NZ in Late November -- Itinerary Suggestions
Apr 14, 2018, 5:26 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: Eternal Search for LT Club
Posts: 66
For anyone booking a helicopter tour for the glaciers, just be aware that these tours are very often canceled due to weather conditions. Even strong winds on a clear day can cancel these tours. Since the 2015 fatal crash at Fox Glacier they have been much more quick to cancel tours even on days which might appear fine to the average tourist.
I went to Frans Joseph for two days, both beautiful and clear, without a cloud in the sky, but the heli tours were not running due to wind. So we never got to go up. And there isn't much else to do in town either, except hiking (which we did and it was lovely, but required a fair amount of fitness).
Just something to keep in mind before you make your plans, I wouldn't bend over backwards to get a half day in one of these places for a heli tour, because you might come up empty-handed.
I went to Frans Joseph for two days, both beautiful and clear, without a cloud in the sky, but the heli tours were not running due to wind. So we never got to go up. And there isn't much else to do in town either, except hiking (which we did and it was lovely, but required a fair amount of fitness).
Just something to keep in mind before you make your plans, I wouldn't bend over backwards to get a half day in one of these places for a heli tour, because you might come up empty-handed.
Apr 14, 2018, 8:18 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
Can you give some more details about Day 4 accommodation, I am putting together a very similar itinerary with about 2 more days as you have.
Were you planning to stay at the scenic lodge on day 4, I looked through quite a few tours of Franz Josef / Fox Glacier and Mt. Cook and I believe there's one by Glaciertours, which is a 40 min heli tour of all three of those places (although a bit pricey but reasonable for a 40min heli tour). Let me know if you found a other tours and/or better ways.
Were you planning to stay at the scenic lodge on day 4, I looked through quite a few tours of Franz Josef / Fox Glacier and Mt. Cook and I believe there's one by Glaciertours, which is a 40 min heli tour of all three of those places (although a bit pricey but reasonable for a 40min heli tour). Let me know if you found a other tours and/or better ways.
In any event, we are staying at a small property near Twizel called Skyscape. It's around $450 US per night, but it seems like a pretty unique experience. As far as tours, I haven't done a lot of research on that yet. If we do a flight, it would probably be a ski plane tour of Mt Cook and maybe a glacier landing. There are short plane tours without a glacier landing for $190/pp, which is pretty reasonable.
I went to Frans Joseph for two days, both beautiful and clear, without a cloud in the sky, but the heli tours were not running due to wind. So we never got to go up. And there isn't much else to do in town either, except hiking (which we did and it was lovely, but required a fair amount of fitness).
Apr 14, 2018, 11:32 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: Eternal Search for LT Club
Posts: 66
Honestly, the lodges at Mt Cook didn't look all that appealing. They seemed generally functional and clean, but absolutely nothing special in any sense (at least the ones I looked into). Even the Hermitage seems incredibly overpriced and not overly pleasant, based on the reviews I've read.
In any event, we are staying at a small property near Twizel called Skyscape. It's around $450 US per night, but it seems like a pretty unique experience. As far as tours, I haven't done a lot of research on that yet. If we do a flight, it would probably be a ski plane tour of Mt Cook and maybe a glacier landing. There are short plane tours without a glacier landing for $190/pp, which is pretty reasonable.
Thanks for the advice. Our first choice for that day is probably to hike the Hooker Valley Track anyhow. We might end up doing a short flight, but I think we might enjoy the hike just as much as (if not more than) a flight. That said, we're both young and fit (wife runs marathons), so no worries about a short 5km-10km hike.
In any event, we are staying at a small property near Twizel called Skyscape. It's around $450 US per night, but it seems like a pretty unique experience. As far as tours, I haven't done a lot of research on that yet. If we do a flight, it would probably be a ski plane tour of Mt Cook and maybe a glacier landing. There are short plane tours without a glacier landing for $190/pp, which is pretty reasonable.
Thanks for the advice. Our first choice for that day is probably to hike the Hooker Valley Track anyhow. We might end up doing a short flight, but I think we might enjoy the hike just as much as (if not more than) a flight. That said, we're both young and fit (wife runs marathons), so no worries about a short 5km-10km hike.
Apr 15, 2018, 7:21 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
That is exactly why I asked you, even Hermitage was just okayish for the price. I was leaning towards driving back to ZQN and other option would be to do a day trip from ZQN to CHC with stops in Mt.Cook village but that might turn into a very long day Mt.Cook tour are contingent on weather. I looked into Skyscape and I holy-moly its going to be an amazing experience but sadly with 2 nights min at ~450USD/night that is not something I would be able to do but I am trying to find something more affordable, please let me know if you are aware of something cheaper.
Alternatively, you could stay near Tekapo. It's a lot closer to Mt Cook than ZQN.
Aug 9, 2018, 9:07 am
#21
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: NCL
Programs: BAEC and Hilton mostly
Posts: 653
I did promise to update as travel plans firmed up...
Flying AKL-ZQN on 9 Nov (flexitime ticket to try and cover DOH-AKL arrival early/ late)
Two nights at Hilton Queenstown (start to recover from jet lag and do local stuff)
Three nights Glenorchy (Blanket Bay - pushing the boat well out here) from where we'll do Milford/ Doubtful Sound (flexible I hope for weather) and local stuff.
(Local stuff includes: wine tour, botanic gardens and wildlife, lake steamer, admiring mountain scenery)
Slight divergence from original ideas - two nights at Hilton Auckland to include Waiheke Island and the city. The return flight ZQN-AKL is booked flexi+ in case weather means we need an extra day to achieve the 'must-do' stuff in South Island.
Hotels are all booked, and the tours will start to be booked in next month (as necessary).
That's where we're at, thanks to all on the thread for help and suggestions!
Flying AKL-ZQN on 9 Nov (flexitime ticket to try and cover DOH-AKL arrival early/ late)
Two nights at Hilton Queenstown (start to recover from jet lag and do local stuff)
Three nights Glenorchy (Blanket Bay - pushing the boat well out here) from where we'll do Milford/ Doubtful Sound (flexible I hope for weather) and local stuff.
(Local stuff includes: wine tour, botanic gardens and wildlife, lake steamer, admiring mountain scenery)
Slight divergence from original ideas - two nights at Hilton Auckland to include Waiheke Island and the city. The return flight ZQN-AKL is booked flexi+ in case weather means we need an extra day to achieve the 'must-do' stuff in South Island.
Hotels are all booked, and the tours will start to be booked in next month (as necessary).
That's where we're at, thanks to all on the thread for help and suggestions!
Aug 9, 2018, 8:40 pm
#22
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Frensham, Lincolnshire
Programs: RFC
Posts: 5,083
While the Hooker Valley track is a doddle, don't underestimate the demands of NZ tracks - they are all rated by how demanding they are, not by length. A "short 5-10km hike" is not easy when your vertical might be 1000m....
Aug 26, 2018, 6:18 pm
#23
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 81
There are many nice accommodation at Lake Tekapo with nice scenery. Day trip to Mount Cook is possible from Tekapo.
Nov 28, 2018, 10:54 am
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,664
For the cruise, we used Mitre Peak Cruises, which was arranged by MSF as part of their Fly-Cruise-Fly package. Would definitely recommend them.