1

Oh and one more thing---

We could extend the flight from CHCH to leave on Sunday March 3rd 9 am instead of tues feb 26 , which would give us a total of 13 days in the South Island.

However, we are flying to Melbourne from CHCH and this would limit our time in Australia from 14 days to only 10 or so (first time there also)

Just wanted to see people's opinions if they think it is worth it to extend our time in NZ and see more of what there is at a more leisurely pace.... but would come at the cost of limiting our time to travel in Australia ..

what do people think?? Is it worth it to extend it and have less time in Australia ?

thanks!

2

apples and oranges, your call.

plenty of itineraries and drive times on here. For Milford Sound, base yourself in Te Anau, pick a sunny day if you get the chance. The night before, fill the tank with fuel and make up sandwiches and food for the day. Leave about 9:30am (should be after most of the buses), stop at the lookouts, park at the Divide and do the key Summit walk. Drive on to Milford Sound, should get you there about 1:30 - 2pm. Go to the cruise terminal and book on to the cruise that interests you - this is after the big boat ultra-busy ones. Do the cruise then stop for a snack on the seashore to watch the last planes leave and the overnight boats head out. Then commence the leisurely 2 hour 15 drive back to Te Anau.

3

Thanks for replying!

How does this sound as an itinerary for the 8 day option:

Day 1- land in CHCH and rent car and go to Kaikura to whale watch, then drive to Blenin and sleep there
Day 2- drive to Abel Tasman park and stay in Motueka sleep there
Day 3- stay in park again and kayak tour and sleep there
Day 4- Drive to Greymouth spend day there and then drive to fox galcier and sleep there for the night
Day 5- do ice climb and hike sleep there again
Day 6- relax spend day there and sleep there
Day 7- drive to Wanaka and spend day there and sleep there
Day 8- drive to Mount cook spend day and then drive to CHCH and sleep there
Day9- flight early in morning

thats if we were to leave on Feb 26th tues morning... if we were to extend the trip to leave Sun morning March 3rd, how would you change/edit this itinerary to make it better??

thanks!

4

day 7 - the drive Fox-Wanaka is 6 hours plus stops, and there is lots to stop for. So you won't see much of Wanaka. I also think day 8 is way too much.

actually looking at it there is way too much driving, full stop. Don't trust google maps for drive times.

5

Skippers Canyon at Queenstown is always worth a visit. The road is scary but definitely worth it. I went there when I was thirteen and I have never forgotten it!

6

Skippers is still on my list. There is no way a rental car can or should be taken up it, time for a tour.

7

Be careful with drive times in the South Island as it is mountainous and what may look like a short distance could take you all day sometimes. Just saying.