Songdoc

We'll arrive in Queenstown (after more than 24 hours of travel from the U.S.) on the afternoon of Friday, October 17th. We have to be in Nelson Sunday, October 26th. The tentative plan is to rent a car in Queenstown and drive to Nelson. We'll have a total of (9) nights.

FYI, we've spent a lot of time in Queenstown (love it) and have been to Milford Sound. Here's what we're considering:

2 nts. Queenstown (to collapse & recover--and visit friends)
2 nights Wanaka (to continue to recover -- before doing significant driving)
2 nights Franz Josef
1 night Punakaiki
1 night Westport
1 night St. Arnaud

We're wondering if Punakaiki, Westport, and St. Arnaud warrant a night each. Any thoughts--or suggested revisions?

Thanks so much!!!

dottyp

Hi, Songdoc,

I have a couple of thoughts on this.

1. Drop the night in Westport and head to St Arnaud (any particular reason for this stop?) for 1 night then to Nelson a day earlier.

2. Leave Punakaiki earlyish in the morning, and head up through Westport up the West Coast through Karamea. It is a beautiful drive as is the rest of the West Coast. Return to Westport for the night before heading over to St Arnaud.

Another thought is to drop Westport and St Arnaud and head to the Motueka area for a couple of nights.

I'm sure Melnq8 will have some better thoughts. I have not been down to the SI since January 2009, so my knowledge of what to do and see is not too recent.

Songdoc

dottyp--thanks so much for your help with this.
I found this itinerary on a NZ tourism website. It was a 6-day suggested drive that only allotted one night in each of the places listed. That was the only reason for the stop in St. Arnaud! ;-)

We've been to Motueka (and Abel Tasman--three times) and loved them, but were thinking we'd see new places this time.

Again, thanks so much. Very helpful!

Melnq8

Hi Songdoc -

I like your itinerary until the last three nights.

If you enjoy walks you might consider two nights in Punakaiki, which will give you a full day to thoroughly explore the walks, there are many to choose from although the unpredictable weather could hamper a full day of walking. We were in Punakaiki very recently, they'd had an unheard of 3.5 weeks of sunshine before we arrived.

Neither Westport or St Arnaud would be my choice for an overnight.

From Punakaiki you can reach Nelson in about four hours, so no need to break up IMO. Or better yet, stay near Mapua or Ruby Bay before heading to the big smoke of Nelson.

Songdoc

Thanks so much!

After more research we've decided to substitute Hokitika as our overnight--instead of Westport.

Four hours is more driving than I like to do in one day--so I'm thinking we'll keep St. Arnaud--simply to break up the drive. It also seems to be a base from which to explore Nelson Lakes. But I'm open to another suggestion. Just would rather not drive Hokitika to Nelson without a break.

It's still a work in progress, but here's the revised itinerary:

2 nts. Queenstown
2 nights Wanaka
2 nights Franz Josef
1 night Punakaiki
1 night Hokitika
1 night St. Arnaud (or somewhere else halfway to Nelson)

PS. We've stopped several times at Mapua and had wonderful meals with wonderful views of the waterfront.

dottyp

Hi, Songdoc,

Swap Punakaiki and Hokitika around - saves double-tracking, and Punakaiki to St Arnaud is about one and a half hours quicker.

Melnq8

Punakaiki and Hokitika should be reversed.

Hokitika is only 1:45 drive from Franz Josef. Punakaiki is only 1:10 drive from Hokitika, they're both on SH 6.

SH 6 is the most direct route from Punakaiki to Nelson. St Arnaud is a detour and would require more driving, but it is a pretty area.

Murchison is an option too, and as it's right on the most direct path to Nelson, it'd be less driving.

Mauria Falls is an easy detour from SH 6 along the way (off of 65) and well worth a look if you have time:

http://waterfalls.co.nz/waterfalls-b...3-maruia-falls

NZ's longest swingbridge is near Murchison, and while the town itself lacks charm, there are some nice walks in the area and good food at Rivers Café.

Songdoc

Oops! Thanks so much for catching that I'd reversed Hokitika and Punakaiki. Good thing I didn't book those hotels, yet. (I've booked the car from Queenstown to Picton; and hotels in Queenstown and Wanaka, as well as Auckland--and Sydney, Byron Bay, the Blue Mountains, and Brisbane) OMG. No wonder I'm on overload!!!

There's still so much to do -- and I leave in three weeks. But it'll all get done!

THANK YOU -- THANK YOU -- and THANK YOU -- for all the help and the great info!!!

Songdoc

Melnq8: That waterfall looks incredible!!! FYI, I booked the motel you recommended in Picton. It looks perfect--and the people were so nice to deal with. Again, I'm SO grateful for your help!

I'm making great progress

Melnq8

No worries Songdoc, happy to help.

nelsonian

Songdoc I have just read an article about you in our local weekly paper. Well I am presuming it is you!!!. That weekend you are here is Labour weekend, Monday is a public holiday here. We are going to be in Wellington for the long weekend attending our grand-daughter's 5th birthday which is a shame as we could have had a mini GTG.

Songdoc

Nelsonian: If the article is about a devastatingly handsome, young U.S. songwriter presenting a brilliant workshop at NMIT on Oct. 27th -- that's me ;-).

FYI, I'll be on the TV show "Good Morning" Friday, Nov. 7th. I think my segment is somewhere between 9:15 and 10am.

Sorry we won't get to meet . That would be fun. FYI, I'll be in Wellington Friday, October 31st for 5 days.

nelsonian

Thanks for the info on Good Morning I must remember to record it and watch it after work.

We get back from Wellington on the Monday evening Songdoc. I am sure you will be here again.

Songdoc

I've arrived in Queenstown! It's my third visit and I still can't get over the beauty.

Nelsonian: the day for "Good Morning" has been switched to the previous day--Thurday the 6th.