I need to finalise my route for my 3 week trip to New Zealand in October, so I can start booking internal flights, hire cars and hotels. The more I look into it, the more I want to see and 3 weeks no longer seems a long time. Our main interests are scenery, wildlife, gardens, etc - we're not bothered about visiting modern cities. Does the following sound reasonable, or does anyone have any better suggestions.

6th October - late arrival (11.30pm) in Auckland, 1 night stay in airport hotel
day 2, 3 - fly to Queenstown (2 nights with no car to get over jetlag)
day 4, 5 - pick up hire car, drive to Te Anau (2 nights)
day 6 - overnight boat trip Doubtful Sound
day 7 - drive Southern Scenic route 1 night Catlins area
day 8, 9 - Dunedin area 2 nights, penguins, gardens, etc
day 10 - drive to Mount Cook village, 1 night
day 11 - Wanaka, 1 night
day 12 - Glaciers (which one?), 1 night
day 13 - Hokitika, 1 night
day 14 - Christchurch via Arthur's Pass, 1 night
day 15, 16 - fly to Rotorua, pick up 2nd car, 2 nights
day 17, 18, 19 - drive to Bay of Islands 3 nights (long drive but do-able?)
day 20 - drive back to outskirts Auckland, 1 night
day 21 - visit gardens am, afternoon flight home

Thanks in advance for any help.

I would try and combine a few of the 1-night stays. We were in NZ for 12 nights, with mostly 2-night and some 1-night stays. We wore out of switching lodging so often. I would modify your itinerary in the following way:
Day 2,3- Fly to Dunedin
Day 4,5 Drive Catlins to Te Anau
Day 6- Doubtful Sound
Day 7-9 Queenstown
Day 10-11 Wanaka
Day 12-13 Glaciers (We enjoyed FJ)
Day 14 Christchurch

I agree with Liz that:

Starting in Dunedin is a good idea which will save backtracking unless you really want to see Mt. Cook. Her itinerary looks very good.

2 night stays, when possible, is a very good idea.

We also enjoyed FJ. But staying there for 2 nights is necessary only if you want to do a full day hike or the helihike. We also enjoyed the Doubtful overnight.

Do you really want to stay in Wananka?

About Te Anau, make sure that you want to do what is offered there.

Thanks, I'm starting to think a rethink is necessary - the temptation is to do too much.

Jed, is there a reason not to stay in wanaka and what do you mean about Te Anau?

The question is, are there enough attractions and activites in Wanaka and TA (and Mt. Cook) to make you want to stay there?

We didn't stay in any because I thought not. Of course, some on this board feel that they are worth it. Each to his/her own opinion. Read in the travel books and here on Fodors and see if you would enjoy what is there.

Also, we did Liz's itinerary exactly backwards - we went from Christchurch to Dunedin. You can read it at: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34602230

I've been to NZ five times and my interests are very similar to yours (adding in golf). I don't think the Te Anau area holds all that much interest to warrant two nights prior to the Doubtful Sound trip. As you've discovered, three weeks is not enough.

I have routed myself this way in the SI:

Day 1, Christchurch arrival, one day overnight to recover.

2-Methven to Lake Tekapo/Twizel (or Mt. Cook village). I prefer booking Twizel because I have bad weather luck at Mt. Cook, and if it's clouded up, I don't continue into the park but just enjoy the glacial lake scenery.

3- If the weather looks clear in the morning, up very early to visit Mt. Cook Village, continue on via beautiful Lindis Pass, to Wanaka

( An convenient alternative is to stay in Clyde, unless you had a specific interest in Wanaka).

4- Rte 85 through "the Maniototo" is a scenic route to Dunedin. It takes a full day.

5-6 Dunedin

7-8 or 9 Dunedin to Te Anau via the Catlins/Southern Scenic Route. You definitely need two days to do this. I happen to like Invercargill, so usually take an extra day there.

10-Te Anau. Personally, one night is enough for me there.

11-Doubtful Sound

12-Queenstown (One of my hosts called it their version of Las Vegas with scenery.) My own preference is to stay in Arrowtown or Wanaka and do a day visit in Queenstown. The TS Earnslaw is worthwhile.

13-14 Glaciers. Allow a full day to reach them, a full day to look at them. You could continue on to Hokitika for the second night.

15- Arthur's Pass to Christchurch

16-Christchurch to North Island.

I like Rotorua well enough although with only three weeks I might chose between Rotorua or Bay of Islands and spread a few days around in the SI.

Auckland-- I do exactly as you propose, just one night before my departure date. I stay downtown and visit Devonport or the museum.

OK - here's another rewrite

6th October - late arrival (11.30pm) in Auckland, 1 night stay in airport hotel
day 2, 3 - fly to Rotorua (2 nights with no car to get over jetlag)
day 4, 5 - fly to Christchurch pick up hire car, drive to Arthur's Pass (2 nights, sightseeing, walking)
day 6 - Glaciers, 1 night
day 7, 8 - Wanaka (2 nights, sightseeing, walking)
day 9, 10 - via Queenstown to Te Anau, 2 nights, drive to Milford Sound on full day
day 11 - overnight boat trip Doubtful Sound
day 12 - drive Southern Scenic route 1 night Catlins west area (where?)
day 13, 14 - coninue Catlins, 2 nights Nugget Point
day 15, 16 - Dunedin area (on peninsula, rather than in town) 2 nights, penguins, gardens, etc
day 17, 18, 19 - fly to Aukland ,drive to Bay of Islands 3 nights
day 20 - drive back to outskirts Auckland, 1 night
day 21 - visit gardens am, afternoon flight home

Does this make more sense - we've missed Mount Cook village and started in Rotorua - this means an extra internal flight but cuts out the long drive from Rotorua to the Bay of Islands.

Question - is there enough to see in Rotorua itself without a car? If so, can anyone recommend a nice hotel, as I will spend my birthday there. We're generally looking to pay 120 - 250 NZ dollars max per room but may pay a bit extra for these nights. Or alternatively should I miss out Rotorua and add the days elsewhere (or perhaps re-instate Mount Cook.

Decisions, decisions... Thanks, as always, for any advice.

Rotorua is worth the time. You can get bus tours or private tours. There are pick-ups from your hotel for hangis and probably others.

As to hotels in ROT, NZ200 is a lot. Check out http://linktrim.com/5tw

In Rotorua's favor, you can still have a good time if the weather is poor, but Mt. Cook is a bust. So I think Rotorua is wiser for your first trip. Rotorua has good public transportation (including taxis, tourist route busses, and regular busses). Many sights are within walking distance of the central district or on the tourist bus (the Whaka park eg). You will be able to survive without a car. Some hosts, if you stay at a B&B, might give you a lift if they have the time. Unless you have a preference for corporate type hotels, Rotorua has a nice range of B*Bs and the more casual motel-style lodgings. Many of them have their own mineral pools. Bring an old bathing suit and give including a relaxing soak if you have time. I like the outdoor pools at the Polynesian Spa or whatever they call it, have not tried out the private pools there but have seen some negative reviews.

I had a negative experience at the <b>private</b> pool at Polynesian Spa.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34635762

Thanks, I feel like I'm getting somewhere with this plan. Has anyone got any experience of Regal Palms at Rotorua? I want somewhere nice, as we will get there on my (special) birthday.

Next question, I read somewhere that the weather in October in Arthur's Pass can be pretty bad. Is spending 2 nights there a good idea - or would it better to split this, have one night in the pass and the 2nd somewhere like Hokitika, so we can just head for the coast if the weather is bad?

Also, is Riverton a reasonable place to stay for 1 night after the Doubtful Sound trip, before heading along the Catlins?

The weather in NZ is so unpredictable , and can be equally bad in Hokitika (west coast), so I don't know that anyone can advise you on that. The typical way to predict the weather is to look out the window, and even that is subject to change. It's a good idea to check the weather reports a day or so ahead, and many hotel keepers are flexible and understanding on dates.

Riverton is not very far east. It would be better to get to Invercargill or beyond.