Looking for suggestions on the itinerary below for the end of this year. Trying to drive as little as possible. But I am an avid photographer so do like the flexibility to stop anywhere I see a great pic. Thank you in advance!
Day Sleep
1 Plane
2 Plane
3 Sydney
4 Sydney
5 Sydney
6 Sydney
7 Blue Mountains
8 Blue Mountains
9 Blue Mountains
10 Sydney
11 Gold Coast
12 Gold Coast
13 Gold Coast
14 Gold Coast
15 Melbourne
16 Melbourne
17 Melbourne
18 Melbourne
19 ???
20 ???
21 Hobart, Tasmania
22 Tasmania
23 Tasmania
24 Tasmania
25 Tasmania
26 Auckland, New Zealand
27 Auckland, New Zealand
28 Auckland, New Zealand
29 Auckland, New Zealand
30 Wellington, New Zealand
31 Wellington, New Zealand
32 Picton, New Zealand
33 Christchurch
34 Christchurch
35 Mount Cook
36 Mount Cook
37 Wanaka
38 Glenorchy on Lake Wakatipu
39 Glenorchy on Lake Wakatipu
40 Queenstown
41 Queenstown
42 Queenstown
43 Te Anau
44 Milford sound
45 Milford sound
46 Te Anau
47 Queenstown
48 Sydney
49 Plane
50 Home

Will you fly between all these places? Except Blue Mountains, which is close to Sydney. Also there seems little point in going back to Sydney from NZ. There will be flights directly from NZ to wherever you live.

You said end of the year, is that December or January? The main school break for the year is about six weeks over Dec/Jan so prices for everything will be higher as demand is high. November is usually low season, hot and humid in the north.

Thanks for your reply! The trip will run roughly Nov 1 thru Dec 20. Plan is to fly between places in AUS and mostly take trains (when available - e.g. Auckland to Wellington to Christchurch) or drive between places (e.g Queensland to Milford Sound) in NZ.

Is there a reason you want to spend four days in Auckland? I ask, because IMO that time could be better spend elsewhere (such as a few days around Picton, more time in Wanaka, more time in Te Anau).

I suggest you travel from Wanaka to Te Anau, spend three nights there (three nights is two full days, one of which can be used to see Milford, the other for a full day in/around Te Anau, plenty of ways to spend that extra day). Then travel from Te Anau to Glenorchy, then travel from Glenorchy to Queenstown.

This will prevent some backtracking and will prevent having to stay in QT twice.

Why two days in Milford? Not much there other than the cruise port. One day is plenty to see all there is to see. The best of Milford is along Milford Road and can be accomplished in one long, well-planned day from Te Anau.

There is no train from Wellington to Christchurch, assume you're referring to the ferry from Wellington to Picton, then the train to Christchurch?

FWIW, I think Tasmania is worth much more time, but I realize having enough time is always an issue.

Also curious about your plans in Melbourne - Great Ocean Road?

Thank you Melnq8!

Is there a reason you want to spend four days in Auckland? I ask, because IMO that time could be better spend elsewhere (such as a few days around Picton, more time in Wanaka, more time in Te Anau).
Actually just three days in Auckland since we will arrive late the first day. We do like to settle in just a little bit and see more of a city rather than just scratch the surface. Also like to take an occasional break from all the packing, unpacking and transiting.

I suggest you travel from Wanaka to Te Anau, spend three nights there (three nights is two full days, one of which can be used to see Milford, the other for a full day in/around Te Anau, plenty of ways to spend that extra day). Then travel from Te Anau to Glenorchy, then travel from Glenorchy to Queenstown.
I was originally planning to fly from Christchurch to Queenstown and do Wanaka as a daytrip from Queenstown. I am still sorting out how to fit in Mount Cook without doing a great deal of driving.

This will prevent some backtracking and will prevent having to stay in QT twice.
Yes, we are only going back to Queenstown to catch our flight to Sydney where we have to go to because it was much cheaper to fly RT in and out of Sydney back to the States (Tampa). I suppose we could fly into Queenstown from Christchursh and drive straight to Te Anua.

Why two days in Milford? Not much there other than the cruise port. One day is plenty to see all there is to see. The best of Milford is along Milford Road and can be accomplished in one long, well-planned day from Te Anau.
Agreed, thank you. That has been cout back ot a single overnight on a tour boat.

There is no train from Wellington to Christchurch, assume you're referring to the ferry from Wellington to Picton, then the train to Christchurch?
Sorry, you are correct. That should say: Northern Explorer train Auckland to Wellington, ferry to Picton and then Coastal Pacific train to Christchurch.

FWIW, I think Tasmania is worth much more time, but I realize having enough time is always an issue.
We do have days 19 and 20 unassigned at the moment so we could add those to Tasmania. Vague current plan is to visit Cradle Mountain, Hobart and Freycinet National Park. But that is a ton of driving. We plan to fly from Hobart to Auckland when departing Tasmania.

Also curious about your plans in Melbourne - Great Ocean Road?
No specific plans yet except maybe a daytrip or overnignt to Phillips Island. Just soak in the city? We have driven the Pacific Coast Highway in California so plan to skip GOR to help keep our self-driving to a minimum.

Also like to take an occasional break from all the packing, unpacking and transiting.

I get it.

I was originally planning to fly from Christchurch to Queenstown and do Wanaka as a daytrip from Queenstown. I am still sorting out how to fit in Mount Cook without doing a great deal of driving.

New Zealand is one of those places that's best seen by car. It's long and skinny and it takes more time than one might think to get from Point A to Point B. I suppose there might be a bus trip from QT to Mt Cook, but honestly, it's best seen enroute from one place to another to prevent backtracking. Wanaka, however, is an easy day trip from QT.

Yes, we are only going back to Queenstown to catch our flight to Sydney where we have to go to because it was much cheaper to fly RT in and out of Sydney back to the States (Tampa). I suppose we could fly into Queenstown from Christchursh and drive straight to Te Anua.

I'd (wrongly) assumed you'd be driving. Te Anau from QT is a two hour drive, so keep that in mind.

We do have days 19 and 20 unassigned at the moment so we could add those to Tasmania. Vague current plan is to visit Cradle Mountain, Hobart and Freycinet National Park. But that is a ton of driving. We plan to fly from Hobart to Auckland when departing Tasmania.

A lot of driving, yes, but these are the best parts of TAS, which, IMO is also best seen by car.

Is there a reason you're hesitant to drive? Are you worried about driving on the left?

I'd (wrongly) assumed you'd be driving. Te Anau from QT is a two hour drive, so keep that in mind.
I am trying to restrict the self-drive car legs of our trip for those sections where the scenery demands frequent stops for pictures. The road from Te Anau to Milford Sound is a perfect example. We cound do it by bus but then we'd be restricted to very few stops. It's also only two hours of actual driving (mych longer with stops) so manageable. Some (all) of the NZ trains have outdoor cas where you can shoot pics with no glass in the way (a no-no for quality images) so that's a big plus.

A lot of driving, yes, but these are the best parts of TAS, which, IMO is also best seen by car.
Agreed. We might have no other choice. That said, I am very please there are a couple of trains (we love trains!) in NZ can carry us across many miles in total comfort, relaxation and great scenery.

Is there a reason you're hesitant to drive? Are you worried about driving on the left?
I find highway driving for hours on end stressful here in the states. Driving on the left side in a foreign country will only be even more stressful. So i will do it where necesary (we recently drove the ring road in Iceland for 11 days) but not happily!

Thank you for the guidance!

I find highway driving for hours on end stressful here in the states. Driving on the left side in a foreign country will only be even more stressful. So i will do it where necesary (we recently drove the ring road in Iceland for 11 days) but not happily!

I'm not a fan of highway driving in the US either. NZ, TAS (and the Ring Road in Iceland, which we've also driven) are entirely different experiences, but I get your concern.

Enjoy your trip.

I'll just touch on the Australian sector. Melnq8 knows much more about NZ than I do & has covered it superbly.
Australia is bigger than most people ( including a lot of Australians) thinks. Australia – size map: https://www.virtualoceania.net/austr...ustralia.shtml
First things first. You will need Visas to visit Australia. (And New Zealand - see their website for links etc.) Here's the link for Australian Visas. Suggest you get yours approved NOW and don't book anything you can't cancel until you have the approvals.VISA FINDER: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder

I'm wondering whether your interest is predominantly Urban/City based for Australia? If not, you will be best served by renting a car to explore the areas surrounding major cities like Sydney, Melbourne and the area around the Gold Coast. As Melnq8 says, our roads, even the Freeways, are nothing like the monster US highways - and the speed limits are strictly enforced here - so a different experience entirely.

You won't need or want a car in the CBD of our larger cities, but it's more or less essential to get the most out of your trips out of town, especially as you want to have the flexibility to stop where you like here & there.


Just thinking about your Gold Coast days, I'd also encourage you to allow a day & a night for Brisbane. It's a beautiful river city with an interesting mix of historic and modern architecture, excellent eating and a couple of sensational Art Galleries within footsteps of each others. Also a wonderful sanctuary for Koalas and other Australian Native Animals at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, within the city precinct. You can take a scenic and well commented cruise along the river to it - cost of the cruise covers the entry to Lone Pine.

The Gold Coast also has a wonderful art gallery at HOTA (Home of the Arts), and just an hour away is the marvellous Tweed Regional Art Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre in Murwillumbah. The regional areas around the Gold Coast are a photographer's paradise.
You might also consider a day & night on the Sunshine Coast, which also offers wonderful beach and scenery. Have a look at Montville and the Glasshouse Mountains.

Here's a few city maps & links which may be usefulydney map: https://goo.gl/maps/PFmeA45BAKXruh4F8

Visit Sydney: https://www.sydney.com/

Ferry Routes: https://transportnsw.info/document/2382/sydney-ferries-network-map-1017.pdf\
BLUE MOUNTAINS: https://tinyurl.com/yc28vadd

VISIT MELBOURNE: https://www.visitmelbourne.com

MELBOURNE MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/3iDQCJqzVdjtVGXL6

PHILLIP ISLAND

https://www.visitphillipisland.com.a...o/things-to-do

https://www.penguins.org.au/attracti...ation-reserve/

Phillip Island Map: http://tinyurl.com/3353y6y7
BRISBANE MAP: https://tinyurl.com/496kd2ed

as an avid photographer myself, i think youre gonna love new zealand! the scenery is unreal. dont forget to pack a tripod for those epic landscape shots. and maybe consider renting a campervan for part of the south island - gives u tons of flexibility to chase the light.

Are you mainly interested in landscape photography? What else are you interested in besides photography?

I agree with others that you should add one or two of those free days to Tasmania (not many people, not much traffic). I doubt you'll see many cars on the road outside of the cities of Hobart and Launceston. So you can take your time, pull over to let other pass, stop for photos, so on. Tasmania is larger than Denmark but has a population of less than 600,000 compared to Denmark's nearly 6 million people. It's about the size of West Virginia, which has a population of 1.8 million.

I also agree that 4 days is too much for Auckland. Maybe 3 would be enough. See the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the pretty Domain park, maybe take a ferry to one of the islands in Hauraki Gulf or to the suburb of Devonport. Visit the Auckland Art Gallery if you'd like to see work by Kiwi artists. The "City of Sails" has a Maritime Museum at its Viaduct Harbor.

The black sand beaches of Auckland's West Coast are beautiful and photogenic, but you would need to drive to these beaches--and I'm not even sure if the roads to these beaches have been fully repaired since last year's floods. Scenes from the film, The Piano, were shot at Karekare Beach, while Bethells Beach has been used for music videos (Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, etc.) and for the series, Xena Warrior Princess (starring Kiwi Lucy Lawless). Muriwai Beach has an impressive gannet colony. Piha Beach, famed for its surfing and dangerous currents, drop-offs and rip tides, is the setting for the reality series Piha Rescue, about the Piha Surf Life Saving Club. The lush Waitakere Ranges are also on Auckland's West Coast. Auckland has terrible traffic and 1.66 million people, but its West Coast is sparsely populated.

It's a pity you'll miss some of the best of the South Island, namely Abel Tasman National Park to South Island's gorgeous West Coast, but, yes, it would require a lot of driving and parts of this drive can be narrow and winding, so your reluctance to drive is understandable. You'll still see some beautiful places. You might see the lupins blooming near Lake Tekapo and/or en route to Aoraki/Mt. Cook (they bloom from late November to mid-December)..

Please prepare for rain, wind and sun in New Zealand..Luckily, the weather will start to clear up and warm up by December, but it's highly variable and unpredictable. While here, check Metservice for the daily forecast.

Thanks all for the very valuable feedback. We will apply for visas right away. Here's some anwers to the questions posted.
Two days added to Tasmanina per suggestions.
We want to avoid driving as much as possible.
Based on feedback provided here we have now committed to week-long self-drive road-trips in both Tasmania and New Zealand.
Note the fours days in Auckland is really only three full days due to arrival and departure times. And one of those three will be visiting a nearby istand. Maybe the beaches too!
We are now debating whether it is worth flying all the way up to the Gold Coast. Trim those days? Fly somewhere else? Add them to another current leg?
We are not much interested in art gallaries.
We are very interested in natural beauty.
Always interested in stunning photo ops (landscapes, wildlife, cityscapes, people). We would LOVE/ to see/photograph the Lupins blooming!
Tripod iffy cuz we restrict our luggage to carry-on and am already carrying an SLR + three lenses (one quite large). I nearly always can find a rock or wall etc for stability.
But 100% correct about chasing the light so we'll see how the packing goes. 50 days on the road with just two carry-ons beats our 45 day previous record.
We are mindful it's not always sunny so we allow extra time in beautiful places like Milford Sound, Cradle Mountain, Blue Mountains, Mount Cook, etc. to improve chances.
We also do like exploring cities if they have some character.


Latest plan is below:

Day/Activity/Sleep

1 Fly to Sydney Plane
2 Fly Plane
3 Sydney
4 Sydney
5 Sydney
6 Sydney
7 Train to Blue Mountains Blue Mountains
8 Blue Mountains
9 Blue Mountains
10 Sydney
11 Fly SYD Gold Coast
12 Gold Coast
13 Gold Coast
14 Gold Coast
15 Fly to Melbourne Melbourne
16 Melbourne
17 Melbourne
18 Fly to Burnie/drive to Cradle 1h41m Cradle Mountain
19 Stay Cradle Mountain
20 Drive 2h10m Launceston
21 Drive 3h via Tamar Valley Bay of Fires
22 Drive 2h10m Coles Bay (Freycinet)
23 Drive 2h47m Port Arthur
24 Drive 1h14m Hobart, Tasmania
25 Stay Hobart, Tasmania
26 Fly Hobart > Auckland (3h30m) Auckland, New Zealand
27 Stay Auckland, New Zealand
28 Stay Auckland, New Zealand
29 Stay Auckland, New Zealand
30 Northern Explorer Train to Wellington, New Zealand
31 Stay Wellington, New Zealand
32 Via Ferry Picton, New Zealand
33 stay Picton, New Zealand
34 Coastal Pacific train toChristchurch
35 Stay Christchurch
36 Rental Car - 3h10m Lake Tekapo
37 Rental Car - 74m Mount Cook
38 Stay Mount Cook
39 Rental Car - 2h29m Wanaka
40 Rental Car - 68 min drive Queenstown
41 Stay Queenstown
42 Stay Queenstown
43 Rental Car -2 hour drive Te Anau
44 Rental Car -2 hour drive Milford Sound
45 2 hour drive Te Anau
46 TBD
47 2 hour drive Queenstown
48 Fly to Sydney Sydney
49 Fly Home Plane
50 Home

The Gold Coast has great beaches but is extremely built up. Loads of concrete highrises. If you do decide to fly there, Burleigh Heads might be good, it's not quite as built up, there is a good walk around the headland with views from the top. Also great sea views towards Surfers Paradise.

There are some coastal walks in Sydney that have views all the way along. I can try and find the website I've used if you like but just Google Sydney Coastal Walks. We loved the one from Bondi Beach to Coogee. Bus ride at the beginning and end.

If you like historic architecture, the train goes to Ballarat from Melbourne. There's some grand buildings from the gold rush era in 1800's. For wildlife, check if the train goes to Healesville, the Sanctuary specialises in Australian native animals. Feeding times are on the website when you can get up fairly close for photos.

Do I understand this correctly? Two nights Wellington, two nights Picton, two nights Christchurch, one night Lake Tekapo, two nights Mt Cook, one night Wanaka, three nights Queenstown, one night Te Anau, one night Milford then another night in Te Anau, then another night in QT?

I find it easier to plan in nights instead of days, but seems you're planning based on drives, so I'm not sure I'm understanding how many nights in each place. I hope I'm wrong and that you're actually planning three nights in Te Anau?

Sydney Harbour Walks - https://sydneyvisitorguide.com.au/sydney-harbour-walks/

Bondi – Coogee Walk - https://www.bonditocoogeewalk.com/

Thank you! The walks around Sydney sound perfect for us.
We have decided to skip the Gold Coast.
Melng8 - We are spending one night in Te Anau on the way down to Milford Sound and one on the way back to break up the drive. On the way back we may drive directly to the airport and fly out. All else is correct. Each line represents one dayand, if we are driving, the number of hours of driving time that day.

Sunrise305, you were considering visiting Phillip Island. If you're thinking of going to Phillip Island's Penguin Parade, I'm not sure you can take photos without a permit. Perhaps you weren't even thinking about going to PP, but thought I should let you know. This said, these small penguins are enchanting and there are so many of them there! .

Melbourne is an interesting, cosmopolitan, and photogenic city. It's got memorable architecture (old and new), laneways, street art, trams, beautiful parks, the Yarra River, and Queen Victoria Market with its many vendors of goods and produce. The city's also very walkable, with part of the downtown area arranged in a grid (and serviced by a free tram!)..You could easily spend your three full days just enjoying the city..

I don't find Auckland City, where you will also have three full days, nearly as interesting. Although Auckland's city center does have some nice parks and an attractive waterfront, areas farther away from the city center are way nicer--but you'll have limited access to these areas because you won't be driving.

You mentioned visiting one of Hauraki Gulf's islands. I'm a little familiar with Waiheke, Rangitoto and Tiritiri Matangi. I'll share what little I know.

Waiheke is referred to as the "island of wine". Even if you're not interested in wine, you might enjoy having lunch at one of the wineries, as many of them have outdoor dining with fabulous views.. The 50B bus from the Matiatia passenger ferry terminal stops at some of these wineries (and breweries) and at two of the island's most popular beaches, Oneroa and Onetangi.(where NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has a holiday home). Onetangi Beach is a two-kilometer long, golden sand beach with Coromandel Peninsula and Little Barrier Island views. There are a few restaurants along "The Strand" (its waterfront). From Matiatia Wharf, you can also just walk to Cable Bay Vineyards on the "Bush" walking track throughForest & Bird owned Atawhai Whenua Reserve. It'll take 15 minutes. If you walk 10 minutes up the road from Cable Bay Vineyards you'd reach the equally lovely Mudbrick Winery You'll need a HOP card to ride Auckland's buses and ferries. This says the ferry takes 40 minutes from Auckland's wharf to Waiheke; the return fare is $55.

Iconic Rangitoto Island is home to Auckland's youngest, yet dormant. volcano. It's a pest-free conservation island, of interest to walkers and nature lovers, and home to some rare native birds. Its beaches are mostly rocky and volcanic. From the dock, you can walk to the island's summit, which has views of the Auckland skyline and Hauraki Gulf. There are also some lava caves to explore (I didn't check them out.). If you've been to the Big Island of Hawaii, you probably won't be super impressed by the lava fields, however, the island is also home to the world's largest Pohutakawa forest, also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree, because it blooms in December. If you go to Rangitoto, you must bring your own water and food, wear sturdy walking shoes, and bring a hat and sunscreen.. Rangtitoto Island is connected by a causeway to Motutapu island. The ferry from Auckland to Rangitoto takes 25 minutes; the return fare is $53.

Tiritiri Matangi is also a pest-free conservation island and home to some of NZ's rarest birds.It has many pretty walking tracks with bird feeding stations along the way, some small beaches, and a lighthouse. The ferry from downtown Auckland takes 80 minutes (one way) and the return fare is $95.The ferry doesn't sail every day and because it's farther out, sailings can be cancelled due to rough seas. You must bring your own lunch to the island in a rodent-proof container. (no open bags). There is a small gift shop that sells cold drinks.

I'm guessing as you are not bringing a tripod, you probably won't be doing any astrophotography, but as both Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mt. Cook are part of the Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, you might still want to look up at the night sky while there. Conditions are best during or around the time of the New Moon and when the skies are clear (not cloudy). Occasionally, the Aurora Australis is seen in December, but this is rare. Tasmania is also a great place for stargazing and aurora spotting.

This is a link to a short video about driving in NZ on the NZ Transport Agency website. In busy tourist areas, mainly rural, you'll often find arrows on the road where there have been issues with drivers being confused as to the lane in which they should travel, particularly after exiting an intersection or access, or at one-lane bridges or tunnels..

Most likely the weather will be sunny, warm and dry in Auckland in December, but you could have some rainly days, maybe even heavy rain. November through April is South Pacific tropical cyclone season. Sometimes these cyclones can reach NZ, particularly the North Island. This can affect the quality of the ocean beaches, as it did last December. So maybe check before you head out to a beach up there.

Wow Thank you Diamantina! Lots of great suggestions and info! We have decided to skip Phillips Island since pics are not permitted and getting there requires a flight or drive to Adelaide. We are not wine drinkers but the islands you mention sound worthy of serious consideration. Whine not lugging a tripod on this trip I have found I can often improvise a sturdy perch using a rock, bench, the ground or something else to get great night shots so the night sky is definitely added to my list. Thanks again for all the useful info!