Melnq8

After weeks of indecisiviness, I've finally got it sorted! We booked flights months ago, but I kept waffling about itinerary and accommodation.

It's been three long years since we've visited the SI, so we're both very much looking forward to this trip. Our intent is to visit some old favorites as well as incorporate some areas we've not yet thoroughly explored. I've also tried to mix up the accommodation a bit, a mix of self-contained, B&Bs, a homestay, a farmstay and two vineyard stays.

Arrive Christchurch mid morning from Perth, drive to Geraldine (approx 2 hours), explore a walking track or two in the Peel Forest enroute, poke around Geraldine, overnight Victoria Villa B&B

Drive from Geraldine to Glenorchy (approx 6 hours), perhaps a coffee stop at The Old Library in Fairlie and lunch in Arrowtown or QT - three nights in Glenorchy at Precipice Creek Station, two full days to explore the walking tracks

Drive from Glenorchy to Wanaka (approx 2.5 hours), poke around QT enroute, three nights in Wanaka at Alpine View Lodge - two full days to explore the walking tracks

Drive from Wanaka to Franz Josef (approx 4 hours), evening Kiwi Tour with Ian in Okarito, two nights in Franz Josef at Glenfern Villas, one full day to explore the walking tracks

Drive from Franz Josef to Arthur's Pass (approx 3.5 hours), two nights in Arthur's Pass at Mountain House, 1.5 days to explore hiking tracks

Drive from Arthur's Pass to Hope, Nelson (approx 5.5 hours), stay three nights at Milcrest Estate, one full day to explore French Pass (approx 2.75 hours each way), one full day to explore Nelson area wineries, etc.

Drive from Hope to Takaka (approx 1.5 hours), perhaps take in a track along the way, stay three nights at Ashlea Downs, two full days to explore Golden Bay and Collingwood area walking tracks

Drive from Takaka to Whatamonga Bay (NE of Picton, approx 3.5 hours), stay three nights at Whatamonga Home Stay, two full days to explore the tracks in this area, perhaps drive to Port Underwood and Rarangi and circle back via Picton

Drive from Whatamonga Bay to Waipara Valley (approx 4.5 hours), perhaps visit a winery or two in Blenhim along the way, two nights at Dunnolly Vineyard Cottage, one full day to explore the region, perhaps have a winery lunch at Pegasus Bay

Drive from Waipara Valley to Christchurch airport for departure (approx 40 minutes)

This is a winter trip, so fingers crossed for good weather...

Any suggestions of specific activities and/or walking tracks in/around Peel Forest, Hope, Collingwood, Whatamonga Bay and Waipara Valley would be appreciated.

dotty

Enjoy a coffee for me too at The Old Library - a real gem in the middle of nowhere!
The Port Underwood Drive is wonderful. I went in from Rarangi and out at Picton. Our Swedish daughter said the fjords were so like those in Sweden. I bought a small but beautiful pewter fantail from a place en route.
Sorry I cannot give you any suggestions for activities or walks as we are not walkers.

Melnq8

Thanks dotty. Fjords? That's good to know, I had no idea!

After all our visits to the SI, I love that we can still find new areas to explore...you make the drive sound very appealing.

I'm looking forward to the French Pass drive too, it's supposedly one of the prettiest drives on the SI. I just happened to stumble upon a tiny red line on my raggedy old Wises map, and a flurry of research ensued. We seriously considered spending a few days there, but opted for the day trip instead.

So much to do, so little time.

mlgb

Anyone been to the Old Library Cafe recently? I heard it was sold and don't know if it is up to its past award-winning glory. Not that there are many alternatives around there.

As far as Waipara wineries yes on Pegasus Bay, and for smaller family-owned I liked Torlesse and Waipara Springs. North of Christchurch Norwester Cafe is now 2009 Cuisine Restaurant of the Year hence more popular and expensive than ever.

Around Glenorchy the easy loop hike around the swamp, flat hike at Sylvan Lake. A lot of the other hikes have a steep uphill component and require a drive on gravel possibly affected by stream flow in bad weather, eg the Invincible Mine Trail. The cafe next to the Dart River Safari store was good.

Melnq8

Hopefully the flat whites are still good at the Old Library...we'll have had breakfast at our B&B, so won't need food, although I'm up for cake any time of day.

Funny you mention the Nor Wester Cafe mlgb, as I ran across several references to it while researching and it's on my list of places to try out..it does look rather pricy though.

Thanks for the other suggestions as well mlgb, they've been duly noted.

mpkp

I think it's great that you have this done!

We are close to finished with our plans and looking forward to it as well. We did get ff business airfare to Sydney on Delta and will buy the syd-akl tickets. But happy to fly business!!! We did have to leave 2 days later and come back 1 day later so we are doing the following:
Dec 10 leave -- arrive AKL Dec 12 at 4:30 pm -- will stay at Novotel by airport
Dec 13 pick up car and go to Tairua to Rewa House for 3 nights
Dec 16 drive to Tongariro to do the crossing on the 17th. Stay at Discovery Lodge apartment
Dec 18-20 Rotorua -- country villa for 3 nights -- planning to do a white island helicopter tour
Dec 21 fly to Dunedin -- stay at nisbet house for 2 nights and do Nature Tours on Otago Peninsula
Dec 23 take southern route to Te Anau Stay cathedral Peaks -- if we get in early enough maybe do the glow worm tour
Dec 24 the overnight cruise on doubtful sound with deep cove charters
Dec 25-28 Queenstown -- this has been the most difficult plact to find a place to stay because of the holiday -- thinking of villa del lago
Dec 28-29 Fox Glacier -- heli hike
Dec 30 Punakaiki
Dec 31-Jan 2 Abel Tasman and Nelson -- Coastal Palms
Jan 3-4 Queen Charlottes Tiramoana House
Jan 5 Kaikoura Dylan's Cottage
Jan 6-7 Kaikoura Track --3 day walk with Kaikoura Wilderness
Jan 8 Christchurch airport -- Sudima will get in about 8 or so that night ans the last hike and getting to Kaikoura will be around 5:30
Jan 9 Sydney -- chose to overnight here because did not want to run the risk of a misconnect -- hope to get an early flight from Christchurch and spend the afternoon and evening here -- not sure where we will stay.
Jan 10 home to reality and tax season!!!

We are also so looking forward to this -- I know you are also looking forward to yours!

PJTravels

I read your trip reports prior to our two previous trips to NZ, and now there is yet another itinerary! We just returned from a month in Argentina so a third trip to NZ is probably a year off - sigh.

I remember eating at the Norwester on our first trip from Christchurch to Kaikoura. It was great, although we only got salads and I don't remember it being expensive.

Beware the trails around Arthur's Pass! One apt description of one trial we took was "like boulder hopping on roller blades."

I'll be looking for your trip reports. Bon Voyage!