10 nites in South Island, New Zealand
 

We are a family of 3 including a 12 yr old who are travelling to NZ - South Island for a 10 nite trip. After reading through all the posts which had advise from Annhig / deSchenke / Melnq8 / Tasmangirl and with generous feedback from Annhig / deSchenke the below itinerary has been drafted.. Even though I doubt this will be our last trip to NZ, we would like to do the "MUST" do sights and sounds... But you never know :-)

A few points of clarification / advise -

1) We are planning a self drive starting from Queenstown and ending at Christchurch. Any advise and experience on this plan would be highly appreciated both in terms of feasibility and costs.
2) On the accommodation front, we are planning to stay at Top 10 Holiday Parks wherever avbl. Any feedback / inputs would be highly appreciated.
3) If we can extend by a nite or two, which places would you recommend from the current itinerary or along the route?


Day 1 - Arrive in Queenstown [2 nights]

Day 2 - Explore Queenstown

Day 3 - Leave after breakfast for Milford Sound Cruise. Planning to drive. Pls advise. Overnight on Cruise - one night

Day 4 - leave boat and drive to Wakana [2 nights]

Day 5 - Explore Wanaka

Day 6 - Leave Wanaka and drive to FJ.

Day 7 - Overnight in Franz Glacier [2 nights]

Day 8 - Leave Franz Josef after breakfast and head to Hanmer Springs. Overnight in Hanmer Springs (is there a better option?) [1 night]

Day 9 - Leave Hanmer Springs n drive to Christchurch via Kaikoura. Reach CC by evening

Day 10 - Spend the day in CC [2 nights]

Day 11 - Leave for Melbourne

That gives you 2 nights in QT, 1 on the cruise], 2 in Wanaka, 2 in FJ, one in Hanmer Springs, 2 in Christchurch = 10 nights.

Melnq8 - hope this new thread helps... Look forward to hearing from you... TIA !!

Days 8 and 9 will be long days of driving. Assuming you want the 2 nights in Christchurch at the end, that leaves one night between FJG and Christchurch. Not knowing how important hot pools and seals are to you, but if it were me, I'd overnight at Punakaiki. Then head over Arthur's Pass to Christchurch. This will cut a lot of driving time out and more time for doing.

From FJG, you'll have time to detour to Hokitika Gorge. If you are really lucky and it's low tide, wander around on Motukiekie Beach. Visit Pancake Rocks and the wispy waterfall at Truman Track. Take one of the many short walks in lush forests: http://www.punakaiki.co.nz/walks/

Heading over Arthur's Pass, stop at Otira Viaduct, make the walk to Bridal Veil Falls (http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...alking-tracks/) and visit Castle Hill (http://www.amusingplanet.com/2014/02...e-hill-in.html). Be watchful for the Keas (Alpine Parrot), they are cute but rather brazen. You'll likely encounter them in the carparks.

The drive from Milford Sound to Wanaka will be a bit of a long one. There are lots of places to stop along the Milford Road, if you didn't get to all of them the day before. From Te Anau to Queenstown, there isn't all that much to stop for. Then it picks up from Queenstown to Wanaka. Be sure to stop at the Kawarau Bridge to watch the bungy jumpers!

http://www.cruisemilfordnz.com/wp-co...ving-guide.pdf
http://travel-wonders.com/2012/06/27...d-new-zealand/

Appreciate you starting a new post Indiewanderers.

You ask for advice on the drive from QT to Milford Sound - my advice, take your time, enjoy the many tracks on Milford Road on the drive in and cross your fingers for good weather. You can pick up a pamphlet at the I Sites in QT or Te Anau for the Milford Road drive - lots of info on all the tracks there.

Make a full day of the drive. Perhaps stop at Kingston to
check out the southernmost end of Lake Wakatipu, perhaps visit the Kingston Flyer. Definitely stop for plenty of photos.

Maybe stop at the Hunny Shop in Garston for some local honey (can't take it back to AU unfortunately, at least not WA, not sure about VIC, unless you're in transit?)

Perhaps stop for a coffee and a browse of the little shop at the Five Rivers Café, pop into the excellent visitor's center in Te Anau and maybe even explore the bird sanctuary nearby.

The drive from FJ to Hanmer is well over five hours.

Hanmer-Kaikoura-Christchurch is a roundabout way of getting there and quite long - over 5.5 hours. I personally wouldn't choose this routing. Suggest you consider Arthur's Pass as mentioned above.

If you come up with extra nights, I'd suggest one more in QT and one more in Wanaka - a good way to spend an extra full day in Wanaka is to explore some of the tracks in Mt Aspiring Nat'l Park, but it's about a 90 minute drive from Wanaka to get there. Eye-popping scenery.

Some more ideas here:

http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...-island-nz.cfm

good idea to cut down on the driving from FJ to CC as suggested above, but going via Arthur's pass. Much better to drive for a shorter time and stop en route rather than drive for long distances with no time for stopping - the driving in NZ is VERY tiring.

I am not the SI expert but I would cut one night from CHCH. What did you have planned to see there? The Antarctic Centre is good.
I lived in CHCH for several years pre earthquake but have not been back as it looks so ruined now. So it's a personal opinion but you may find it disappointing after the other beautiful areas of NZ.
Day 9 - your present itinerary allows for about half a day in Kaikoura which is hardly worth it. Any delays/hold ups and you will end up with no time there before you need to drive back. Stay 1 night there before you drive to CHCH.

All you lovely folks, THANK YOU!!

I had been mulling over Hanmer Springs vs Arthur's Pass.. It will be AP now.. With this, I think our plan is nearly there.

Any inputs on stays at the Top 10 Holiday Parks and self drive vs taking the public transportation?

I also read in the forum about train journeys. Is that something you would recommend worthy enough to swap with seeing some more interesting places?

I'm an advocate of self-drive for many reasons...flexibility being #1. With a car and a map you can do pretty much whatever you want, following your whims and taking the back roads as they suit you. With bus transport, well....

Train journeys in NZ are quite limited, and IMO underwhelming. For instance, the Tranz Alpine train goes through tunnels, whereas driving over Arthur's Pass you SEE the scenery. Trains make complete sense in Europe, but not in NZ.

Noted.. Melnq8. BTW : I read your 2013 TR.. It made me fall in love with this place even before setting my foot there!! Patagonia is on our must do list!! Thanks for taking the time and trouble to share it... You are doing one great service.

Folks - Here is the reworked itinerary based on your inputs. Have added a nite in Te Anau to break the long drive from MS to Wanaka.. Does that make sense or shld I be looking at another place to stay the night and experience something different. We want to do the Glow Worm cave in Te Anau.

Day 1 - Arrive in Queenstown [2 nights]

Day 2 - Explore Queenstown

Day 3 - Leave after breakfast for Milford Sound Cruise. Overnight on Cruise (1 night) Plan to take the 2:45pm cruise to get sufficient time on the drive.

Day 4 - leave boat and drive to Te Anau (1 night)

Day 5 – Leave Te Anau post lunch and head to Wanaka

Day 6 – Stay night in Wanaka. (2 nights)

Day 7 – Explore Wanaka

Day 8 – Leave for FJG. Reach FJG by noon. (2 nights)

Day 9 – Explore FJG

Day 10 - Leave FJG after breakfast. Drive FJG – Hokitika – Punakaiki. Stay overnite at Punakaiki (2 night)

Day 11 - Explore Punakaiki.

Day 12 – Leave Punakaiki for CC. Punakaiki – AP – CC to reach by late afternoon (1Night)

Day 13 – Explore CC and leave for Australia by night

That makes for - 2 nights in QT, 1 on the cruise, 1 in Te Anau, 2 in Wanaka, 2 in FJ, 2 in Punakaiki, 1 in Christchurch = 11 nights.

Look forward to hearing from you.... Cheers!!

Glad you enjoyed my TR Indie, hope it helped, the SI is a place I just can't seem to get enough of.

What time does the Milford overnight cruise get back to Milford?

The cruise comes back by noon time.. around the same time it starts off the previous day.. However after going thru your TR and some other reviews, I am re-thinking about the overnite on MS.. If you had an option to do MS day cruise and DS day cruise over MS overnite, would you take it? :-)

<<If you had an option to do MS day cruise and DS day cruise over MS overnite, would you take it?>>

Are you asking if I had the option to do BOTH cruises over the overnight, would I? Probably not.

I've taken the Milford day cruise many times, and have taken the Doubtful day cruise once; I personally would not choose to do both in the same visit, especially such a short one.

If you're considering both the Milford and Doubtful day cruises, you'll need two full days (meaning three nights, preferably in Te Anau due to convenience) as they're both full day commitments. And pray for two days of beautiful weather, which is unlikely.

I've read suggestions about flying from Queenstown to Milford, do the cruise, and fly back to Queenstown?

Also, can you leave your car in Milford, do an overnight cruise, and the boat returns to where you left your car?

scrb, your first sentence ends with a question mark, but it doesn't read like a question. Yes, there is a fly/cruise/fly option from Queenstown to Milford, if that's what you're asking.

And yes, the boat returns to the same jetty it departed from, where there is a carpark.

Yeah I didn't realize it was such a distance. I may go from Te Anau to Milford.

I guess Milford to Queenstown involves driving back to Te Anau.

Would it be safe to leave luggage in the car while doing the cruise?

Or in general, in other parts of the South Island? I'm trying to put together an itinerary and the ones I've seen involves long drives between places where you'd spend the night. So if there are attractions on the way between these places where you'd stay, would you just visit with luggage in the trunk and then continue to your next destination?

Agreed that days 8 and 9 described here would be a big effort for driving. Perhaps drop a day from Chch and spend the night in Kaikoura. It depends on the weather a bit though, as Kaikoura is mostly an 'outdoor activities' place so if the weather is bad you won't be able to do much.

Christchurch has some good attractions but you can do a decent tour of the city in a day. You'll only need longer if you want to take the kids to things like Willowbank, Orana Park, Willowbank Wildlife Park or the gondola or something. If you just want to see the major sights and see a city in earthquake recovery, a day is enough.

Christchurch is quite lively these days but bear in mind it's still not completely rebuilt (which, I think, is pretty interesting for visitors - but just keep in mind some parts are still largely under construction). I'm from there and have part together some tips for visiting here: http://www.nztravelsecrets.com/chris...vel-guide.html

scrb11 -

<<I guess Milford to Queenstown involves driving back to Te Anau.>>

Yes.

<<Would it be safe to leave luggage in the car while doing the cruise?>>

Yes, if locked in the boot of your car, out of sight. I suggest avoiding hatchbacks (I'd give this advice to anyone traveling anywhere with luggage in tow).


<<So if there are attractions on the way between these places>>

No ifs about it. There are loads of reasons to stop and explore virtually everywhere in NZ, especially for those of us who love the outdoors.

<<would you just visit with luggage in the trunk and then continue to your next destination?>>

Absolutely. NZ isn't crime-free but it's very safe. Just take the usual precautions. Your biggest threat is probably other tourists.

"2) On the accommodation front, we are planning to stay at Top 10 Holiday Parks wherever avbl. Any feedback / inputs would be highly appreciated. "

We have just spent a couple of months touring NZ in a campervan, staying in a variety of campsites, DOC and Commercial - Top10 and Kiwi. Generally speaking they were very good, although being franchises, standards do vary from site to site. We had a look at the accommodation in some and all seemed good with great facilities, especially for your 12 year old.

The one negative I would mention is that at a number of sights we encountered groups of young (ish) Chinese who tended to take over kitchen areas en mass which created a few problems especially considering the mess they left things in afterwards ( likewise the shower and toilet areas - yuk!) didn't happen at all the sites and the staff were quick to sort it out when we mentioned it to them.

In all self drive is the only way to go. It is an amazing country and this was our second long trip and are already looking forward to returning. We travelled in winter both times and loved it.

I am sure you will have a wonderful time!

Thank you,Crellston...