If you keep to one of the itineraries I gave you above, there will be pubs &/or restaurants at all the major towns. Mt Cook has only 1 cafe besides the hotel & the Catlins has limited choices. If you are camping you will need to be self-sufficient there. With so little time you don't have time for intermediate towns like Lake Tekapo.
11
mitchlou84
Queenstown is obviously a fab place for an evening, we stayed at the campsite near the bottom of the Gondola as whilst not cheap, it was so easy to walk to everything.
Wanaka was another fave place, check out the Cinema Paradiso. Absolutely fab experience.
We also liked Franz Zosef for an evening out, and whilst we didn't stay in Nelson, that looked great too.
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner
trusted partner