Diamantina- thank you for your feedback. So to answer your questions - as of right now, we have 4 nights and almost 3 full days in Queenstown. I was thinking of allocating that extra day I have to Queenstown- and either do a day trip to Gibbeston or Glenorchy. I think my plan for Queenstown was just the regular things a new visitor would do. Walk around, sightsee, try restaurants, do the touristy stuff, etc.

As it stands in Wanaka here is the plan:
Day 10: drive to Wanaka at some point in the day from FJ with stops
Day 11: Wanaka
Day 12: Wanaka until whenever we feel, Queenstown later

Nelson- my plan is drive to Nelson from Blenheim for 2 nights. Perhaps spend the second day at Abel Tasman?

I do have this 1 extra day to put somewhere and I have been contemplating where!So my options for the extra could be in Queenstown for a daytrip, in Wanaka or in Nelson, or really anywhere else!

Also in Kaikoura - whale watching for sure. Perhaps walk around the area/go swimming with seals (although the water seems like it may be too cold for this. I have yet to decide if we should do this as a day trip from Blenheim or actually stay in Kaikoura. The day trip seems too far of a drive for 1 day. Is it feasible? However, if I stay in Kaikoura, I should drive out to the west coast to FJ from here. And it seems as reviewers believe driving through Nelson instead down to FJ is more scenic and shorter!

About your visit to Kaikōura. I would stay the night in Kaikōura if you have your heart set on on whale watching. Kaikōura whale watch tours can be cancelled if ocean conditions are too rough. The first time my husband and I attempted to do a Kaikōura whale watch cruise—it was their first cruise of the day—it was cancelled, but we were lucky to get on a dolphin swim instead. This was 18 or 19 years ago when you could sign up for a last-minute late-morning or midday dolphin swim. I wouldn't count on such luck today, as it's a lot busier. When we returned from the dolphin swim, ocean conditions had improved and the whale trips were on again, and my husband was keen to go out again, but I was feeling a bit seasick and couldn't stomach another cruise.

By the way, they'll give you a thick wetsuit for swimming with seals. They wouldn't want their customers getting hypothermic or having to struggle to maintain buoyancy. Seal swim's website states,"We will supply you with 5mm dive suits, hoods, fins and goggles & snorkel. We also provide hot showers, changing facilities and safe storage." I also brought my own neoprene gloves and booties to wear on the dolphin swim, which kept me comfortable.

The second time we attempted going on the Kaikōura whale watch cruise a few years ago, our cruise was not cancelled. But it was so rough, about half of the passengers got seasick, including me, despite having taken seasickness medication. I wrote in my journal, "Big solid boat, but big swells, too." When we got back to shore, whale watch trips for the remainder of the day were cancelled. Pelagic bird tours were still sailing.

We took the 10 a.m. trip. (the ocean tends to be calmer in the morning, though not always). We saw two juvenile sperm whales, a blue shark (it was on the surface), a few albatrosses and other seabirds.

Please, if either of you are prone to seasickness, take precautions.

Kaikōura is beautiful, with a stunning, rugged coastline and a backdrop of the Kaikoura mountain range. The Kaikōura walkway is well worth doing. See:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...nsula-walkway/
Brochure here:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/par...a-brochure.pdf

And, of course, there is the famed and highly accessible seal colony to the north, at Ohau Pt., and nearby Ohau stream and waterfall, as Nelsonian reported on in their "Day Trip to See Baby Seals!!!"
http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...baby-seals.cfm

If keen to try the local crayfish ("kai" translates as food/meal; "kōura" as crayfish), you might try Nin's Bin on SH1 at Rakautara, approximately 23km north of Kaikoura.
http://thekaikouraguide.com/director...food/nins-bin/
http://www.christchurchnz.com/what-t...n-in-kaikoura/

On Sunday mornings in November, you can also visit Kaikōura's small but nice farmers market, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Town Centre. Here's a link to a list of farmers' markets on the South Island (most often held on Saturday or Sunday mornings).
http://www.farmersmarkets.org.nz/mar...s/south-island
In addition to local produce, you'll find breads, cheeses, meats, locally prepared foods, and often much more.

Thank you!! This is great advice and sooo very helpful! I will stay overnight in Kaikoura, just in case our tour gets rescheduled and perhaps book a seal swim later in the day :)

So my plan will be to start in Nelson (2 nights), then Blenhiem (2 nights), then Kaikoura (1 night). Then from Kaikoura the next day road trip to Punakaiki, and then head to FJ the next day.

Now I just need to stick this extra day I have somewhere. I'm torn to use it between Nelson, Wanaka or QT!!

Good idea. You'll like Kaikōura.

Tough choice between Wanaka and Nelson (region). I would spend the extra night in the Nelson region because it's likely to be sunny and because the landscape will be different from the other regions you'll be visiting.

Your most recent itinerary states on Day 1, you'll arrive in Auckland and fly to Nelson on Day 2. You won't have much time to see Auckland, so why not connect to Nelson on Day 1? Or are you arriving late in the day and just staying near the airport? If you decide to connect through to Nelson on Day 1, and, if you're flying in from the U.S., Canada or Europe, don't drive when you get to Nelson because you'll be too fatigued and jet lagged. For your safety and convenience, catch a shuttle into town and then pick up your rental car in the city center the next morning, after you've had a good night's rest. I see Apex Rental Cars has an office in the Nelson city center, near several motels.

If you can spend an extra night in the Nelson area for a total of three nights or more, do. Take Melnq8's advice, which bears repeating, "If you want to see Abel Tasman, its best to base yourself closer than Nelson. Motueka (and environs), Kaiteriteri, Marahau - all much better bases IMO. One day in the area is giving is serious short shrift. Allow at least three nights in the area."

Besides visiting Abel Tasman National Park, you could drive from Motueka over Takaka Hill then explore Golden Bay beyond Abel Tasman Park. You could drive all the way to pretty Wharariki Beach and Cape Farewell and take some lovely short walks along the way. This area is sparsely populated, scenic and relatively tranquil. Be forewarned: Takaka Hill is one of those steep, twisty NZ roads you've probably read about. More info here:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/par...t-brochure.pdf
http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/par...golden-bay.pdf
http://www.goldenbaynz.co.nz/

Here's a Nelson wineries link. Neudorf Winery in Upper Moutere is probably the region's best and pretty as well.
http://winenelson.co.nz/#home-welcome
http://www.neudorf.co.nz/

Regarding Queenstown. There's a lot to do in and around Q'town. As it's the "adventure capital of NZ" you can bungy jump, sky dive, tandem hang glide, take a jet boat ride, and so on. While Queenstown has a stunning location, its center is busy, and can be congested and traffic-choked, and, in this respect, it's different from most of the South Island.

Queenstown itself is not large and most of the city attractions are concentrated in the center, though the airport, Remarkables Park Shopping Center, Queenstown Events Centre are in the suburb of Frankton. If you pick a centrally located accommodation in Q'town, you can walk to many tourist attractions, such the waterfront (Steamer Wharf, Town Pier), shops, restaurants, the Botanic Garden, and the Skyline Gondola and Luge. From the top of the Gondola, you have more options, such as the buffet view restaurant, Maori Haka performance, and walks (see: http://www.skyline.co.nz/queenstown/walking/).

In addition to visiting Glenorchy and nearby Gibbston wine valley (only about 20 minutes from downtown Q'town), you can visit Arrowtown, and/or take a tour to Skipper's Canyon (see http://www.skipperscanyonjet.co.nz/e...jet-boat-tour/)
Here's a link to a map of central Q'town: https://www.everythingqueenstown.com...nstown_Map.pdf

I've done the Milford Sound overnight cruise twice and loved it. It's so quiet and serene at night. If it's a clear night, make sure to go up to the top deck to view the stars.

Here are some tips for avoiding seasickness on your whale watch cruise:
http://www.sportdiver.com/learn-to-d...ng-seasickness

If you can spend an extra night in the Nelson area for a total of three nights or more, do. Take Melnq8's advice, which bears repeating, "If you want to see Abel Tasman, its best to base yourself closer than Nelson. Motueka (and environs), Kaiteriteri, Marahau - all much better bases IMO. One day in the area is giving is serious short shrift. Allow at least three nights in the area.">>

I absolutely agree with Mel, in an ideal world. We decided that we'd prefer 3 nights in Nelson rather than one there and two at Motueka, and though that gave us a longer drive to the Glaciers, it enabled us to spend one day touring the wineries round Nelson, and another at Abel Tasman, for which we booked an inclusive boat and bus tour. They picked us up from our motel in Nelson and dropped us back there at the end of the day. For us that was ideal but I can see that it might not suit others.

Diamantina - you're so helpful with all your tips and websites! So I will spend the extra night in Nelson! I regrettably booked a non refundable hotel in Auckland for the first day we arrive! I'm going to check if I can get some sort of credit for the hotel, if not, we will probably stay in Auckland that day. Otherwise, I will plan out to fly that day, as we arrive at 6 am! It's a great idea to just fly directly out to Nelson.

Diamantina and annhig- I only was thinking to spend 1 full day in Abel Tasman, 1 day wine touring around Nelson, and the other day perhaps doing things around the city/local walks, etc. Do you still think with this plan I need to base myself Motueka (and environs), Kaiteriteri, Marahau? The drive to Abel Tasman doesn't seem too bad, 45 minutes? Is one day there not enough? I imagine the water will be too cold to go into!

I understand about the non-refundable night in Auckland. If it's part of a hotel chain, perhaps they'll give you a credit for one of their other hotels. I tend to book hotels and motels that offer "free cancellation" up to 24 hours beforehand. Some smaller hotels, motels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals can't afford to do this, so I'll just go ahead with the non-refundable booking. This has been especially the case in smaller places with limited accommodation.

Are you staying right in the city? Because after passing through immigration, picking up your luggage, passing through customs, and then catching the Sky Bus into the city, you probably get into the city at around 8 a.m. (more or less). If your hotel is busy, you might not be able to check in until 1 or 2 p.m. (though, in most cases, they'll store your luggage in the meantime). Of course, if they have available rooms, they'll usually let you check in early.

If you can cancel or change your hotel booking and can connect to Nelson on Day 1, make sure you give yourself at least two hours between your international arrival and domestic flight. The domestic terminal is only about a 10 minute walk from the international terminal (it's easy), or you can take the free transfer bus. About twice a year, I fly from San Francisco to Auckland then connect to Dunedin (direct flight). My Air New Zealand flight arrives at 5:55 a.m. then my Air New Zealand flight to Dunedin leaves at 7:25 a.m. I've missed the Dunedin flight about a third of the time, even though this is the "legal connection" that the airlines always gives me.

Please have a look at the NZ Passenger Arrival Card. You'll be asked to fill this our on the plane before you land.
http://www.customs.govt.nz/news/reso...%20version.pdf
And this link:
http://www.customs.govt.nz/inprivate...s/default.aspx

We booked the Sofitel Auckland. I believe it is directly city center and I checked the cancellation policy, it is 100% non refundable. Therefore, I believe my plan will be to stay in Auckland the full day, then fly out to Nelson the next morning.

So my plan now is to allocate this extra 1 day I have to Nelson in place of Wanaka. With my 3 day itinerary in Nelson (in prior response), you still don't think I should base myself in Nelson city center? I was only planning on allocating 1 day to Abel Tasman.

So my plan now is to allocate this extra 1 day I have to Nelson in place of Wanaka. With my 3 day itinerary in Nelson (in prior response), you still don't think I should base myself in Nelson city center? I was only planning on allocating 1 day to Abel Tasman.>>

that's what we did, SMF, and it worked very well for us, but I can see the point of spending two nights in Nelson, then driving to Abel Tasman, spending the day hiking/canoeing etc. and then staying in that area, so as to cut down on the driving on that day, and the day after.

your choice!

Enjoy the Sofitel with its fine amenities and terrific waterfront location. I've not yet stayed there, but stayed at the nearby Sebel Viaduct Harbor. If not too tired and jetlagged, you can walk to restaurants, shops, the Ferry Building, the free-admission Auckland Art Gallery, or take a trip onto Hauraki Gulf. If you enjoy museums, I highly recommend the Auckland War Memorial Museum, which has "the largest and most valuable collection of Māori tāonga (treasures) in the world" and outstanding Oceanic art collections. It also holds Maori performances several times a day. It's in the center, but too far to walk from the Sofitel, so catch a taxi or bus. It's located in the domain, a large lovely park to stroll through on a warm sunny day. Here's a Auckland War Memorial Museum link:
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/whats-on/maori
Here's a link for the Auckland Domain with a map:
http://www.heartofthecity.co.nz/auck...uckland-domain

Nelson is an attractive small city you'd likely enjoy. It's a city with, not only tourists and tourist attractions, but regular residents going about their business, shopping, driving to and from work, running errands, so on. http://uniquelynelson.co.nz/self-walking-tours/

The areas northwest of Nelson (in the direction of Abel Tasman) are more holiday/viticulture/horticulture-oriented, more relaxed and serene, less crowded, with less vehicle traffic, as well as scenic. Since you'll be getting a good night's rest in Auckland, you should be okay driving once you land in Nelson, if you decide to stay closer to Abel Tasman. November is the not height of high season, so I don't think you need rush into making a non-refundable booking for this area. You can research it a little longer, think a bit before booking accommodation in Nelson city or closer to Abel Tasman NP. Have a look at this website: http://www.nelsonnz.com/things-to-see-and-do/

For instance, I live in Dunedin, also an interesting small city—NZ's first great city with heritage buildings and heaps of neat stuff—but if you were coming here for two to three days, I'd recommend you visit the Otago Peninsula for its wildlife and more beautiful and serene natural surroundings, over spending more time in the city. Because most folks aren't coming to NZ mainly to check out its cities (though you'll likely enjoy your day in Auckland). But I'm not familiar with your interests, so I could be entirely off. I'm just guessing at what you might like based on what I've enjoyed. Maybe sitting in cafes, people watching, dining at top restaurants, popping into little shops, viewing museums and art galleries, walking around the city, is exactly what'd you like.

The last time my husband and I visited the Nelson area we stayed in a small cottage in Upper Moutere, which without stops is about a 25 to 30 minute drive beyond Nelson city (though, having stopped at several wineries along the way, it took longer). The cottage itself was rustic and simple, but it was in a quiet wooded location on a hillside with great panoramas, close to Upper Moutere wineries and sweet Mapua Wharf with its few cafes/restaurants and pretty water and Rabbit Island views. We had an early dinner and sipped on Neudorf Chardonnay and Kina Cliffs Pinot Gris at Mapua Wharf's Jellyfish Cafe. We didn't visit Abel Tasman park on this last trip—we did that many years ago, but still enjoyed Golden Bay's natural treasures, driving over Takaka Hill to Wharariki Beach, with many walks and stops in between (as I described in an earlier posting). See: https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/motueka-golden-bay/

As annhig wrote, "your choice!"

You can, and probably will, return to NZ, so don't worry about what you might miss on this trip. Enjoy your honeymoon.