Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - NZ itn. - any suggestions?

Coming into CHC on 30MAR from SYD.

2 nights in CHC(Apt.37 B&B) - basically checking out the city.

Depart CHC 1APR on the TranzAlpine train to Greymouth/connecting to InterCity bus to Franz Josef.

2 nights in Franz Josef(BellaVista Motel). A full day Glacier walk planned.

Depart Franz Josef 3APR for Queenstown.

4 nights in Queenstown(Brown's Boutique Hotel). Planning a fly/cruise excursion to Milford Sound. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Depart Queenstown 7APR for Rotorua (flying).

2 nights in Rotorua(Millennium Rotorua Hotel). Planning a cave tour, gyesers, etc.

Depart Rotorua 9APR for AKL. InterCity bus.

3 nights in AKL(Hyatt Regency Auckland - Apartments). Checking out the city.

Depart AKL 12APR for SYD.


Photography is one of my favorite hobbies, so that's important to me. Any suggestions for tours/visits, especially in Queenstown and Rotorua would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Sounds good. Have you checked out www.newzealand.com (official NZ tourism website) for ideas?

From Queenstown a nice day trip is Arrowtown and Gibbston valley - nice wineries, historic town. Should have autumn colours. Can also go back country (4wd tours) see the old gold mining and panning. Beautiful and peaceful valleys.

If you're into adventure stuff check out Skippers Canyon area. Heaps there. Dont take a rental car up the road though - very hairy and no one will insure you. If you take bunjy/jet boat/rafting/helicopter they will arrange transport from Queenstown.

You may also have enough time to head up to the top of Lake Wakatipu at Glenorchy. Take the boat one way and bus/tour van the other.

If you're in to steam trains there is one that runs from Kingston (other end of the lake) - but make sure you check when it runs.

Kiwi Flyer,

Thanks for all the suggestions. Arrowtown sounds great, especially the Saffron Restaurant. I will definitely have a dinner there.

BTW, I'm looking into the Milford Sound Excursion from Queensland. There are 3 options to do this day trip:

1.Coach/cruise/Coach - cheapest US$190 per adult
2.Fly/cruise/fly - more expensive US$330
3.Coach/cruise/fly - MOST EXPENSIVE BY FAR- US$489 :confused: :confused: :confused:

The overnight cruise is only about US$100 more than option 3, so I just don't get it? Am I missing something?

Can you or anybody else explain this? I checked 2-3 sites and they all quote the same prices so it's not a mistake. I just don't understand how R/T flying is less than a bus and a plane.

I cant answer for the operators but speculate. Milford Sound is a tiny town. So very nearly everyone who visits goes in and out in the same day. Obvious exception are hikers on the Milford Track (this is around 4 days one-way hike), during the limited season it is open. So, and this is only a guess, the tour bus operator is wanting payment for the empty seat coming out as most unlikely they will be able to fill it.

If the weather is okay I would fly. Stunning scenery, get up close to Sutherland Falls (which you cant by road only on Milford Track) etc. However due to the frequent heavy rain there is a chance may need to allow a few days to get a day fine enough for flying. Buses can operate in much worse weather, and some people actually prefer to visit when it is wet - less sandflies and you get thousands of waterfalls over the cliffs.

I think another reason for the increased cost for the coach-cruise-fly option is because this is the most popular one. Travel agents recommend flying out in the afternoon, because you get the best chance of having clear weather. Also, you get different scenery, ie you see things via the coach that you wouldn't if you just flew. If you fly-cruise-fly, the return flight is probably much earlier, eg before the afternoon rush, and probably priced cheaper.

Flight wont be any earlier - its the same cruises!

Having done the overnight cruise to Milford Sound, I defintely recommend it. When the missus & I did it, we was fortuante; at least that's what the tour guide said then; because it was sunny the 1st day and rain the 2nd day so we got to see the sights on a clear day and also lot and lots of waterfalls on the rainy day. The route itself is picturesque; spell??;

http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/index.cfm. We went with them.

We love queenstown so much that we'll be there again this coming winter; southern winter that is. We'll take Kiwi's suggestion on the steam train ride; hopefully they run in Winter :D

Oops - should have checked out Kingston Flyer website (http://www.kingstonflyer.co.nz/) first. Not running in winter - runs October to April.

I went to NZ last year. LOVED it! Milford Sound is "iffy" on days as others have mentioned - weather dependent. I took the coach/cruise/fly option. I don't remember it being as expensive as you're quoting. There is basically only one company that runs the tours though. They were excellent imo.

If you enjoy photograph (as I do) I would suggest a two day stop in the Marlborough Sound and do the mail run. It's a literal mail run but the scenery and the places you visit are amazing. This is also wine country where I took Barry's Tour - highly recommend it if you enjoy wine. I stayed at Rae's B&B - she was a hoot! Anyway - the water and the landscape was gorgeous.

I would also recommend paragliding in Queenstown! :) Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. This was definitely one of my most favorite trips. I have to say however; in the 11 days I was there I only visited SOME of the South Island - only made it to the North Island - Auckland for shopping, meeting MrStarAlliance (fellow FTer) and out of the country.

Here is the price list from RealJourney's website:

From Queenstown


Coach / Scenic Cruises * 6.55am-7.30pm All Year 190.00 95.00



Coach / Scenic Cruise / Fly * 6.55am-3.40pm All Year 489.00 290.00
Flight - weather permitting



Fly / Scenic Cruise / Fly * 8.00am-11.40am Oct '04-Apr '05 330.00 215.00


10.00am-1.40pm All Year 360.00 234.00


2.00pm-5.40pm Oct '04-14 Apr '05 330.00 215.00


12.00pm-3.40pm May-Sep '05 360.00 234.00
Flight - weather permitting



I talked to the owners of the Brown's Hotel and they assured me that I will be able to book this once I'm there. That way I could see what the weather will be like and make my decision. The one decision that I did make is this, there is no way I'm doing the coach/cruise/fly option. $500 for 1 excursion (no matter how magnificant it may be) is just not in my budget. I'm tempted to do the fly/fly option but I think I could be just as happy with the bus option.

Idsant - can you tell me more about the mail run? Is this also out of Queenstown? is it a cruise or coach or??? What was the cost?

The bus is fine - although a long day if leaving from Queenstown (can also pick it up from Te Anau).

Idsant - can you tell me more about the mail run? Is this also out of Queenstown? is it a cruise or coach or??? What was the cost?

I'm not ldsant but I know the mailrun she refers to is in the Marlborough Sounds (top of the South Island). It leaves from Picton (I think - there are some others from other points too). Here is the website (http://www.beachcombercruises.co.nz/mailrun.html). On a similar vein, you can also do mailruns by bus in some remote areas - generally half to full day seeing nice back country.

The bus is fine - although a long day if leaving from Queenstown (can also pick it up from Te Anau).



I'm not ldsant but I know the mailrun she refers to is in the Marlborough Sounds (top of the South Island). It leaves from Picton (I think - there are some others from other points too). Here is the website (http://www.beachcombercruises.co.nz/mailrun.html). On a similar vein, you can also do mailruns by bus in some remote areas - generally half to full day seeing nice back country.

That looks great, but unfortunately I already bought the air ticket from Queenstown to Rotorua. I will miss the northern part of the South Island and the southern part of the North Island.

Can't see everything this time, but a great suggestion for my return trip. :D

It looks like you'll go through Haast Pass -- take your time there. It's unbelievably gorgeous.

Here are two Milford sound coach/cruise/coach trips that are cheaper, about $120 US. I am going to Queenstown for 4 days the end of March and also looking for things to do. Unfortunately that is my only time in New Zealand so I have to make the most of it.

http://www.milfordsoundselect.com/options.htm

http://www.scenicpacific.co.nz/trip.cfm/trip-10000009

It looks like you'll go through Haast Pass -- take your time there. It's unbelievably gorgeous.
If it isn't raining - when the waterfalls are spectacular and almost touch the road, but most everything else is lost in clouds.

I've been twice in the past year. Depending on how much you want to pack in, a car loop from Christchurch across Arthur's Pass and North to Nelson, Marlborough and back down would be the longest I'd do in 7 days. The other itinerary (which I spent 2 weeks on) was driving across Arthur's Pass, down the West Coast, Wanaka, Queenstown, Milford Sound, up to Mt. Cook, and pack to CHC.

I found the Milford Sound and Queenstown, in particular, to be overrated. Spectacular yes, but overrun by the tourist hordes, which isn't my travel style.

If your in Queenstown there's plenty to do if your adventurous, from mt biking to river sledging (very interesting - a boogie board and class 3 whitewater. most interesting was the 70+ South African having the time of his life!) it's easy to find many an organized excursion in Qtown.

Rotorua

@:-) check out hell's gate. the mud bath is great. details on rotorua site http://www.rotoruanz.com/activities/health_spa.asp

^ if you have time check the lost world adventrue (100m abseil+a scramble thru underground caves!) at waitomo (1.5hr fm rotorua)
http://www.waitomo.co.nz/