South Island in 8 days - Blanks in plan, please help
 

My husband and I wil be flying from Melbourne into Christchurch on Jan 5th (arriving at night) and leaving on Jan 13th from Christchurch (morning) to go back to NYC. I know this is a short trip, but we would like to focus on the natural beauty highlights of the region. We're not very adventurous people and don't care for the bungee jumping, etc. We plan to drive around. Please help me fill in my ? and blanks. I am open to any suggestions. If I am being to ambitious please let me know. I won't take offense. Help is all I ask for. Because we are doing a circle, our main problems are whether to (1) add a night between Franz Josef/Te Anau, and if so, where? (2) skip Queenstown and (3) add a night between Te Anau/Christchurch, and if so, where?

Jan 5 - Arrive at night to Christchurch, pick up rental car. Overnight: Christchurch

Jan 6 - Drive via Arthur's Pass to Franz Josef, Overnight: Franz Josef

Jan 7 - See glacier. Overnight: ? Should we stay in Franz Josef or drive to Queenstown? Should we skip Queenstown if we don't care for the adventurous stuff?

Jan 8 - We're debating on whether to skip Queenstown and just drive straight to Te Anau from Franz Josef this morning. Is this doable? If not where should we do an overnight? Overnight: ?

Jan 9-11 - NEED HELP HERE We want to explore fjordland as much as we can and need to end up back in Christchurch by the 12th. We'll definitely do a day trip from Te Anau to Milford or Doubtful Sound. The drive from Te Anau to Christchurch is long. Should we stay somewhere in between? If so where? Or just start early on the 12th from Te Anau for Chirstchurch?

Jan 12 - We'd have to be back in Christchurch for our flight the next morning. Overnight: Christchurch

Jan 13 - Fly back from Christchurch

Thank you very, very much.

I'm looking at the map of the island/reading, and thinking for my questions:
(1) add a night between Franz Josef/Te Anau, and if so, where?
(3) add a night between Te Anau/Christchurch, and if so, where?

Spend one night in Wanaka and one night it Lake Tekapo for the in betweens? Thoughts?

We are also open to skipping the Glacier if it makes sense to do Queenstown instead. Help!

Based on your interests and schedule and my 3 trips to New Zealand, here are my recommendations. Note that the driving times come from Google Maps and your driving times will likely be longer to include food breaks, scenery stops, and waits for sheep (yes, it does happen.) Also, remember that it won't be sunset until around 9pm so you can drive until late.
I've included Queenstown on this itinerary because it's got a lot of gorgeous scenery (in a country full of gorgeous scenery) and there are many things to do there that don't involve adventure sports.
I've also included some activities in Christchurch because you don't mention doing anything there. It's a lovely English town in the middle of New Zealand with some great attractions that are worth visiting.
Finally, you don't say what you plan to do in Franz Josef besides "see glacier". Unless you plan to do a helihike or to do a hike on the glacier, then I'm not sure I would include it. I don't think it would be worth the drive just to look at the glacier. Finally, be aware that fog often grounds the helicopters (it happened on two of the days we were there), so you might want a backup plan in case your helihike gets cancelled.

Jan 6: Drive CCH to Franz Josef via Arthur's Pass (5 hours)
Take a short hike in Arthur's Pass and/or drive to
Fox Glacier, etc.
Overnight in Franz Josef

Jan 7: Tour FJ Glacier, either by helihike or half-day hike
Drive to Wanaka, (3.5 hours) and overnight there

Jan 8: Walk around Lake Wanaka, visit Puzzling World, etc.
Drive to Te Anau (2.5 hours) in time to do 7pm or
8:15 pm glow worm caves tour--not to be missed
Overnight in Te Anau

Jan. 9: Milford Sound cruise or Doubtful Sound cruise
Drive to Queenstown (2.5 hours) Overnight QT

Jan 10: Visit sights in Queenstown--Walter Peak High
Country Farm Tour and Cruise on vintage
steamship, Gondola ride to peak overlooking
QT (www.skyline.co.nz) and take short hike for
great views; drive to Kawarau Bridge to
watch bungy jumpers (fun!)
Overnight QT

Jan 11: Drive to CCH (7 hours), leisurely, and enjoy the
scenery. If you take the coastal route, the half-way
point is near Hampden where you can find the
Moeraki Boulders. I think you will find them
fascinating and there's a nice cafe there for lunch.
Overnight Christchurch

Jan 12: Start the day with a romantic punt ride on the River
Avon in Christchurch. Visit the interesting
(and free) Canterbury Museum. Tour the Cathderal.
Walk around town and enjoy the sights. (Note: We
enjoyed going to the International Antarctic Center.
But the U.S. dollar was strong against the NZ dollar
then. Now, I would find the admission pretty steep,
but it still may be something you'd like to do.)

Jan 13: Depart Christchurch

Longhorn, thank you SO much. This is exactly what I was looking for. Based on what you said, and we've been discussing, I think we're going to skip Franz Josef. Here is our revised itinerary. Please comment. Confused about how much time to allocate to Te Anau, Queenstown and Christchurch. Decision to make is where to spend the night on Jan 9.

Jan 6 - Arrive at night to Christchurch, pick up rental car, Overnight: Christchurch

Jan 7 - Drive to Wanaka, Overnight: Wanaka

Jan 8 - Exolore Wanaka, Drive to Te Anau, Do glow worm caves, Overnight: Te Anau

PLAN A
Jan 9 - Milford Sound -- Can we drive from our hotel in Te Anau to Milford for the ride? Or are we better arranging a charter through the boat operator? OVERNIGHT: TE ANAU

Jan 10 - Drive to Queenstown, Overnight Queenstown

Jan 11 - Explore Queenstown, Overnight: Queenstown or fly to Christchurch?

Jan 12 - Fly to Christchurch

Jan 13- Flight to NYC

PLAN A
Jan 9 - Milford Sound -- Can we drive from our hotel in Te Anau to Milford for the ride? Or are we better arranging a charter through the boat operator? OVERNIGHT: QUEENSTOWN

Jan 10 - Explore Queenstown, Overnight: Queenstown

Jan 11 - Fly to Christchurch, Overnight: Christchurch

Jan 12 - Exolore Christchurch, Overnight Christchurch

Jan 13- Flight to NYC