Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) - New Zealand south island hiking trip




schistosomiasis
Dec 13, 11, 10:05 pm
Please critique this plan, I'm coming from Phoenix AZ.
Don't want to carry stuff for overnight hikes, mostly day hikes. Consider myself reasonably good hiker, have done 12 mile roundtrip into grand canyon in one day.

April 1: land Auckland 6:30 am, explore Auckland. Auckland gallery, art museum.
2: Auckland. Should I go to Kelly tarlton Antarctic encounter or rangitoto island?
3: fly to Queenstown early in AM rent car to glenorchy do day hikes stay at kinloch lodge
4: day hike routeburn track to Harris saddle hopefully conical hill and back. Stay in glenorchy/ kinloch.
5: drive to Wanaka and do Rob Roy glacier walk, can I drive car to trailhead or do I need to take tour?
6: Siberia experience from makarora- flight, hike, jetboat
7: Arrowtown and Queenstown
8-12: Milford track (using ultimate hikes/ guided walk)
13: Queenstown
14: fly to Auckland, Los Angeles, and then home

Does this sound reasonable? Is there enough variety in the places I'm going to?
Other options would be on April 5-6 to drive to mount cook and do some hikes, or spend April 6-7 at Te anau and day hike the Kepler track to mount luxmore. Still another option is to stay overnight April 4 on routeburn trek, emerge the next day at the divide, and spend the 6-7 at Te anau. But then transporting my stuff to te anau is a pain.

Any suggestions or comments?


John Quint
Dec 13, 11, 10:38 pm
In a 10 day period, I was able to make a complete loop around the south island taking in time to see much of what you are stating. That being said however, I think you might want to give yourself some "wiggle" room. I personally found that what I thought I wanted to do for X days ended up going X+1 or sometimes X-1. I'd give yourself some gray area to make adjustments as the situation on the ground dictates (and as your experiences go).

im-headed-west
Dec 14, 11, 5:54 pm
...

Any suggestions or comments?

I've found the following helpful: "Parks & Recreation -> Tracks and Walks"

http://www.doc.govt.nz/


brenrox
Dec 14, 11, 5:55 pm
On Day two you could catch the early morning Ferry to Rangitoto and then catch the lunchtime one back - it is a great walk/run with great views. You would also have time to do Kelly Tarlton's, which IMHO is just another aquarium, the only highlight for me were the pengiuns.

You will love the walks, some unbeleiveable countryside down there (even better than the photos!)

Enjoy your trip

im-headed-west
Dec 14, 11, 6:13 pm
I've found the following helpful: "Parks & Recreation -> Tracks and Walks"

http://www.doc.govt.nz/

Milford Track (http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/fiordland/fiordland/milford-track/)--Guide (http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/southland/milford-track-brochure.pdf)
Kepler Track (http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/fiordland/fiordland/kepler-track/)--Guide (http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/southland/kepler-track-brochure.pdf)
Routeburn Track (http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/fiordland/fiordland/routeburn-track/)--Guide (http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/southland/routeburn-track-brochure.pdf)
Rob Roy Track (http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/otago/wanaka-makarora/rob-roy-track/)



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