New Zealand 7 days
Nov 6th, 2016, 05:23 AM
#1
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New Zealand 7 days
Hi - traveling w/husband, 16yr, 15yr in March.
Can you review itinerary and suggest B&B or hotels / restaurants or even adjust itinerary.
Day 1- glowworm cave & hobbiton *stay in Rotorura
Day 2 - thermal pool - lady Knox geyser / hells gate (mud pool) / agroventure (is it worth the cost)
Day 3 - White Island (heli or boat - $ difference is huge)
Day 4 - fly to Queenstown
Shotover jet
Day 5 - black coral dive (son and husband)
Day 6 - Milford sound night cruise
Day 7 - fly out and back to Auckland
We want the kids to experience the beauty of NZ and fit in highlights. We know we will be back to enjoy more time here.
Btw - were outdoors family...no art museums.
Thank you!!
Can you review itinerary and suggest B&B or hotels / restaurants or even adjust itinerary.
Day 1- glowworm cave & hobbiton *stay in Rotorura
Day 2 - thermal pool - lady Knox geyser / hells gate (mud pool) / agroventure (is it worth the cost)
Day 3 - White Island (heli or boat - $ difference is huge)
Day 4 - fly to Queenstown
Shotover jet
Day 5 - black coral dive (son and husband)
Day 6 - Milford sound night cruise
Day 7 - fly out and back to Auckland
We want the kids to experience the beauty of NZ and fit in highlights. We know we will be back to enjoy more time here.
Btw - were outdoors family...no art museums.
Thank you!!
Nov 6th, 2016, 06:13 AM
#2
I think you have way too much squished into too few days.
Are you arriving into Auckland? Are you then flying into Rotorua?
Are you an international visitor? Where will you be coming from? What time will you arrive into Queenstown? Are you renting a car?
Knowing the answers these questions will help us help you.
At first glance it seems you've not left time to get from place to place - for instance, is Day 1 your arrival day? Do you plan to fly from Auckland to Rotorua AND visit glow worms caves and Hobbiton all on Day 1? While jetlagged? (assuming you're an international visitor).
I assume on Day 4 you're flying from Rotorua to Queenstown, via Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch?
The Black Coral dive you refer to is in Milford Sound no? So you will need to already be in Milford on Day 5 - the drive from Queenstown to Milford is four hours - have you taken the drive time into consideration? What time is the dive?
So it makes more sense to spend Night 5 on the overnight Milford cruise, and then drive back to Queenstown on Day 6.
Are you arriving into Auckland? Are you then flying into Rotorua?
Are you an international visitor? Where will you be coming from? What time will you arrive into Queenstown? Are you renting a car?
Knowing the answers these questions will help us help you.
At first glance it seems you've not left time to get from place to place - for instance, is Day 1 your arrival day? Do you plan to fly from Auckland to Rotorua AND visit glow worms caves and Hobbiton all on Day 1? While jetlagged? (assuming you're an international visitor).
I assume on Day 4 you're flying from Rotorua to Queenstown, via Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch?
The Black Coral dive you refer to is in Milford Sound no? So you will need to already be in Milford on Day 5 - the drive from Queenstown to Milford is four hours - have you taken the drive time into consideration? What time is the dive?
So it makes more sense to spend Night 5 on the overnight Milford cruise, and then drive back to Queenstown on Day 6.
Nov 6th, 2016, 09:05 AM
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Scale back. Driving "on the wrong side of the road" in morning rush hour after the flight across the Pacific - not advisable, even though you don't have to go into Auckland itself which would be sheer hell).
In Rotorua, don't miss the "bath house history" education in the fabulous building that was a hotel-spa and now is the splendid www.rotoruamuseum.co.nz
You may want to choose accommodation a few miles from Rotorua itself - the sulphur smell is pervasive and not conducive to a good night's rest. Lovely Taupo (on a lake in a former volcano crater) is a much nicer place to stay - only an hour from Rotorua.
In Rotorua, don't miss the "bath house history" education in the fabulous building that was a hotel-spa and now is the splendid www.rotoruamuseum.co.nz
You may want to choose accommodation a few miles from Rotorua itself - the sulphur smell is pervasive and not conducive to a good night's rest. Lovely Taupo (on a lake in a former volcano crater) is a much nicer place to stay - only an hour from Rotorua.
Nov 6th, 2016, 02:35 PM
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IMO you have way too much packed into your first day. The first time we visited New Zealand, we rented a car at the Auckland airport and drove to Whakatane on the Bay of Plenty. We were pretty jetlagged and had to find a park where we could take a nap before we got there.
In addition, New Zealand highways are mostly one lane in each direction once you're out of the cities, so you drive slower.
*Maybe* you could drive to Matamata and visit Hobbiton on your first day, then spend the night there.
Day 2 - go to Waitomo. If you have time, you and your kids would probably love blackwater rafting. http://www.waitomo.com/black-water-r...s/default.aspx Drive to Rotorua, stopping at Waiotapu on the way to see the pools (the geyser only runs once a day, in the morning, when someone dumps soap flakes in the vent). The thermal pools are beautiful, but if you've been to Yellowstone you've seen better geysers and somewhat similar thermal features.
Spend the night in Rotorua.
Day 3 - I would skip White Island. Fly to Queenstown, do the Shotover jet and explore the area.
Day 4 - Enjoy the drive to Milford Sound - it's really beautiful, and there are some nice hikes along the way.
I see the black coral dive includes a Milford Sound cruise, so half of your family will have cruised the sound twice if you're also doing the overnight cruise - basically, getting on a boat at 9:00 in the morning, getting off at 3:00 PM, then getting on the overnight boat at 3:30. There isn't a lot to do at Milford Sound, so it might be boring for the half of the family that doesn't go on the dive.
Lee Ann
In addition, New Zealand highways are mostly one lane in each direction once you're out of the cities, so you drive slower.
*Maybe* you could drive to Matamata and visit Hobbiton on your first day, then spend the night there.
Day 2 - go to Waitomo. If you have time, you and your kids would probably love blackwater rafting. http://www.waitomo.com/black-water-r...s/default.aspx Drive to Rotorua, stopping at Waiotapu on the way to see the pools (the geyser only runs once a day, in the morning, when someone dumps soap flakes in the vent). The thermal pools are beautiful, but if you've been to Yellowstone you've seen better geysers and somewhat similar thermal features.
Spend the night in Rotorua.
Day 3 - I would skip White Island. Fly to Queenstown, do the Shotover jet and explore the area.
Day 4 - Enjoy the drive to Milford Sound - it's really beautiful, and there are some nice hikes along the way.
I see the black coral dive includes a Milford Sound cruise, so half of your family will have cruised the sound twice if you're also doing the overnight cruise - basically, getting on a boat at 9:00 in the morning, getting off at 3:00 PM, then getting on the overnight boat at 3:30. There isn't a lot to do at Milford Sound, so it might be boring for the half of the family that doesn't go on the dive.
Lee Ann
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