My fiance and I are headed to NZ for our wedding on Dec 14 in Rotorua - soon thereafter we are going to Queenstown for a few nights - staying at the Azur Hotel which seems great...then we have three nights completely open at present - those would be the evenings of the 20th, 21st and 22nd...We would like to head to Doubtful and Milford for 2 overnight cruises, but still have the matter of this extra night to fill. And our major constraint is that we have to be back in Queenstown by around 1 pm on the 23rd so that we can make our 3 pm Air NZ flight back to Auckland and then home to Texas that day.
Does anyone have ideas on how we might maximize our three open nights - this is our honeymoon - so I have saved enough money that we don't have to worry too much about that...just want to have the best time possible...heli rides, coaches, fun hotels, would all be options if one of you thought it a 'must' - this may be our only chance to come to beautiful NZ and we want to make the best of it
everyone's blog posts have been so helpful to me - I thought I would just ask the experts...

Do I understand correctly that you have not yet booked your Doubtful Sound overnight cruise? If so, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed - the cruise fills up months in advance.

Don't give up. 2 weeks ago we walked into Real Journeys office and were able to get the last two seats for the day cruise on Doubtful Sound and 2 days later, Holiday 10 at Te Anau booked us on a day cruise on Milford Sound. Both cruises so awsome - 2 of the 8 sunny days in Nov.!!

I got an email from Real Journeys today and they let me know we could get space on ships for both Milford and Doubtful...here's what they said (from Real Journeys) "What I can suggest is that you do the Doubtful Sound Navigator overnight cruise from Manapouri on the 20th of December we do have space available at this stage this cruise departs at 12.30pm every day and returns around 12pm the next day. On the 21st you could do the Mariner overnight cruise in Milford this departs every day at 4.30pm and returns at 9.30am the next day." Are you guys telling me I should jump on this? This still leaves us with one night (the 22nd) open...we could return to Queenstown for one added night to make life easy or we could go somewhere else - what would you all suggest?

I'm surprised that there are still openings on the overnight cruises this close to when you're traveling, especially since it's high season AND so close to Christmas!

My inclination would be to jump on at least one of those cruise openings (Doubtful Sound gets great reviews - haven't heard much about the Milford overnight though).

QT would be my choice for the third night, but since you'll have already spent time there, you might want something different. QT is a two hour drive from Te Anau and Te Anau is about a 90 minute drive from Milford. Spending that last night in Te Anau would also be an option, but there's not as much to do there as in QT.

Actually the pressure doesn't really come on until after Christmas. There is usually a slight lull between about December 10th and December 26th. THe reason being that most locals take their holidays either before xmas, or after xmas, so they can be at home for Christmas day, and all the presents etc.
Te Anau would be a good choice for your last night. It doesn't have the hustle and bustle of Queenstown and you would have a chance to chill out and catch your breath before your long flight home. It's an easy 2 hour drive back to Queenstown to catch your flight.
If you decide on this, try Redcliff Cafe for a romantic dinner on your last night. Redcliff was a favourite haunt of the LOTR crew when they were filming in Fiordland.

thanks for that restaurant rec - we love anything LOTR...so should we attempt to go to Te Anau first and then catch the ships there? or take Real Journey's advice and pick them up in Manapouri? Or just go directly from QT - our only uncertainty is the travel from QT to these locations - we were not intending to hire a car ("wrong" side of the road , rather take a coach or travel by air - but we are open if you guys have a suggestion...thanks again for all the tremendous info - you are helping make our honeymoon the dream we'd hoped it would be

thanks everyone for the help!
My fiance and I are booked for two nights w Real Journeys - we are driving from QT to Manapouri and then headed to Doubtful Sound for the overnight - then, the next day, we are driving to Milford and taking the overnight trip through Milford Sound. Should be great. Thanks so much or all the help again. We are still deciding what to do with our last night in NZ - either Te Anau or back to QT - but this is a lot easier to deal with than our prior problem...This Fodors Blog helped a lot
sincerely,
Chris and Holly
Fort Worth, Texas

Did you decide to rent a car, or is Real Journeys providing the transport?

We are going to hire a car from QT to Manapouri and from Manapouri to Milford, then back to QT ultimately. Thought this would work better in case of bad weather (which could endanger air travel?) This a good idea? I am kind of apprehensive about driving on the "wrong" side of the road

Normally, I'd suggest renting a car, but because you're just going from QT-Manipouri-Te Anau-Milford-QT, it may be an expensive option. I'm assuming you'll have to rent the car for the entire time (even though it will be parked while you're on your cruises).

There might also be a daily parking charge - suggest you ask Real Journeys about parking details.

If I'm wrong about this, I hope someone who knows otherwise will correct me.

I mention this because we've had similiar car rental issues when we needed a car to get to Bluff, then had to pay to leave the car parked for three days while we went to Stewart Island.

The nice thing about renting a car of course is that you'll have a lot more flexibility and can just pull off the road if you want to take a hike or have a picnic, etc. The road to Milford is gorgeous and there are several photo ops.

I completely understand your concern about driving on the left - I'm an American living in Indonesia, where they drive on the left, and it still feels weird to me. Don't fret too much though, you'll get the hang of it. Just be sure to brush up on the local driving laws, as there are some rules of the road in NZ that might surprise you.

Also be prepared to turn on the windshild wipers every time you reach for the turn signals. I still do this every time I switch from left side to right side driving. Makes me crazy.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

If you're into Lord of the Rings, get a copy of Ian Brodie's Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook before you leave. It will help you find a variety of filming sites on the South Island.

Lee Ann

There is no parking charge at Manapouri or Milford.

Thanks Bill. I didn't think so, but it's been a few years since I've been there.

Your best plan would be to firstly decide what you want to do, then contact Real Journeys and ask them how you can do it.
Real Journeys is a Te Anau company. They operate from Queenstown, as well as Milford and Doubtful. They have coaches, planes and boats, and are the largest privately owned tour company in NZ.
They have coaches from Qtn to Te Anau, Manapouri,Milford & Doubtful in the morning, and the reverse trip in the afternoon, departing Te Anau around 5pm. Top Line Tours have a daily service Te Anau/ Queenstown departing Te Anau at 10am. Track Net also have a connection to Qtn departing 8am.
There are a lot of options, but as I said, first decide your wish list, then work out how to do it. If you don't have something to aim for you will just go around in circles.

Take the bus, if the schedule works for you. Cheaper and more relaxing.

For your last night, if you are finished in TA early enough, go to QT.

thanks everyone
we are booked w Real Journeys for both the Doubtful and Milford overnight cruises...and we have hired a car (risky though it may be for Texans to be unleashed on the roads of peaceful NZ)...we are then going per Jeb's rec to return to Queenstown to the Azur for one last great night there...
Holly and I thank everyone who posted for the help - you all really made several very tough honeymoon decisions much easier...thanks again! we're off to NZ Friday!

As they say, "Good on ya, girl." Have a blast!
Bill