SaveTigers

Hi All,

We are planning a 10 day honeymoon trip in December 2011 (5-14 Dec). Following itinerary has been mainly based on the extensive reviews picked up from this site. We are looking for the guidance on the itinerary. We would like to splurge on the activities and experiences and save on food/lodging. We hope to be mesmerized and get WOWed by untouched destinations.

It’s pretty evident that time is a constraint here and not enough to explore all of the South Island. Thus it becomes all the more pertinent to tweak and optimize our itinerary. We would really appreciate all your help regarding the choice of accommodation and the itinerary itself. It would be great if you can guide us towards “hidden paradises” and not so obvious “must do activities”

Following choice of accommodation is not final and only indicative. Any reviews and suggestions are most welcomed. Also, we would be picking our hire car from Greymouth. As suggested by various members on the forums, the timings have been taken from www.aatravel.co.nz
We hope the itinerary is relaxing and doable and not a crammed one.

1st Day: Christchurch
(Accommodation - Heartland Cotswold)

We arrive in NZ around 10.30 am. Relax and acclimatize till afternoon and explore…or just do nothing

What is to explore in an evening in Christchurch - Whether to visit Cathedral, Gardens, Antarctic Centre, wildlife reserve or something else…any nearby scenic beach could be perfect
(ballooning could be out of budget and not sure whether worthwhile)

2nd Day: Christchurch – Greymouth – Fox Glacier
(Accommodation - Heartland Hotel)

We take the Tranz Alpine train to Greymouth. Around 1.30 pm, pick the hire car. Then travel south along the West Coast to arrive at the glacier region of Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Reach at Fox Glacier around 5.30 pm. Explore the Glacier Region

3rd Day: Fox Glacier
(Accommodation - Heartland Hotel)

Please suggest whether to do heli-hike or guided walk on one of the glaciers (weather permitting)
Is it worth to take time out for Gillespie’s beach or/and Lake Matheson ?

Also could any of the activity be done on the previous evening to accommodate both Gillespie and Lake Matheson? Or would you recommend something else

4th Day: Fox Glacier– Wanaka
(Accommodation – Grand Mercure)

It will take approx. 4 hrs to reach. Explore Wanaka. Please recommend: puzzling world/short walks or something else (Sorry for making this phrase repetitive!)

5th Day: Wanaka – Queenstown

6th Day: Queenstown

7th Day: Queenstown
(Accommodation – Heartland)

8th Day: Queenstown – Mt. Cook
(Accommodation – Hermitage Motel)

Travel time around 4 hrs. Optional activities: Mt Cook scenic flight, glacier boat ride or the Sir Edmund Hillary Centre?

9th Day - Mt. Cook – Christchurch
(Accommodation – Heartland Cotswold)

We depart Mt Cook and stop on the shores of Lake Tekapo to visit the ‘Church of the Good Shepherd’. Spend some time there and then continue travel to Christchurch

10th Day – Departure
Departure in morning

Please help us to tackle few issues:
Itinerary for 3 days in QT:

1) 5th evening - Explore QT
6th- Milford Sound Cruise
7th – Bungy, Shotover Jet, Skydiving…Much to do
2) Wondering whether to spend a day less in QT and instead include Lake Tekapo? Does it make sense

5th evening – overnight cruise to Milford possible ?
6th - Bungy, Shotover Jet, Skydiving
Or
5th – Bungy + Shotover + explore (not much time for all activities)
6th – Milford sound Cruise

Then itinerary would change as:
7th – Queenstown -Mt Cook
8th – Mt Cook - Lake Tekapo
9th – Lake Tekapo -Christchurch
10th – Depart at 11.55 am. Antarctic Centre early morning possible?

Any type of help and suggestions is really appreciated !

Melnq8

<What is to explore in an evening in Christchurch - Whether to visit Cathedral, Gardens, Antarctic Centre, wildlife reserve or something else…>

The cathedral is facing possible demolition since the Christchurch earthquakes of Feb and June.

Your itinerary is pretty standard. It doesn't have any
"untouched destinations" or "hidden paradises". You're pretty much doing what most tourists do and that's to see the "must sees".

I really enjoyed the helihike - a true highlight on a beautiful clear day. I've never taken the guided glacier hike, but we walk to the terminal face of the glaciers on every visit. There are loads of less frequented hikes in the area too.

There's a whole lot more to see/do in QT than in Tekapo. Tekapo is basically a one street town. Once you see the lake and the church, there's not alot to do other than hiking, and perhaps the observatory.

For QT, I'd just play it by ear. See how the weather is and decide when you get there. Same for the glaciers.

longhorn55

1. I agree with Melnq8 that your itinerary is pretty standard, but that's OK. Everything you have on your list is pretty spectacular.

2. While I enjoyed the Antarctic Centre very much, I was there when the U.S. dollar was strong. I probably would not now pay the current NZD 65 admission fee (USD 50.00). Instead, I recommend you go to the excellent (and free) Canterbury Museum which has a very good Antarctic collection, in addition to other very good collections.

3. I have not gone ballooning in NZ, but I did so in Australia and it was an amazing experience. If your budget allows for it, I would do it.

4. We tried to do a heli-hike at Franz Josef glacier, but weather conditions did not work out and we ended up doing the glacier hike, which was incredible. I would try to do the heli-hike just for the experience of a helicopter ride, but if it doesn't work out, I think you'll really enjoy the glacier hike too. (My sister was able to do the heli-hike on a trip that she made and she said it was great.)

5. If you really want to try something different (a hidden paradise), then you might like to do a multi-day hiking trip. We have done the two following hikes in NZ and the scenery on both hikes was incredible. We were pretty much on our own for the Kaikoura Coast Track (which we liked), but the guides and the other guests on the Hollyford Track trip were great.

http://www.kaikouratrack.co.nz/
http://www.hollyfordtrack.com/

Melnq8

NZ $65 for admission? Yowsa! I wouldn't pay that either.

longhorn55

You can get a "basic" admission which does not include some of the attractions. They advertise this admission for those that have limited time. However, it costs NZ $35.00 (US $27.00) which is still more than I would pay for the Antarctic Center.

SaveTigers

Thanks a ton Mel & Longhorn..!! Really appreciate your inputs and all your contributions on this forum.
Since visiting the Kiwiland for the first time, and that too with limited time frame, guess have to cover all the usual stuff..!

Just wanted to articulate the plan for QT. Having some trouble in finalizing it. In a dilemma how to fit the Milford Sound:

5th Day: Wanaka – Queenstown
Explore QT

6th Day: QT-Milford-QT
Guess would be very tiring. May miss out on exploring Milford Road.

7th Day: Queenstown
Day reserved for adventure stuff and a drive to Glenorchy or Arrowtown

OR

5th Day: Wanaka – Queenstown

6th Day: QT-Milford-Te Anau

7th Day: Te Anau - QT

Would it be more practical to select this itinerary over the above one? Would one expect to cover adventure activities (Bungee, shotover jet etc) as well as Glenorchy drive on the 7th day after coming back from Te Anau?
Or is there another way of planning this?

Again thanks a lot for all your efforts and the helpful insights.

lucacoleman

This looks like a great travel deal!

longhorn55

Based on your previously stated interest in doing a lot of adventure activities in Queenstown, the first scenario sounds better to me. (5th Day: Wanaka - Queenstown, 6th Day: QT-Milford-QT, 7th Day: Queenstown). If you choose the 2nd option, you just don't have time to do all the cool stuff there is to do in Queenstown. (I have overnighted in Te Anau and it's not nearly as interesting or fun as Queenstown.)

I don't want to necessarily discourage you from doing the cruise on the Milford Sound, but I do want you to know it is a VERY sedate activity. You will be sitting on a boat for a couple hours just watching the scenery. It's spectacular scenery, but there's spectacular scenery all over New Zealand.

SaveTigers

You guys are really marvelous. Thanks again for such quick reply.
Yes we are game for all the adventure stuff but don't want to miss out on the much acclaimed Milford either.

We are also thinking for QT-Milford-QT option through the coach. Just want to know that whether these coaches allow adequate stoppages for photography and any for the walks(Chasm etc). If not, then may have to opt for 2nd option (QT-Milford-Te Anau) to better explore the scenic Milford Road. Thoughts?

Melnq8

<6th Day: QT-Milford-QT
Guess would be very tiring. May miss out on exploring Milford Road.>

Yes, it's a long day, but people do it all the time. The coaches stop at all the sights along the way and there's a stop for a look around in Te Anau on the way to Milford too.

You'll have to ask the operators if they stop long enough for a walk - I don't recall how long the walk is to the Chasm or how long the bus stopped there - it's been ages since we took the bus.

The advantage of staying in Te Anau is that you have alot more time to explore the longer tracks along the Milford Road. We've stayed in Te Anau on three trips specifically to do this, and it's worked well for us....our MO was to work our way to Milford slowly, taking hikes along the way, then arrive in Milford in time for the last cruise, after all the buses had left - we had the place practially to ourselves. It was wonderful, our best visit to Milford ever, and we were back in Te Anau in time for a late dinner.

BUT, if you're hoping to do some adventure activities in QT, this won't work for you, unless you can come up with some more time.

chelsealaing

Hi there,
I see that you have probably made some pretty set plans but to throw another option at you I would have to recommend going further into Central Otago! It is beautiful and has so much to offer. The Otago Central Rail Trail is an activity (which I completed earlier this year)that I would highly recommend. Its a bike trail which runs through the amazing scenery that is on offer which can be done over 3 days comfortably. You do not have to be a biker either as its built for the old trains which meant for gradual hills only. We stayed at the cutest little cottages along the way ultimately experiencing the untouched. Here is a link to the site http://www.trailjourneys.co.nz/ which helped me to plan my trip! Any other Central Otago questions please let me know, I am from the area and am happy to help

aggie15

Adventure activities in Queenstown that I enjoyed, in order of enjoyment:

1) Shotover Swing, make sure to book way in advance
2) Paragliding on Coronet Peak
3) Zipline Ecotours --ride the gondola to the top, maybe work in the Ben Lomond track at the top of the mountain after the zipline?
4) I was too big to do a tandem skydive

Mantana Lodge in Queenstown is a hidden gem, and very reasonable. The owners are a young couple with much knowledge of the area and give great recommendations for activities on both north and south islands.

Irishwhistler90

There isn't much to do in Christchurch currently, the centre city is a wreck and about the only thing you can do there is take the newly-opened bus tour of the ruins ( though it's booked up for weeks just by the locals ). The Cathedral is ruined, the arts centre is ruined, the glass art gallery is OK and I'm not sure about the museum.... The Antartic Centre is in the vicinity of the airport, so you could go there... The Willowbank and Orana Park wildlife parks are, to be honest, fairly average. Willowbank has severely deteriorated of late, and is a bit grotty, though you can see kiwis there. Orana Park is a pretty average zoo. Auckland Zoo is 100% more interesting. Lyttleton is also wrecked. You could perhaps go to Akaroa for the day, it's quite scenic there and the earthquake didn't ruin it. Sorry if this sounds pessimistic but it is true....