7 days is far too much in Auckland. More time in the South Island or another NZ city. Wellington, Rotorua?
Air fares MEL PER can be expensive and including the time to/from airport, check-in can take best part of a day, unless you fly at night. And a 2hr time zone difference.
In Melbourne the first week of November is
Cup Week - a very busy time
Originally Posted by
calbear2005
... spending a bit more time in the South Island of NZ. Last year, I started out in Te Anau and then over the course of 2 weeks, drove to Queenstown, Wanaka, Franz Josef, Arthur's Pass, and Christchurch, doing 3-6 hour long day hikes 2 out of every 3 days (using the 3rd day to rest). If that's something you're interested in, I could definitely make suggestions.
The Waiho Bridge on the road between the glaciers got washed away a few days ago in a torrential rain storm. Will be some time before its rebuilt:- weeks or months. But would expect to be open by November.
Edit 1 (29 March)
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/111...er-consumption
<snip>
But for those in the tourism industry it's more a case of drowning their sorrows, and Taylor estimated his five hotels in the region were down about 700 guests a day, running at 2 per cent occupancy when they would normally be close to full.
Businesses were desperate for a new bailey bridge to open by Thursday as promised, and if the closure was prolonged, they risked having to lay off staff
<snip>
Edit 2 (30 March)
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/111...-thought--nzta
Reinstating a bridge over a West Coast river could take twice as long as initially thought, according to new New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) estimates.
NZTA has revised its time frame for replacing a bailey bridge over the Waiho River on State Highway 6, near Franz Josef Glacier, which was destroyed when heavy rain flooded the river on Tuesday.
Pete Connors, NZTA system manager, said the time frame to replace the bridge was now 14 to 17 days, instead of the originally estimate of just over one week. This could take work through until Friday, April 12, ahead of school holidays and Easter
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