jmsvss

We are a 50-ish couple headed to Australia and New Zealand for 30 days in late Oct-Nov 2017. We will spend 20 days in Australia and 10 days in New Zealand. We are fairly well-traveled, enjoy good food and drink, country history, flora and fauna. Our days of extreme sports are behind us but we are active and enjoy the outdoors.

I am hoping to pack only a carry-on size suitcase and a backpack each. Any suggestions regarding practical clothing is appreciated considering we will travel between the Great Barrier Reef and Queenstown.

I would appreciate any thoughts and/or suggestions regarding our itinerary, suggestions on dining and things to do.

Days 1-3 Travel from east coast USA with 3 hour layover in SFO
Day 3-6— Arrive Sydney at 7:50am 3nights at Holiday Inn Potts Point - no defined plans yet
Day 6 - Fly Syd to CNS on Virgin Australia departing at 8:50am
Arrive Cairns at 11:00 get rental car and drive to Port Douglas
Day 6-9 Stay 4 nights Hibiscus apartments Airbnb
Day 7 - GBR snorkel with Wavelength
Day 8 - Daintree
Day 10 - drive back to Cairns via Atherton Tablelands, stay 1 night at Doubletree By Hilton in Cairns
Day 11 - Fly CNS to ADL on Jetstar departing at 10:40am; fly Rex to Kangaroo Island arriving at 6pm
Day 11-14 - stay four nights at Molly’s Run
Day 12, 13, 14 - daytime tours of the island
Day 15 - Fly to Melbourne departing KGC at 10:30am and arriving MEL at 3:30pm
Day 15 - 18 - stay 4 nights at Aura on Flinders - no defined plans in Melbourne yet
Day 19 - stay 1 night at Ciloms Airport Lodge
Day 20 - Fly Jetstar to Queenstown dip at 6:15am and arrive at 11:25am
Day 20 - stay 1 night at Airbnb near airport
Day 21 - morning fly/cruise/heli Milford Sound
Day 21 - Drive to Wanaka in the afternoon, stay 1 night at Alpine Motel
Day 22-23 - Drive to Fox Glacier, stay 2 nights at Mt Cook View Motel
Day 23 - Heli hike???
Day 24 - Drive to Blenheim (I know this is a long drive)
Day 24-26 - stay 3 nights at Botanica Marlborough
Day 27 - Fly Blenheim to Auckland on Air New Zealand dep at 5:25pm and arr at 6:55pm
Day 27-30 - Stay 3 nights at Esplanade Hotel - no plans in Auckland yet. I am not interested in Rotorua on this trip. I have considered a drive north to the old growth forest
Day 30 - depart for US at 3:10pm

tasmangirl

"Day 24 - Drive to Blenheim (I know this is a long drive)"
AA maps put this trip at 7 hours at least. That's really too long for one day and those West Coast roads are pretty narrow and winding.
All traffic from Picton to Christchurch is going through some of this route at the moment (as the earthquake damaged road between Picton and Kaikoura is not fixed yet)and this will make it very slow.

jmsvss

Thanks. I had originally thought to stay a night in Hokitika or Punakaiki but wanted more time in Blenheim. I also thought about flying from Hokitika to Blenheim but thought the drive would offer nicer views.

elbegewa

We too are interested in suggestions for practical clothing.
We're a similar couple going a month earlier (Sep.-Oct.) on a similar 30 day trip.

We're trying to figure out how to pack light but appropriately for the dry heat of Ayers Rock/Urulu, the humid heat of Daintree, the likely cold and rainy Tasmania and Queenstown/Milford Sound, and the cities of Sydney and Melbourne. We're in our 70's but we'll be doing somewhat active things like hiking and biking

jmsvss

elbegewa,
I found this post helpful:
http://www.fodors.com/community/aust...ruary-2013.cfm

northie

But you're not going to Uluru so you aren't packing for that - just do layers and you'll be fine with a light jacket .

tasmangirl

Hokitika Airport is tiny and any flights will go through Christchurch. These regional flights to small airports are always much more expensive.
It's nice through the Buller Gorge but overall it will be a long tiring day driving that far. Don't underestimate the narrow roads of NZ. You are not coming at a peak time so if you are fed up with driving or it's a horrible wet day perhaps stay overnight at Murchison?
End of October can still be quite cold in NZ. Wear some layers and bring socks/tights for cold legs. Cairns will be warm but Melbourne/Kangaroo island could be cold like NZ.
October 20-23 is a long weekend in New Zealand and the first one after winter so we like to head away somewhere. The roads might be busier than normal especially the only route to Christchurch.

gemmapurcell

Thanks for share your tour plan. I think it will be the most attractive tour for your life.