Nknows

Hello! My husband and I are spending 17 days, 16 nights on the South Island of New Zealand in October for our honeymoon. We fly in and out of Queenstown from Los Angeles and will be renting a sedan and doing a mix of camping and inexpensive airbnb while there.

We are in our mid thirties, active, and love nature, sightseeing and prefer those over cities/museums. Would very much appreciate feedback on whether this itinerary is doable, and suggestions on how to amend (too much time or too little time in certain places). We have 2 days not scheduled, so if there is anything we are missing, please let us know! I would like to see some wildlife (whales/penguins), but not sure the Kaikoura or elsewhere is better. Thank you in advance!

Oct 5- 22
5 – Land Queenstown, explore, rest and adjust to time zone, stay in Queenstown
6 – Land Queenstown, explore, drive to Glenorchy and back, rest and adjust to time zone, stay in Queenstown
7 – Queenstown to Wanaka (1.5 hr+) Drive along the Haast Pass and walk up to the beautiful Blue Pools. Visit Rob Roy Glacier or Lake Wanaka?, stay night in Wanaka
8 – Drive – Wanaka to FJ Glacier (4 hrs), stay near FJ glacier- Recommendation?
9 – Hike to FJ glacier in AM, Mount Cook or Fox Glacier, stay near FJ glacier-Recommendation?
10 Franz Joseph Glacier to Punakaiki (3 hrs), stay Punakaika
11 – Drive to Abel Tasman (4 hrs), camp in park
12 – Kayak and explore Abel Tasman, camp in park
13 – Drive to Nelson (1 hr) in AM, beach in the afternoon, rest in Nelson
14 – Nelson to to Hanmer Springs or Kaikoura
15 – Drive to Lake Tekapo (5 hrs from Kaikoura, 4 hrs from Hamner Springs), stay in Lake Tekapo (stargaze, camp)
16 – Lake Tekapo to Queenstown or Arrowtown
17 – Queenstown/Arrowtown to Te Anau, stay in Te Anau overnight
18 – Do Milford Sound cruise + kayak, stop at Key Summit on Roteburn trail, stay in Te Anau overnight
19 – drive from Te anau. Stop in Queenstown
20 + 21 free days?
22 Queenstown or southern coast (20-21), if time

Melnq8

Oct 7 - problem...driving up to Haast Pass makes no sense, as you're headed up that way the following day. Rob Roy Glacier is a track, and a challenging one at that (for me anyway, but I'm old, lol), you'll need pretty much the whole day to drive there, walk to the top and down and then drive back to Wanaka. It's beautiful back there, take the day to enjoy it. And if you're still energetic and have daylight, you could also walk to diamond lake for fabulous views of Lake Wanaka, or walk to the top of Mount Iron.

Oct 8 - take the day for this drive, stopping en route at the Blue Pools, etc. We liked Glen Fern Villas in Franz Josef. Also liked Motel 58 on Cron, right in town and directly across the street from the hot pools. Bella Vista Motel is a budget option, but their rooms tend to be small and it's difficult to self-cater there.

Oct 9 - Mt Cook? You lost me on this one, unless you're considering a scenic flight? If you're lucky you can see Mt Cook from Franz Josef, but you're no where near it.

Are you thinking about camping at Marahau at the entrance to Abel Tasman?

Nicest beaches I can think of are at Kaiteriteri and Little Kaiteriteri, which are a short drive from Marahau and Motueka...near Abel Tasman where you'll already be...Nelson is a city.

Nknows

Thank you @melnq8 - excellent tips - trying to navigate using a guidebook so things may look closer together than they are, appreciate the input!

We were thinking of camping near Abel Tasman, is Marahau what you recommend?

Would you recommend Hanmer springs or Kaikoura for a side trip?

Is there anything that is a must-see on the South Island that we are missing?

Melnq8

Marahau and Kaiteriteri are located at the southern entrance to Abel Tasman Nat'l Park, either would work well as a base. Marahau is right there at the entrance, Kaiteriteri is a shortish drive away. Of the two, Kaiteriteri would be my choice or Little Kaiteriteri, the next beach over.

Hanmer Springs is an slpine village known for it's thermal pools. There are some nice walks in Hamner Forest, and I like it, but it does get busy on weekends with locals from Christchurch.

Kaikoura is a coastal town, but unfortunately, most of the accommodation does not allow direct beach access as the railroad tracks separate the accommodation from the beach. If you stay there, do pick your accommodation wisely. It's a great spot for seeing NZ fur seals and whale watching trips leave from here.

They're both good options...I'm more of a mountain girl so I like Hanmer, but if you're looking for seals and whales, Kaikoura is for you.

joshua63

Good morning,

While you are in Nelson, you can spend a restful afternoon at Founders Heritage Park. It is a collection of historical buildings which have been preserved for posterity, and has many living displays of techniques, technologies and crafts of yesteryear. This includes a working railway.

For more information please click this link

https://www.theor.com/content/5692761248366592

Nknows

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions! Appreciate the feedback!

Nknows

Hello all! Thank you for the feedback. We modified our itinerary, and this is what we have come up with for Oct.

5 – Land Queenstown, explore, rest and adjust to time zone, stay in Queenstown

6 –Queenstown, explore, drive to Glenorchy and back (1 hr), rest and adjust to time zone, stay in Queenstown Visit Rockburn chasm, glenorchy

7 – Queenstown to Wanaka (1.5 hr+) Visit Rob Roy Glacier or Lake Wanaka, stay night in Wanaka. If time, walk to diamond lake for fabulous views of Lake Wanaka, or walk to the top of Mount Iron. Aspiring Holiday Park & Motels (camping)

8 – Drive – Wanaka to FJ Glacier (4 hrs), Drive along the Haast Pass and walk up to the beautiful Blue Pools...stay near FJ glacier

9 – Hike to FJ glacier in AM, Fox Glacier, stay near FJ glacier

10 Franz Joseph Glacier to Punakaiki (3 hrs), stay Punakaika (night sky viewing)

11 – Drive to Abel Tasman (4 hrs), stay at Marahau at the entrance to Abel Tasman,

12 – Kayak and explore Abel Tasman, camp Marahau at the entrance to Abel Tasman.

13 – Abel Tasman to Kaikoura (3.5 hrs) camp, stay overnight

14– Kaikoura to Christchurch (2 hrs), rest airbnb or hotel

15. Christchurch to Lake Tekapo in AM (3 hrs), stay in Lake Tekapo (stargaze, camp)

16 – Drive from Lake Tekapo to Mt Cook (1 hr), stay overnight Mt Cook

17 – Explore Mt Cook Hooker Glacier Lake in Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park stay in Mt Cook

18–Mt Cook to Te Anau (5 hr), stay in Te Anau overnight

19 – Do Milford Sound cruise + kayak, stop at Key Summit on Roteburn trail, stay in Te Anau overnight

20 – drive to Manapouri in AM, go to Doubtful sound cruise - stay in Te Anau overnight

21 Te Anau to - Queenstown, stay Queenstown overnight

22 Queenstown – fly out to Auckland, drive out to Hobbiton in PM, stay in Rotorua

23 Explore Rotorua and Hobbiton, stay in Matamara

24 – Drive back to Auckland early in the AM, flight in late PM

deSchenke

Are you taking the jetboat/Funyak trip to see Rockburn Chasm? Otherwise, it’s a long and difficult tramp only advisable for experienced trampers.

If wanting to do the Rob Roy Glacier Valley walk, plan on 5 hours roundtrip from Wanaka. Add that to your 1.5 hours from Queenstown.

Mount Cook to Te Anau is a seriously long drive (>6 hours). Why not place Te Anau and your Sound cruises in the beginning of your trip (7-9)? Then head back to Queenstown from Mount Cook for your departure to North Island.

I don’t understand why you would visit Hobbiton and say in Rotorua, only to drive and stay in Matamata the following night. I’m assuming that’s some sort of muddled typo.

Nknows

@deSchenke - good catch on the Rob Roy Glacier Walk, I had no idea it was that far from Wanaka. We'll skip that.

Mt Cook to Te Anau - we'll break up the long trip with a stop overnight along the way. Thank you!

Yes, the Rotorua /Matamata thing was a typo.

Thanks so much!