SI Itinerary Advice - Feb 2016
 

Hi everyone,

I've read as much advice as I can absorb from here and have put together the following itinerary for hubby and I. We're not great walkers / hikers but love the outdoors / nature / good food and wine and love spending time driving / stopping / photographing. So I would appreciate any advice on whether this itinerary makes sense for us.

Day 1 6/02/16 Arrive Christchurch o’n Christchurch
Day 2 7/02/16 Christchurch to Hokitika o’n Hokitika
Day 3 8/02/16 Hokitika to Franz Josef o’n Franz Josef
Day 4 9/02/16 Franz Josef to Wanaka o’n Wanaka
Day 5 10/02/16 Wanaka 1.2 fay eco tour o’n Wanaka
Day 6 11/02/16 Wanaka to Queenstown o’n Queenstown
Day 7 12/02/16 Q’town-Arrowtown-Glenorchy o’n Queenstown
Day 8 13/02/16 Queenstown o’n Queenstown
Day 9 14/02/16 Queenstown to Te Anau o’n Te Anau
Day 10 15/02/16 Te Anau to Milford Sound o’n Te Anau
Day 11 16/02/16 Drive Te Anau to Twizel o’n Twizel
Day 12 17/02/16 Mt. Cook/Lake Tekapo o’n Twizel
Day 13 18/02/16 Christchurch o’n Christchurch
Day 14 19/02/16 Around C/church o’n Christchurch
Day 15 20/02/16 Christchurch / fly home

Hi Ruthie -

Your itinerary makes a lot of sense! I generally suggest two nights at the glaciers, but because you're not walkers and are arriving from Hoki, you'll have the better part of a day to explore... and those long February days will be in your favor.

Twizel to Tekapo and back to Twizel involves backtracking. I suggest visiting Tekapo on Day 13 instead, on your way to Christchurch.

You might be interested in taking the back roads up to Christchurch via 72 from Geraldine. Pretty drive, but takes a bit longer. I don't have my NZ map handy so can't give the details, but it's via Rakaia Gorge.

So refreshing to see a realistic NZ itinerary, well done!

Thanks Mel. It's all thanks to your and others great advice on other threads.

However ..... We had a slight rethink and may actually do the trip in the opposite order, mainly to cut out the very long day driving Te Anau to Twizel. So the itinerary may now be

1 nt Christchurch
2 nts Twizel
3 nts Queenstown
2 nts Te Anau
2 nts Wanaka
1 nt Franz Josef
1 nt Hokitika or maybe Punakaiki
2 nts Christchurch

What do you think? Which makes most sense and easiest driving?

Thanks as always for all help on this forum.

That'll work too, but Punakaiki will involve a 45 minute round trip detour, unless of course you're thinking about taking Lewis Pass instead of Arthur's Pass? The show depends on the tide, so do check tide charts (having said that, we planned our visit around high tide and nothing happened, I'm told it's better in the summer though, so you may fare better). Expect sandflies.

Is there a reason you're staying in Twizel instead of Mount Cook? You will have to make the round trip into Mount Cook and back...again no drama, but staying in Mount Cook will give you a full day to explore it, whereas otherwise you're driving in and out on the same day.

Both itineraries are doable.

Te Anau to Twizel is about 357 kms, not a lot to the average Aussie, but yeah, it will be a long drive, time-wise, as that's just how it goes in NZ. Lots of stopping, exploring and photo taking opportunities. Very long days in February though.

Thanks again. Decided to keep with the first itinerary as hubby had already planned out available accommodation and I didn't want to upset the cart on this :)

Ruthie, we may run into you on our trip. If we do, I'll be sure to say Hi. :)

We are doing:
2/5-2/7 - Christchurch
2/8 - Mt Cook
2/9-2/10 - QT
2/11-2/13 - Te Anau
2/14-2/15 - Wanaka
2/16-2/17 - Franz Joseph
2/18 - Hokitika
2/19 - Christchurch

Have fun!