crazysafari

Hi
We are a family of 4 with 2 little kids (9 & 5) and planning our first NZ trip in February next year.

Flying in to Christchurch and back from Queenstown.

Looking for some trip ideas based on your recent experience.

This is what I have thought so far :

1) Arriving in CCH friday late night
2) Saturday - drive to Lake Pukaki/Tekapo, stay overnight.
3) Sun and Mon night - in Wanaka
4) Tuesday night - Milford sound, incl night stay
5) Wednesday - Sunday nights- queenstown
6) Monday morning -fly back

Might be able to manage short walks (up to 30-45 mins). Not sure if Mt Cook is worth the drive as its almost a big detour if driving from CCH to Queenstown.

Also if anyone could recommend scenic drives along the way, that would be great. I have heard drive to milford via homer tunnel is breathtaking.

appreciate any suggestions.

also welcome suggestions on which websites to find reasonable accomodation - preferably self contained. Is air bnb or stayz big in NZ?

cheers

Melnq8

I think you've got a doable plan crazysafari. I assume you know that the drive from Wanaka to Milford is close to six hours.

You'll pass the turn off to Mt Cook on your way from Tekapo to Wanaka via SH 8, or if staying at Lake Pukaki you'll already be on 80, which leads right to Mount Cook.

I think you'd be mad to pass up a chance to at least see it considering how close you are, particularly if it's a clear day. It's about 55 km from the turn off on SH 8, closer from Lake Pukaki.

Your entire itinerary is a scenic drive, with the notable exception of the drive between Christchurch and Timaru on SH 1. The east coast of the SI is it's least scenic.

Motels in NZ are a very good inexpensive option and generally well set up for families and self-catering.

Some sites:

http://www.nzstays.co.nz/


http://nzmotels.co.nz/

https://www.goldenchain.co.nz/

http://www.aatravel.co.nz/accommodat...land-motel.php

annhig

crazy - i think i might add a night to Te Anau [for Milford sound] and take one off QT - it's not far from TA to QT but as Mel says, it's a lot to drive to TA from Wanaka, then see Milford Sound and drive back to QT in 2 days, especially as you want to spend time looking at things along the drive from TA to Milford.

I think that you and your kids will be happier if you take that bit a bit slower.

crazysafari

Thanks Mel and Ann for your suggestions.

I think I should add mt cook to the itinerary- would that mean intake out I night from wanaka and add a day to Pukaki.

Also adding a day to Milford sound makes sense or it will be touch n go with too much time on the road. Is TA the base for Milford ie more choices for stay etc or are there any options in Milford.

annhig

I'll leave Mel to answer Qs about staying in Te Anau - we were going to stay there but we ended up just doing a day trip and seeing Doubtful Sound, in order to cut down on driving.

BTW there is the most terrific old rose garden in Timaru - hidden in a park towards the north of the town by the coast road.

Melnq8

I find Te Anau a great base from which to explore Milford for several reasons.

If you spend the night before Milford in Te Anau it gives you an opportunity to get to Milford before the bus traffic from QT arrives, and it gives you some extra time to explore the Milford Road on your return. If you leave Te Anau early, drive directly to Milford for the first cruise of the day, you're in and out before the buses get there around 11 am.

You can then spend the rest of the day exploring the Milford Road as you work your way back to Te Anau. The buses will be going the opposite direction, making their stops as they drive towards Te Anau. You'll be doing the opposite. This lets you fit quite a bit into your day.

But, you really need two nights in Te Anau. If you only spend the one night, the night of your arrival there, you still have the long four hour slog back to QT after a full day in Milford Sound.

Problem is, you just don't have enough time to do it all, so compromises have to be made somewhere.

<think I should add mt cook to the itinerary- would that mean intake out I night from wanaka and add a day to Pukaki.>

Not necessarily. You could 1) Drive from CC to Mt Cook and stay the night in Mt Cook on Day 2 or you could 2) Stay the night in Tekapo or Pukaki and then just detour to Mt Cook the day you drive to Wanaka - either way is doable if you plan well

crazysafari

Great suggestions everyone, much appreciated
My itinerary looking good know, and almost firmed up !

Will drive down from CC to Mt Cook village and stay there overnight to enjoy some outstanding views from the campground can't imagine waking up at Glentanner park to the views of Mt Cook..

Then next 2 nights in Wanaka followed by 2 nights in Te Anau and finally 4 nights in QT.

Everything booked except QT.Though 4 nights, its actually 3 full days only of which we will spend half a day in Arrowtown, perhaps another half in Jet boating. etc . Should i cut QT by a day and increase Te Anau? Is there much to do in QT?

Motels not cheap in NZ...lol

Melnq8

Loads to do in QT and vicinity. You'll have no trouble filling your three days there. Perhaps take a drive to Glenorchy - maybe walk one of the tracks there - absolutely beautiful.

No, nothing is cheap in NZ anymore, but I think you'll find it good value.

This site might help:

http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/information/motels/

B&Bs are a good option too:

http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/inform...nd-breakfasts/

annhig

we stayed at the Villa del Lago in QT and I think that Mel and others here have stayed there too.

it's a bit of a difficult turn off the road and some of the units are down quite a few steps, but the views are super and the facilities in the room excellent - we were very grateful for the lovely fire, even in December when it should have been warm.

Highly recommended.