Originally Posted by
shekhar
Going to NZ first time this December and we have 10 days there . We planned this trip and do you think this is doable and if we should change what should we change and what would be your suggestion
1. 21 dec ( day) 1 - land in auckland early AM - take a flight to Queenstown and check in hotel and city only
2. 22 Dec (Day 2) - Queenstown - day trip
3 23 Dec Queenstown - day trip
4. 24 Dec - drive to Fran Josef - stay overnight
5. 25 dec- drive to Christchurch - stay overnight
6 26 dec - drive to Picton and cross and stay in Wellington overnight
7 27 dec- drive to lake Taupo and stay overnight
8 28 dec - drive to cave and movie set and get to Rotorua and stay overnight
9 . 29 dec - Stay at Rotorua
10 . 30 dec drive to Auckland
11. Dec 31 - stay in auckland
12 . 1 Jan fly back to USA
Please suggest and let me know if this is crazy.
Many threads on trips in NZ.
Usual comments of trying to see too much if too few days. Driving or flying almost *every* day!. Most people would spend 10 days in South Island
or North Island : not both in 10 days
Average road speed will be low. And less at that time due to holiday traffic. Accommodation at that time may be hard to get if not booked ahead of time.
The glaciers are not as good as they were decades ago. Would not go to CHC. Drive West Coast~Fran Josef~Greymouth to Nelson/Blenheim/Picton, skipping Canterbury~Christchurch
The Cook Strait ferry's (both companies) have had issues with reliability. Need to book. Some rental car companies do not allow cars across Cook Strait. But drop off/pick up a new car on the other side. But you are going south to north. More go north to south so often a car surplus at southern rental depots.