It's good to know that drive can be done in one long day. We're going to spend two nights in Queenstown, a night at Mt. Cook, and an additional night at Lake Tekapo, en route to Christchurch.

With our trip being in June, we wanted to build in some extra time in case we hit bad weather. And ... being a photography nut, a "2-hour drive" can easily take me 8 hours!

I'm really excited about the trip now--thanks to Melnq8's suggestion!

For those not wanting to rent a car for their entire trip, sometimes the relocation specials that Avis and others offer (mostly during off season) can work out.

Go to www.Avis.co.nz, click "Deals" and see if any are on offer.

Typically the deals are offered for airport to city office relocations, and in travel direction from south to north (eg Queenstown to Christchurch or Wellington to Auckland.)

<being a photography nut, a "2-hour drive" can easily take me 8 hours!>

Tell me about it. I'm finally getting around to finishing up my trip report from last June and without exception, our estimated travel time doubled or trebled on every single drive day. Pretty amazing considering how many bad photography days we had (weather-wise).

OK my final (I hope) revised route based on suggestions..
I am dropping one day from CChurch and adding that in so I can do the route back up to mt cook and have some time there
so here is how it stands now .. tell me if this is better
1.Fly into CC (late afternoon explore)
2 Day 2 in CC travel to Banks Penn and explore
3 Tranzalpine train to Greymouth then drive to Franz J.
4. Franz and Fox
5. Franz and Fox (helihike)
6. Drive in AM to Wanaka
7. Wanka-- hikes in Mt Aspiring
8. Wanka to Mt Cook
9. Mt Cook
10. Drivein AM to Te Anau (4hrs?)
11. Te Anau Milford Sound
12. Queenstown
13. Queenstown
14. Queenstown
15. Flight to Sydney
We figure if the weather is bad when in te Anau and we are unable to do Milford the days we are there that we can always do it from QUeenstown although farther.. this is one tour we will be doing instead of driving.
I have not planned out all the suggested side trips just yet but just the basics.. Is this better?

The drive from Mt Cook to Te Anau is over six hours, but certainly doable if you get an early start.

Looks good though.

What time of year are you going again?

When I googled it and it had said 4 hrs and 58 mins I missed the 58 mins so not so far off from what you said. Perhaps there is a mid way point that would be worth a stopover then just get out early the next day..perhaps split up wanaka.. and do one day there then drive to mt cook and do the second wanaka day on the way back..less driving in one day. I guess i will have to read up some more and plan it all out now that we have decided on a general itinerary as I had to buy my tickets.. I have them now so committed to a start in Queenstown and end in CC.. could not get reasonably priced tickets going the other way.. so doing the plan above but in reverse:)

This is the travel distance calculator I use when I plan my NZ trips. I've found it to be pretty accurate.

http://www.newzealand.com/travel/get...ances-home.cfm

I guess you could split up the drive, but I don't really see the point, as six hours is no drama. Packing, unpacking, checking into/out of different accommodation is more hassle than it's worth. I find one night stays disruptive, as it's difficult to do much on arrival and departure days. I much prefer to settle in and have a few entire days dedicated to a particular area, but that's just me.

If you split up Wanaka, you'll miss out on your full hiking day.

There is so much to see along that route, and so many pictures to take, that I could never do it in the listed time.

You could overnight in Wanaka, Queenstown or Arrowtown if you aren't pressed for time.

Don't miss Abel Tasman I am sure you will definitely have truly memorable experience Abel Tasman National Park is spectacular and must to see when you are in New Zealand

ok will need to continue narrowing down --
When I went to get my tickets to NZ from Melbourne so many of the cheaper flights were sold out and there was not alot left.. so we had to revise and fly into Queenstown and then fly out of CC.. so doing the trip in reverse
The Tranzalpine is reported to be amazing snd also will give my H a break from all that driving so we really want to do it but someone said that only half of the trip is worth it. Any thoughts on that??
Ella.. I know what you are saying about Able Tasman but with the amount of time we have it just is too much.. I need three weeks in NZ to do that and that is just not possible with all else we are doing..:(
MLGB --I am sure I will miss many things in the amount of time we have but want to be sure to see the top things and so will do our best. Not sure what you mean by overnighting in Arrowtown, Queenstown or Wanaka.. we are overnighting in Both Queenstown and Wanaka

"Only one road into and out of Mt Cook - SH 80, which you turn off of from SH 8 coming/going to/from Lake Tekapo from the north or Twizel/Omarama/Lindis Pass from the south.

You could look into doing it as a day trip from Wanaka, but it's a long day as about three hours each way."

What if we cut out going to Greymouth.. and just drove to Authurs pass and then got the train from there to CC would we be missing a good part of the trainride?

sorry my last post is confusing.. I was mixing up my questions.. someone mentioned doing the route to Mt Cook that you mentioned and continuing on to Authurs pass via Lindis Pass and so I am wondering if we could still fit in part of the train ride or would it defeat the purpose of what is supposed to be one of the best train rides in the world:)

You can't leave the car in Arthur's Pass, will need to return it to Christchurch. Arthur's Pass isn't big enough to have a car rental depot!

I don't think that is one of the finest train rides in the world, personally. Maybe the finest in NZ?

bmk

yes I figured that.. but I am looking into public transit options as well.. I am covering all bases.. but now we think that we may go to Mt Cook and instead of going back south to Wanaka to then go up to Franz J.. we may just go from Mt Cook to CChurch.. drop the car,do the Tranzalpine rent a car in greymouth drive down to the glaciers do that for two days drive back to greymouth, drop the car and take the train back to CC spend our last day in CC.. visiting Banks Pen and Akaroa.. there is public transit to there or we may rent a car for the day..
It really is no difference in terms of time either way but less driving for the H and that is one of my goals.. THanks

BTW what does BMK mean?

Bmk means bookmark I think.

I would not backtrack. It is just the same to continue down south along the west coast, to Wanaka or Queenstown, and drop the car there.

There are several bus shuttle companies that cover the South Island. They do a good job of providing connecting services, but usually run just once or maybe twice a day. I've occasionally used them to get back to Christchurch.

I am not sure I follow you Mlgb? RIght now the plan is to fly into Queenstown, then Te Anau, Wanaka, Mt Cook, CC--drop off the car, Tranzalpine west--Franz J then back to CC and fly out of CC.. not sure how I can drop the car off in QT or Wanaka as i will still need it-

I couldn't figure out why would you not do a loop, from Christchurch across Arthur's Pass, down the west coast via the glaciers, to Wanaka or Queenstown, then back up via Mt. Cook to Christchurch.

Barbara -

Most people make a loop as it just makes logistic sense. As you're flying into QT and out of Christchurch, you'll need to either choose between the West Coast or Mt Cook as they're entirely different routes, or do Mt Cook as a day trip from say, Wanaka.

The Tranz Alpine isn't anywhere near the 'finest train ride in the world', not by a long stretch. I personally think the drive across Arthur's Pass is much prettier than the train ride. The drive from Christchurch to Greymouth only takes about 3.5 hours, so you won't be saving spouse from much driving anyway, and doubling back is going to eat into your time, not to mention the cost of breaking up a car rental, which will be more expensive.

I'm confused about your new plans...perhaps it'd be more clear if you posted an updated itinerary.

Thank you for your patience with me on this route selection.

Re: "I couldn't figure out why would you not do a loop, from Christchurch across Arthur's Pass, down the west coast via the glaciers, to Wanaka or Queenstown, then back up via Mt. Cook to Christchurch."

When we finally went to book tickets we could not get tickets to do a loop that were affordable as most were sold out..and I could not get tickets on the days we were coming and going into CC sooo we decided to fly into Queenstown and Leave from CC and since I now have my tickets for better or worse that is what we are working with.
I would not do Mt Cook as a day trip from Wananka as it would be way too much driving. Some people love to drive. My H does not so I promised I would keep long drives to a minimum and have managed to do that.
My new itinerary is
Day 1 Fly into Queenstown (gondola ride explore the city) only have late afternoon


Day 2 Queenstown (Visit Glenorchy)


Day 3 Queenstown (undecided day)


Day 4 Te Anau -early drive to Te Anau-(undecided day)


Day 5 Te Anau- Milford sound full day tour


Day 6 Wanaka- early drive to Wanaka (undecided day)


Day 7 Wanaka Hike in Mt Aspiring


Day 8 Drive to Mt Cook- (undecided day)


Day 9 Mt Cook -Glacier Explorer Tour -not sure what else yet


Day 10 Early or late Drive to Christchurch depending on where we want to spend this day (unplanned thus far) DROP OFF CAR


Day 11 Early Tranzalpine train to Greymouth --pu car and head to Franz Josef explore late afternoon


Day 12 Day Hike Fox Glacier


Day 13 Mid day train back to CC


Day 14 Christchurch Full day trip to Banks and Akaroa


Day 15 Flight does not leave till 5PM so we have some time in town before we head to Sydney