I and my wife are going for 15 days trip in NZ's South Island this Christmas/NY. After spending considerable amount on research, here is the ITIN I came with. Looking forward towards tips and suggestions.
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Dec 21st - Arrival. Grab car, drive to Arthur's pass, check it at
YHA Arthur's Pass. Arrive, rest, walk, stay for night.
Dec 22nd - Check out, walk/hike around during the day. Drive to go see Pancake Rocks at sunset, drive to Ross and stay one night there at
a motel.
Dec 23rd - check out, continue driving towards
Fox Glacier or
Pine Grove Motel 30km south.
Dec 24th - Long drive to Queenstown. On the way stop by and do
Blue Pools Walk, drive between lakes Wanaka and Hawaea, stop by at Wanaka town for a meal. Arrive at Pinewood Lodge (quite ...... according to reviews, but it was the only available for these nights without paying >$500 per night), stay there for two nights.
Dec 24th/25th - Christmas eve/day: do local sightseeing
Arrowtown Glenorchy,
Arthurs Point.
Dec 26th - Tour to
Milford Sound, come back, drive to Roxburgh, one night there via airbnb.
Dec 27th - Leave and drive to
Lazy Dolphin Lodge, stay two nights there.
Dec 28th/29th - Explore Catlins
Dec 29th - Stay one night at
Surat Bay Lodge
Dec 30th - Check out and drive to Dunedin and stay there for two night at AirBnB place
Jan 1st - Leave Dunedin, drive to Oamaru, stay there at AirBnB place for two night
Jan 3rd - Leave Oamaru and go back Christchurch. Have not booked accommodation yet. Stay two nights at AirBnB place at Christchurch.
Jan 5th - Fly back.
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Now questions:
Arrival and drive towards Arthur's Pass - where would you recommend to stop by to get some food? I was told that food at Arthur's Pass is not that great at most places and it is only one place - at 5* lodge, but it would cost $90 and more per person to dine there. I'd rather go to a local sandwich shop and and get $7 sandwich or by supplies at supermarket.
Separate food related question: does it make sense to to buy a small, portable grill to be able to grill meat during our trip?
Fox/FJG - I understand we can see/walk just one of them for one day but not both. Reading Wiki articles inclines me to go towards Fox and do hike to the glacier and walk around Lake Matheson. What do you think? Is there anything else must see?
Drive towards Wanaka/Queenstown - except what I've listed above, anything else must see?
Accomodations at Lazy Dolphin and Surat Bay lodges - anybody stayed there? What to expect? If you have stayed at both, which one would you choose?
Is there anything to see/not to miss when driving from Roxburgh to south and from above mentioned places towards Dunedin?
What one can do at New Year at Dunedin? Any places to go/have fun?
Thanks again.
P.S. Side note - probably it will be our most expensive vacation ever - would be glad if it does not cost more than $7K. Just on lodgings I've spent more than I spent on lodgings for previous 4 years combined while vacationing around Asia.