8 Day South Island Itinerary in Oct

comments interspersed:

Day 1 - Arrive 3pm Christchurch. Stay Christchurch.

Day 2 - TranzAlpine to Greymouth, pick up car and drive to Hokitika/Franz Josef/Fox Glazier. Stay in one of those locations. Suggestions welcome on which town to stay.

not a lot of difference; they are only 30 mins apart, although Fox is a bit less rowdy-kid-central AND its glacier is more accessible.

Day 3 - Glazier hike/helicopter (half day). Drive to Wanaka via Haast Pass. Stay Wanaka.

hmm. 6 hour drive plus stops, after your morning tour. Long old day.

Day 4 - Wanaka, Stay Wanaka.

Day 5 - Wanaka. visit Arrowtown.

sounds good, BUT I would head to Te Anau (3.5 hours from Arrowtown) this evening.

Day 6 - Drive to Te Anau. Stay. Milfords Sound.

...because Te Anau to Milford is 2.5 hours each way and it is a full day with cruise and the wonderful Key Summit walk on the way there or back. So get to Te Anau the night before.

Day 7 - Drive to Queenstown. Stay Queenstown.
3 hours.

Day 8 - Queenstown. Fly out in the afternoon.

so seems ok.

Thanks for the feedback. This is my revised Itinerary.

Day 1
Arrive - Christchurch.
Sleep - Christchurch.

Day 2
Depart - Christchurch via TranzAlpine.
Arrive - Greymouth.
Drive - Hokitika.
Sleep - Franz Josef / Fox Glazier.

Day 3
Explore - Franz Josef / Fox Glazier. Hike Glazier/ Helicopter.
Sleep - Franz Josef / Fox Glazier.

Day 4
Depart - Franz Josef / Fox Glazier.
Drive - Wakana via Haast Pass.
Sleep - Wanaka.

Day 5
Explore - Wanaka.
Depart - Wanaka.
Drive - Te Anau.
Sleep - Te Anau.

Day 6
Explore Milford Sound.
Drive - Queenstown.
Sleep - Queenstown.

Day 7
Explore - Queenstown, Arrowtown.
Sleep - Queenstown.

Day 8
Explore - Queenstown.
Depart NZ.

day 3 looking better. Be aware that it rains 2 days in 3 on the west coast so don't set your heart on the glacier trips.

Still not happy about day 6 - 2.5 hours Te Anau to Milford, cruise, stops en route and then 5 hours plus back to Queenstown. Suggest you stay in Te Anau that night and then head to Queenstown the next day. Te Anau is a pretty spot and is also in a rain shadow so if it is raining at Milford, stay in Te Anau and go for a walk on the Kepler Track. Keep quiet and you should spot some local bird life.

Pretty good itinerary, well spaced, and well researched.
- I'd stay in Fox, Bigger town, more choice, and the FJ glacier has disappeared out of sight. Also, Lake Mathieson near Fox is s nice walk.
- Fox to Wanaka would be close to 4 hours of actual driving I think? (Took us about 5 to go FJ to Queenstown). Stop at Haast blue pools, which is a lovely 45 minute walk. No shops or cafes there, so bring food, or stock up in Haast (and there's not much in the town either, just a small shop). All the way up the pass are plenty of places to stop off and see waterfalls great views. Take your time, make it a full day.
- Agree with getting to Te Anau and Milford next. Do the glowworm tour in Te Anau, it was superb, much better than we expected.
- Arrowtown is pleasant, but not worth a day. Half an hour from Queenstown, nice for a short wander and lunch. Only a day trip if part of a wider day doing wineries, Shotover Gorge etc.

When are you planning to leave the glaciers to drive to Wanaka - time of day I mean?
Are you aware that the Haast Pass road is closed overnight for repairs/safety from 17.30 at Haast until 07.30 next morning?
More info on road conditions here

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions/highway-info/road/8373/south-island.html

Arrowtown - Chinese settlement (a good hour), main street (10 mins, hokey but fun), museum (an hour or more) the wonderful Sawyers Gully walk (3 hours). There are also tours up the Arrow gorge.

Stayed there several times, didn't fancy the Queenstown hostels due to the shrieking gappies. There's a pub crawl 5 nights a week in Queenstown so you WILL get disturbed in the hostels.