheke and go there often as it has a lovely vibe and I like islands. Tiritiri is also a great day trip but completely different as it's nature focused and not a winery or shop anywhere.

Jeff1957

WOW! Excellent advice, much appreciated.
Definite plans to do the gondola and luge in QT. Picking up car on way to Wanaka, but may get it earlier since we may drive to Glenorchy and hike. Probably 2 nights Waipara/Kaikoura, still undecided. Good chance we just drive and decide at the time, of course keeping the lodging recommendations in mind. Diamantia, you are awesome!