Need help with 12 day itinerary for New Zealand in February

Thorn Tree forumCountry forumsAustralia, New Zealand & AntarcticaNew Zealand
Enter custom title (optional)
This topic is locked
Last reply was
514
…
Send as an e-mail
Send as an e-mail
saharac
saharac

Hello Everyone,
I am planning on a trip to New Zealand and have been doing some research about the things to see and do and must-see places. The choices seem to be endless, so need your help with narrowing down some of them.
We will be flying in and out of Auckland.
I picked this itinerary from one of the suggested plans on a tour website and would like your inputs:
Day 1: Arrive in Auckland by noon -- Rest and visit some local sites in the evening.
Day 2: Head to Rotorua via Waitamo caves
Day 3: Rotorua -- The original itinerary suggested a trip to Lake Taupo and back on this day. But I'm thinking of just visiting the local spots in Rotorua. Is the trip to Lake Taupo worth it? I am assuming there is plenty to do in Rotorua for a day?
Day 4: Fly Rotorua to Christchurch -- Is a trip to Kaikoura a good day activity while in Christchurch?
Day 5: Drive Christchurch - Mt Cook
Day 6: Mt Cook - Wanaka
At Mt. Cook -- visit Tasman/Hooker glaciers, alpine walks, etc.
Day 7: Wanaka -- Rob Roy Glacier walk, etc.
Day 8: Wanaka - Glenorchy -- Was thinking of not staying in Glenorchy and heading straight to Queenstown.
Day 9: Glenorchy - Queenstown -- Check out Queenstown
Day 10: Queenstown - Milford -- might do the overnight bus tour
Day 11: Milford - Queenstown
Day 12: Fly Queenstown - Auckland -- any suggestion for a day trip from Auckland?
Day 13: Fly back....

Another option is on Days 5-9, to visit the West Coast from Christchurch - Greymouth - Hokitika - Fox/FJ Glaciers - Wanaka.

Being the adventure capital, can you also suggest which is the best place for sky-diving and bungee jumping?

Thanks in advance.
Subhi

View last reply
Report
1
westwood
westwood

Depending what time of the year, I think theres a harbour cruise. When you arrive at Auckland Airport, pick up a copy of Arrival magazine. has a lot of useful info plus a few pages of discount coupons.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
2
saharac
saharac
In response to #1

Thanks for the tip. I'll look into the cruise in Auckland.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
3
westwood
westwood

duh, silly me. When you come is in the title.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
4
saharac
saharac

Any thoughts on the itinerary?

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
5
westwood
westwood

Not really. At least on the NI part of it.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
6
travelmaven
travelmaven

I'm planning a trip to New Zealand, and have the exact itinerary as you for days 1-3. I plan on taking a harbor cruise in the afternoon of the first date of arrival in Auckland. I plan on staying 2 nights in Rotorua, as there seems to be lots to see and do there.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
7
KiwiGirl15
KiwiGirl15

There is heaps to do in Rotorua, I wouldn't spend the time going to Taupo - which is lovely, but you would spend an hour getting there and back, and if you only have a day why spending it travelling. The Redwoods forest is fantastic. You can hire mountain bikes there any day of the week, and they also have a bus which will take you and bikes up the hills, so you only have to bike down. There are also a number of lovely walks in there. Hotpools are great - I went there recently to Polynesian spa. There is also animal farms, luge, gondala, and a lot of other things close by to do. And the lakes are beautiful.

I wouldn't think of Kaikoura as a day trip unless you are getting up early. Think it is around 2.5 hours drive from Christchurch, though it is pretty spectacular. If you end up doing that, and have a car, then make the effort to go I think around 20 kms further North where there is a spot where wild seal pups come to cavort in a mountain waterfall. The locals will tell you exactly how far it is - I have driven past there a number of times, but only found this spot this year. If I was doing a day trip, then Hanmer Springs is always a favourite of mine. I live in the North Island, but have family near Christchurch, and take the chance when I can to go there. Possibly similar activities to Rotorua - the best hotpools ever, biking and walking in the forest. Drive would be under 2 hours from Christchurch, and an easier drive than to Kaikoura.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
8
saharac
saharac

Thanks ladies! We will follow your suggestion on staying in Rotorua and exploring the area.
The day trip to Kaikoura while in CHristchurch would depend on when we land in Christchurch. Depending on that we might just check out Akaroa instead.

Any recommendations on air booking websites for internal flights? For the Rotorua - CHC flight, I was only getting Air Nz options.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report
9
KiwiGirl15
KiwiGirl15

There is only one option from Rotorua to Chch and that is Air New Zealand. Jetstar is a lot cheaper, but only goes main centres - Akld, Wgtn, Chch and I think maybe Dunedin. They are the only 2 carriers in NZ currently that I am aware of.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.
Permalink to this post
Report

This topic has been locked by a moderator.

Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner