lori_thomas_7370

Hello, I think I just saw what one must be at the airport 3 hours ahead for an international flight with NZ air. Can I arrive from Christchurch at 8:15 pm to catch my 10:45 flight out of Auckland? At Christchurch will I be booked all the way back to the states and my final destination? I intend to start with just a carryon, but who knows by the time I leave if it will have turned into checked baggage.
(Right, I haven't flown internationally for a while.....)

lori_thomas_7370

and one more question? a Mitre Peak Lodge at Milford Sound has been talked about on TripAdvisor but there is no websight or email or way to contact them. Can you help?

marg

Re Mitre Peak Lodge, Te Anau is the closest town to Milford Sound so it may be helpful to email the tourist information centre there.

Melnq8

<<Can I arrive from Christchurch at 8:15 pm to catch my 10:45 flight out of Auckland?>>

Yes - it's only a 10 minute walk between terminals.

<<At Christchurch will I be booked all the way back to the states and my final destination?>>

Yes, unless you're flying a budget airline like Jetstar.

Mitre Peak Lodge is a private lodge operated by Ultimate Hikes:

https://www.ultimatehikes.co.nz/en/g...sic/our-lodges

Melnq8

Perhaps you're thinking of Milford Sound Lodge?

https://www.milfordlodge.com/

lori_thomas_7370

Ah, thanks for the advice. I wasn't sure if Auckland airport was a stickler to the three hour rule.

As for the Mitre Peak Lodge, rats, I don't really want to spend five days hiking in order to stay there! Maybe someday? But not this trip.)-:

I am spending six nights in south island. 1st night Christchurch, 2nd Fox(via Greymouth), third, fourth, fifth Queenstown,6th Mt Cook area, and flying out of Christchurch next day and home to Iowa. In order to not have to change hotels and just remain in Queenstown three whole nights (heaven), I am toying with driving to Milford Sound and back in one day. Please tell me this is possible? Can you answer this or should I start a new post?

marg

Google gives the distance between Queenstown and Milford Sound as 287 km with a driving time of almost 4 hours. Add some time to admire the views, take photos, have something to eat etc. It would be a long long day and even more tiring if you are concentrating on driving on the other side of the road.

Melnq8

Well....it's possible, but not something I recommend. There are bus tours that do this every day, but it's about a 13 hour day. It's also weather dependent.

Driving yourself gives you more flexibility and you can get out early before the buses get on the road, but as marg has pointed out, it's eight solid hours of DRIVING, and that's when conditions are ideal.

Milford Road presents some challenges, especially in poor weather and for those unaccustomed to driving on the left.

What time of year are you going? Are you comfortable driving on the left?

Are you arriving in NZ from the US or from somewhere else down under?

You've fallen into the trap of trying to do way too much in too little time. Your itinerary has you spending most of your time in your car.

Why not fly right into QT and spend all your time in the vicinity? Or maybe spend two nights in Te Anau to give yourself one full day to explore Milford at your leisure (a two hour drive from Te Anau).

From a base in QT you can easily visit Glenorchy, Arrowtown, Wanaka and Cromwell.

Dukey1

You do not need to be at the Auckland airport three hours ahead if you are already flying in an airline system. The only issue would be the connecting flight times when you GET to Auckland and that is not going to take a matter of hours. Your luggage will be checked through and it will almost undoubtedly get to the plane before you do.

lori_thomas_7370

It would be really nice if one or all of you were to tell me that Milford Sound is a horrible, awful, crazy, tourist attraction and to NOT go there under ANY circumstances. Esp In March! That would make my trip so much easier.....(-;

marg

The drive from Te Anau is worth doing by itself. Then you arrive at Milford Sound which is quite spectacular. We've been there several times and have enjoyed it again each time. It's definitely not a horrible, awful, crazy, tourist attraction. Do go - the only regrets we have had in travelling have been the places we didn't go to.
It is much small than the fiords in Norway so if you have been there, you may be a little bit disappointed.

nelsonian

As Marg said if you have seen fiords before than Milford Sound may not be that spectacular. One or two posters have said they were a bit disappointed.

Sue_xx_yy

<am spending six nights in south island. 1st night Christchurch, 2nd Fox(via Greymouth), third, fourth, fifth Queenstown,6th Mt Cook area, and flying out of Christchurch next day and home to Iowa.>

I would be wary. You are trying to commute from Mt. Cook area to Christchurch, drop car, check in, fly to Auckland, and make an international flight all in the same day.

This is not a good plan.

I would fly to ZQN and spend 3 nights there. The afternoon of the 4th day, I'd head to Auckland.

There's a day cruise tour to Coromandel which my brother and SIL did and loved. You could do this on day 5. Or skip it and spend another day in Queenstown and fly out the afternoon of the fifth day.

Your last day, day 6, you can enjoy the very good museum in Auckland, shop, relax, or head to the beach and take a kayak ride. I urge you not to be rushed heading into that long flight back to Iowa.