Auntie_Em

Hey there! Could you give me your thoughts and suggestions on my itinerary? I've whittled it down to this after a LOT of help!
Reaching Christchurch late evening on the 1st of May. Trip starts May 2 onwards!

Christchurch:
May 2: one-hour open top double decker tour of the city (to get acquainted) in the morning, visit the Antarctic Centre in the afternoon. Re: Start Mall
May 3: Multi-attraction city pass (tram, gondola and botanical gardens tour) and maybe a walking tour of Christchurch at 11 a.m. if time permits.

Lake Tekapo:
May 4: leave for Tekapo from Christchurch by coach in the morning. 1 hour ice skating lessons at Tekapo Springs in the afternoon! Earth and Sky stargazing at Mt. John's observatory at night.

Mt. Cook:
May 5: reach Mt.Cook early morning by coach. Glacier Explorers tour at 11 a.m. conducted by the Hermitage Hotel. Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre in the afternoon. Big Sky stargazing at night. (Looking forward to the meteor shower!)
May 6: Hooker Valley guided walk - full or half day depending on how lazy I get!
May 7: Rest day because I'm pretty sure I'll need it!

Wanaka:
May 8: reach late evening. (Cook connection shuttle to Wanaka via Twizel)
May 9: Skydiving in the morning! Lake Wanaka in the afternoon. Cinema Paradiso for a movie later in case I want to unwind.
May 10: Jetboat and wilderness walk (at 11 a.m.) half day tour by Wanaka River Journeys.
May 11: Puzzling world and sightseeing. (River Clutha, maybe?)

Dunedin:
May 12: (If Alpine Connexions runs their Otago Rail Travel Transport that day - They said they would if there is demand on that day - then Taieri Gorge Railway from Wanaka to Pukerangi and then to Dunedin.) If not, Wanaka to Dunedin by a regular coach run by the same company.
May 13: Headfirst Travels tour - Larnach Castle + Cadbury + Speights - in the morning. Pending the purchase of tickets - Highlanders vs. Crusaders super rugby match in the evening!
May 14: (saturday) Farmer's Market in the morning. Elm's Wildlife tour in the afternoon.

Te Anau:
May 15: coach to Te Anau reaching late evening.
May 16: Milford Sounds coach tour by Rosco's Kayaks.

Queenstown:
May 17: morning coach to Queenstown. Kawarau Bungy - if I'm feeling brave. And try the Fergburger, because I must!
May 18: Glenorchy day trip - Coach in the morning, sighsee, return coach late afternoon.
May 19: Arrowtown OR Skyline Queenstown and Luge.

Franz Josef:
May 20: reaching late evening by coach.
May 21: Heli-Hike with glacier guides.
May 22: --- same as above --- in case the weather doesn't permit the previous day.

Hokitika:
May 23: Morning coach to Hokitika. Jade Carving session at Lake Mahinapua hotel at 3 p.m.
May 24: Hokitika Gorge in the morning (arrange transport from the i-Site or hostel!) Treetop Walkway in the afternoon.

Nelson:
May 25: afternoon coach to Nelson. 45-mins stop at Punaikiki Rocks en route. reaching late evening.
May 26: Abel Tasman Kayak and Walk tour.
May 27: --- same as above --- in case the weather doesn't permit the previous day. (sightseeing around during the free day)

Picton:
May 28: Marlborough Sounds wine tour (yet to decide which one to choose!)
May 29: The Hobbit Barrel Run Kayak tour OR Cruise Ship Tour of River Pelorus by Pelorus Eco Adventures.

Wellington:
May 30: Afternoon Interislander ferry to Wellington.
May 31: Te Papa Museum and the Parliament
June 1: WETA There and Back Again tour.
June 2: Sightseeing (cable car, gardens, etc.)

Rotorua:
June 3: Late morning flight. Reach Rotorua at 1 p.m. Skyline Rotorua and Luge in the afternoon.
June 4: Geyser Link Shuttle full day or half day tour with Headfirst Travels.
June 5: Waitomo and Hobbiton ex-Rotorua with Headfirst Travels.

Taupo:
June 6: Morning coach to Taupo. Huka Falls cruise in the afternoon.
June 7: Half-Day Maori Carving kayak tour in the morning. Coach to Auckland at 4 p.m.

Auckland:
June 7: reach Auckland at 7 p.m.
June 8: Rangitoto cruise or Kayak.
June 9: Waiheke day trip (any winery tour suggestions?)
Jun 10: Coromandel day trip - if weather permits. Else sightseeing around town.
Jun 11: (saturday) America's Cup Sailing Experience in the morning. Or if I am nearly broke by this time, a trip to the Farmer's Market! All Blacks vs. Wales test match at Eden Park in the evening!

Whangarei/Paihia:
Jun 12: morning coach to Whangarei and see the falls. Sightseeing. Night coach to Paihia. (or skip Whangarei altogether, if I have to and go directly to Paihia.)
Jun 13: Cape Reinga day trip ex-Paihia with either Dolphin Cruises or Nakedbus.
Jun 14: Discover Hokianga day trip with Dolphin Cruises - if it runs on that day. Else a quick trip to the Waitangi Treaty Ground.

Auckland:
Jun 15: Morning coach to Auckland. Sightseeing (Kelley Tarlton's Aquarium and so on.) Pack my bags in the evening!
Jun 16: Early morning flight back home.


Flights booked! Cannot believe I'm going to be in NZ in 2 months time! Once the itinerary is decided, it's full-steam ahead! :: squee ::

Melnq8

Looks like a very well thought out plan.

How did I not know there was a treetop walkway near Hoki? I've actively sought them out in Australia, but had no idea there was one in NZ and I've been there a dozen times! Good on you for teaching me something new!

Diamantina

Well done! I agree it looks well planned, and that you've given yourself sufficient days in each place. I also think you inventively used your public transportation and tour options to satisfy your sightseeing and activity wish-list. I also think it's great how you have a few extra days here and there, in case weather affects your plans. Your research is probably thorough, but please double-check that all your planned tours will operate at this time of year (I'm impressed by how you've contacted some personally already).

Taking the open-top double decker bus tour of Christchurch seems like a great way of orienting yourself, as well as seeing top central city attractions. The Antarctic Center, which is next to the airport, has a free shuttle from the city center. http://www.iceberg.co.nz/general-inf...press-shuttle/

Your second day looks good, too: relaxed, time to see more of the city (I enjoy wandering around on my own, and getting a little lost). I'm a little surprised you eliminated the same-day TranzAlpine trip as you previously expressed such strong interest. But you can always change your mind between now and then as the train is not likely to be full in May. If I had a free day in Christchurch, I'd take the shuttle to Akaroa for the dolphin cruise (or swim)--but I like dolphins and boats.

Tekapo looks good. Mt. Cook Village looks great: 3 nights, one day on which you do nothing. If the weather is poor on the day for which you schedule your guided walk of Hooker Valley, will they give you the option of switching to the following day? You don't need to take a guided walk (it's an easy walk, about 2.5 to 3 hours return, nearly flat or gently climbing on a well-maintained track), but I can see clear advantages: you get transport to the start of the track (as opposed to having to walk from the village, which would add to your walking time and could be a drag if it's raining), you can enjoy the company of others and meet new people, and you can learn about the area from the guide(s).

I see if your skydiving can't happen in Wanaka on May 8, you can try again two days later. Otherwise, how will you get to Puzzling World? If you can't arrange public transport or manage a ride there, I think you'll find plenty else to do in Wanaka.

Dunedin looks good. Good luck with the weather (I'll be elsewhere in May)! But there are plenty of indoor as well as outdoor things to fill your time. Forsyth Barr Stadium is NZ's only covered rugby stadium, so weather shouldn't affect you there.

If the weather is nice on your last day in Wellington, consider visiting Zealandia, after taking the Cable Car and looking around the Botanic Garden. If you go to Zealandia, make sure you get there in time for the guided walking tour (which is free after paying for admission). This is not a zoo, but an exceptional "mainland island" ecosanctuary. Here, you can see North Island species (rare native birds, tuataras, wetas) that you won't be seeing on the Elm Wildlife Tour. There is a free shuttle to Zealandia from the I-Site visitor centre and from the top of the botanic garden and cable car. They also have night tours on which kiwis are sometimes seen, but the shuttle does not operate at night, so probably wouldn't work for you.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/Attrac...th_Island.html
Zealandia shuttle schedule:
http://www.visitzealandia.com/plan-y.../free-shuttle/

Auntie_Em

Melnq8 - Thanks! I discovered it quite by accident actually. Was simply researching things to do in Hoki way back when, and came across this one on Tripadvisor. I've never been on a treetop walkway before! Definitely looking forward to this.

Auntie_Em

Diamantina - Thanks a lot! I absolutely will double-check with the tour operators and the hostels confirming availability. Planning to do so this weekend in fact, and again a couple of days before leaving. I am paranoid that way! But, I will need to do so in case I have to make alternate plans. I like being stress-free while holidaying, so I prefer dealing with frustrations beforehand!

I am quite disappointed I left out the Tranzalpine, because I've been very interested ever since I heard about it. But, at the end of the day, I simply could not justify dropping $200 on a return train journey over actually seeing the city I was staying in. To do the train ride and the sightseeing, I would have to eliminate a day from Mt. Cook, and I simply didn't want to so! Ergo, I left it out.

Same deal with the Northern Explorer. Since I eliminated Hamilton altogether, and Waitomo can be done as a day trip from Rotorua, it gave me some extra days to contend with. After much deliberation (between Catlins, Picton and Hawke's Bay) I decided to use the extra days to halt at Picton and check out Marlborough Sounds and Pelorus river. I had to make peace with the fact that I can't cover every inch of the country with the time I have - even if that time is longer than what most people have! People look at me funny when I crib that 45 days in NZ is not enough!

Nevertheless, my fingers are still crossed and I hope the Taieri Gorge works out on the day I'm travelling to Wanaka. Else, I'm going to have to rationalise by telling myself that it's not like I haven't seen or been on trains before. It's the easiest way to get from point A to point B in India and I use them almost daily! I'm trying to focus on the things that I CAN do over the things I have to miss out on.

At Mt. Cook, that was exactly my idea behind choosing the guided walk of Hooker Valley. It'll eliminate my transport worries and help me meet a few people. Also, it will be May so I don't want to be on an alpine region by myself caught unaware by a change in weather!

Regarding Wanaka, I figured I'd find some people who were on their way there and latch onto them like a leech!
Or maybe just walk, if I have to. And you're right. There are plenty of other things to do in case that doesn't pan out.

Good luck to you on your trip in May. I'm escaping the heat here in India, and you're looking to get away from the damp and cold!

I did wonder about what I could do on the last day at Wellington. Looks like I just found it. Zealandia it is! Thanks for the info on the free shuttle!

Now once I figure out what wineries I could tour in Marlborough and Waiheke, I will be set.

tasmangirl

Great itinerary and such attention to detail - congratulate yourself on a job well done.
Waiheke is a great choice and why not go on a tour of several wineries? It would be really hard to pick the best. Some people like the 'big boys' of Cable Bay and Mudbrick but there are others just as nice.
The Batch is in an awesome spot on top of the hill with a great 360 degree view and pretty good wines. I've had an amazing lunch at Peacock Sky but it has no sea view.
Te Motu is my favourite and has a restaurant called 'The Shed' and that's my top pick for great food. I sound slightly OTT about Waiheke's wines but I have drunk a lot of sav in my life and the Te Motu sav is the best I have had ever.
We always go on Around Waiheke wine tours (because they have a discount coupon thing in Grabone) www.aroundwaiheke.co.nz but there are other tours such as Ananda Tours www.ananda.co.nz and Fuller's Ferries run Wine on Waiheke. You really can't go wrong with any of them. If you are into gin then go to Dellow's.
Have a wonderful holiday here in NZ!

Diamantina

After I posted my reply, I immediately thought I should again emphasize your Christchurch itinerary looks fine, and by raising other options, I wasn't meaning to confuse you with more choices!

You won't need a tour to see the meteor shower. If it's a clear night, you just have dress warmly, go outside and look up at the sky. You'll definitely need patience.

Someone asked about wineries on the Waiheke public bus route on TA last year. See:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/ShowTo...th_Island.html

If you're catching Fuller's or Explore Waiheke from the ferry building, they'll let you off at Waiheke's Matiatia Wharf. The local buses leave from here. There's a map at the end of this Waiheke ferry and bus schedule (please double check the ferry times when you get there):
https://at.govt.nz/media/1531057/wi_...-2015_-web.pdf
If you buy an Auckland-Waiheke return ferry ticket with Fuller's, I think it's only $10 more for an all-day Waiheke bus pass. Fuller's operates a Vineyard Hopper bus, but I don't think it operates in May (please check this). Fuller's also offers a variety of Waiheke tours.

This map is even better because you can zoom in on it and it shows some walking tracks:
http://www.beaccessible.org.nz/__dat...essable-03.pdf

In addition to the wineries suggested on TA, you have the option of catching a short bus ride to the stop closest to Cable Bay Vineyards (near Oneroa village). The bus driver should be able to tell you where to get off. Or you can walk from the ferry terminal to this winery (it's uphill, but not horribly steep).

From the bus stop, you'll need to walk less than 10 minutes uphill (signs will direct you). Mudbrick Winery is just a few minutes walk beyond Cable Bay Vineyards. Both wineries have gorgeous bay views, good wines, restaurants, and steep wine tasting fees (small vineyards with limited production). Jurassic Ridge's cellar door is also up here (I haven't visited this one); their website provides good directions on how to get to it from the ferry teminal. See:
http://www.jurassicridge.co.nz/find-us/

When done, there's a walking track to Matiatia Wharf that starts near the entrance to Cable Bay Vineyards. Ask for directions to the walking track before you leave the winery. It's downhill, takes about 15 minutes, and pretty, as it passes through a nature reserve. I think this little stroll is part of the greater "Ferry to Church Bay" walk.
http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/e...dualwalks.aspx

A couple of newspaper articles about Waiheke:
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...-go-what-to-do
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/new...ectid=11175091

Diamantina

Posted at the same time as you, tasmangirl. I'll take your tips into account the next time I visit Waiheke. My husband and I planned on re-visiting Waiheke the last time we were in Auckland, but it rained like crazy on the one day we had for this. I can understand being OTT about Waiheke wines. We don't see many in Dunedin, but what few I've had have been very good to excellent. I wish they were cheaper!

Auntie_Em, everything you said makes sense. You made difficult but wise choices. If some plans fall through, due to weather or whatever, you'll always find other things to do.