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New Zealand 9-day Itinerary
Hello - thanks in advance for taking the time to read. Currently planning a 9-day trip to New Zealand in late February/early March (know its a limited number of days; its 11 days inclusive of the day I leave North America). Tried to read many of the prior itineraries posted here and ultimately want a gut-check if I'm being reasonable enough with driving time and if I'm missing anything (good sights, hikes, eats, activities). Tried to minimize my time in North to explore South Island
Day 1 - Land in Auckland
* Sights: explore town (Aotea Square, Sky Tower, Auckland Art Gallery)
* Eats: Gemmayze Street, Giapo, Silo Park Sat Food Market, Receptionist Coffee/Stolen Summer
* Skipping: Rangitoo Island and Waiheke Island given lack of time/energy
Day 2 - Hobbiton/Rotorua
* Saw there are tours on Klook for Hobbiton + Rotorua
* Question: worth seeing Rotorua in this way or pushing it for a future trip? If yes, any thoughts on Te Puia vs Wai-O-Tapu? Alternative is Waitomo Caves which seem intriguing how unique it is
Day 3 - Fly to Queenstown (pick up rental car) + stay at Te Anau
* Sights: Queenstown Gardens. Potentially Glowworm Caves, esp if we don't do Waitomo
* Eats: Fergburger, Patagonia Chocolates
* Question: Any activity worth slotting here? Otherwise, can make for a slower day so we can wake up earlier the next day
Day 4 - Milford Sound
* Sights: Mirror Lakes, Key Summit Hike (off the Divide), Chasm, Homer Tunnel, Monkey Creek
* Question: Is the Milford Sound Nature Cruise a must (in lieu of Key Summit Hike potentially)? Otherwise I can always save that or the Oversight Cruise when I come with a significant other
* Question: Worth making the drive back to Queenstown vs staying at Te Anau again?
Day 5 - Queenstown -> Wanaka
* Sights/Activities: Arrowtown (likely just a casual stroll in town, though hear e-biking to some wineries is highly recommended?); climbing at Wildwire Wanaka; ThatWanakaTree, Secret Sauna (maybe)
* Eats: Pedro's House of Lamb (TBD on timing), Kika or Wanafusion?
* Skipping: Shotover and other Queenstown activities. Anything I'm overlooking here? Could I fit in a drive in Glenorchy (though seems ambitious, unless I change day 8)
Day 6 - Wanaka -> Twizel
* Sights/Activities: Roys Peak
* Eats: Big Fig Wanaka
* Question: does staying at Twizel seem like the optimal move given Day 7?
Day 7 - Hooker Valley -> Lake Tekapo
* Sights/Activities: Hooker Valley Track, Kea Point, Mt Cook Alpine Salmon Shop, Lake Tekapo, Lupin Field, Mt John Observatory
* Eats: TBD
* Question: Is the Day Sky Project worth the price or are airbnbs/hotels in the area sufficient? Open to splurging given its maybe the only time I may be in this area
* Skipping: helicopter glacier hikes around Fox Glacier etc
Day 8 - Christchurch
* Sights/Activities: Opuke Thermal Pools (worthwhile? mostly since there may not be a ton to do in Christchurch), Turanga Library
* Eats: Fairlie Bakehouse, Unknown Chapter Coffee, Little High Eatery, Cellar Door, Londo or 5th Street
* Question: I was leaning to this since it means new roads to drive and a bit closer to Auckland, but not sure if I can change some things where I end up back in Queenstown to fly out of? Lake Tekapo is a bit half way inbetween Christchurch and Queenstown it seems.
* Skipping: Godley Head
Day 9 - Fly to Auckland to fly out
* Question: Is Air NZ meaningfully better than Jetstar? Either way, planning to book an early flight that has multiple backup routes ahead of when we depart Auckland
Appreciate you reading to the end! I hope attempted balancing maximizing the limited days I have with not constant driving well enough, but I could be underestimating NZ roads/traffic so thank you for your feedback!
#travel
source
Hello - thanks in advance for taking the time to read. Currently planning a 9-day trip to New Zealand in late February/early March (know its a limited number of days; its 11 days inclusive of the day I leave North America). Tried to read many of the prior itineraries posted here and ultimately want a gut-check if I'm being reasonable enough with driving time and if I'm missing anything (good sights, hikes, eats, activities). Tried to minimize my time in North to explore South Island
Day 1 - Land in Auckland
* Sights: explore town (Aotea Square, Sky Tower, Auckland Art Gallery)
* Eats: Gemmayze Street, Giapo, Silo Park Sat Food Market, Receptionist Coffee/Stolen Summer
* Skipping: Rangitoo Island and Waiheke Island given lack of time/energy
Day 2 - Hobbiton/Rotorua
* Saw there are tours on Klook for Hobbiton + Rotorua
* Question: worth seeing Rotorua in this way or pushing it for a future trip? If yes, any thoughts on Te Puia vs Wai-O-Tapu? Alternative is Waitomo Caves which seem intriguing how unique it is
Day 3 - Fly to Queenstown (pick up rental car) + stay at Te Anau
* Sights: Queenstown Gardens. Potentially Glowworm Caves, esp if we don't do Waitomo
* Eats: Fergburger, Patagonia Chocolates
* Question: Any activity worth slotting here? Otherwise, can make for a slower day so we can wake up earlier the next day
Day 4 - Milford Sound
* Sights: Mirror Lakes, Key Summit Hike (off the Divide), Chasm, Homer Tunnel, Monkey Creek
* Question: Is the Milford Sound Nature Cruise a must (in lieu of Key Summit Hike potentially)? Otherwise I can always save that or the Oversight Cruise when I come with a significant other
* Question: Worth making the drive back to Queenstown vs staying at Te Anau again?
Day 5 - Queenstown -> Wanaka
* Sights/Activities: Arrowtown (likely just a casual stroll in town, though hear e-biking to some wineries is highly recommended?); climbing at Wildwire Wanaka; ThatWanakaTree, Secret Sauna (maybe)
* Eats: Pedro's House of Lamb (TBD on timing), Kika or Wanafusion?
* Skipping: Shotover and other Queenstown activities. Anything I'm overlooking here? Could I fit in a drive in Glenorchy (though seems ambitious, unless I change day 8)
Day 6 - Wanaka -> Twizel
* Sights/Activities: Roys Peak
* Eats: Big Fig Wanaka
* Question: does staying at Twizel seem like the optimal move given Day 7?
Day 7 - Hooker Valley -> Lake Tekapo
* Sights/Activities: Hooker Valley Track, Kea Point, Mt Cook Alpine Salmon Shop, Lake Tekapo, Lupin Field, Mt John Observatory
* Eats: TBD
* Question: Is the Day Sky Project worth the price or are airbnbs/hotels in the area sufficient? Open to splurging given its maybe the only time I may be in this area
* Skipping: helicopter glacier hikes around Fox Glacier etc
Day 8 - Christchurch
* Sights/Activities: Opuke Thermal Pools (worthwhile? mostly since there may not be a ton to do in Christchurch), Turanga Library
* Eats: Fairlie Bakehouse, Unknown Chapter Coffee, Little High Eatery, Cellar Door, Londo or 5th Street
* Question: I was leaning to this since it means new roads to drive and a bit closer to Auckland, but not sure if I can change some things where I end up back in Queenstown to fly out of? Lake Tekapo is a bit half way inbetween Christchurch and Queenstown it seems.
* Skipping: Godley Head
Day 9 - Fly to Auckland to fly out
* Question: Is Air NZ meaningfully better than Jetstar? Either way, planning to book an early flight that has multiple backup routes ahead of when we depart Auckland
Appreciate you reading to the end! I hope attempted balancing maximizing the limited days I have with not constant driving well enough, but I could be underestimating NZ roads/traffic so thank you for your feedback!
#travel
source
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