3.5 wks in Nov! Christchurch to Auckland plan... Flexipass vs. Flexitrips... Guy Fawkes?!

Hello! I’ve only just discovered thorntree, it’s ace. Already read lots of posts that are helpful… thanks to everyone who takes the time to feedback.

I’m going to be in NZ in November for 3.5 wks. Flying into Christchurch and out of Auckland, which seems to be the slightly less common direction to do it in. I’m travelling on my own and after a LOT of mulling, planning to do the Intercity Flexipass (not sure if anyone has strong views that the ‘FlexiTrips’ option is better or not, but they seem v similar apart from the way it charges?!). Stray doesn’t really do a Northbound route (and is less flex) and Naked bus doesn’t seem to have such regular buses, particularly down the west side of the South Island.

My original thought was to go clockwise in the South Island, but one of the big sights for me is the observatory at Mount Cook and if I head there straight away I’ll hit a full moon (which will make the sky a lot less clear!). It might well be cloudy when I DO go, but at least I tried?! :)

So plan is…

Day 1 - Arrive into CC 4pm - Walk / crash out – Stay in CC
Day 2 - [NO TRAVEL] Day in CC
Day 3 - Early morning bus to Kaikoura - Day there
Day 4 – Bus to Picton – Stay in Picton (mainly because I don't think i can do Kaikoura to Abel Tas in one day..?)
Day 5 – Bus to Abel Tasman – Stay
Day 6 – [NO TRAVEL] Day in Abel Tasman
Day 7 – Bus to Franz Josef (long!) Arrive 5ish
Day 8 – [NO TRAVEL] Day in Franz Josef
Day 9 – Fox Glacier
Day 10 – Bus to Queenstown
Days 11-14 – [NO TRAVEL] Queenstown
Day 15 – Tekapo / Mount Cook (considering 2 days here, partly to maximise chance of no clouds!)
Day 16 – Fly to Wellington from Christchurch
Day 17 – [NO TRAVEL] Wellington

A bit loose after this but vaguely…
Day 18 – Wellington to Taopo
Day 19 – Tongariro crossing
Day 20 (new moon!) – Rotorua
Day 21 – Waitomo
Day 22 – Whakatane / Coromandel for Hot beaches
Day 23 – Whangarei
Day 24 – Bay of Islands
Day 25 – Head to Auckland
Day 26 - [NO TRAVEL] Auckland
Day 27 – Bye bye NZ!

Any thoughts much appreciated!
Also – does anybody know if there will be much of a Guy Fawkes firework celebration on the 5th Nov in Christchurch? Is it very big over there? It seems so though i couldn’t find anything obvious happening in Christchurch when I searched

Thanks! :) Ali

Big? Even with a restricted selling period we are inflicted with fire works for weeks afterwards. Christchurch is bound to have some sort of public show. most likely at New Brighton Beach where they have been in the past.

I think you may be trying to do too much. In 27 days you have only 6 without travel. Days 21, 22, 23, 24, for instance, would not allow you time to do much at the destinations. However, you get my special award for travellers who intend to stay (even though it's only a day) in Wellington! I've just realised that you appear to be travelling by bus. I think you'll need a car for quite a lot of the places you mention.

The commemoration of Guy Fawkes in NZ is a peculiar anachronism. In general, it consists of families letting off fireworks in their back yard. Not million-dollar displays like big cities on New Year's Eve.

Hi Ali

As has been said, I think you're trying to do too much in the time you have. I flew into Christchurch and am also flying out of Auckland. I think you should do your trip the other way around. It took me 6 weeks to do the South Island alone and I missed out so much! Do Kaikoura first, then head south to Queenstown, back via Christchurch (Chch). The observatory is at Lake Tekapo, not Mount Cook. You can get there via Naked Bus or Intercity, Naked Bus is cheaper and has passes too. NB stops in Lake Tekapo for about 40 minutes on the trip between chch and Qtown. That trip will take you an entire day as the bus is 9 or so hours. I got a 25 trip ticket with NB in a sale they were having, which averages out at about $15 per ticket. They have less trip passes too, maybe one to check out? Intercity do go places NB doesn't, like Dunedin-Queenstown and Northland in North Island, but Intercity is usually twice the price of NB. Maybe do Franz Josef OR Fox Glacier, not both, to give yourself more time. From what friends are telling me, Franz Josef is better and I have two friends who have done the helicopter ride to walk on the glacier, and they both said it was fantastic. I didn't see these glaciers, I went to Mount Cook instead and spent two days there and wished I'd had more time even then. You can get a bus from Tekapo to Mt Cook and then back or on to Twizel, as neither Intercity or NB go there. http://www.cookconnect.co.nz/default.aspx .They go by a timetable but will pick you up from your accommodation in Tekapo.

Don't forget about Milford Sound when you're in Queenstown. You can do a day trip via Jucy, deals on bookme.com. Then I'd go up the West coast after Qtown, Nelson, Picton, across the ferry to Wellington (amazing views, better than flying!), and then head north. There are plenty of buses going to Taupo or Rotorua. The main stopping point for all buses is Palmerston North. Your day 22 seems unrealistic. You'll be able to get buses, but in some places there is only one bus a day and you'll need a car to explore the Coromandel more - especially Cathedral Cove (as seen in Prince Caspian) and Hot Water Beach. Maybe find a travel buddy, someone with a car going there at the time?

Waitomo is best to do on the way to Auckland, otherwise you'll be crossing the same land again. I'd recommend a stop in Matamata for Hobbiton too! I'm doing some of your North Island trip starting next week, except there's snow still on the Tongariro crossing, so we have to constantly keep in touch with DOC, as if it's snowy we may have to take a guide which may cost us up to $170 each. Watch out for that.

Hope some of this helps. Let me know if you need more info.

Kirsty

I stayed in Wellington for 9 days on my way north!! There was just too much to see and do!

Kirstyp, thanks for all that info - I'm just starting to sort a 3 month trip to NZ out for the end of the year. Its really helpful :)

Hi KirstyP! You get bars to your medals for spending time in Wellington. A loyal South-Islander by birth, I’ve now lived in Wellington for 16 years and have extended my loyalty to incorporate that city. For me, its size, location and style are exactly what I look for in a place to live. I’m glad you enjoyed your stay.
Q.

Hear hear, thanks everyone for the great feedback. Wellington sounds brilliant! I'm excited. And Brighton beach for the fireworks sounds perfect. On the list!
Thanks for all the thoughts Kirsty. My reason for that direction was delay the observatory visit, so I have a darker sky. Think you might be right about trying to fit too much in... One thought was to (sadly) skip Abel Tasman and take the train through Arthur's pass from Christchurch to grey mouth. Then head to franz josef (perhaps skipping fox as you say), onto Queensyown (yep milfords sounds was in plan) , tekapo , Kaikoura, picton and then do the ferry - don't want to miss that if that's an experience in itself! What do you think? I shave off a few days then of travel and being at Abel Tasman.

Re transport - love the freedom of a car but I'm going on my own and just like the idea of meeting ppl on the buses. Might consider doing it on the north island if I can share w someone as you suggest. With the buses, how far in advance have you had to book them? Have they ever been full for you?
The Naked bus passes do seem a bit cheaper but not all of the buses are daily (some every 3 or 4 days) it seems, while intercity is, partic important when I just have 3.5 wks. Did you find that w naked bus or is their website timetable perhaps not up to date?

Thanks again everyone! Ali

Thanks for the cook connect website - v helpful.

Naked Bus web site will be up to date. Its a company used by locals as well-- probably more than tourists at least for point to point and not the passes.

#6, my son studied at Vic for 3 years. Couldnt wait to get out of south Auckland then in his 2nd year shared a house with friends from high school also down there. Was a suburb with high rates of arson, burglaries, you name it.

I have generally found you meet more people at hostels than on the bus. To be honest with everything you are trying to fit in you won't have much time to build friendships with people.