New Zealand Itinerary
 

Hi there,
I'm travelling in NZ and thought I would post my itinerary and see what you think...
Nov 22 - Arrive Christchurch
23 - Banks Peninsula/Akoroa stay in Christchurch
24 - Drive to Arthurs Pass - Stay in Wilderness Lodge
25 - Glaciers
26/27 - Queenstown
28/29 - Te Anua - day trip to Milford Sound
30/Dec 1 - Dunedin
Dec 2 - Christchurch (Friends we are travelling with fly home to Melbourne)
3 - towards Abel Tasman Park
4 - Abel Tasman Park
5 - Ferry to Wellington
6 - Tongariro National Park
7 - Lake Taupo
8 - Rotoroa
9 - head toward Bay of Islands??
10 - ?
11/12 Auckland
13 - Fly to Tahiti

We aren't as sure about what to do on the North Island... Any suggestions?
Anything we should change?
Thanks!

I suggest two nights at the glaciers, which will give you one full day to explore. Long drives on either side of your glacier stay.

I think you're trying to see waaaay too much in too little time - a lot of driving, not a lot of exploring time. Add to that trying to see both the north & south of the SI ...lots of time in the car. Suggest you take a good look at travel time and distances, particularly the 6th - I see no time to get there, let alone see the place or walk once you arrive.

In the Akaroa area try a new place called PurePod (off the grid all-glass hideaway in the bush). Spend longer in Queenstown or time in Wanaka also. And maybe two nights in Te Anau - great hiking as well as the Fiord trips from there. Look at doing one of the small boat overnight cruises - such as Fiordland Expeditions for a change instead of the big boat options. Some travel agents book Christchurch-West Coast Glaciers-Wanaka-Te Anau-Queenstown-Fly North. Resources, see: www.newzealand.com or www.greenjourneys.co.nz or www.doc.govt.nz for hikes and national parks.

Hi,

Be sure to visit Hooker Glacier Lake, and the conservation center there. Though you have to be fit to walk up the steep places, it is well worth a visit. You will not see such things anywhere else in the world.

Here is some more information about it. Be sure to make it a part of your NZ intinerary.

https://www.theor.com/content/5669569565818880

We quite enjoyed the north island but two points:

1. Consider adding a night to Wellington. You have to drive from Tasman to the ferry terminal, check in for the ferry, make the crossing - that will consume virtually all of the day.
2. If you are not planning to do the Tongariro crossing hike (an all-day event for which appropriate weather is critical), one night at the park, and the next at Taupo, will be fine as you can explore the park with short walks.
3. Drop Rotorua, add a night to Taupo and do Rotorua as a day trip. This eases up on the number of 1 nighters.

So:

5 - ferry to Wellington
6 - Wellington (extra night)
7 - Tongariro park (quite long drive, about 4 hours)
8 - explore park, then 90 minutes to Taupo.
9 - easy day trip to Rotorua. (second night Taupo)
10 - fairly easy drive to Auckland.
11-

Family member did Bay of Islands as a day trip on a boat from Auckland. Something to consider.

12- museum in Auckland, explore Auckland
13 - fly to Tahiti

Another thought - consider flying into Queenstown and starting the trip there (there are flights from Melbourne for your friends) and do a 1- way trip from South to North, with your friends flying home from Christchurch as before.

Thanks for your help... I can't change the flights from Christchurch they are booked.

This is what I'm thinking now.
Dec 3 - Christchurch to Abel Tasman - Long drive but will give us more time in Abel Tasman
Dec 4 Hiking and Kayaking in Abel Tasman
Dec 5 Fly from Nelson to Wellington. Saves SO MUCH TIME and is the same price as the ferry.
Stay in Wellington one night
Dec 6 Drive to Napier
Dec 7 Morning Drive to Taupo - only 2 hours
Discover the area around Taupo for the day
Dec 8 Taupo
Dec 9/10 Coromadel peninsul
Dec 11/12 Auckland
Dec 13 - Papeete...

I'm sad that we just really can't fit in the Bay of Islands... anyone see any way that we can?

You can if you drop Coromandel...but I'd question if it's worth it. There's a lot of driving (4 hours each way)just to have a quick look around and then drive back to Auckland.
There are day tours to BOI from Auckland but then thats sitting in the bus for 8 hours of the day.
Relax and enjoy Coromandel as it's a lovely area.
Dec 7 - only 2 hours but a long winding and boring road. Make sure the petrol tank is full as there are limited places to refill.