Hello All,

First post and first time on a travel forum. Wife and I are mid/upper 40s and have the opportunity to visit NZ. Nothing is booked yet but we found a 1-stop flight from our hometown to Auckland from 3/30 - 4/20. That's really as far as we got. Planning the rest seems quite daunting. We've skimmed some books and read through a few threads but are still overwhelmed. Hoping we still have enough time to plan a great vacation.

We are very active and do a lot of walking / hiking. We are into food but don't necessarily need fancy, but will go out of our way for good beer and wine. We have an appreciation for culture but can only see so many museums or churches.

The first question is if we are safe booking our flights to/from Auckland now and filling in the blanks later? Looks like flights within NZ are pretty inexpensive and we can fill those in as we go.

The next question is how do we start to formulate a travel plan? Consensus seems to be up to a week on the North Island and two on the South Island. But there are so many options for where to go and how to get there and back that we just aren't getting anywhere with an itinerary.

I'm sure a lot of this information already exists and I'm hoping that some of you good people can help point us in the right direction. Could you please suggest some existing threads to read through so that we can get an idea of how we should plan our itinerary. Any suggestions based on our style described above are also appreciated.

Thanks so much in advance, hopefully we'll be able to return the favor after our trip.

Ron

Hi Ron -

I assume you plan to drive?

I have several detailed trip reports posted here - we're most fond of the SI and have visited some 14 times or so. We're headed back ourselves for a month on the SI in May.

If you'd like to read any of them, just click on my name, scroll down the page to trip reports, and then scroll through them (there are several pages of trip reports).

It sounds as if we have similar interests.

You're on the right track as far as spending one week on the NI and two on the SI, although it's easy enough to spend three weeks or longer on the SI alone.

A popular quasi loop on the SI that is popular with first time visitors goes something like this:

Arrive Christchurch

Drive to Mt Cook - I'd suggest at least two nights here, which will only give you one full day

Drive to Wanaka - again, I'd suggest at least two nights

Drive to Te Anau - spend at least two nights (base for exploring Milford Sound) - I suggest this instead of taking a day trip to Milford from Queenstown as it's a 13 hour day if you do it from Queenstown, most of it spent in the car/bus. If you also want to incorporate Doubtful Sound, you'll need at least another night.

Drive from Te Anau to Queenstown - stay a couple of nights

Drive from Queentown up the West Coast to Fox or Franz Josef glacier - stay at least two nights

Drive from Fox or Franz Josef via Arthur's Pass to Christchurch - stay a few nights, then depart for Auckland.

You could also start from Christchurch, go down the West Coast and then return via Mt Cook.

Of course this is just one option, but it incorporates much of what first time visitors to NZ want to see, and it can be done in two weeks. Longer is better of course, and how much time you spend in a given place depends on your interests, but IME, two nights is the bare minimum as there's generally so much driving on either side of these destinations.

You'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to wine and tramping. Beautiful tramping tracks are virtually everywhere, you need not go far to find one.

On the route I suggested, you'll find many wineries around Queenstown/Arrowtown, and if you travel just a bit further afield, you'll find some wonderful Pinot Noir around Cromwell and Bannockburn.

There is at least one winery in Wanaka (and beautifully located at that) and there's been a surge of small boutique breweries pop up in recent years - you'll find few around Wanaka.

There are also wineries around Christchurch.

I'm sure someone will pop in to give you some suggestions about the North Island. I've only been there twice - it just doesn't speak to me the way the SI does.

Ron, will you be leaving for your trip on March 30 or arriving in NZ on March 30? This year, right? Be mindful of the school holidays: Good Friday 30 March through Tuesday 3 April. Then the longer holiday begins on Saturday 14 April and runs through Sunday 29 April.

Once you've firmed up your itinerary, you'll want to book accommodation soon, particularly if you plan on visiting Aoraki Mt. Cook as accommodation there is limited. A fall-back plan would be to stay in Glentanner, which is about a 20 to 25 minute drive away.

April is beautiful time to visit because of the autumn leaves (introduced deciduous trees) and because the weather is considered mild. It's also an increasingly popular time of year.

You don't have to do one week North Island, two weeks South Island. Quite a lot of first-time visitors spend all their time on the South Island. It's less developed and less populated.

I don't know much about your interests (besides hiking, good but not fancy food, beer and wine, and moderate museum-going) or what kind of scenery you hope to see but some first-time visitors to the North Island with about a week for travel often start in Auckland, then might visit Rotorua (Maori culture and geothermal activity), Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, Hobbiton in Matamata, Lake Taupo, and Wellington (Te Papa Museum, lots of craft beer and good food). Hikers are drawn to Tongariro NP. Info about Tongariro Alpine Crossing on this link:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-rec...ing/day-hikes/
You'll find good hiking everywhere.

Of course, there are loads of variations on this theme depending on your interests. Bay of Islands is also popular, but you probably wouldn't have enough time with only one week on the North Island. There's a surprising number of attractions around Auckland, a gannet colony, beautiful black sand beaches, a volcanic island, loads of wineries, gorgeous beaches.

From Wellington, you can catch the ferry to Picton on the South Island, or fly to the South Island (various cities have airports).

Would your flight arrive fairly early into Auckland? If so, I'd recommend catching a connecting flight to the South Island after arriving in Auckland (then passing through customs and immigration), and starting your trip in the south. Don't plan on driving on your first day.

"The next question is how do we start to formulate a travel plan?"
This is the fun bit and should not be hard! There's probably a Fodor's thing about the sights and delights of NZ on this website with beautiful photos.
As Diamantina mentions you are coming at the busy time of Easter/school holidays which is not a huge deal but book your accommodation in advance.
Start in Auckland and wander down through Hobbiton and Rotorua. If you have been to Yellowstone Rotorua will under whelm but there is a lot of Maori culture there as well.
Fly to Christchurch, hire a car and do the classic short road trip to Queenstown.
There is heaps to do in Queenstown to keep you busy!

Thanks for all the responses so far, it is sincerely appreciated.

Hi Mel, yes we plan to rent a car and drive. I scrolled through your "library" of trip reports and read a few. Impressive! Thanks for taking the time to be so detailed. I appreciate the SI Loop suggestion and will try to incorporate your recommendations (once we get that far!).

Diamantina, the flight we are targeting lands 5:55am on 4/1 in Aukland, which is Easter Sunday. The debate has been whether to start in the NI or fly on immediately to somewhere in the SI. If we are not driving on 4/1 as you suggest, it may be easier to complete our travels to the SI that day and use the time mostly for trying to get adjusted? Looks like no problem to get a rental car on Easter.

tasmangirl, yes the planing should be fun but I'm still stuck a bit on the logistics. Not sure I understand the impact of the school holidays mentioned by you and Diamantina. I assume this just means that accommodations will be more scarce so be sure to book ASAP? Also wondering since Diamantina mentioned another school holiday from 4/14 on if we should spend that time on the NI as there may be more hotel options?

All - at this stage I guess I'm trying to nail down the basic logistics. Looks like it might be best to visit the NI at the end. This way we only have 1 stop on our way home if we fly out of AUK. Here is what I'm thinking so far:

4/1 (Sun)
Flight: Home > AKL > CHC, arrive 9:25am

4/14 (Sat) or 4/16 (Mon)
Flight: CHC OR ZQN > AKL

4/20 (Fri)
Flight: depart AKL 4pm > Home

Understanding that this depends on our interests (which you know only a bit about) and personal preference, I'm still very interested in your subjective opinion.

Thoughts on which date to fly from the SI to NI?
For the SI, does it make more sense to start and end in Christchurch, or end in Queenstown and fly out of there? Flight prices aren't that much different and rental care rate is $14/day more but may save some driving?
Any other suggestions?

Once we have the flights and rental car booked I'll feel better about hammering out an itinerary and booking hotels. Thanks again!!

<<The debate has been whether to start in the NI or fly on immediately to somewhere in the SI.>>

I'd fly on. In fact, that's exactly what we consistently do.

Gets the flying over with, prevents having to stay in a day room at the airport or trying to find a place in Auckland that will let you check in at the crack of dawn, limits driving on arrival day, etc. You may still have an issue on the SI checking in early, but at least it won't be at 7 am. Just make arrangements with your accommodation for early check in when you book - and transport if possible, otherwise please don't drive very far.

As for Easter and school hols, just book early. It's a busy time in NZ (and Australia for that matter). I certainly wouldn't rearrange your visit between islands based on school holidays, but do book as soon as you can. Places like Mt Cook and the glaciers are the biggest challenge as accommodation in these areas is limited at the best of times.

I've already booked most of my accommodation for May - one place I had my eye on is already booked for my dates! Granted, it's an Air BNB, but still surprised me.

Ron, I think Melnq8 answered your questions about school holidays. I'd just add that finding accommodation will be less of a problem as you're flying into Christchurch, which now (years post-earthquake) has plenty of accommodation and, while it has some attractions, is less of a special holiday destination, unlike Queenstown, which draws holiday makers from near and far looking for beautiful mountain and lake views, action adventures, fine dining and wine, and so forth. Queenstown is almost always busy, but would be more bustling during the holidays. Families and others will be taking a short break before the colder weather sets in (beginning in May, though it can certainly snow in April, this year warmer conditions are expected to hold until May). After these April school holidays, the next school holidays will be from Saturday 7 July through Sunday 22 July, so mid-winter.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=11969517

As an example, I live in Dunedin, about a 4 hour drive from Queenstown. Dunedinites will often drive to Queenstown for the weekend or even an overnight trip to have fun or for a change of scenery. Christchurch is a five-hour drive away and folks I know generally go up there to visit friends/family or for work.

You asked, "For the SI, does it make more sense to start and end in Christchurch, or end in Queenstown and fly out of there? Flight prices aren't that much different and rental care rate is $14/day more but may save some driving?"

Depends on your itinerary and how many days you plan on spending in each place. If you follow the circle Melnq8 suggested then it makes sense to fly into CC and out of there. If you won't be doing this whole loop, then it makes sense to fly into CC and out of QTN. It'll be easier to advise you after you've firmed up you itinerary, after you've chosen which places to visit and how long you'll stay in each place.

Shop around, you might find a rental car company that won't even charge you that extra $14 a day. Did you try Apex?

Another good reason you're not flying into Queenstown that Easter weekend is Warbirds Over Wanaka (Warbirds Over Wanaka
March 30, 31 April 1). Wanaka's only a little more than an hour from QTN.

School holidays - I mentioned it because there is not an inexhaustible supply of accommodation in Queenstown and other towns like Taupo when some event like Ironman is on. Even Rotorua can get pretty well full.
Easter is early this year and a popular time to go away and with the Warbirds on people will have booked a year in advance.
Usually they tie in Easter with the school holidays but not in 2018 when the holidays are 14 to 29 April.
Don't let it put you off just make your bookings soon.