NZ get off cruise and drive to QT/Fjorland?
 

My husband and I (late 30s)Headed to NZ and Sydney in Jan2017. We are crusing from on Holland America Madam from Auckland to Sydney for 10 days, (possibly getting off early to spend 3-4 drive from Christchurch and make our way to QT via Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo, do Fjordland from QT) then we plan to fly to Sydney & spend Jan 10-15 there. Any advice on getting off the ship at Christchurch to do this verse stopping and Dunedin, then cruise Fjorland then day a sea ending in Sydney. It is more work and $ but many say that driving NZ is the way to see it, plus don't seem too interested in Christchurch or Dunedin. We chose a cruise because with the time change and only 2 weeks for the trip, we'd be exhausted driving everyday. Any advice on doing this? Silly or smart?
Any advise on car rentals or hotels along Christchurch to QT would be helpful.

I'm just as confused by this post as I was when you first posted it in late November.

You want to get off a 10 day cruise to spend 3-4 days driving from Christchurch to Queenstown/Milford via Mt Cook and Lake Tekapo?

The cruise is from Auckland to Sydney, yet you want to fly to Sydney?

As many of us pointed out in your first post, driving is the best way to see NZ, but leaving a cruise that you've presumably already paid for, just to spend a wee three days driving a wee section of NZ, baffles me.

I assume you're already booked on the cruise. So be it. Why not enjoy what you've already paid for, and come back to NZ another time when you have TIME, and take a nice road trip then?

For what its worth, driving from Christchurch to Takapo/Mt Cook/Queenstown/Milford will take more than 3-4 days anyway, unless you want to live in your car, in which case you'll see very little of the places you're driving to. Then you'd have to rejoin your cruise - where would you do that from? Milford? Dunedin?

Flying to NZ and spending two weeks seeing one island by car, makes a whole lot more sense, and is considerably less exhausting than what you're proposing with your cruise/drive combo.

Thanks for your input. For clarity, We got the cruise at a GREAT deal, so leaving 3 days early(skipping Dunedin, 1 day at sea and 1 day fjord land cruising) would allow us to see the countryside of Lake Tapeko, Mt Cook and QT/Fjordland, then make our way to Syndey. A bit concerned about have two full days on this smaller ship etc in open water- my husband has a bit of a tendency for sea sickness. Thought these plans would check off most of our boxes. With all the places in the world to see, I am doubtful will be back to this part of the world for many many years. coming from USA so not the easiest trip either.

Silly - IMO and probably not allowed. Best check with the cruise line as I'm sure passengers have to stay on the whole planned voyage. I think you need the captain's permission to get off where you want and mostly likely this would be for some medical emergency only. Also you will have to do something about customs/immigration etc.

If you skip the fiord cruising, you may be missing one of the best parts of the cruise. Milford and Doubtful Sounds are spectacular.
I'm surprised you think you can just pick up your luggage and leave the ship. It's not as easy as that. Plus three or four days driving from Christchurch would not be nearly enough to see as much as you suggest. Plus your ship probably won't dock in Christchurch (still earthquake damage) but will probably anchor in Akaroa which is about 90 minutes by road from Christchurch.

Marg - you are right. Cruise ships go to Akaroa which is 90 minutes to Christchurch. Lyttleton is not functional for cruise ships yet.
Sweetness you will be getting off by tender and with all your luggage and then what? Go in the bus and hire a car in Christchurch?
Better to get a refund on the cruise and do a road trip in the South Island.

I'm tapped out regarding suggestions, but I look forward to hearing about how this most unconventional trip goes:)