prelim itinerary to SI this may
 

Hi everyone,

If you guys can please give me some addvice. I'll be flying to New Zealand from Sydney, my first time in either place this may (mid may) have 13 days total in NZ. I'm having 2nd thoughts of even going as ppl are saying the weather is not good and that there's very few daylight hours that I'm afraid will be all eaten up by driving.

But I also think that since I am going all the way from california, I'd want a complete trip and don't see myself going back soon.

This is the preliminary itinerary i came up with from reading here and other sites.

Day 1: arrive in CHC at 1300.
Day 2: early am leave via Arthur's pass (5hrs) to Franz Josef
Day 3 franz josef

Day 4: to Wanaka 3.5 hrs
Then to queenstown
Day 5: QT
Day 6: to tenau then milford sound, stay at milford
Day 7: milford sound, kayak?, stay at miflrod
Day 8: to Mt cook, 6 hrs
day 9: Lake Tekapo
night drive to picton??

Day 10: Picton, drive to abel tazman
Day 11: abel tasman
Day 12: abel tasman
Day 13: to Kiakoura (4 hrs), whale watching

at night drive to CHC
Day 14: am flight back to Sydney


I was wondering if ppl think this is a reasonable itinearary.

I'm also wondering the drive times are listed via google maps, but they all seem like long times given the distances. which drives will take even longer b/c the are scenic and will require frequent stops???

what are peoples thoughts on mt cook. is this a feasible place to have in May? should i stay there or in lake tekapo?

any help is appreciated. I'm having too many 2nd thoughts and doubting that this trip will ever happen.

Hi Kevin. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to visit NZ in May. As far as I'm concerned the only bad time to visit NZ is the height of the summer season! Weather can be an issue in NZ year round, so you really can't plan around it anyway. I've visited NZ in August, during the winter, and it was one of my favorite times to visit. I'd think May would be great. Just be prepared for any kind of weather, and you'll be fine.

You'll find that some activities are curtailed during the off season - for example, you might want to make sure kayaking is offered in May. Also, snow might be an issue at Milford Sound, but fear not, even during winter, they do their best to keep the roads open and clear. Water taxis into Abel Tasman run on a reduced schedule during the off season too, so you'll want to plan a little bit. Some tracks are difficult to access during the off season as bridges are removed for the winter, but there are plenty that won't be affected. Abel Tasman won't be affected by bridge removals, but it is tidal, so you'll need to check the tide charts before setting out on a walk.

Just a few comments about your itinerary -

Day 8 - the drive from Milford to Mt Cook is 550 km, so you're looking at close to eight hours, longer with stops.

Day 9 - The drive from Lake Tekapo to Picton is 562 km and will take at least 8 hours. Why do you want to drive it at night? Is Picton just for an overnight?

Mt Cook is worth a visit if the weather is clear. Problem is, it may be a beautiful day as you approach the turn off to Mt Cook, but often (in my experience anyway) it's cloudy, raining and overcast by the time you actually reach the village. You never know until you try though.

Lake Tekapo is a good place to overnight - it's about 90 minutes from Mt Cook. BUT staying there will add another 90 minutes to an already very LONG drive day (Day 8). Lake Tekapo offers more lodging options than the village of Mt Cook. Twizel is another option.

You'll be spending an awful lot of time in your car, and I think Days 8 and 9 are too ambitiious. If you do run into weather issues, you might regret not spending more time in a given area.

Why are you driving to Picton to get to Abel Tasman. You would be better off going through the Lewis Pass and bypassing Picton. This way would get you to Nelson, or Motueka if you didn't want to go to Nelson itself.

Alternatively, drive to Kaikoura on Day 9, do the whale watching, then drive via Blenheim to Nelson to get to Abel Tasman, after Abel Tasman drive back to Christchurch via the Lewis Pass.

I agree with Nelsonian. That part of your itinerary needs to be reworked a bit.

yeah i'm def appreciating the input. I was looking at my driving, and thought that arthur's pass put too much of a weird route on the map.

This is my revised one, so i wouldn't have to drive from way south to picton.

Day 1 arrive CHC at 1300, drive to Lake Tekapo (4 hrs 180 mi)
Day 2 Mt cook, lake pukaiki
Day 3 Mt Cook

Is this too many days there?

Day 4 To Tenau (4.5 hrs 180 mi)
doubtful sound
Day 5 to Milford via road, 2 hrs 80 miles
evening cruise, overnight at milford lodge
Day 6: kayak in am

to Queenstown (3.5 hrs, 160 miles)
Day 7: QT

Is this enough time in QT? looking for city break, but def not gonna be into bungee jumping or other crazy adventure sports. What else is there to do?

Day 8 To Franz Josef, pass fox glacier. (4.5 hrs, 220 mi)
Day 9: Franz Josef
Is is worthwhile to do both? or is one superior than the other

afternoon drive to abel tasman (225 miles, 6 hrs?)
why does 220 miles take 6 hours? in the states that'll take me 3-4 hours max. Is this a particularly winding road?

Day 10: abel tazman
Day 11: abel tasman

Day 12: to Kaikoura, (5 hrs, 220 mi)
whale watching/dolphin swim

Day 13: to CHC (2.5 hrs, 110 mi)
what to do on this last day?? is CHC a good place or a boring city? should i use this day somewhere else?

Day 14: fly t syd in am

melnq, kiwirob, nelson I reallly appreciate your input. I'm having less anxiety now that you guys are saying may is still a decent time to visit.

please give any additional inputs to my itinerary, esp if you feel like i'm rushing through any bits, overlooking something truly fantastic, doing redudant things, etc.

Kevin -

I'm having a little trouble understanding your itinerary.

Are you planning one night in Tekapo, two nights in Mt Cook? If so, I think one night in Mt Cook is plenty, unless you have specific plans for hikes, etc. Mt Cook village is tiny, and if the weather is bad, you'll be limited on what you can do. Lodging in Mt Cook is very limited too.

Day 4 - are you planning on the Doubtful Overnight trip? If so, you'll need to be at Lake Manapouri by mid-day, as I think the trip leaves around noon (?). You'll have to leave Mt Cook pretty early.

So on Day 5, you're driving from Lake Manapouri to Milford and spending the night in Milford?

As for what there is to do in QT - boat trips, walks, casinos, shopping, restaurants, pubs, adventure activities, you name it.

The drive from QT to Franz Josef is closer to six hours, longer with stops. Don't underestimate the travel times - NZ roads are single lane, often very winding and it can be slow going. AND it's gorgeous, so there are many reasons to stop along the way.

You can stop and see Fox on your way to Franz Josef, but you may not have time to walk to the terminal face. The glaciers are similar, one isn't really better than the other, but you might as well see both if you have time.

Franz Josef to Motueka, which is a town near the entrance to Abel Tasman is 471 km and will take you closer to seven hours. Forget the states, this is a different animal entirely - we're talking about single lane, very winding roads.

Day 12 - do you plan to stay overnight in Kaikoura?

No, CHCH isn't boring. There's plenty to do - just depends on your particular interests and how hard you look.

As Melnq8 (may I call you Mel?) says, these roads bear no comparison to those that you may be accustomed to in the States. The road surfaces are good, but the winding nature of some of the coastal route makes the going a bit slow. In any event, you will be passing some pretty good coastal scenery in the drive north of Greymouth, so you wouldn't want to be roaring through there without the chance to stop and have a look anyway.

rob - yes you may!

Thank you, kind lady.

anyone else have any other suggestions, tips? Thanks for any input