Hi am planning a honeymoon trip to NZ in mid July 2012. Another young couple would be joining us. We have an outline of the trip. Its 17 day trip and mostly self drive.
I would highly appreciate if someone can help us in tweaking the itinerary and also if anyone can clarify if its a good time (Mid July) to plan the trip to NZ.

Day 1 :Arrive in Auckland
Day 2: Auckland City Tour
Day 3: (Take our Rental Car) Start to Rotorua (via Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Te Puia)- Stay Overnight in Rotorua
Day 4: Rotorua - (maybe Agrodome, Kuirau Park,paradise valley springs etc)
Day 5: Onto Wellington (Via Huka Falls, a brief stop in Lake Taupo) Overnight Wellington
Day 6: Wellington (City tour, Te Papa museum etc)
Day 7: Nelson (Ferry to Nelson) Overnight stay.
Day 8: Abel Tasman Park,Tahunanui Beach, WOW Museum etc. Overnight Stay Nelson
Day 9: Onto Punakaiki- Overnight Stay
Day 10: Pancake Rocks, Truman Track, Gibson Quay- Overnight Stay Punakaiki
Day 11: Early morning - Onto Fox Glacier - Overnight Stay- Maybe a half day tour in FOX Glacier
Day 12: (Fox Glacier Half Day tour) Head to Queenstown, Overnight Stay in Queenstown
Day 13: Queenstown (Luge Ride, Shotover Jet)
Day 14: The Milford Sound - Then to Te Anau - Overnight Stay
Day 15: Onto ChristChurch (Maybe via Mt Cook)- Overnight Stay ChristChurch
Day 16: (if not previous day -Mt cook Visit- Back to ChristChurch) Stay Night
Day 17: Head Back Home!!!!
Please give ur suggestions to tweak our honeymoon trip to the Fantasy land New Zea Land!!!
Also please explain about the Mid July Time ? is it ok/Safe to travel during that time?

Thanks in advance for all ur valuable Comments/feedbacks/Inputs...

I am trying to make the trip as relaxed as possible. I would be arriving ard Noon and There wud definitely be jet lag- so have left the Day 1 free.

If this itinerary wud be hectic- can any of u suggest more relaxing plan - maybe a combo of fly and drive?

As am coming to NZ in a long haul flight- wud love to experience as much as possible in the Country!!!

Thanks in Advance

I can't comment on your South Island itinerary, but your North Island plans look pretty good. If you want to go to Te Puia, you might want to see if you can go in the late afternoon and stay for their evening concert and hangi. We did this in 2004 and had a really good time.

Were you interested in blackwater rafting in Waitomo? It's a lot of fun and a great way to see the glowworms.

Lee Ann

Hi there

Wow what a whirlwind trip! Right so you ask whether its safe to travel in July - Yes safe to travel anytime here. July is getting into winter weather so maybe a bit chilly but as long as its fine all is well. On day 4 you could fly from Rotorua to Wellington - its a long trip in a car - giving you more time in Rotorua ( alot of tourist things to enjoy here ) and then relaxing and seeing Wellington. You have certainly packed alot into your trip and maybe a rest relax day at a day spa might be in order somewhere along the way. Good luck and if you require any help feel free to contact me ([email protected]). Enjoy your trip. Karen

Hi Mani, just a few comments.

<Day 7: Nelson (Ferry to Nelson) Overnight stay.>

The ferry from Wellington will take you to Picton, not Nelson. The drive from Picton to Nelson will take another 90 minutes.

<Day 8: Abel Tasman Park,Tahunanui Beach, WOW Museum etc. Overnight Stay Nelson>

This is a bit ambitious - Abel Tasman Nat'l Park is
about a 45 minute drive from Nelson. The WOW museum could easily fill a morning, so after the drive to Abel Tasman, you won't have much time to spend there, then you'll have to drive back to Nelson. You might consider spending the night closer to the park (like Marahau, Motueka or Kaiteriteri) to save the return drive to Nelson.

<Day 12: (Fox Glacier Half Day tour) Head to Queenstown, Overnight Stay in Queenstown>

This is also rather ambitious, as the drive from Fox to Queenstown can easily take six hours.

<Day 14: The Milford Sound - Then to Te Anau - Overnight Stay>

Just an FYI that the drive from Queenstown to Milford will take four hours, then it's two hours back to Te Anau.

<Day 15: Onto ChristChurch (Maybe via Mt Cook)- Overnight Stay ChristChurch>

Te Anau to Christchurch is 9.5 hour drive. I recommend against doing this. It is possible to drive from Te Anau to Mt Cook in a day, but it's still a 6.25 hour drive. I suggest you spend a night in Mt Cook to break up the drive.

I rather enjoy traveling in NZ in the winter months, but do be aware that the weather can be iffy, and it will be quite cold and possibly wet. Days in July are short, daylight hours will be limited. I would not recommend driving between locations at night, as the roads are very narrow and squiggly, driving conditions can be a challenge in the winter, and you'd miss the incredible scenery!