Would love feedback on our very rough plan for New Zealand
 

We are planning to visit the South Island of New Zealand for about 3 weeks in June/July.
There will be 4 of us traveling: myself, my husband and our 2 kids (ages 9 and 10 at the time). We are mostly going for the scenery, shorter hikes (not multi-day), and some activities such as jet-boating, whale watching, possibly skiing, and maybe taking a helicopter to a glacier. My husband is an avid landscape photographer so will be up early for photos most days. We want to move at a non-rushed pace so we have plenty of time for photos and enjoying the scenery.

After looking through guidebooks, forums, and pictures, our very rough schedule is below. We would appreciate any input on what to see or where to stay. Nothing is booked yet. We like to stay in self-catering apartments when possible or at least in a family room that has a separate area for the kids to sleep, but we realize this isn't always possible.

18 June: depart England
19 June: travel
20 June: Arrive Christ Church - pick up rental car, check in and just explore the town a bit. We'd like to stay awake once arriving and just plan on a fairly early bedtime. Stay overnight in Christ Church
21 June: Drive to Kaikoura for whale watching - overnight in Christ Church
22 June: Drive Arthur's Pass - stopping whenever for photos. Is it worth heading north to Punakaiki once we reach the west coast? It looks like an interesting place, but we don't know if it's worth the detour since we plan to mostly just head south after Arthur's Pass. Overnight somewhere near Punakaiki or a bit south if we decide not to do that.
23 June - 25 June: Westland Area/Fox Glacier/Franz Josef Glacier/Gillespies Point/Lake Matheson
--- suggestions on where to stay?
26 June - 28 June: drive to Haast Pass/Mt Aspiring National Park area Lake Hawea/Lake Wanaka/possible skiing
----suggestions on where to stay?
29 June - 1 July: drive to Queenstown and do activities there - jet boating/Glenarchy/Arrowtown/gondola
----suggestions on where to stay?
2 July - 4 July: drive to Fjordland National Park - Milford Sound or Doubtful sound (we realize these might not be possible depending on snow)/Mirror Lakes/Caves?/hiking/
---suggestions where to stay?
5 July - 7 July: Mt. Cook/Lake Tekapo/Lake Pukaki/flightseeing over Mt. Cook?/Hooker Valley
---suggestions where to stay?
8 July: back to Christ Church -
9 July: Fly home
10 July: Arrive home

We realize we're missing the north part of the South Island but didn't feel like we could fit everything in. We don't want to feel rushed the entire time and would like to be in each location 2 to 3 days to allow some flexibility for bad weather. We also realize some things might not be running due to weather, and that perhaps we can't see everything above. Is there anything we're missing that people feel we really should see? We can't leave sooner than the 18th of June but we are slightly flexible on the return date if we needed to add another day or two.

Finally, we plan to rent a vehicle for our time there. Would we be fine with a regular car as long as we carry snow chains? Or should we get a 4WD vehicle? Are snow chains generally included with rental? If they are extra does anyone know approximate cost to add those on?

Thanks so much for your input. We really appreciate the feedback.

<Is it worth heading north to Punakaiki once we reach the west coast?>

Absolutely, especially if timed with high tide. It's a 40 minute drive north of Greymouth, easy to do and still get to the glaciers before dark if you plan well.

<Westland Area/Fox Glacier/Franz Josef Glacier/Gillespies Point/Lake Matheson
--- suggestions on where to stay?>

Franz Josef is bigger than Fox Glacier, meaning it has more accommodation and food options, and a nice visitor's center. Otherwise, it really doesn't matter. We've stayed at Punga Grove and Bella Vista in Franz Josef, as well as at a few others that have changed names/hands. We liked Lake Matheson Motel in Fox, no frills, but nice. Te Weheka B&B in Fox has always interested me, but we've not stayed there yet.

<29 June - 1 July: drive to Queenstown and do activities there - jet boating/Glenarchy/Arrowtown/gondola
----suggestions on where to stay?>

For no frills accomodation, there's a Bella Vista Motel in QT too, located in a quiet spot near the gondola, but still within walking distance to town. We've always enjoyed our stays at Villa Del Lago (not within walking distance to town, but quiet and they have two bedroom units) and Orchard Cottage in Arrowtown, also two bedroom.

<2 July - 4 July: drive to Fjordland National Park - Milford Sound or Doubtful sound (we realize these might not be possible depending on snow)/Mirror Lakes/Caves?/hiking/
---suggestions where to stay?>

I highly recommend The Croft, although I think their cottages are just one bedroom.

<..would like to be in each location 2 to 3 days to allow some flexibility for bad weather.>

Excellent.

<Would we be fine with a regular car as long as we carry snow chains?>

Yes. I seem to recall them being included with our rentals on all of our spring/fall/winter visits to the SI.

Note: The Croft is in Te Anau, which is a two hour drive from QT and a two hour drive from Milford.

Thanks for the info melnq8. I think from your input we'll probably take the detour to Punakaiki. I think we would plan to stay the night somewhere in the area. That way, if we want to take longer on Arthur's Pass we can. We'll just need to make it to Punakaiki by the evening. We don't care if we see the pancake rocks that evening or the next morning although we realize high tide is best. If we finish Arthur's Pass sooner than expected we can see Punakaiki that afternoon/evening and be ready to head toward the glaciers the next morning.

Thanks for the suggestions on places to stay. All looked nice. A few did not accommodate 4 people but most did.

A couple other questions:
1) I'm not sure whether we'd like to spend one night in the lodge near Mt. Cook or whether we should just spend the 3 nights we're in the area down near one of the lakes. Will the road to Mt. Cook definitely be open or is there a chance of snow blocking that out?

2) We considered a day to Akaroa either at the beginning or end of our trip. Is this worth the extra day?

3) I was just looking a bit more at the map and most days we aren't driving too far, but the day we move from Fjordland National Park area (maybe Te Anau) to the Mt. Cook/Lake Tekapo area will be quite a long drive, correct? Can anyone give me a true time of this drive? Perhaps I should add an extra day just for this drive since I don't expect we'd be able to do much once we arrive.

Thanks again for the feedback! It's very helpful.

The road to Mt Cook is fully paved and from what I understand closures are very rare.

Akaroa is well worth the time if you can spare it. I suggest you get an early start and drive via Sumner, Lyttelton and Governor's Bay, then on to Akaroa via the Tourist Summit Road. After Akaroa, I suggest you return to Christchurch via the Eastern Tourist Bay Road, and Tourist Drives 1, 2, & 3 (all well marked). We just discovered this route a few years back and we really enjoyed it. It's a full day.

Te Anau to Mt Cook will take you around six hours.

I've found this site for travel times/distances to be pretty accurate.

http://www.aatravel.co.nz/main/td-calculator.php

Yes if you can find room at a reasonable rate in Mt. Cook Village go for it.

Thanks. So we'll have to look at the hikes/activities we might want to do in the Mt. Cook area to decide how many of the nights we want to stay in Mt. Cook village (if available and within budget). We'll then plan to spend the other night or two down near the Lake Tekapo area.

I recommend the Hooker Valley track, even if the cloud is about half way up it is still interesting and not difficult.

There is a gravel road out to an overlook of the Tasman Glacier, but be sure to check on conditions of the road. The drive is quite beautiful though. There are some expensive guided float trips on the terminal lake here, conditions permitting
http://www.glacierexplorers.co.nz/glacier/glacier-trip/

Love the Mt. Cook Skiplanes, do either spa2 or spa3. I'd skimp on lodging to be able to do this again $$$!
http://www.skiplanes.co.nz/Flights/A...ne-Flights.asp

I've stayed at the YHA in Mt. Cook several times. The upstairs rooms are private and share baths. Even the bunk rooms are not bad. It's relative new and quiet for a YHA.

This is the other place to try to book,
http://www.aorakialpinelodge.co.nz/the_lodge.htm

Both places very popular and book well in advance.

Can also try Glentanner which is convenient for some of the activities although just outside the park
http://www.glentanner.co.nz/

Thanks for activity suggestions. Glacier Explorers is not open in June/July though. The skiplanes look great but quite expensive. We had hoped to do something like that though so maybe we would still add it in.

I'm starting to search for places to stay and send off enquiries for motels since many say we have to enquire during that time of year. I'm just working my way through our schedule. We had
"drive to Haast Pass/Mt Aspiring National Park area Lake Hawea/Lake Wanaka/possible skiing" on our rough schedule - estimating 3 nights and would prefer them in the same location, but it seems like there isn't anywhere to stay in the National Park itself. Is that correct? I've sent off some queries to a couple places in Makaroa. I know there is Wanaka, but thought since we're planning to stay 3 nights there might be something a little more central between the lakes and the national park. Or is Wanaka the best place to stay? Our next stop after that is the Queenstown area.

Should we book ahead for all of the activities we are planning?

We are considering using one morning or afternoon for me and my kids to go skiing. The kids have skiied a few times before, but not frequently so we'd want a fairly easy slope. Any suggestions on the best area to fit this in?

Thanks again and I'll be back with more questions as I get to them!

The only accommodation withing Mt Aspiring is trampers huts and camp grounds.

Makarora would not be my choice as a place to stay. Unless it's changed in the past few years, there's really not much there other than a combined cafe/petrol station/chalets and and it's not what I'd consider central.

Haast is likewise tiny, and unless I'm missing something (which is entirely possible) there's not much to do there other than explore the hiking tracks, which are iffy in June/July.

We once considered staying in Lake Hawea, but had difficulty finding short term accommodation. It stikes me as a summer getaway for local residents who rent summer houses and fish. It's only 10 minutes from Wanaka. It's certainly pretty though.

What are your plans for Makarora/Haast?

My husband and I have just been discussing this. We think we've decided to go straight from Fox Glacier through Haast Pass and Mount Aspiring National Park and on to Queenstown. We'll just make that a driving day. We realize that will be a bit of a long drive, but that will allow us to add a night on to other locations. We'll add a night to Queenstown and somewhere else. Our original plan for that area was just to do short hikes and possibly ski, but we'll be doing that lots of other places so I think we'll be ok just driving through this area.

We've made the Franz/Fox to QT drive many times. True, it's a long drive day, but it's certainly doable. I suggest getting an early start, which will give you time to make all the obligatory stops along the way, and still get to QT before dark. Or, you could just go as far as Wanaka and shave about 90 minutes off the drive.

Mt Aspiring can be accessed from Wanaka and Glenorchy too.

I think I would stay that night in Wanaka. It's just as convenient to skiing as Queenstown.

I've been looking online for accommodations in Queenstown for 4 people (preferably 2 bedroom) and everything is MUCH more expensive than I've found elsewhere. I realize it is a hub of activity there. Can anyone suggest any less expensive options in Queenstown or where to stay outside of town? We're now looking at probably 4 nights in/near Queenstown. We want to do jet-boating, see Arrowtown, Glenorchy, do the gondola in Queenstown, maybe some short hikes, photos at the lake, etc... Any other suggestions for locations to stay that might not cost as much?

It probably is because you are going in ski season. I don't have experience looking for 2 BR nor traveling that time of year~but I've also never found anything in Queenstown that I am enthusiastic about! If you must stay in Queenstown guess I'd look for something like Oak Shores out on Frankton.

But I think you'll do better in Wanaka or Arrowtown.

You could try a Fodors search for Queenstown skiing as I think someone here did a recent ski trip, maybe you can find their posting.

Thanks for the reply. It doesn't have to be Queenstown, but within 20 miles or so. I think Wanaka is a bit too far out since we'd like to stay in the same location and most of what we want to do is in that area. I've just sent enquiries to several places in Arrowtown and Frankton and a few other places.

Definitely because it's ski season...I'm going to be in that area in winter too, and I've noticed that rates go up July 1 for ski season.

Arrowtown is a good option. Have you looked into holiday homes?

http://www.holidayhomes.co.nz/
http://www.nzstays.co.nz/holidayhomes.aspx
http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/

Thanks Melnq8, I was looking at some of those sites last night, and emailed several in Arrowtown, Frankton, Queenstown, etc... One of them replied that 'Winter Festival' was 24 June - 4 July so that's why it's so busy and expensive. We didn't know that when planning, but we'll make do. I've gotten several replies so I should be able to find something.

We've adjusted a bit and plan to buy tickets and start making bookings soon. Here is the current plan:

18 June: depart England
19 June: travel
20 June: Arrive Christ Church - pick up rental car, check in and just explore the town a bit. We'd like to stay awake once arriving and just plan on a fairly early bedtime. Stay overnight in Christ Church
21 June: Drive to Kaikoura for whale watching - overnight in Christ Church
22 June: extra day in Christ Church area - maybe go to Akaroa - overnight Christ Church
23 June: Drive Arthur's Pass - stopping whenever for photos. Plan to reach Punakaiki before the end of the day to see the pancake rocks. Overnight near Punakaiki.

24 June: Drive to Fox Glacier area, stopping to hike to Franz Josef on the way - overnight at Fox Glacier.
25-26 June: Fox Glacier area - helihike one day, explore Lake Matheson and Gillespies Point the other. Overnight Fox Glacier
27 June: drive through Haast Pass and Mt. Aspiring National Park toward Queenstown. Overnight in Arrowtown (since Queenstown is quite busy at this time).
28-30 June: Queenstown/Glenorchy/Arrowtown area - possible jet boating, possible skiing - overnight Arrowtown
1 July - drive to Te Anau - overnight Te Anau
2-4 July - Te Anau area: Doubtful Sound one day, Milford Sound another, local area the 3rd. - overnight Te Anau
5 July - drive to Mt. Cook - stay in Mt. Cook Village
6 July - Mt Cook area - possible helicopter flight, Hooker Valley walk - overnight Mt. Cook.
7 July - Mt Cook area then drive to Lake Tekapo - overnight lake Tekapo
8 July - Lake Tekapo area - overnight Lake Tekapo
9 July - drive to Christ Church - stay near airport
10 July - depart for home

We think we might have 1 extra day and would fly out on the 11th instead of the 10th.

Any suggestions where we should add it? I thought perhaps another day at Mt. Cook since it seemed there might be several hikes in the area?? Anything sort of on the way we could add in? We considered Dunedin but think that is too far out for us to add in our schedule.

Thanks for the feedback!