11 days Tour to New Zealand

Day 1
Arrive at Auckland. Pick up car from airport and drive to hotel. Check-in at hotel. Evening visit the Sky Tower observation deck.
Day 2
After breakfast, check out from hotel and drive to Bay of Islands. Day at leisure.
Day 3
Day at leisure. You have the option of driving to Cape Regina.
Day 4
After breakfast, check out from hotel and drive to Auckland. Check in at Oakwood Manor. Auckland harbour cruise at 1:30 pm. Remaining day at leisure.
Day 5
After breakfast, drop the car at airport and board flight to Queenstown. Queenstown arrival at 11AM. Pick up car from airport and check in at hotel. Shotover Jet boat ride at 4pm. After the jet boat ride, visit the Skyline complex for a Gondola and 1 luge ride.
Day 6
After early breakfast, drive to Milford Sound for cruise. Cruise starts at 1:35 pm. Evening drive back to Queenstown.
Day 7
Day at leisure. Evening visit the Onsen hot pool session. Currently we have taken the 9pm slot.
Day 8
After breakfast check out from hotel and drive to Franz Josef. Arrive Franz Josef in afternoon. Remaining day at leisure.
Day 9
Afternoon take the Glacier walk guided tour.
Day 10
After breakfast, check out from hotel and drive to Greymouth train station. Drop the car at the station and board the Tranz Alpine train to Christchurch. Transfer to hotel by coach.
Day 11
Early morning check out from hotel and transfer to airport by coach for flight to India.

I need help with activities to do / places to see in and around the Bay of Islands as i am staying there for a couple of days. I plan to do scuba Diving there, please advise if the same is worth it.

Also need help with activities to do / places to see in and around the Franz Joseph Galcier.

Also a list of good indian restaurants/ night clubs in Auckland and Queenstown

comments interspersed:

Day 1
Arrive at Auckland. Pick up car from airport and drive to hotel. Check-in at hotel. Evening visit the Sky Tower observation deck.

**not if you've come further than east coast Australia - you shouldn't be driving then.
Day 2
After breakfast, check out from hotel and drive to Bay of Islands. Day at leisure.
**after a 3 hour drive still jet lagged and tired. Plenty of stuff to see, do a google search.
Day 3
Day at leisure. You have the option of driving to Cape Regina.
*** four hours each way. Why bother?
Day 4
After breakfast, check out from hotel and drive to Auckland. Check in at Oakwood Manor. Auckland harbour cruise at 1:30 pm. Remaining day at leisure.

Day 5
After breakfast, drop the car at airport and board flight to Queenstown. Queenstown arrival at 11AM. Pick up car from airport and check in at hotel. Shotover Jet boat ride at 4pm. After the jet boat ride, visit the Skyline complex for a Gondola and 1 luge ride.
Day 6
After early breakfast, drive to Milford Sound for cruise. Cruise starts at 1:35 pm. Evening drive back to Queenstown.
**10 hours driving, 5 hours each way. Don't. Take a coach if you must.
Day 7
Day at leisure. Evening visit the Onsen hot pool session. Currently we have taken the 9pm slot.
Day 8
After breakfast check out from hotel and drive to Franz Josef. Arrive Franz Josef in afternoon. Remaining day at leisure.
**after a six hour drive without stops.
Day 9
Afternoon take the Glacier walk guided tour.
**if it isn't raining too hard. You fly on to the glacier at Franz.
Day 10
After breakfast, check out from hotel and drive to Greymouth train station. Drop the car at the station and board the Tranz Alpine train to Christchurch. Transfer to hotel by coach.
**3 hour drive.
Day 11
Early morning check out from hotel and transfer to airport by coach for flight to India.

in which case you DEFINITELY should not be driving on day 1 as you came such a long way.

I know this is a travel agent itinerary but it is awful. Please change it.

Hey thanks for the reply....I knoe the trip involves a lot of driving but given the number of days available and the budget you are not left with a lot of choices.

Btw I have heard driving around in NZ is not at all bad.

Also you have mentioned that there are a lot of things to see in Bay is islands. Can you please enlighten on some of them. I will do a google search in parallel.

Also I agree drive to cape regina seems to be a tiring affair....if u skip it...r u missing onto something??

driving in NZ is good but needs to be planned on max 60 kph. And there's no point spending all the time in a car.

limited time means cut the itinerary. And I repeat you MUST NOT drive straight off long-haul flights.

Neverwinter is correct about jetlag and driving. Have you booked your flights? If you have, are you able to change them? If I had only 10 nights, I wouldn't try to see bits of both islands, I would stick with one. However, a suggested altered itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive Auckland.
Pick up car from airport and drive to hotel. Check-in at hotel. Evening visit the Sky Tower observation deck

Day 2 Auckland harbour cruise at 1:30 pm. Remaining day at leisure. Have you considered doing a cruise to Waiheke Island instead?

Day 3 Auckland to Bay of Islands (Pahia)
> Drive up the east coast along the Kaipara Coast Highway.

> Stop at Matakohe and visit the Kauri and Pioneer Museum, have morning tea/early lunch at Matakohe House.

> The Waipoua Forest is beautiful, the forests of Waipoua are the garden of Tāne Mahuta - the "Lord of the Forest", the largest Kauri tree in New Zealand, with a height of 52 metres. it is said to be 1,200 years old. See photo In Māori mythology Tāne, the god of the forest, separated earth and sky and let light into the world. (There is much more to the story but that is the short version.)

> Stop at Opononi at Hokianga Harbour, there's a small visitor's information centre and hear the tale of Opo the gay dolphin, they show a black and white video from 1955.

> From Opononi, head east on the SH 12 (State Highway) go through Motutoa and Kaikohe, when you get to Pakaraka, turn left onto SH 10 and turn right at Puketona on Puketona Road, and stop at Haruru Falls. From there it's about 4 kms to Pahia. We left Auckland around 9.30am and arrived in Pahia just before 4.00pm.

Day 4 Hole in the Rock Cruise
> I wouldn't bother driving all the way to Cape Reinga, it's a long drive, you only have two nights and your time would be better spent in Pahia, there's plenty to see and do there. Unless the rules have changed since I was in NZ, rental vehicles are not permitted on 90 mile beach.

> Do a Hole in the Rock Cruise. See photo. They have morning and afternoon ones, I took a morning cruise, they stop at Urupukapuka Island in Otehei Bay photo here with time to grab a bite at the Zane Grey Cafe there. and they dropped me off at Russell on the way back at my request. I then caught the ferry back to Pahia.

> Go to Waitangi. If you are interested in Māori culture, this is a must. Some things to see -

> Ngātokimatawhaorua is a large waka (canoe) built by the Ngā Puhi people for the 1940 centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. (It's believed to be the largest waka ever built.)

> Te Whare Runanga Marae. (The Marae, sacred open meeting area, generally situated in front of the "whare runanga", communal meeting house, is the area of greatest mana, the place of greatest spirituality ; the place that heightens people's dignity, and the place in which Māori customs are given ultimate expression.) The figure at the apex of the gable is Kupe, the Pacific explorer. There are a number of things to see in the Marae - totara (coronation chair), Wharenui, carved tukutuku panels and kowhaiwhai (scroll work on rafters).

> Waitangi Treaty House - this is where the Treaty of Waitangi (Māori: Te Tiriti o Waitangi) was signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and a number of Māori chiefs.

Day 5 Bay of Islands to Queenstown
> Leave around 9.00/9.30 am. Stop at Whangerei for a coffee/break/ It's an hours drive from Paihia. The airport is a 2 hour 20 minute drive from Whangerei, depending on traffic. Drop off car, and get afternoon flight to Queenstown.

Day 6 Milford Sound day trip
Don't try and drive, it's a 5 to 6 hour drive each way, depending on traffic. Either do a tour or choose something else. The advice given to me was if you're going to go to Milford Sound and back in one day, keep the day before and the day after free. And this was if you're doing a tour.
> I would recommend BBQ Bus or Real Journeys . Real Journeys is a higher price and lunch is not included - that is extra.

> Intercity, New Zealand's national bus company, also offer tours. Their Milford Sound tour from Queenstown is from $119 (plus booking fee). If you are on a budget, this may be a better options for you. Here is their website Intercity

Day 7
Day at leisure. Evening visit the Onsen hot pool session. Currently we have taken the 9pm slot.

Day 8 Queenstown to Franz Josef
>After breakfast check out from hotel and drive to Franz Josef. Arrive Franz Josef in afternoon. Remaining day at leisure

> This is a long day, even without stops.

> Kawarau Bridge, we stopped here to watch people bungy jump from the bridge and see them swinging upside down over the river. Great entertainment. It's only 20 minutes from QT.

> Wanaka. Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World is on the left. It's fun and some of it is free. Follow the road down to the lake. There's a large sculpture called "The hand that nurtures" - most people stand in front and get their photo taken. The lake is lovely, plenty of birds. Cafes etc.

> Makarora is half way between QT and Franz. Good place to have lunch. Scenery is great too.

> Lake Matheson. As you arrive at Fox Glacier, turn left at Cook Flat Rd then right at Lake Matheson Rd. From the car parking, it's a short walk around to the right to get to the lake. Great photo shot.

Day 9
Afternoon take the Glacier walk guided tour.

Day 10 Franz Josef to Christchurch
We stopped at these places:
> The Bushmans Centre is in Pukekura, rustic timber place with a cafe, shop and museum. When I was here, there were reindeer at the back and you could buy bags of "reindeer food" to feed them. Also, there were two quaint toilets in the air. It's a quirky and interesting place and I've not seen another like it.

> Hokitika - t's a coastal town and I walked to the beach - the sand is black. I've read recently that much of the sand is being washed away be erosion, so I don't know what it's like compared to when I was there.

> The train departs at 1.45pm and arrives in Christchurch just after 6pm.

Day 11 Depart Christchurch

> A few suggestions. You mention budget. You don't need a car in Queenstown, nor in Franz Josef. I would recommend you not hire a car, do a bus tour to Milford Sound and use the bus to travel to Franz and Greymouth. It will be much cheaper than car hire and petrol, plus you won't be stuck behind a wheel and will be able to look out the window at the wonderful scenery.

> The bus from QT to Franz is $62 for a non-refundable fare or $124 for flexible. (I typed in a random date). It leaves Queenstown at 8.10 and arrives in Franz at 4.10 with two meal break stops on the way.

> The bus from Franz to Greymouth departs at 9.15, arrives in Greymouth 1.15 with two meal breaks at the Bushmans Centre and Hokitika. Fare is $29 non-refundable or $57.

Your transport cost from Queenstown to Greymouth would be $91 plus the cost of whichever Milford Sound tour you chose.

> Instead of staying in hotels, stay in YHA hostels. I travelled around NZ for just over 5 weeks and stayed in YHA's and they're great. Not only is it far cheaper, you get to meet lots of other travellers too.

If you insist on your itinerary and both islands, then cut out cape Reigna and spend an extra day in Auckland at the start (taxi to hotel and get rental car there the next day).
Limited time doe now mean see everything fast, it means cut things out.
Driving in NZ s good-ish, but would be much better if tourists didn't keep crashing. A lot.

Bay of Islands has Russell and Waitangi; that'll entertain you for a while. All other places you'll be far too tired to do anything beyond what you have planned. If you insist on Miford Sound in a daytrip, use a coachtour, they have drivers trained for the journey; those roads are NOT easy.

This itinerary involves more in 11 days than I would even consider doing in 3 weeks. Just because the term "leisure" is used often, does not make it true. Unless 'leisure' means 'napping in the hotel room and missing all the good stuff because you spent five hours in the car today and have to drive back tomorrow'.
The part about Queenstown-Milford-Cruise-Queenstown alone is the reason why there are so many accidents involving tourists.

It sounds like you have lots of things booked already... can you change or cancel any of those?
I agree with other replies- take a coach tour if you have to do Queenstown to Milford and back in one day.
Cape Reinga is awesome but takes around 30 minutes to explore the lookout area thoroughly. Not worth that either. They do offer coach day tours from Paihia and Kerikeri for this. But with that amount of time you can explore Waitangi grounds and Russell across the bay which is great.

Captain courageous' reply is a good one.

Seems horribly rushed for very little gain.
On a scale of 1-10 By of islands would rate about a 5 for me, compared to other spots in NZ, and its location means you have to double back, which, on an 11 day timetable is a massive waste.
Likewise, Auckland would rate a 2 or a 3. It's a nice enough place, but not worth more than a day on an 11 day holiday.
And, you're missing so much. Rotorua, Coromandel, Wellington, Mt Cook etc.
Also - Franz Josef Glacier is a 5 hour drive from Queenstown. Milford is a 5 hour drive EACH WAY, so that's a 12 hour day trip (with the 2 hour cruise).
Also, there is a lot of tourist crap here, such as the tower in Auckland, and the Hot Pools in Queenstown, though the view from the top of the Skyline in Queenstown is worth it, and the luge good fun. The Shotover jet is brilliant, and it's a nice ride out there as well.
I don't actually have a problem with the driving. I've stepped off planed after long flights in foreign countries who drive on the other side of the road and had no problem. NZ roads are slow - they are mostly single lane, very scenic, and the tourist roads packed with slow convoys of campers, so it always takes you a lot longer to get anywhere. But after a day or 2 you will be fine.