NZ Itinerary from Christchurch

[The Moose]

So in January of this year, a mate and I have 10 days (or so) on the South Island of New Zealand.

Our itinerary is currently as follows:

8th Jan - 14:30 Arrive Christchurch Airport
9th Jan Hokitika 245km - 3 hours Beachfront Hotel - Bed & Breakfast for 2 - Ocean View Room
9th Jan Lake Matherson Restaurant - Dinner
9th Jan Franz Josef Glacier 135km - 1.5 hours Alpine Glacier Motor Lodge
10th Jan Wanaka 285km - 3 hours Edgewater - Bed only - Hotel Studio Room inc free WiFi
11th Jan Queenstown 70km - 1 hour Will be longer due to longer router. Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel - Gondola Twin Room
12th Jan Shotover Jet + Drive to Glenorchy
12th Jan Queenstown Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel - Gondola Twin Room
13th Jan Te Anau inc Jet Boat Ride 170km - 2 hours Distinction Luxmore - Deluxe Hotel Room
14th Jan Invercargill 160km - 2 hours Ascot Park Hotel
15th Jan Dunedin 205km - 2.5 hours Portobello Motel - 2 Bedroom Cottage
16th Jan Return to Christchurch 360km - 4 hours Clearview Lodge
17th Jan - 15:45 Flight out of Christchurch

Any comments/thoughts/recommendations are very welcome! (the distances and times are as per Google Maps direct route so they will be longer!).

[The Moose]

Thanks for the ideas guys. We have a NC MX5 booked already

To be honest, Invercargill was more to head to the very bottom of the Island to have a gander.

What do we want from the trip?

A bit of background - my mate and I have nearly a month on that area - we're in Sydney from just after Christmas for New Year and the 5th Ashes test which finishes on 7th January. We're flying into Christchurch on 8th and have flights back out again on 17th.

Nothing set in stone really - have heard the mountain passes from Christchurch to Hokitika are pretty spectacular hence why that's where we're staying for the first night and due to wanting to head to Queenstown, we're heading South from there on the coastal roads.

We're looking for some good driving roads whilst seeing a lot of what the South island has to offer. Beautiful scenery, beaches, mountains, drinking, jet boats etc

With regards to accom, we've been advised to book hotels in advance as apparently lots of locals holiday around that time of year. No idea if it's true or not...but just been looking into it. I'd completed a route not taking into the bottom of the island, but had an extra day/day and a half and thought it'd be nice to head down there. Don't have to of course!

Any suggestions? Am up for a total re-write of the route if needed! Only set dates are arriving in Christchurch on 8th and leaving Christchurch on 17th

[The Moose]

GravelBen said:

The Moose said:

To be honest, Invercargill was more to head to the very bottom of the Island to have a gander.

Easy enough to have a look on your way through without spending an extra night - if you want the southernmost point of the South Island its Slope Point in the Catlins (despite many people thinking its Bluff), about 10 minutes walk from the road.

You've picked a pretty good route for driving roads so far

Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 5th September 11:01

Good to hear about the good driving roads so far!

Unless there's any real reason to hang around in Te Anau an extra night, I'd rather keep going and see another place. I love being on the road in a foreign country such as this - from what I understand around each corner is a breathtaking view!

Maybe the question I should be asking is we're planning on leaving Te Anau on the morning of 14th Jan and would like to stay our last night on the 16th in Christchurch - how should we get from one to the other?! The initial plan was to go and see Bluff/Slope Point and see what the crack is. A bit like being in Cape Town thinking Cape Point is the Southern most tip...and then going to Cape Agulhas and finding the REAL Southern tip!

[The Moose]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

I will revise the itinerary tomorrow after doing a little more research and go from there.

[The Moose]

Thank you so much to everyone for your suggestions. I've taken what we want to do and some of your suggestions and come up with what I think is a pretty damn good plan. Have a gander and comments are of course always appreciated. The hotels may need a little tickle. It'll be a pretty full holiday - not too much time to relax. You can sleep when you're dead, right?

8th Jan - 14:30 Arrive Christchurch Airport
8th Jan Hokitika 245km - 3 hours Beachfront Hotel - Bed & Breakfast for 2 - Ocean View Room
9th Jan Lake Matherson Restaurant - Dinner
9th Jan Franz Josef Glacier 135km - 1.5 hours Alpine Glacier Motor Lodge
10th Jan Wanaka 285km - 3 hours Edgewater - Bed only - Hotel Studio Room inc free WiFi - FIND A RED STAR BURGER!
11th Jan Queenstown 70km - 1 hour Will be longer due to longer router. Including stop at Kawarau Bridge and trip to Coronet Peak. Possibly Arrowtown also. FIND A FERGBURGER! Hotel TBC
12th Jan Drive to Glenorchy + Dart River Jet Boat Trip - http://www.dartriver.co.nz/
12th Jan Queenstown. Hotel TBC
13th Jan - Quadbike Tour - www.offroad.co.nz
13th Jan Te Anau inc poss Jet Boat Ride 170km - 2 hours Distinction Luxmore - Deluxe Hotel Room
14th Jan Drive to Milford Sounds and chill there. Maybe water sports.
14th Jan Te Anau - Distinction Luxmore - Deluxe Hotel Room
15th Jan ? Lake Tekapo? Hotel? (This will however, take us back down some roads already travelled)
16th Jan Return to Christchurch - Clearview Lodge
17th Jan - Chill in Christchurch, have a wander around, return MX5
17th Jan - 15:45 Flight out of Christchurch

A couple of questions if you don't mind:

1. Can anyone recommend a hotel in Queenstown?
2. Any of our other hotels need changing?
3. Where exactly is the bungy jump at Kawarau Bridge? I assume a few miles East of Queenstown on the 6?
4. Where to stay on the 15th Jan working our way back to Christchurch? Lake Tekapo sounds as good as any. Hotel suggestion? Nice route to get there?

[The Moose]

Is that your place Cheddar?

I thought it'd be light a fair bit later than that during the Summer - maybe I've got that rather wrong!

I'll have to have (another!) re-jig of the plans and see what'll fit. I don't know if we're pushing it trying to be in Queenstown and Te Anau for 2 nights each.

[The Moose]

So, how's this sounding (no pun intended... honestly!) then:

8th Jan - 14:30 Arrive Christchurch Airport
8th Jan - Darfield - Darfield Motel (meet Cheddar for a drink...or two)
9th Jan Hokitika 245km (possible lunch in Greymouth) - 3 hours Beachfront Hotel - Bed & Breakfast for 2 - Ocean View Room
10th Jan Wanaka 285km - 3 hours Edgewater - Bed only - Hotel Studio Room inc free WiFi - FIND A RED STAR BURGER!
11th Jan Queenstown 70km - 1 hour Will be longer due to longer router. Including stop at Kawarau Bridge and trip to Coronet Peak. Possibly Arrowtown also. FIND A FERGBURGER! Hotel TBC
12th Jan Drive to Glenorchy + Dart River Jet Boat Trip - http://www.dartriver.co.nz/
12th Jan Queenstown. Hotel TBC
13th Jan - Quadbike Tour - www.offroad.co.nz
13th Jan Te Anau inc poss Jet Boat Ride 170km - 2 hours Distinction Luxmore - Deluxe Hotel Room
14th Jan Drive to Milford Sounds and chill there. Maybe water sports.
14th Jan Te Anau - Distinction Luxmore - Deluxe Hotel Room
15th Jan ? Lake Tekapo? Hotel? (This will however, take us back down some roads already travelled)
16th Jan Return to Christchurch - Clearview Lodge
17th Jan - Chill in Christchurch, have a wander around, return MX5
17th Jan - 15:45 Flight out of Christchurch

Sounds like a fun filled trip to me

[The Moose]

Right - I think we're all there.

Need to confirm a hotel in Hokitika - was looking at the Beachfront Hotel, but only inland rooms left. Anywhere else nice to stay in that region? Wouldn't mind staying up in Punakaiki if needed.

Christchurch - am looking at The Clearview Lodge - seems a little out of town which is a shame. Any suggestions for nice beachfront hotels?

Cheddar: Will take your advice on Peppers Bluewater and probably go for a night there.