Is this a good New Zealand itinerary?
I am flying from Los Angeles to Auckland. I arrive in Auckland 9/26/09 at 7:00 a.m. and leave via Auckland on 10/12/09 at 3:05 p.m. Is the following itnerary too much, too rushed... Suggestions are welcome. (I haven't booked anything other than the flight to Auckland.)
9/26-9/27: Auckland 9/28-9/29: Rotorua (drive Auckland-Rotorua) 9/30-10/1: ChristChurch (fly Auckland to Christchurch) 10/2: Oamaru (drive Christchurch to Oamaru) 10/3: Dunedin (drive Oamaru to Dunedin) 10/4-10/5: Queenstown (drive Dunedin to Queenstown) 10/6-10/7: Doubltful Sound/Milford Sound (drive Queenstown to Dunedin) 10/8-10/9: Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier (drive Sounds to Glaciers) 10/10: Greymouth (drive Sounds to Greymouth) 10/11: drive Arthur's Pass to Christchurch and fly back to Auckland. 10/12: Auckland and home |
correction - 10/10 Greymouth (drive Glaciers to Greymouth)
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This bit doesn't make sense, as the drive from Milford Sound to Fox Glacier (the closest coming from the south) is 655 km, about 9.5 hours (without stops!).
10/8-10/9: Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier (drive Sounds to Glaciers) Suggest you take a look at these driving times/distances: http://www.aatravel.co.nz/main/td-calculator.php |
Why don't you fly from Rotorua to Christchuch instead of back-tracking to Auckland.
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Thanks for the idea about flying from Rotorua. That will save some time. As far as seeing the Sounds, what is a better route? Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
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I found an itinerary that I think will resolve the problem with the long drive. http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealan...ch/day-10.html
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If I was considering that itinerary, enjoyinglife, I would be thinking more along the lines of:
Day 1 Christchurch to Mt Cook or Lake Tekapo/Lake Pukaki via Geraldine, Fairlie, etc Day 2 Mt Cook to Te Anau Day 3 Te Anau/Milford Sound, etc Day 4 Te Anau to Queenstown Day 5 Queenstown Day 6 Queenstown to Wanaka Day 7 Wanaka to Franz Etc. IMO, there is more to see and be enjoyed that way than by spending a night in each of Oamaru and Dunedin. |
Wish I'd done a bit of research before booking a flight out of Rotorua. Now that I am making reservations for the rental car, I find out that the drop off is $150 NZ$ since I am renting the car in Auckland and dropping it off in Rotorua. Quite a steep fee. Any other suggestions on how to get from Auckland to Rotorua that wouldn't be so costly.
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There is a bus! See the Intercity bus website
www.intercity.co.nz They list one that is a tour via Waitomo, and another that takes half a day. It sounds like you might benefit from browsing the official tourism website www.newzealand.com |
I agree with kiwi_rob's alternate itinerary -- there isn't much to Oamaru and while Dunedin is charming, a day there would be a bit frantic and you will be better served to use the time as he suggests. I would even skip Wanaka and spend the extra day doing an activity from Queenstown.
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