mb54

Hello to all Fodorites!

Wish I'd found you before I coonfirmed some of these plans - but....I'm hoping for suggestions and advice for our NZ trip. We'll be there soon! Last 2 weeks of October. I'm going to divide this request for help into South and North Island - this one is our itinerary for the first week.

1st day(Sunday): arrive Auckland early morning, catch connecting flight to Christchurch, reservation at Grand Chancellor in city center - got a great deal booking directly. Plan to walk off the jet lag by visiting the city center & Botanical Gardens, maybe a punt ride - maybe bus over to the gondola for views and ocean air. Any "don't miss this" advice or restaurants? Not fancy/expensive but good local fare.

2nd day(M): we're on the Tranzalpine, picking up the rental car in Greymouth then a leisurely long drive to Haast. I'm hoping for good weather and to make that 200 mile drive in less than 6 hours. We chose not to stay overnight at the glaciers as so many do because I want to go to Monro beach for a chance to see the rare penguins in their natural habitat. I understand that's best done at dawn or dusk. Know we'll stop at the glaciers, but any advice on scenic or tea break stops along the way?

3rd day(Tu): Driving to Queenstown - Have reservation for this nite and next 3 nites in Queenstown. Plan to do several short walks off Haast Pass highway including the Blue Pools. Stop in Wanaka late lunch. Would route thru and maybe dinner in Arrowtown be advisable? Recommendations?

4th day(W): Milford f/c/f 8AM - weather permitting. How to spend afternoon if we're back by noon, and the next day? Thinking jet boat-heli-gondola combo & Earnslaw-peak farm for sure. Maybe the Queenstown Heritage trip? Drive to Glenorchy? The Deer Farm? I'd like to see that bungee bridge - Kawarau?

5th day(Th): the free day! Please see my questions from the 4th day. Recommendations? If we were to splurge on one terrific restaurant for dinner, what would you choose?

6th day(F): Catlin Coast guided tour

7th day(Sa): another long drive day to Christchurch - figure to get there by 5:00PM will fly to Rotorua Sunday morning (07:10AM flight Can anyone tell me exactly where the bronze statue of the Farmer with the Sheep Dog is. I remember this from my 1980 trip. In the interval I had 2 border collie girl dogs and I'd like to see this place again.


I discovered this website a few days ago and can hardly believe what a find it has been - I apologize for the lengthiness of this "note" - I've tried to edit it down. I'm just so excited about this trip. Thanks to everyone who's written anything to anybody -I've learned loads! MB

mlgb

Since it's Sunday, you can catch the Arts Centre weekend market in Christchurch, 10-4. Dux de Luxe has fresh local fish, a wide range of veggies, and brew their own beers (including ginger beer). Its also in the Arts Centre, as is Annie's Wine Bar.

In Arrowtown, Saffron and Postmaster's House are the two big name restaurants. You'll need reservations.

I remember a bronze statue of a collie at Lake Tekapo, but was there a farmer?

I wouldn't try to schedule the extra day with activities. You may just want to use it somewhere along the way to catch your breath, or to wait out some weather for a day.

Tim_and_Liz

Maybe I missed something, but Haast was not a place I would wish to stay a night. If you could do Fox or Wanaka instead, I would.

You can see the Kawarau bungy bridge on your drive from Haast to Queenstown-- you'll pass right by it.

Check the timing of the Earnslaw farm tour-- some days the latest tour is at 2pm, I think.

Can you really do a Catlin coast tour from Queenstown? It would be a very long day. I would skip it and spend your time in the Queenstown area.

We loved the gondola and luge up at Bob's Peak, Queenstown for fantastic views.

Jed

We did the TA, got car, saw Punakiaki rocks (recommended), then went to Fox, got there about 8 PM. It was a long drive. Haast is even longer.

You can do Arrowtown and bungie (recommended) as a day trip from QT. It would be more relaxing.

Please explain 'Catlin guided tour'. One of our favorite memories was seeing the penguins waddle into the ocean at 6 AM at the Catlins.

On day 7, you could drop off car in Dunedin and fly to Rotorua. It would save a lot of time, driving, and a useless stay in QT. That is what we did.

mb54

Hi again - don't know how I screwed that up - was trying to edit and somehow posted it. And Jed - wish I'd had your idea of flying from Dunedin, but alas I have my flight booked (and paid for) to fly from Christchurch.

I have a relatively quick question about time on the North Island - I've made Rotorua our base for 3 days/nites (S,M,Tu) and we don't need to be in Auckland until Thurs nite - where would you go Wed. morning?

Thanks to all again - MBB

mlgb

If the weather is good, State Hwy 25 around the Coromandel Peninsula. Nice walk to Cathedral Cove is one of the highlights, and the beaches near Kuaotunu (not really swimming season, but pretty).

Tim_and_Liz

mb54-
Consider flying from Dunedin to Christchurch the evening of Day 7. We did and it cost a mere $70pp. How much would it cost to change your tickets to fly DUD-Rotorua? You may find it worth doing so.

Salandos

Kia ora,

I too suggest you re-think a few things as above suggestions do.

First - staying in haast ? Perhaps Fox or Franz a better place to stay.

I too recommend Saffron or Post master in arrowtown for your special meal out. Both fantastic (locals choice - so need to book)

If you like good coffee - and want to go somewhere where locals go try Joe's Garage (in Arrowtown and Q'town).

You have 2 choices for driving from Wanaka to Q'town - one via Cromwell (which till take you past the bungie) and one over the Crown Range. Both spectacular - but I would go for the Crown Range as the view over the Wakatipu Basin is second to none (you can stop at the bungie when you leave Q'town for ChCH - as long as you are not racing to the Catlins - or if you go to the vineyards I suggest below)

The Catlins is beautiful - but sadly I think you should flag it. It will take 3-4 hours to get there from Q'town. It also means you have a very long drive from the Catlins to ChCh. While it is an Ok drive with some interesting sights on the way (Dunedin Scottish architecture/ Moreraki Boulders etc) the drive I suggest below is by far more spectacular.

I suggest you stay around Q'town - then drive from Q'town to ChCh (through the McKenzie Country.) This will take you to Tekapo (and the collie dog bronze statue / beautiful church on the lake).

Will also ensure that you see Mt Cook / Mt Tasman - and indeed you could go to Mt Cook village and stay at the Hermitage a night.

Other suggestions for Q'town are:
- Dart River jet - leaving from Glenorchy (just fantastic as takes you to the base of Mt Aspiring National Park )
- spend a day tasting NZ pinot Noir (most southern produced wine ) at the Gibbston Valley vineyards (where you can see the bungie too)
- potter around Arrowtown / pan for gold etc
- one evening have a cheap and cheerful meal in Arrowtown (pizza/ pasta/ noddle options available) and go to the movies at Dorothy Browns in Arrowtown (small theatre)
- have a longer day in Fiordland - ie in addition to scenic flight do a boat trip so you get out into Milford Sound
- hang out !

Have fun. Enjoy

swagman

Salandos

I'll be driving from Queenstown back up towards Marlborough in about 2 weeks' time. Given it being quite a long trip, I intend to stay overnight at one of the towns on the West Coast, tentatively Hokitika. Do you recommend that? What's the drive like from Q'town to Hokitika?

mb54, sorry to intrud on your thread.

S

Salandos

Swagman - I have not done that drive for sometime so can't help on timing. Road a typical SI road though. And yes you should break the trip with at least one overnight stay. You might also like to have a night in Nelson before getting to Marlborough. As to where to stay I would ask people along the way (as I perhaps would see from different eyes). At this time of year can't imagine will be a problem re availability (though watch long weekend around 20/21/22 oct).

mb54

Hi and thanks to all who've written - I'm growing more and more flexible - thinking hard about Dunedin - I just got back from a short filial duty trip to the midwest and am back on the kiwi track again. We're heading out Friday - the countdown begins - happy travels to one and all! MB