Bhavik

I'm planning on visiting Australia/ Newzealand for my honeymoon this January/February. I need help and suggestions on the itenarary and accomodation, and also availablitly of vegetarian or indian food.

Please see the proposed itenarary as follows:


AUSTRALIA/NEWZEALAND ITENERARY
SYDNEY January 24 Arrival 8 AM
Day 1 : Transfer to Hunter Valley 1 night. (Tower Lodge or Peppers????)

Day 2 : Transfer to Blue Mountains 1 Night. (Lilianfels, Echoes Boutique or Old Leura Dairy????)

Day 3 : Sydney
Day 4 : Sydney
Day 5 : Sydney. Total 3 nights.
(which hotel????)

Day 6 : Sydney - Queenstown (NZ) Arrive at 14:55 HRS. (Matakauri Lodge or The Spire????)

Day 7 : Maori cultural experiences, Jetboating, City Tour, Arrowtown

Day 8 : Milford Sound Coach-Cruise-Fly (Heli/Flt)

Day 9 : TSS Earnslaw and Walter Peak High Country Farm / Free day

Day 10: Depart Queenstown for overnight stay at Franz Josef

Day 11 : Heli Hike. Arrive Christchurch via Greymouth.

(Copthorne/Peppers/charlotte Jaine/Holiday Inn (Avon)/Millenium ????)

Day 12 : Hot Air Balooning, Tram, Gondola, Punting on Avon,

Day 13 : Arthurs Pass/Hamner Springs Day tour

Day 14 International Antartic Centre, Skiing

Day 15 Depart Christchurch for Mumbai

Melnq8

Lots of Indian and vegetarian food options in NZ.

My personal favorites are Little India (Queenstown and Christchurch) and Mantra, which is owed by the same family (Arrowtown). When we were last in Queenstown in August, we saw several Indian restaurants, so you'll be spoiled for choice. I'm not a meat eater and I've never gone hungry in NZ!

Melnq8

A comment regarding your itinerary -

Day 10 - you'll want to get an early start, as the drive from QT to Franz Josef is over 400 kms. We've done this drive several times and it's taken us between 6-7 hours depending on stops.

Day 11 - Helihikes are often cancelled due to poor weather or visibility. You've not allowed yourself any flexibility by only spending part of a day in Franz Josef. If the morning helihike is full or cancelled, you'll miss out.

The drive from Franz Josef to CH is 395 km and takes at least 5:30. This is going to be a really full day. You might consider a second night in Franz Josef if you can spare it.

Day 13 - Hanmer Springs is near Lewis Pass, not Arthur's Pass. It's about a 90 minute drive each way from CH. Certainly doable as a day trip. Arthur's Pass is in the opposite direction. You'll cross Arthur's Pass on your return to CH from Greymouth and Franz Josef.

mel1

Hi - Coming from India I presume....To get into Sydney at 8am and transfer right to Hunter just for one night, is very rushed.
By the time you get through customs, then it's a 2 - 21/2 hr drive to the Hunter. (BTW, Tower Lodge more elegant than Peppers - more $$ too. Only 8 rooms at Tower, I think it is. It will be VERY hot at the Hunter in January. Good restaurants tho. Can't recommend as haven't been up there in more than a year). Do you love wine? Why are you going to Hunter, quite frankly...much better off going right to a gorgeous Sydney hotel and having dinner at REALLY EXPENSIVE Aria or Guillame at Benelong (in the Opera House)or Quay restaurant, and looking out over Sydney Harbour for your first night of honeymoon! Or room service, and do this 2nd night....
Blue Mts also very hot in January..Lilianfels is larger than Echoes, which has again just 4 or 6 rooms. Lilianfels restaurant is fabulous. Good spa, too. But more of a hotel than upmarket guest house, which is Echoes. Sorry, don't know the Dairy.....
I think you are moving around too much. You could do a day trip to both the Hunter and Blue Mountains rather than spending nights there. Sydney - how much do you want to spend!!??? Best - Park Hyatt Hotel with great view of Opera House...
hope this helps

Bhavik

Sounds like the drive from queenstown to christchurch via franz josef will be long and tiring!!

1. Should I look at Mount Cook as an alternative route? Will there be some snow to see in February? What will the weather be like?

2. Where should I stay? Hermitage or a botique lodge at lake tekapo? which one?

3. I'll be on my honeymoon - self drive for long hours could be tiring!! whats the next best option - coach? is it a convenient option, or would I have to take accommodation option only where the coach stops. or car with driver? What are the costs?

4. Going through franz josef has the advantage of combining the tranzalpine experience from greymouth to christchurch! Should this be a criteria or should I just take a day trip to Arthurs Pass on the tranzalpine from Christchurch?

Melissa5

Bhavik, listen to all these great folks, they helped me plan our wonderful 25th anniversary trip to New Zealand in February 2007. Wow!

Did you say Indian food? My mouth is still watering for the incredible Indian food we had in Queenstown at Little India! And thanks to Melnq8, that's how we learned about it.

With 15 nights, you are better off choosing either New Zealand or Australia instead of trying to do both. But if you have your heart set on both, I would consider the suggestions given above. I haven't been to Australia yet, but New Zealand is so incredibly gorgeous that it's not really about the destinations, it's about the journey...so you want to go slowly, stopping often to gasp and take pictures...and linger when you get there. Don't try to cram in too much.

Enjoy!