9 days in New Zealand - need advice planning

[AndyGoodyear]

Hi Forum

My dad is coming over to Aus in February and as he has not been out this way before I've decided to take us on a trip to New Zealand as well as I haven't been there either. We will have 10 full days in NZ, plus one travel day either side and have a flight booked to Queenstown. After Queenstwon we plan to drive up to Fox Glacier and then across to Christchurch.

What I am trying to decide on is whether to take the last three days in Roturua (flying from CHC) to show him something different, or just spend all 10 days on the first part of the itinerary. I've mapped out an itinerary which is as follows:

Day 1 - Fly Sydney to Queenstown
Day 2, 3, 4, 5 - Queenstown and surrounds including Milford Sound
Day 6 - Drive Queenstown to Fox stay overnight
Day 7 Explore Fox and drive to Christchurch
Day 8 - 10 Fly to Roturua and spend three days there with final night in Auckland.
Day 11 - Fly to Sydney

I'm aware that there is lots to do and we won't fit everything in - I'm thinking just highlights. Milford, scenic drives, caves etc. in South. Thermals, Maori cultural stuff in North. I'm also aware of the driving distances and that Milford is an entire day - but that also gives us three days in Queenstown to take it easy.

It would be great to hear the advice of those that have been. Would you have the three days in Roturua or spend all the time on the first section of the itinerary? Any help you can give would be appreciated

 

[johndoe]

Hey mate

Sounds like an epic trip. Without too much ramble - the drive from queenstown to fox and fox to chch can be slow going, so I reckon you'll get one evening and one morning if you want to make Chch by evening. That may be enough time for you? There isn't overly too much to do in Rotorua - if you get a morning flight then spend the day doing the thermal fields, maybe the skyline for a couple of hours and the maori show in the evening. A morning dip in the hot pools if you're interested. It would be much cheaper to fly to Auckland, stay there and do a day trip to Rotorua leaving early, coming back at night if time allows. Auckland's not half bad these days, plenty to eat anyway. Any questions keep them firing.

 

[Ricardo]

I guess you need to think about what you really want to do over the 10 days. You will have a mountain of things to see and do in Queenstown and surrounds that will easily keep you busy for 4-5 days. The drive from Queenstown to Christchurch is about 5-6 hours. Rotorua really only has the thermals to explore, I would stay in the South Island but then again I am somewhat biased. Auckland is a very nice City but if you want scenery and to explore I would stay in the South Island. There are some nice thermal pools in Hanmer Springs which is about a 2 hour drive from Christchurch, and you also have the West Coast that you can do by rail (Tranz Alpine) that is one of the worlds most scenic train rides. I guess it really depends on exactly what you want to see and do. If you like wine, there are some nice wineries near Queenstown and Christchurch, or you could take a trip up to Blenheim (or Nelson) in Marlborough for wine tasting at the cellar doors. Whatever you do it sounds like it will be a good trip.

 

[Homer]

The South Island of New Zealand is beautiful. My wife describes it as the love-child of Canada and Scotland. Milford is a very big day and, as others have said, there's plenty to do around Queenstown. I wouldn't spend 3 days in Rotorua though. It's just boiling mud, and then there's the smell... Given you've only got 10 days personally I'd just concentrate on the South Island and then spend a night in Auckland as you've suggested on your way out. If you have the time maybe check out Waiheke Island before you leave. Leave the rest of the North Island for a different trip - it's like a different country compared with the South Island.

 

[Mattg]

Sounds like a great trip! Queenstown and Milford Sound are visually stunning. If you want to/can afford it, I would either do a flyover or cruise (or both!) of Milford Sound. Otherwise, I'm sure there are plenty of other things to do in the area.

I would suggest that you don't spend too much time in Christchurch - it's a nice enough place but is still undergoing major reconstruction from the major earthquakes and when I was there last month, there were shipping containers, traffic cones, construction sites etc. everywhere! Many of the tourist attractions are also closed. Perhaps only stay there one night max.

Even though it smells, there is lots to do in Rotorua - it's a particularly touristy part of New Zealand. The drive from there to Auckland is also quite nice.

Have a great trip!

 

[aupirate]

Sounds like fun, NZ is a beautiful country, especially the South Island. Don`t underestimate the driving times as roads are busy (relatively speaking for NZ) at that time of year in the tourist spots. Queenstown to Fox is an all day trip crossing the Alps, allow a minimum of 5 to 6 hours. Wanaka an hour or so away from QTN is a great day trip as well travelling via Arrowtown over the Crown Range (highest public road in NZ). The nearby Clutha River is worth a look. There is so much to do in Central Otago and QTN in general I agree with the others here to limit your time in Rotorua to possibly a day trip out of AKL. Also in QTN area check out Glenorchy at the head of the lake about an hours drive away from QTN, a lot of the car ads are filmed on this stretch of highway, the views are simply amazing. A return trip on the steamer Earnslaw across the lake gives another view of QTN from a different perspective, worth a look at. I highly recommend to fly one way and bus back from Milford sound, or fly both ways if $ aren`t a big issue, the views of the glaciers are great and both ways by car/bus is a huge day. A heli hike on Fox Glacier is a must, Franz Joseph Glacier has the same thing there as well. I have done a scenic flight around Mt Cook and it was brilliant with a landing at 7000 m (from memory) on the glacier. Enjoy!

 

[NFF]

Middle Earth is stunning.
AWAKENING | NEW ZEALAND 4K/UHD - YouTube

 

[mushez]

Rotorua is a great option and three days seems about right to get some good stuff in.

I would highly recommend booking some great sights packages:
http://www.greatsights.co.nz/new-zealand-tours

I have found their packages cheaper than doing the events on your own back, plus well organized, with guides ready waiting for you at each attraction, and stress free being chauffeured around in the bus.

The better one is Rotorua Sights incl Te Puia, Rainbow Springs & Agrodome show which is $144 - but it often comes up on www.grabone.co.nz for around half price.

Also Tamaki Maori village is a non negotiable must. You can also find you can get off grab one for half price once every 4 months or so.

If you are heading up the Skyline Gondola - planning it during the day to take advantage of the $25 per person full buffet lunch is the best meal (second best to Tamaki village) you will find and get in Rotorua - it is honestly that good. You can get the exact same meal at night, but is $50 per person. Again this is on top of the cost of the Gondola up. You do want to plan as much space between the two meals if you plan to do both.

 

[gaz0303]

I'll second the opinion to remain on the South Island. Depending on what takes your fancy - scenic/history/food/wine/beer/walks, the south has you covered. For the ZQN - CHC drive, go via Route 85 (via Ranfurly) for a different experience to mountains and lakes. Full of history and quiet plus great scenery.

If you really want a Maori show, there is one in Christchurch attached to the zoo from memory - crazy prices. The best Maori experience I have had was a free show at the Wellington Museum. My memory of Rotorua was the smell and the crazy number of tourists. Unless you are planning riding a bike in the area, I'd wouldn't put it on the must do list for any length of time.

On my first trip to NZ, I made the mistake of spending too much time in the car driving to places. Now I just plant myself in a region (so far Arrowtown/Christchurch) for periods of time. CHC has amazing food.

 

[knasty]

Marlborough sounds is beautiful too. I would stay on the South Island. I too made the mistake of trying to see too much in each 1 week trip and second the advice to concentrate on a region to avoid a long time in the car.

 

[wchiri]

We had our honeymoon in NZ South Island last year and we loved it. Arrived in Christchurch then drove to Qtown, Te Anau, Milford, Wanaka, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Hanmer Springs then back to christchurch to fly home. Ours was 13 days, and we absolutely loved it. Went quadbiking, hot springs, helicopter ride, kayaking, cycling. I did get 2 speeding fines though so be careful!