Need help w/Australia - NZ itinerary
 

I'm planning a trip to Australia & New Zealand for next year (Dec 20-Jan 3). We have 14 days to spend, one week in each.

We were thinking Sydney & Melbourne then off to South Island and North Island in NZ. We want to spend our time being wowed by the views & moreso get a sense of each location, instead of focusing on clubs and shopping. We are looking for an itinerary that best suits our desires to have a luxury vacation without leaving anything important out. Any help would be amazing.
Thanks everyone!

Two weeks is not long-- to enjoy them, I would limit yourself to one of the following:
1) Sydney, Melbourne, and Queenstown/Fiordland
2) 4 days Sydney, 10 days South Island
3) One week North Island, one week Queenstown/Fiordland

JMHO!
You may want to check out my recent trip reports from Sydney and the South Island-- scroll down a bit.
Liz

A week in New Zealand is very little time. Since you're interested in views, stick with some part of the South Island.

Lee Ann

Two weeks is enough to get a sense of one country or the other, but not both. I suggest you target one only. If Australia, Sydney and at the most two other locations; if NZ, parts of both the North and South Islands.

Yep - you will be doing yourselves a big favour if you concentrate on just one country.

Sometimes I read these sorts of post and the phrase that comes to mind is:

"The past is another country; they do things differently there".

For past substitute "the USA". You do definitely do things differently. Can't you folk get more than two weeks off work at a time? Can't you do a deal - like work late and get time off in lieu?

Cos the idea of travelling all that way to spend a week in Oz and a week in NZ is crazy.

I know I have harped on about this before - but you have to change it - for the good of your own health and to gain American travellers some respect.

But enjoy whatever you do - I'm sure you will.

I agree that it would be best to visit one country.

But, if one week in NZ is what you want, then stay in SI. Fly into Christchurch, train to Greymouth, drive down the West coast to the Glaciers, then Christchurch, a quick look at Doubtful or Milford sound. ((F))