I've done these drives/trips at least once, and all are "doable".
Originally Posted by
chowder
Hi NZ gurus. Would love to hear feedback on this late-September itinerary, please.
Day 1. Arrive SYD. Fly to Christchurch.
Day 2. TranzAlpine. Drive Greymouth to Fox/Josef.
Nice drive down the coast though a bit white knuckle at times as you wind back/forth from ocean to rain forest to ocean to rain forest to ...
Originally Posted by
chowder
Day 3. See glaciers. Drive to Wanaka.
Day 4. See Wanaka. Drive to Queenstown.
Day 5. See Queenstown. Drive to Te Anau.
Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau are very nice destinations with nice scenery on the way. Roads around Queenstown can be a bit winding.
Originally Posted by
chowder
Day 6. See Milford/Doubtful. Option A: sleep Te Anau. Option B: Drive to Invercargill.
Te Anau->Milford->Invercargill is a 6 hr drive ... best case ... if you don't leave the car, if you don't have bad weather, and if you don't get stuck behind an RV or bus.
Originally Posted by
chowder
Day 7. See Stewart Island. Drive to Queenstown.
Again ... day trip to Stewart Island and drive to Queenstown would be "doable".
You could take the morning/afternoon ferry or flight to/from and have about 4 or 5 hours on the island ... unfortunately evening flight/ferry don't start until Oct 1. I guess you could do a short hike from Oban. Ulva island .. a short boat ride from Oban ... is a bird sanctuary with lots of nice hiking and is much nicer ... not sure you could shoe horn this into your schedule.
Originally Posted by
chowder
Day 8. Drive early to see Mt Cook.
Mt Cook is spectacular if not clouded in.
Originally Posted by
chowder
Day 9. Drive to CHC. Fly to SYD.
Day 10. See SYD. Fly home.
Realizing that this is fairly ambitious, and that driving 1-4 hours/day is not for everyone, I'm curious to hear:
I've done the drives.
2-6 hours/day ... best case ... driving time only.
Originally Posted by
chowder
a) what you would cut out (and substitute in).
You seem interested in hitting all the spots and enjoy long drives ... so nothing.
Originally Posted by
chowder
b) where you like to stay, everywhere except SYD, CHC, ZQN (i.e. Fox/Josef, Wanaka, Te Anau, IVC, Mt Cook Village).
Wanaka - Moorings was spectacular
Mt Cook Village - I stayed in Twizel
Te Anua - Bella Vista was nice ... but many other nice properties
Joseph- Alpine Glacier Motel Lodge was nice
Originally Posted by
chowder
c) how you rank order Fox & Franz Josef, Stewart Island, Mt Cook Village. (depending on this response, I might consider seeing Mt Cook between Wanaka and Queenstown, and/or flying IVC-CHC).
If it matters, I prefer the natural and historical, over bungy/golf/wine/shopping.
Much appreciated, in advance. Cheers.
Not really aware of any historical in the three, but as far as natural ...
If Mt Cook is visible:
Mt Cook Village
Fox & Franz Josef
Stewart Island
If Mt Cook is not visible:
Fox & Franz Josef
Stewart Island
Mt Cook Village
Originally Posted by
chowder
Given seasonal factors (late-Sept weather and services), does anyone care to rank the glaciers Fox/Josef, Mt Cook Village, and Stewart Is. from "can't miss" to "can miss"?
Apr or Sept are my favorite time to go and are shoulder season ... so you'll run into few crowds and cheaper prices ... though late Sept/early Oct may be NZ school holidays.
Rankings provided above.
Originally Posted by
chowder
I'm certainly willing to fly in/out of ZQN/IVC if I can discern their relative magnificence.
Whether or not you drive or fly the itn above provides little/no chance to appreciate magnificence.
Originally Posted by
chowder
New question:
d) How wise/possible would it be to walk-up with no advance reservation for B&B/motel and activity such as cruise/heli/flight tour of Doubtful Sound, in late-Sept?
Thanks.
When traveling in Sept I go before NZ school holiday and find accommodations wide open ... not sure about during school holiday season.