Seeking advice- 3 week itinerary mid-May to mid-June!

Welcome to the forum.

As of now, we are planning to use public transportation for the lower south island, and possibly renting a car once get a little farther north, around Mount Cook towards Picton. Any thoughts? Should we avoid renting a car altogether in the south island for safety concerns?

I don't understand the logic or thinking behind this, and I would rent a vehicle for the entire trip. You do not want to be standing in miserable weather waiting for a bus. The roads won't be that bad, if at all.

The main issue however is that your list of planned destinations is far too ambitious for the time you are committing to this trip. NZ is stunningly attractive and your coming a long way ... can you increase the time?

Have you a particular reason for staying in Greymouth? It is one of the most unscenic places in an extremely scenic country:-)
If it's to break up the journey to Nelson (which warrants more than an overnight stop) stay in Hokitika instead. It's a cute wee place

Do the maths - you have 12 places on your SI list PLUS the Heaphy Track, which takes 4-5 days Since these places are mostly 4-6 hr apart by road, you will spend all day, every day travelling and have no time to actually DO anything. Cut your list by half and spend 2 nights in most places and you will have a much better trip.
Again on the NI, you have 7 places - and only 7 days!!

Totally agree with Donizetti in #2. Greymouth is a very dreary place. I know this because I spent a night there last year going south. Turns out Hokitika is a much nicer town with a beautiful beach. Some will disagree with me, but I suggest that you skip Napier and Hawke's Bay. Use that time elsewhere--around Nelson and Abel Tasman, for example, Rotorua, or the Coromandel Pennisula. The Art Deco buildings in Napier are charming but it's an awfully long drive out there from Tongariro and back to Rotorua.

Cut your list by half and spend 2 nights in most places and you will have a much better trip.

I couldn't agree more. Most (almost all) places you are contemplating require and reward a two night stop to have a great day of hiking and exploring.

You don't have time include the long trip to (and then away from) Dunedin ... just concentrate on the Franz Josef / Wanaka / Queenstown / Milford Sound / Aoraki Mt Cook region.

And for a great day hike, just choose one of Abel Tasman NP and Queen Charlotte Sound (which we preferred).

Greymouth is pretty dreary, but you only seek a night somewhere, you're not putting down roots there ... if the accomm is cheaper, then it might work well.

And I also agree on dropping Napier / Hawke's Bay ... it's nice, but you need a longer trip. Just concentrate mostly on the geothermal-volcanic region from Mt Ruapehu through to Rotorua.

And you have to work out the logistics of taking a vehicle from Picton to Wellington, both in terms of your rental company policies, and booking a space on the ferry for your date.

Uncles you like going to the beach in the middle of winter, I,d forgo Coromandel. And simply for logistics, Napier/Hawkes Bay.

I don't have any uncles on the winter beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula ... but my direct (former convict) ancestors did build an Anglican Church at Kawerau in the 1840s ... makes me feel proud!

Have you a particular reason for staying in Greymouth? It is one of the most unscenic places in an extremely scenic country:-)

Greymouth the town is not the greatest place, apart from the views down to Mt Cook or the nice walk along the Riverside, or....

But drive 10 minutes out of town in any direction and it's spectacular. Point Elizabeth walk is a good example.

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