Thanks for your input Wallos. Can't wait to see your trip report!

The trip from dunedin central has never taken me longer than 25mins, and at that time of day, knowing the roads etc no longer than 20mins. you only need to check in 30mins before your flight if its domestic so don't get to carried away with making sure you have extra time, unnecessary. you will be fine with the above suggestions, as i live in central dunedin myself.

i suggest going straight to queenstown from dunedin staying one or two nights as there is a bunch to do there, then driving to te anau from there, staying two nights there also and then straight back to dunedin, wouldn't bother with invercargil especially with your time constrants.

good luck with your trip and i hope this information is of use

merry christmas
Jonesy

http://www.smaps.co.nz/nz/dunedin/dunedin+central/

I really like Jonesy's idea. Fly or drive to QT straight away, then work you way south through fjiordland, catlins, etc. as you may wish.

I can give you a recommendation for a location in the Catlins, Kaka Point or Nugget Point, both right near the ocean on a beautiful bay. Most of the other spots are inland in small towns or farms. Unforunately I don't have any specific lodging but there are not a lot of choices. If you are in a hurry don't take the Catlins Heritage Road which is gravel, stick to the paved Southern Scenic Route.

Jonesy86 what is the best route to take directly to Queenstown if I decide not to go on the Southern Scenic Route ?

We could opt to spend our time in TeAnua/Queenstown, using our time to do Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound and not go around via Invercargil.

For accomodation near the Catlins definitely check out Cardno's (http://www.cardnosaccommodation.co.nz/). The host was fantastic.

I appreciate everybody's input.

To re-cap,to be sure I have understood this :

The most direct drive from Dunedin to TeAnau is via Gore and Lumsden which takes 4-5 hrs.

The only way to get to Queenstown from TeAnau is via Lumsden and takes 3 hrs.

The drive around the SSR via Invercargil takes 8 hrs if not stopping .

Realistically we should probably drive directly , otherwise we would be spending everyday driving.

I think we will spend our first 3 nights in Dunedin, the next 2 nights in TeAnau and 2 nights in Queenstown, and back to Dunedin for one more night to fly out.

I notice the overnight trip on Doubtful, if leaving from TeAnua leaves at 1130AM and returns at 1245PM, while the day trip leaves at 830AM and returns at 615PM. Why does the day trip return so late ?

Skipping Queenstown altogether and going to TeAnau and back to Dunedin would be another option, including Catlins on one of the legs ?

"Why does the day trip return so late?"

The trip to Doubtful Sound is almost as memorable as the Sound itself. You have maybe 30 to 40 minutes from TA to Manapouri. From the Manapouri dock, it is all of an hour across Lake Manapouri. The ride is not boring, because you will spend most of the time staring out at the awesome mountains as they come closer and closer. After arriving on the other side of the lake, you will board a bus for a 20 minute ride over the pass down into the Sound.

So, if you leave Te Anau at 8:30 it will be, what, 2-3 hours before you actually get to the sound. Figure 2-3 hours back adds up to 5-6 hours in transit. Leaves 4 hours or so on the Sound. (The Real Journey's web site says a 3 hour catamaran cruise.) I guarantee you will not want any less time on the sound than that.

If the REal Journey's description of 3 hours actually on Douobtful Sound is correct, your transit time is twice that.

I personally would not do Doubtful on a day basis because of the time required to get there. If I had only one day for a fjord, I would drive to Milford. A much more interesting drive, with much to stop / absorb / see / photo - while en route. The boat ride in the sound is terrific and comparable to a day version of Doubtful. However, nothing can compare to the overnight on Doubtful, IMHO.

Today/yesterday I left for Dunedin Airport (via supershuttle) at 8:05 am and was there at 8:30 am. My B&B was a few blocks west of the Octagon.

Here's another thought, take the Taeiri train/bus from Dunedin to Queenstown, then fly to Te Anau or Milford Sound
.
The NZ autoclub website is useful for trip planning, also. (aatravel.co.nz).



Taieri Gorge train:

http://www.taieri.co.nz/

There is a great exhibit at the Otago Museum which is right near the university campus, called "Southern Land, Southern People".

How about this :

Sun-Fly into Dunedin

Mon-Dunedin

Tues-Drive Catlins, overnight near Nugget Point or Invercargil

Wed-arrive TeAnau for overnight Doubtful Sound trip leaving TeAnau at 11:30AM

Thurs-overnight TeAnau

Fri- Queenstown

Sat Queenstown

Sun-drive back to Dunedin

Mon-Fly out from Dunedin (early)


We will be able to make the overnight trip leaving Teanau at 11:30 AM ?


The other option would be :

Wed- Arrive TeAnau, spend day at Glow Worm Cave ?

Thurs-Milford Sound drive and day trip, return to TeAnau to overnight

My children are teenagers- does one itinerary sound more appealing than the other ?

Bit of clarification, I think. The overnight to Doubtful sound acutally leaves from Manapouri, where you board a boat for the trip across Manapouri Lake. Manapouri is about 30-45 minutes south of Te Anau.
So what you might be saying is on Wed, drive liesurely from Invercargil (or where-ever) to Te Anau arriving mid day Wed.
If you like, take the Real Journeys trip across Lake Te Anau to the glow worm cave, the only way I know of to get there. We did not do that as the weather was quite gnarley at the time.
The next morning, an easy drive to Manapouri for the noon departure from the Manapouri dock for your Thurs night on the sound.
Friday, you will return to Manapouri from the Sound about noon. Drive to QT will get you there late afternoon.
You could cut out Te Anau all together, I suppose, by driving straight from Invercargil(?) to Manapouri if it is feasible to get there by the 11:30am schedule. (Actual departure is a little later than that, but they want you there early.) I have not driven that route, so don't know how long it would take. Could end up being a bit of a rush.
If you did this, and did not stay in Te Anau, you would gain a day for QT or someplace else.

Thank you BillJ.

Can anybody comment on the drive from Invercargill to Manapouri- can we get there for the 1130Am departure for overnight on Doubtful Sound without too much rush ?

Invercargill to Te Anau is 152 km, and Manapouri is only 19 km south of Te Anau. I'd allow about 2.5 hours to avoid rushing.

To Jed- I meant to say some days ago- Tiger is not related as far as I know but Okoshi is not a terribly common name in Japan so perhaps...

I think this thread is beginning to wind down and I appreciate everybody's input. I have a much clearer feel for what we have to look forward to. You all are a tremendous resource. Thanks!

Before you sign off-

<b>If</b> you are going directly from Invercargill to Manapouri, you don't have to go through TA. There is a shortcut called Hillside Manapouri Rd off of 94 directly to MP, which will save a lot of time. Check it out at http://maps.google.com/

You do not have to go to Te Anau at all if you are going to the overnight Doubtful Sound trip. We left from Manapouri -check-in was 12.00. You can park your car at the top of the path above the Real Journeys office. We also did a full day at Milford and the Glowworm caves in the afternoon. It is about 2 hours in total- a boat trip across the lake included. Our teenage daughter really enjoyed the caves and Milford but not as much as the Doubtful Sound overnight. We were forutunate to have good weather, time to kayak on the sound, calm weather at the seal colony and lucky enough to see penguins. Our kids thought the Dart River safari from Glenorchy was ahighlight - jet boat trip 30km up river and then blow up funyaks(kayaks) downriver. They completely outfit you with gear. A full day with a great lunch- well worth the cost. Our kids enjoyed driving out to the Bungy Bridge and watching ( only because I wouldn't allow them to jump !! mean mother). We also spent the afternoon after our Doubtful sound trip at the Gondola - kids love the luge ride at the top. Our accomodation was spacious and handy to everything- Creeksyde Top 10 Holiday Park. We stayed in their &quot;Park Motel&quot;.You have plenty of time after the boat to drive back to Queenstown. We had a great lunch at Manapouri before leaving for Queenstown as our kids had met a family from Hawaii. It is a lovely cafe in an old church - the name escapes me but as Manapouri is so small you will find it easily.

Just re read my scrambled message. Our trip was from the west coast so the order which you are interested in is -Day 1 arrive Te Anau pm, did 2pm glow worm tour ( there is also a later one ), Day 2 drive to Milford stopping at Lake Marian and throwing snowballs at the Homer Tunnel ( a novelty for us),Nature Walk from info centre ( we didn't do a flight as we had done one at Fox Glacier) drove back stopping at the Chasm,Day 3 leisurely am in Te Anau 20 min drive to Manapouri. Depart on Doubtful Sound overnight,Midday back at Manapouri lunch and drive to Queenstown Spent pm at Gondola and luge.Day 4 Drive to Glenorchy ( about 50mins) for Dart River Safari,Day 5 last day vist Patagonia Chocolate shop yum ! and wander around town for some last min gifts, a short visit to Arrowtown for some lunch then out to AJ Hackett bridge to watch the bungy jump before going to airport for pm flight ! Hope that gives you some ideas as travelling with teenagers can be unique !!

Thanks Jed and Wallos for some good ideas. May come back with more questions after looking at my new AA New Zealand road atlas as a Fodorite recommended earlier.

Waiting for Hulmes Court in Dunedin and Hilltop backpackers hostel in Papatowai to reply . Will look at the Point or VillaDellago in Queenstown, and Campbells in TeAnau .

Thanks.