Originally Posted by
atcguy
As I deal with on every trip, I need to reiterate to myself that you can't have/do it all. Something's gotta give.
I don't have specific suggestions but your self-knowledge described here is the key point. RadioBloke and I spent 17 days touring from Auckland to Queenstown and it wasn't enough. (We didn't spend 3 days hiking but did spend 3 days at our friends' house.)
BTW - We had a single car rental agreement for the trip which included dropping car #1 at the ferry wharf in Wellington and picking up #2 at the ferry wharf in Picton - very fast and easy.