bluedogadventures.com - A travel resource for adventurous people
*Home>>>Queenstown

South Island (Queenstown) Agenda?


My wife and I fly into QT, will have a car and 4 nights before we need to arrive in Christchurch (via car). We're looking at staying 2 or 3 nights in an apartment in QT. The challenge is, we think we want to see Milford Sound and need to then drive to Christchurch to catch another flight. I'm wondering if anyone has feedback on what I'm thinking:

Option A:
Days 1+2 : in QT (Shotover canyon, river, balloon maybe, those type of activities). Stay in QT.
Day 3. Drive to Milford Sound, spend time there, then drive a little beyond there towards CC (any wineries?) and stay a night somewhere on the way.
Day 4. Continue driving the next day towards CC and stay 1 more night on the way.
Day 5: Drive and arrive CC.

Option B:
Days 1-3: 3 nights in QT, skip Milford Sound and do something else in the area instead (Te Anu?).
Day 4: Drive towards CC, hit a winery or other activity and stay a night somewhere on the way.
Day 5: Drive and arrive CC.

Any and all feedback is appreciated

You sound as though you are not completely familiar with the area.
Do NOT drive to Milford Sound. It's half a day from Queenstown by an experienced driver and half a day back again.
Take the bus, or as someone's suggested, fly in and out.
Actually Doubtful Sound has all the majesty that Milford has, plus more, and the bonus is that there are only about 200 tourists per day and not the 5000 that Milford gets. The same company that buses and flys to Milford (Real Journeys) will also take you to Doubtful, and the time frame from QT is the same. They can also book you for jet boating, ballooning (weather permitting), rafting, Skippers, and Macetown and a host of other things. Mind you, your hotel receptionist will do this for you too.

Spend a day doing the adrenalin things in QT, next day visiting a Sound, next day doing the wineries of Gibbston, Cromwell and Alexandra, and then on the 4th head to CH up through the Mackenzie Country travelling by Omarama, Ruataniha, Twizel, Tekapo and Geraldine. Take in all the sights on the way.
To fill in another day if you need to, go visit Mt Cook on the way up through the Mackenzie and spend a night there.
Welcome to NZ, and have a good time while you are here.
Driver T

Don't sell the QT area short, there's lots of fine hiking to be done around the city. Also, what about one of those day trips via plane to Milford sound. I did that last February and it was quite nice. It's a bit of a drive to get to Milford Sound from QT and there aren't a huge number of places to stay along the way.

As for Te Anau, unless you're planning on doing some of the trails (definitely worth it), there's not much in town. Oh, beware of the sand flys!

Whatever you end up doing, enjoy your trip.

Tags
  Catalunya   Castilla y Leon   Andalucia   General - New Zealand   Wellington   Queenstown   Dunedin   Christchurch   Auckland   General - Mexico   Zacatecas
Related information
  • Motor home hire in New Zealand?

    If you want to go 'budget' try ...

  • I am going to study in new zealand in queenstown so please what about the weather in summer and winter?

    Summer (Jan-March) HOT up to 30 or so most days. Winter (June-August) COLD up to 5 or 6 degrees most days. Public transport is regular and reliable within the Frankton to Fernhill area with mor...

  • What time does sun set in queenstown, new zealand in february?

    Pretty late - I remember it being light enough to be outside at a bbq until nearly 10pm without ilights! Its not just the sunset time is the about light left in the sky - because of the distance fr...

  • Will my english playstation work in new zealand?

    of course it will, just make sure you get a converter if you are not using a 240v PS, if its 110v, or wat ever nth america uses

    ...
  • What is the best place for bunjy in New Zealand?

    There are a few places in Queenstown to bungy jump ...

  • Any good hostel in Taupo?(New-Zealand)?

    I've been to the YHA Taupo. It was nice and clean and friendly. It's a rather large B&B, so it's not "family" oriented or anything. You can find more hostels in Tau...

  • Any good hostel in Picton (New Zealand)?

    Sequoia Lodge Backpackers. I really loved this place (I think I stayed there on 3 different occasions). It's run by a really friendly guy who made great bread for everyone, every evening. ...

  • Sky Diving New Zealand?

    Nelson - top of the South Island ...

  •  

    Categories--Copyright/IP Policy--Contact Webmaster