Stay in Christchurch or go to Tekapo right away?
Sep 19, 2017, 12:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 87
Stay in Christchurch or go to Tekapo right away?
My mom is flying into Christchurch and then we're heading to Mt Cook as our first main stop.
The original plan was to spend the day in christchurch, let her rest, etc. etc. Note: I will already be in NZ, so no fatique/jetlag issues with me, who will be driving. She's arriving in the morning.
Now I'm wondering if we should just plan to spend the first night in Lake Tekapo (or somewhere else in that direction?) rather than "wasting" the day/night in Christchurch? I've yet to visit there myself but I just haven't heard a ton to see/do there.
What do you guys think?
The original plan was to spend the day in christchurch, let her rest, etc. etc. Note: I will already be in NZ, so no fatique/jetlag issues with me, who will be driving. She's arriving in the morning.
Now I'm wondering if we should just plan to spend the first night in Lake Tekapo (or somewhere else in that direction?) rather than "wasting" the day/night in Christchurch? I've yet to visit there myself but I just haven't heard a ton to see/do there.
What do you guys think?
Sep 19, 2017, 6:24 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: SQ TPPS (21),QF G, NZ E, IHG D Amb, Marriott Gold, HH Gold, Shangri-La Jade, Accor Plat, Hertz P
Posts: 398
My mom is flying into Christchurch and then we're heading to Mt Cook as our first main stop.
The original plan was to spend the day in christchurch, let her rest, etc. etc. Note: I will already be in NZ, so no fatique/jetlag issues with me, who will be driving. She's arriving in the morning.
Now I'm wondering if we should just plan to spend the first night in Lake Tekapo (or somewhere else in that direction?) rather than "wasting" the day/night in Christchurch? I've yet to visit there myself but I just haven't heard a ton to see/do there.
What do you guys think?
The original plan was to spend the day in christchurch, let her rest, etc. etc. Note: I will already be in NZ, so no fatique/jetlag issues with me, who will be driving. She's arriving in the morning.
Now I'm wondering if we should just plan to spend the first night in Lake Tekapo (or somewhere else in that direction?) rather than "wasting" the day/night in Christchurch? I've yet to visit there myself but I just haven't heard a ton to see/do there.
What do you guys think?
Sep 25, 2017, 12:27 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 778
Plenty of things to do in Christchurch. Not sure why the above commenter is still saying that we're in rebuild mode. The earthquake was more than six and a half years ago.
With that said, Tekapo is definitely worth a visit.
- International Antarctic Centre is definitely worth a visit and is right next to the airport. I'm not aware of anywhere else like it. Christchurch is a base of sorts to the American Antarctic program.
- Christchurch is known as "the garden city" for a reason. The botanic gardens are nice if you are feeling like taking a stroll.
- Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is worth a visit for animal lovers.
- I believe the Air Force Mueseum is free to enter. Lots of history and you could spend a few hours there.
- There is a gondola and tram which will show you around some of the parts of the inner city / port hills.
With that said, Tekapo is definitely worth a visit.
Sep 25, 2017, 12:55 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: SQ TPPS (21),QF G, NZ E, IHG D Amb, Marriott Gold, HH Gold, Shangri-La Jade, Accor Plat, Hertz P
Posts: 398
Plenty of things to do in Christchurch. Not sure why the above commenter is still saying that we're in rebuild mode. The earthquake was more than six and a half years ago.
With that said, Tekapo is definitely worth a visit.
- International Antarctic Centre is definitely worth a visit and is right next to the airport. I'm not aware of anywhere else like it. Christchurch is a base of sorts to the American Antarctic program.
- Christchurch is known as "the garden city" for a reason. The botanic gardens are nice if you are feeling like taking a stroll.
- Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is worth a visit for animal lovers.
- I believe the Air Force Mueseum is free to enter. Lots of history and you could spend a few hours there.
- There is a gondola and tram which will show you around some of the parts of the inner city / port hills.
With that said, Tekapo is definitely worth a visit.
Sep 25, 2017, 1:36 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2017
Programs: SQ TPPS (21),QF G, NZ E, IHG D Amb, Marriott Gold, HH Gold, Shangri-La Jade, Accor Plat, Hertz P
Posts: 398
Sep 25, 2017, 7:31 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,155
Christchurch was our jumping-off point for our New Zealand trip a little less than 2 years back. If I had to do it again, I would have skipped it entirely and started somewhere else on the South Island.
Sep 25, 2017, 9:13 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 87
Accommodation has cancellation, but right now it's:
- Stay in CHC night 1
- Drive stopover in Tekapo, through to Mt. Cook village night 2.
My mom has an interest in the gondola and botanical garden. The antarctic centre could be interesting.
Think we should try to do at least some if not all of those and hit tekapo for night 1, or leave as-is? It doesn't seem like there is a ton to do in tekapo (many seem to treat it as a stopover) apart from the stargazing, which we hope to have the opportunity to do in mt cook anyway.
- Stay in CHC night 1
- Drive stopover in Tekapo, through to Mt. Cook village night 2.
My mom has an interest in the gondola and botanical garden. The antarctic centre could be interesting.
Think we should try to do at least some if not all of those and hit tekapo for night 1, or leave as-is? It doesn't seem like there is a ton to do in tekapo (many seem to treat it as a stopover) apart from the stargazing, which we hope to have the opportunity to do in mt cook anyway.
Sep 26, 2017, 2:46 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,253
How long is/are the flight/flights to CHC?
1 night seems OK to me
Sep 26, 2017, 11:33 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 87
I guess just figuring out if it's best to spend the night in CHC and a longer drive into Mt Cook the next, or try to see a bit of CHC but get a head start to tekapo same day...
Sep 26, 2017, 7:29 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,943
Accommodation has cancellation, but right now it's:
- Stay in CHC night 1
- Drive stopover in Tekapo, through to Mt. Cook village night 2.
My mom has an interest in the gondola and botanical garden. The antarctic centre could be interesting.
Think we should try to do at least some if not all of those and hit tekapo for night 1, or leave as-is? It doesn't seem like there is a ton to do in tekapo (many seem to treat it as a stopover) apart from the stargazing, which we hope to have the opportunity to do in mt cook anyway.
- Stay in CHC night 1
- Drive stopover in Tekapo, through to Mt. Cook village night 2.
My mom has an interest in the gondola and botanical garden. The antarctic centre could be interesting.
Think we should try to do at least some if not all of those and hit tekapo for night 1, or leave as-is? It doesn't seem like there is a ton to do in tekapo (many seem to treat it as a stopover) apart from the stargazing, which we hope to have the opportunity to do in mt cook anyway.