Filler03

Ok, after more research I'm getting back on our itinerary. If Rotorua is just 20-30 mins of sitting in thermal pool and seeing hot springs we may strike that off the list.

What is everyone's thoughts if we were to use air new Zealand's grab a seat and just do a round trip flight from AKL to Queenstown? Maybe a day in AKL when we land, 4/5 days in QT and then 3 days in the Auckland area on the back end.

Completely opposite of my original jam packed itinerary, and still more conservative than my last thoughts but I'm trying to take your advice about the driving and it being too aggressive. Are we missing too much of NZ by only doing these two areas? And what are some recomendations around AKL (bay of islands maybe)?

Melnq8

Certainly wouldn't suggest a campervan in mid-winter!

I'd personally have no troubles basing in QT for the bulk of the trip (I prefer Arrowtown, quieter and more sedate, but lots of options on the outskirts of QT that would also do nicely).

From QT you can see a lot - Glenorchy - Arrowtown - Wanaka, short trips up the West Coast if you really want, not to mention Te Anau and Milford. Lots to do from there.

In other words, I think it's a grand idea (but I'd spend less time in Auckland, unless you just really, really like big, busy cities, which I don't, so I'm biased).

Filler03

Could we do a 2 day trip from QT/Wanaka to Mt. Cook area? Looked into buses for that but Naked Bus doesn't have their schedule for July/August yet. (Qt/Wanaka to Twitzel) Do the run those in winter? Also Cook Connection doesn't show a schedule from Twitzel to Mt Cook in the winter either. Therefore, is it conceivable to go to Mt. cook in winter? What could we do there in winter?

Or is it a good idea to rent a car and do the Wanaka-Mt Cook-Christchurch drive? (Or bus)?

Also, the other places that were mentioned earlier (glenorchy, amisfield/mt difficulty, etc)?

Melnq8

Yes, it's feasible to got to Mount Cook in winter. Very easy to get to, just drive yourself instead of fiddling with buses. Much more efficient, and you can stop en route as you see fit.

Queenstown to Mt Cook takes about four hours each way, about 2:45 from Wanaka. You'd have to double back, but that's no drama if that's what you want to do and you're willing to spare the time.

Lots of walks in Mount Cook - I don't think the glacier trip runs in the winter, but its still worth going to Mount Cook - keep in mind weather can be iffy - rain - and the mountain might be socked in. But then again, it might not!

Amisfield (Arrowtown), Mt Difficulty (Bannockburn) and Glenorchy are all easy drives from Wanaka and QT too.

Filler03

Melnq8 and others- you have been so helpful, can't thank you enough. I just booked my flight from AKL to QT on Air NZ's grab a seat so I want to run this by all of you before my 24hr free cancel expires. Here goes:

Our flight lands at AKL on July 28th at 11:30pm, seeing as how our options would be either sleep in the airport that night and take the 7:10am departure to QT, pay for a hotel for 5 hours and take the 7:10am departure, or revise the itinerary and see Auckland/NI first we are leaning towards this last option.

7/28- land AKL, skybus to downtown Auckland hotel
7/29- explore Auckland and get over jet lag OR take day drip to gloworms and back. Sleep in the same Downtown Auckland hotel.
7/30- Explore Auckland, fly to QT in the afternoon. Hotel in QT
7/31- Bus/cruise/bus option OR Fly/cruise/fly option to Milford sound (depending on weather and budget). Hotel in QT.
8/1- Glenorchy and explore QT. hotel in QT.
8/2- Pick up rental car, drive to Cardona (ski) stay overnight in Wanaka
8/3- drive to Mt. Cook. Explore Mt. Cook, stay overnight Mt. Cook village
8/4- explore Mt. Cook some more, afternoon drive to Wanaka. Hotel In Wanaka.
8/5- Explore Wanaka, drive to winery (haven't decided which one), return to QT. Hotel in QT.
8/6- Explore QT, return rental car. Hotel in QT
8/7- Fly early morning flight from QT to AKL, change to international terminal for 1:20pm departure to USA.

I've taken a lot of your advice and cut down on the one night stays (Auckland 2 nights, QT 2 nights x 2). But just want to make sure this is a solid plan before I'm locked into the afternoon flight from AKL to QT on 7/30 and also before I book the QT to AKL flight on 8/7!

Please let me know if you see any kinks!

Melnq8

Have you checked to make sure the Skybus runs that late?

You might consider the Novotel right at the airport - incredibly convenient, especially after such a long flight. It's literally right there.

Of course that would necessitate a few return trips on the bus into town and back if you plan to spend two nights, but it's an option. The Novotel isn't cheap, but you can't beat the convenience to the airport - it's not convenient to town though, so it may not work for you. There's also an Ibis very close and less expensive, not sure if they provide a shuttle, though.

I doubt you'll get much Auckland exploring into the second morning of your stay, as you need to get to the airport by afternoon - what time is that flight?

8/3 and 8/4 are a bit unrealistic IMO - I'd understood you'd spend two nights in Mt Cook not one - one night with a 3-4 hour drive on either side won't give you much time to explore much, so I have to question the point in driving so far just to turn around and drive back the next day. Your travel style may vary vastly from mine though.

Overall, it's a very busy itinerary and not one I'd personally choose - especially in the dead of winter, but it's doable, weather providing.

Do keep in mind that check out time in NZ is usually 10 am - that means stashing your luggage in your car while you explore. I strongly recommend you get a car with a concealed trunk, not a hatchback.

Filler03

The Novotel is sold out for that night on Expedia, hotels.com, etc. The only way to book is through the hotel directly and i can't justify $150+ when I can use hotel points in downtown Auckland. And yes, skybus runs to 2am, checked.

Afternoon flight on 7/30 is at 4:55pm, so would need to be at the airport around 3pm.

I know it might be considered "busy" but we did cut out a lot of things (Rotorua, Franz/fox, Christchurch) and we probably aren't getting back to NZ in our lifetime so we'd like to see as much as possible.

Any thoughts on the bus/tours to Waitomo for glowworms, is it worth it?

Also, how do you rate/compare the many different Milford sound operators?

Melnq8

Fair enough.

Haven't been to Waitomo for eons, so will defer to others on that one.

I've taken cruises through several Milford operators. To me they're pretty much the same. It's the same sound after all, so you see what everyone else sees despite the operator. The major difference is boat size, length of cruise and amenities offered on board - food, etc. I think some operators tout going in a bit closer to the ocean than others, or getting closer to a waterfall, but honestly it's six of one half a dozen of the other IMO.

We usually just turn up and walk onboard the boat that is getting ready to leave. You won't need to book in July - cruises run less frequently in the winter, but there are still plenty of them - just be sure to check the time for the last cruise of the day and plan accordingly.

Have a wonderful trip!

deSchenke

Mel, I think they are taking a tour from Queenstown. Wouldn't it be the tour operator that dictates which boat you get on?

But you are right, they all go the same route. And large or small, they can all get as close to the waterfalls and shoreline as the next -- those rocky mountains go straight down into the water, so even large boats can get very close. There may be a difference in lunch options, if that's important to you, which will affect the price.

Some buses have windows overhead, which would be great for more panoramic viewing. I think that's Real Journeys, but not sure -- and others may have it too. If wanting a smaller boat, Mitre Peak tours.

Melnq8

<<Mel, I think they are taking a tour from Queenstown. Wouldn't it be the tour operator that dictates which boat you get on?<<

Yes. I was thinking like a self-driver again, forgot Filler03 would be taking a tour from QT.

Filler03 - you will have to commit to a particular cruise/operator when you book in QT. I've been on Real Journeys, Mitre Peak and more recently Jucy.

Mitre Peak was my favorite, but it was more about the ideal circumstances (last cruise of the day, perfect weather, and having the boat mostly to ourselves) that stand out in my memory, not so much the cruise or the operator) if that makes sense.

Filler03

How much longer is the drive from mt cook to Christchurch vs mt cook to Queenstown? And is it much more scenic?

Melnq8

Mt Cook to Christchurch is about four hours.

Mt Cook to Queenstown is about 3.5 hours

There are a couple of options for Christchurch to Mt Cook - the route down the east coast to Ashburton and Timaru is the least scenic stretch of road on the South Island IMO.

I prefer the 'back way' via 77/72 to Geraldine and Fairlie. It takes longer though.

As for which leg is more scenic, that's very subjective, but they both have merits.

If you take a look at some of my trip reports posted here, you'll find the routing I prefer from Christchurch and my descriptions of both legs.