Hi, need advice here. I'm planning South island trip for my family in dec, especially for my parent. My parent love NZ scenery, so our objective will be mainly "see see look look enjoy the scenery". We're not interested and wont attempt any sport relate activities.
D1 Depart to CHC
D2 CHC (overnight)
D3 CHC to Hokitika (overnight)
D4 FZ/Fox Glacier (overnight) (as I think need overnight break in between)
D5 Glacier to Wanaka (Overnight)
D6 Wanaka (Overnight)
D7 Arrowtown /QN (Overnight)
D8 QN and nearby (Overnight)
D9 QN to Mt Cook village (Overnight)
D10 Mt Cook village to CHC (Overnight) via Lake Tekapo
D11 CHC > SG
Is the above generally feasible?
Our group:
Myself, my sister, my wife and our 6 six years kid
My parent in early 70s
Not sure if this is doable so want to seek as much details as possible...
For D3 enough time to visit Punkaiki before overnight in Hokitika?
For D8, possible to do a day trip to Milford Sound, maybe with local coach tour?
D9/D10 feasible?
Thanks in advance
What u planned are doable. However u can reduce the number of time to move accommodations.
I did a similar route like u last year May. Arrival at CHC - 1 night, Hokitika 1 nights, Wanaka 3 nights, Queenstown 2 nights, Twizel 2 nights and back to CHC for 1 nights before depart.
On my way from CHC to Hotikita. I visited both at castle hills and devil punchhole waterfall. Plus rest and stop. I reached Hotikita early evening. I didn't have time to go punkaiki. If u like to visit punkaiki and wanted to stay at fox Glacier . Then u can consider staying over at punkaiki and go FJ or fox Glacier the next day. In this way. U spilt up the travel distance equally. Unlike Hotikita to fox Glacier which is not a long drive at all.
The main reason I stayed at Hotikita after coming from CHC is because I did not intend to visit the both glacier and go to wanaka from Hotikita. It was a very long drive from wanaka to Hotikita and I still make it within 5 hours plus.
Arrowtown is in between wanaka and Queentown. U can visit while on the way to Queentown after leaving wanaka. U don't have to stay 1 night there and this way. U will have the extra day for wanaka or Queenstown which can help u to decide to go milford sound. As I did Roy peak hike. That why I stayed 3 nights at wanaka there.
For milford sound. I didnt make the trip there and going there is a very subjective choice. Over here.many recommendated to go but all my friends who visited told me can don't go. Maybe u can decide when u r there since there are many day trip organised from QT.
After driving that kind of long distance in NZ. It is easy for u to drive from QT to Mount cook. Don't have to worry. For me. I didnt stay Mount cook as I prefer to make day trip from twizel to Mount cook and lake Tekapo since twizel is between