1

Wow! You are trying to cover way too much ground. Ignore the drive times given by google maps they are way too optimistic, generally you can add 50% to the travel time given.

I would cut Blenheim altogether and head towards Franz via Arthur's Pass, take it slow and stop and take walks at places like Castle Hill, in fact I would stay in Arthur's Pass for the night, giving you a chance to take a nice walk to the waterfall in the evening.

Day 6, please don't try to do this in a day! It is an absolute minimum 5hr drive each way, and trust me you are going to want to stop and take it all in a lot on that drive! Consider booking on to one of the latest cruises of the day (~3pm) this will give you plenty of time to enjoy the drive. After the cruise you can either stay in Milford Sound, limited accommodation and expensive, or drive the 2hrs to Te Anau to spend the night.

I you may need to cut Mount Cook or the Dolphin swim as well, unless you can do the Dolphin Swim on day 1.

For me the following itinerary is much more doable (and enjoyable):

Day 1: Arrive at Christchurch, relax settle in or do Dolphin Swim if time.
Day 2: Scenic drive up to Arthur's Pass taking time to stop at any scenic spots for a look around.
Day 3: Drive down to FZ and spend the afternoon at Lake Matheson and maybe visiting Fox Glacier as well.
Day 4: Ice explorer trip in the morning and leave for Queenstown
Day 5: Thunder jet and skyline gondola and dinner
Day 6: Queenstown-Milford Sound- (possibly back to Te Anau).
Day 7: Leave Milford/Te Anau for Wanaka - get lost in the maze at Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World, then catch a movie at Cinema Paradiso (seriously it is great! Don't miss the homemade cookies!).
Day 8: Wanaka skydive and explore diamond walk...head for Mt cook thereafter
Day 9: Glacier kayaking at Mt cook. Head for Akaroa thereafter
Day 10: Swimming with Dolphins at Akaroa. Head for Christchuch and fly back home

You may just be able to fit in the last two days but it will be one hell of a rush and a high risk you may miss something.

I hope this has helped, most people underestimate travel times in NZ, even if they are used to driving on the left!

Edited by: Tryfan

2

yes, this is a look out the window trip, not a holiday. For example, Queenstown-Milford-Queenstown 10 HOURS plus the cruise.

try #1's excellent suggestion.Still several hours driving a day but you will have a chance to see and do things too.

3

You could splash out on the fly-cruise-bus trip to Milford.

Consider Queenstown for your wine http://www.queenstownwinetrail.co.nz/.

4

Or you can do the bus-cruise-bus to Milford Sound. It's going to be a long day but at least you don't have to drive it.

5

There's way too much happening here. These roads are single lane, winding and very scenic. If you average 80kmh you are doing swell, and didn't spend the whole day trapped behind a camper van.
The first 2 days are a waste. We loved the Antarctic Centre, but compared to the rest of New Zealand, I'd much rather be spending time at the glaciers and Milford Sound - so ditch, at the very least, day 2.
Blenheim is a very unattractive town - the wineries are great, but on a rushed tour like this, worth skipping.
There is NO way you are doing Blenheim-Franz Josef-Lake Mathieson AND seeing anything all in the one day. This is a one day drive just to get there, and a day to see the glacier and the lake (which, while close, requires a decent stop and walk to see the great views).
Queenstown is a 5 hour drive away and this is only if you don't stop for the fabulous views, and the 90 minute walk to and from Haast Blue pools, which you should see.
Milford Sound is a 10 hour return drive and a 2 hour cruise.
You need to get rid of some of the longer stops at the front, and build in more time in the middle, or you will see nothing.

6

Thanks for the replies...

Ok, what if we take a break from our drive on day 4 ie stay at Greymouth or someplace between Blenheim and Franz josef as this would break the long drive and thereafter proceed with the rest of the itinerary.

But this would require us to drive right out of the airport to Blenheim after a long haul flight.

Kindly advise

7

Everyone here has suggested you skip Blenheim, so I don't see why you are asking us questions about getting from Blenheim down to FZ.

The itinerary I suggest in #1 is still pretty packed and it cut 3 days out of your original!

If you insist on going to Blenheim (Renwick is a better base btw) you will probably need to drop Milford sound and Akaroa, which just makes no sense in my opinion. Marlborough is the place on your original itinerary that is the most out of the way (well apart from Milford I guess) and it is the least unique area.

Like you say you really won't want to drive straight off a long-haul flight.

8

Driving to Blenheim after a long flight is madness. Please don't.

9

are you going to Blenheim only for the wine?
If so, there are plenty of wineries around central Otago, and while they're not cyclable, probably more scenic and you won't be doing a drive way up the coast and back down again.
there's also not much point 'stopping' in Kaikoura. You either stay, and do a boat trip, or don't bother. You will see a fair bit on the coast as you drive up/back from Blenheim (assuming you still do this) - just stop by the coast a few times to look at dolphins, seals, etc. In December, there will probably still be baby seals around to see as well.

but I agree with others. The trip up & back to the north of the south island doesn't make sense given the rest of your itinerary and the time you have.

A good website to get realistic ideas of travel times is wises www.wises.co.nz.

10

You could always hire bikes from Cromwell and ride around the vineyards around Cromwell/ Bannockburn. There are several companies doing vineyard tours also.

If you want a rushed, stressed out honeymoon with too much driving each day then stick to Plan A. If you hope to spend a little time enjoying meals and relaxing in the mornings/evenings instead of driving till dark each day then pick Tryfan's trip plan.