I have just started in the planning for a 2 week trip to New Zealand. from the east coast of the US. Like everyone, trying to see as much in as possible without over doing it. Could you please offer comments/corrections etc to what I have so far. Thanks so much for all the help.
1. Arrive Christchurch - overnight
- Take Train to Greymouth
2. Overnight Hotitika
- drive to Glacier possible heli tour
3. drive to Wanaka overnite
4-5 .Drive to Te Anu - 2 nights - do cruise for Doubtful Sound
6-7. Drive to Queenstown - 2 nights
8. drive to Twizel overnite
9-10-11. Onto Christchurch - 3 nights (do day trips)
fly to Aukland
12 -13. 2 nights Rotorua ( is this best area to visit on the North Island)

One more note on the above. is it better to skip the north island altogether and add an additional 2 nights somewhere on the South island?? - we do prefer to have a little down time once in awhile.

Likewise, we are also planning a trip in October. We will be toodling around in an RV for 3 weeks. During our last trip (10 years ago) we spent almost all of it on the South Island. This time we hope to spend a bit more time in the North Island.

If you do go to the North Island, I wouldn't miss Rotorua. We did a 1/2 day tour, but with a small operator who customized our trip, and an evening at the cultural center. It was wonderful.

We opted for a longer fly-over more glaciers when in the Fox/Franz area. This time we may opt for the heli/landing experience. However, we were pleased with our choice at the time.

I will be watching for responses to this inquiry. We did not visit Twizel or the Doubtful Sound (visited another Sound).

kcd

Alternatively this is another option that we are also looking at ... As you can tell - we are quite open ---

3 nights Christchurch
-Take Train to Greymouth 

1 night Hotitika 
- drive to Glacier possible heli tour
1 night Wanaka
2 nights Te Anu - Doubtful Sound
 Cruise
2 nights Queenstown
--------fly to rotorua
2 nights rotorua
2 nights coromandal area
1 night auckland

I think I would spend only two nights in Christchurch. Add an overnight at the glaciers (Franz or Fox) another night. (Hokitika has some glowworm dells just north of town, don't miss them.) Maybe add another night in Queenstown.

Time of year should factor into your plans. October/November are really still winter in the south Island, you can get snowfall and it may be very windy. You might want to stay flexible and not book nonrefundable hotel rooms.

I'd suggest driving all the way to the glaciers and not staying overnight in Hoki. As I recall, the Tranz Alpine gets into Greymouth around lunchtime (?). It's only a 2.5 hour drive from Greymouth to Franz Josef and you might want an overnight there just in case the weather is bad for your helihike. I assume you're staying the night in Hoki so you can see the glow worms after dark? If so, glow worms can be found in many areas of NZ, including Rotorua.