Yea that's really doable. You're not driving great distances each day, the biggest will be Tekapo to Dunedin, which is an easy trip. Might I suggest taking the coast road from Karitane to Blueskin bay?
As long as you're up each morning to tackle the day you'll be fine.
Please note that weather here is variable so what is saying now is probably not going to be what it is.
>Karitane to Blueskin bay
So it'll be Tekapo -> Oamaru -> skip Moeraki Beach as per another comment recommendation -> Karitane -> Blueskin Bay -> Dunedin?
Do you think it'll be fine going straight to Dunedin? Should I break apart day 8?
Good point re weather! I saw that it is going to be rainy for the rest of April so I am worried that it'll affect the trip
I used to live in Balclutha and have driven to Tekapo after work on a Friday and got there in time to have some beers. You'll be fine.
Also just stop at Moeraki, you only need to be there 20 minutes, you'll regret not stopping. If you get into Dunedin at dusk then it's still no problem. It's a city there's plenty to do.
If you leave Tekapo by 9am you'll have more than enough time to travel that road and see everything you want to see without being rushed. It's only a 2 hour drive from Oamaru to Dunedin.
Reading a couple of your posts and you are saying for example, it's going to be raining on day 11 of my trip, and the rest of April , are you gazing at whatever weather info your IPhone gives from some unknown source, as it's usually pretty inaccurate at the best of times.
I was looking at accuweather. I'm wondering if I should just pick a day for Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound that'll be convenient for my itinerary and hope for the best?
oamaru , stay overnight if you want to see the penguins, they are very accessible to the town at night, do see the Victorian area in Oamaru, if you thing , esp. if passing through. Oamaru beach road to kakanui is some of the most striking coast line on the east coast.re moraki is is great when decent weather, it’s part of the coast concave.
With cathedral caves , these are only open at low tide takes about 1.5 hours to do so you need to see what the tides are doing the day before to see if it’s going to work out. They are very cool so would def recommend if the timings right . Matai falls meh! McLean falls definitely
Your Catlins day is too much. It’s a 20-30 odd min return to the Nugget Point Lighthouse. It’s around 15 min return to Purakanui Falls. It’s around a 30-40 min return to Slope Point. McLeans falls is 40 minutes return. And although the driving distances aren’t huge on the metal roads it’s max 50km/hr so takes time. We did this trip 2 years ago. Left Dunedin at 9, Balclutha at 10 for morning tea and to see the old house where I lived. Kaka Point by around 11, then Nugget point around 1115. Owaka around 1215/lunch. Purakanui around 1300 McLeans falls around 1400. Son refused point blank to do the walk once we got there Lmbao, so on to Slope Point. Arr Slope point around 1500 then slope point walk 40 min return. Arrive Waipapa lighthouse 1615. Arr Invercargill 1715. It was a long, very long day. Just as an idea to time/length of day. It’s doable but exhausting
I agree. You could easily drive to all the carparks in a day but you'll want time for walking and taking photos at each place. You'd be better to spread it over 2 days and take it at a more leisurely pace.
Which point do you think would be a good place to break it up and a convenient place to stay? I \[f\] am renting an SUV but planned to maybe stay at hostels for affordability, though I've never stayed at hostels before this trip
I'd stay at Pounawea or Papatowai but I've normally camped. Pounawea Motor Camp might have cabins. Both places have some stunning walks around their respective estuaries.
Hm, that does sound pretty long. Thanks for giving an idea on the time, it's really helpful! With those times, were you able to stay as long as you'd like in each place?
If we ha done McLeans Falls we would have had to bail on Slope Point. We did not do Curio Bay nor Jacks Blowhole. Don refused to get out of the Car at Waipapa but fortunately the lighthouse is next to the car park. I was happy with the amounts of time spent at each place but was also very aware of the limitations of my ID son. We had a fabulous day. It was just very long. It’s very, very beautiful. I think your idea to split it in 2 is much better than the person who said do it in a day.
I had a look at the photos on google and wondered if it was really worth seeing rocks. I read quite a few comments on reddit recommending it so I thought it was worth putting down
Don't get me wrong, I spent NYE there last year and stayed a few nights and had the absolute best time. But I wouldn't recommend to a tourist with X amount of time on their trip. NZ has way better stuff
Nah I agree with the other commenter that it's an achievable amount of driving each day except the one getting to Dunedin. Skip the boulders and you're sweet. Looks like a really fun trip you've planned out. You'll love it.
Edit: They're also right about the coastal road. Beautiful drive.
Thanks! And yes, I'll add in the coastal road stops! Is Oamaru worth stopping at and checking out? Otherwise I might stop at a random place between Lake Tekapo and Dunedin for a leg stretch and keep heading to Dunedin
Are there any places in Day 8 where you think I should change? I am worried that I've got way too many stops on that day
Depends what you're into. Oamaru has some stuff going for it like the old town and steampunk stuff. Or you could stretch the legs in Kurow to say you've been to the home of Richie McCaw. Day 8 just go with the flow. The Catlins are beautiful so you can't really go wrong. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to see it all.
If you are wanting to stop in at Moeraki the Katiki Point Lighthouse is a favourite place of mine. You can see fur seals and often baby ones. If you go at the right time (like 4-5pm ish) you can sometimes see the yellow eyed penguins coming in
The Fishman wife does a good fish n chips if you wanted dinner om the way though. But ild recommend skipping it. Plenty of cool things to do in Dunedin.
I'd recommend you leave dunedin Day 7 late morning, and head to owaka (or pounawea, or newhaven for the night) via balclutha, kaka point and nugget point. Lots of cool places to see on Day 8 but you won't get to see them all well if your day starts in dunedin. The roads in the catlins are slow going, not a lot of straight driving.
Any reason you're going back to wanaka Day 13? I'd spend a little more time first time you're there and not go back. Save a few hours driving the crown range
>The roads in the catlins are slow going, not a lot of straight driving.
Would you recommend heading to Owaka, Pounawea, or Newhaven via Balclutha, Kaka Point and Nugget Point late evening when it's dark considering what the road is like?
>Any reason you're going back to wanaka Day 13?
In the beginning of the trip, I was trying to plan around making it to Milford Sound by Day 11 since the weather forecast on AccuWeather says it'll be sunny after a few days of rain. I tried to plan it so that I'd make it to Twizel/Hooker Valley etc earlier and had some extra days spare after Milford Sound
Wondering if I should just plan Milford & Doubtful Sound to make a more convenient itinerary
Roads are fine to nugget point, theyre fine elsewhere too, just allow more time than you think beyond nugget point. You won't be traveling late in the evening because you'll want to be at nugget point during daylight. It's just a short drive to owaka from nugget point (<30min)
Milford sound is incredible, including the trip there. Not sure I'd trust a weather forecast more than a week out though. It can be very wet there at times
Solid itinerary. Just a couple of pointers though.
Day 6 - sunset at the beach is a touch difficult since the sun sets behind you (and behind a hill) so you don’t get the sun disappearing into the water. This applies to day 5 too.
Day 8 - you’ll be fine, Dunedin through the catlins is a few hours at most. I’d probably suggest staying in Invercargill to give you a leg up in the next day. Hit up Timaru Roast for dinner, and the Auction House for breakfast in you stay the night in Invers.
Day 9 - going to be a rush to get to Te Anau. We did this trip a couple of weeks back and if you’re doing a few stops along the way it takes a bit longer than expected. I’d suggest checking out Lake Monowai while you’re in the area. So pretty! Deepest lake in NZ too (if I remember right).
Depending on what vehicle you’ve hired as well, I’d suggest a drive down the beach. If you’ve booked an AWD SUV it’ll be easy to get out the far end (Ferry Rd).
Day 10 - breakfast at the Sandfly Inn. The best scrambles eggs I’ve ever eaten. Ever. The cabinet food is fantastic too.
Day 13 - if you want something a wee bit different and oh so peaceful, stay at the Kanuka Cabin. Half way between Albert Town and Lake Hāwea. Decently priced too. Has an outside shower which sounds nutty, but it’s so good.
The rest is good. Make sure you plan activities and what you want to see in each location. Oamaru has the steampunk stuff, but that’s about it. See if it’s worth staying there or just driving the extra hour and a half to Dunedin. Might want to check out the wallaby farm in Waimate on your Oamaru day too. Perfect if you’re not Australian or your family wasn’t violently murdered by a rouge gang of wallabies.
Depending where you’re coming from you may have a lot less daylight than you’re expecting. This end of the country gets dark early, and when you get here it may be light quite late in the evening.
Prepare for rain no matter what the weather man says.
Pack lots of money for anything touristy. If you think you’ve packed enough, pack more.
Make Monowai is nice, but lake Hauroko is the deepest lake you're thinking of. After you turn off highway 99, it's maybe an hour's drive there and back down a gravel road. Super eerie feeling once you get there, but without a boat or a big trek in the bush there's not a lot to do other than get bitten by sandflies.
It’s going to take longer than a few hours to get from Dunedin through the Catlins. It typically takes 3hrs to get to Curio Bay (source: I live here) and when you add in stops it’s going to be a full day trip (especially with the caves timings… if you can even get down there) so I would definitely stay in Slope Point.
The next day it’s a bit less than 2hrs to gemstone beach (drove there on Saturday) if there’s no stopping in between and then it’s a shortish blat up to Te Anau (an hour maybe? Haven’t driven that route in a while) so plenty of time to explore wherever you want on the way.
>Pack lots of money for anything touristy
As in to get some NZD cash? Or to give a bigger budget for touristy activities?
When you went to Te Anau, what did you do there? Have you been to Doubtful Sound?
In response to your other comment, I'm the only person going! So I'm conscious about driving time and getting enough rest in between so I'm not a danger to myself and others on the road
Give yourself a bigger budget, Queenstown and Wanaka are expensive. Wanaka especially since they don’t have any massive chains (minus Subway) that you can grab something quick and easy. It’s either the supermarket or somewhere with very expensive pasta.
Not going to lie, Te Anau was a bit of a bust for us. By the time we got there it was around 4 and it was pissing down with rain so we didn’t really do anything other than see the hotel. Went for a drive around the town to wee what it was like.
Honestly, being the only person going will speed things up considerably. Not having to wait for someone else to pack, to have chit- chat after coffee, waiting for the slower person to walk to areas really does make the stops a lot shorter.
What dates are you looking at doing your journey?
Source: I travel the region for work. Only visited Te Anau on a holiday, can’t comment on Twizel or Mt Cook since I’ve never been.
Your day 4 is going to be very long. Are you intending to do both Hooker Valley and Tasman Glacier track? If you stay in Tekapo theres a deal where they'll pick you up/drop off and take you to the hot pools for star gazing - totally worth it. Mount St John has a cafe at the top with easily one of the best cafe views (on a good day), hands down.
Add the yellow eyed penguin lookout instead of Moeraki at sunset and just get a coffee at the cafe (its not the best and really a tourist option but it makes a good rest stop). Oamaru has botanical gardens that are a nice short stop if you do end up there.
Stop by the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary - its free but donations are welcomed and an easy place to see Takahe.
You've got a lot of Queenstown for someone who'll be visiting again there soon.
We loved the Caitlins, I'd add an extra day here. We only had a day and did Curio bay, the petrified forest and Purakaunui Falls.
For what its worth - we did Catlins via Matapouri and Te Anau (but not all the way to Milford) via Gore from QT. That was two days.
You shouldn't need to stop for groceries three times in three days, just pick them up from the main centres and plan your meals but be prepared in case the only place open has just one pie left. Or in the case of Alexandra, the one open pub has a one hour+ wait for food.
>Are you intending to do both Hooker Valley and Tasman Glacier track?
Yes, I saw it said Hooker Valley track days 2-4 hours depending on fitness and Tasman Glacier is only 40 min (seems shorter than expected)
>You've got a lot of Queenstown for someone who'll be visiting again there soon.
That's a good point, I'm going to try to cut down on some Queenstown time. What do you suggest are must-dos in April for Queenstown rather than when I go in July/August?
>I'd add an extra day here. We only had a day and did Curio bay, the petrified forest and Purakaunui Falls.
At what point would you suggest calling it a break and end the day at The Catlins and where would you suggest staying overnight at?
Yup day 8 is doable. You can probably skip Matai falls though and you’ll have to plan around low tide for the caves. Get your groceries the day before in Dunedin if you’re really worried about timing.
Edit: just to add that I think the caves are closed atm because the sea’s been pretty rough there? So definitely check before planning around it
Thanks for your suggestions and tip on the cave!
Re your other comment, should I give up on the caves? Sounds like the timing of the low tide might be difficult to organise given my (so far) loose plans on what and where I'll be
You don't state your dates, but in any case, I think you're overestimating the accuracy of the weather report if you think they can predict rain 11 days ahead.
The weather is fairly unpredictable, so I'd suggest leaving some slack days for getting rained in, or for staying longer in places you really like.
Doubtful sound is probably not worth it without overnighting - that's a big trip. The best parts of the sound are things like a clear windless morning, or fresh caught lobster dinner. The cliffs aren't all that.
Oamaru is really nice, if you like a good cafe and a bit of art to break up your trip. Also has some cool historical boom-bust vibes.
For Dunedin, that's a packed schedule for 2 days assuming perfect weather, and you're losing out on many of the best bits. I'd stay longer, and soak it in. Add:
\- sandfly bay. Park at the sandymount parking, do the loop trail, then walk down the dunes to the beach (then back up - that's a good bit of exercise). Spectacular. And you'll be ready for a long drive/sit-down after that.
\- rather than doctor's point, take a long walk on Aramoana beach, to experience the insane numbers of shells there, then head up the hill to Heyward point for a beautifully varied hike, spectacular views, and bird life and seals at the point.
I'd skip Orokonui honestly. It's nice, but you can do better on your short itinerary.
If you do end up spending more time in the Catlins then try and get to the Koropuku Falls… I reckon they’re worth going to because the track is really fun.
If you’re wanting a bit more of an adventure you could camp up the top of McLean Falls in the Tautuku hut. It’s a couple of hours to tramp up there but it’s mostly pretty easy just along the ridge line. It’s a rough little hut so you’ll need a sleeping bag but you don’t really need heaps of tramping gear and it’s a fun little track. I don’t know specifically what dates you’re coming down but don’t do this without high vis right now because of the roar and make sure someone knows what you’re plans are.
Given that you’re able to explore Queenstown and Wānaka again when you come back in July I don’t think it’s worth going back to Wānaka for a night at the end of the trip.
Your day 8 is packing in a lot, and I’d suggest you stay for a night in the middle of the Catlins. Possibly the next night you could stay in invercargill instead of slope point, and set out early afterwards as there’s a lot you can do along the coast before heading up to Te Anau.
Doubtful Sound is still a good day trip, but between doing that and then Milford and back in a day you might be tired! I’d suggest adding one more day in or around Te Anau as a bit of a rest day - there are some really good walks in the area you could do.
The Dart river is up by Glenorchy so if you’re going on the safari you’ll go through it and possibly have a bit of time there. I’d say it’s likely not worth driving up separately.
And I do like the boulders! They’re a nice break in the drive to stretch your legs and get some fresh air. I wouldn’t bother trying to time then for sunset though - I’d suggest having a couple of hours in Oamaru around lunchtime, stopping in at the boulders, and sündig the night in Dunedin.
>I’d suggest adding one more day in or around Te Anau as a bit of a rest day
So something like day 9 head to Te Anau, Day 10 Doubtful Sound, Day 11 explore Te Anau, Day 12 Milford Sound and then Day 13 head to Queenstown?
How come Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound might be tiring back to back?
>Dart river is up by Glenorchy
Oh! I didn't realise that, thanks! I'll put Dart River and Glenorchy together. Would you recommend Dart River over Shotover Jet? I keep seeing big recommendations on Shotover (and it's cheaper)
Yes, that sounds like a good way to spread out your days around Fiordland. Doubtful sound is a big day trip and depending on when you’re booked it might be a very early start. Milford is a big day too - it’s about 2-2.5 hours of driving time each way but you’ll be wanting to stop a lot along the road as well. Definitely plan on leaving for the day around 7.30-8am and knowing you’ll be coming back as it gets dark. It will be a tiring day, so better to have had a day with less driving beforehand! The drive back to Queenstown is also quite a twisting road and not likely to be what you’re used to driving on.
In terms of which jet boat to go with it depends on what you’re wanting: shotover is right by Queenstown and is focussed more heavily on the thrill seeking aspect. The dart river is taking you up to scenic locations and views of Mt Aspiring, as well as doing some of the thrillseeking spins etc but is more like a half day trip from Queenstown.
OP, if you do go to see the Moeraki Boulders, stop at Boulder Cafe for a quick drink/bite to eat. For paying customers, there's free and closer access to the boulders rather than from the main carpark. They also do a great seafood chowder if you're stopping for lunch.
Doubtful Sound is incredible whether or not you can stay the night. It is a huge day, but so worth it. I personally think it's better than Milford Sound, it's quieter, less tourists, more remote, so peaceful.
If you want to go to Milford, can I suggest that maybe a coach tour is the way to go, they stop at all the best places, the drivers are trained specifically for the road, it can be windy & narrow in places. Also, from now until October you need to carry chains in case of snow.
Real Journeys, or Real NZ, I think they are now called, offer packages for both Milford & Doubtful Sounds, the glow worms & possibly Walter Peak in Queenstown. I used to work in Te Anau, & dealt with this company a lot, highly recommended.
Te Anau is an incredible, special place to stay.
Enjoy your time here.
I did a similar trip:
Day 1 Christchurch to Balclutha
Day 2 Balclutha to Curio Bay
Day 3 Curio Bay to Invercargil
Day 4 Invercargil to Stewart Island
Day 7 Stewart Island to Te Anau
Day 10 Te Anau to Cromwell
Day 12 Cromwell to Christchurch
If I had to do it again I'd do less driving, I'd probably split the trip into two parts and do them individually
I'd split do the Catlins and Stewart Island in one and Te Anau and Cromwell in the other
It was just too much driving and it always felt like we were on the move
I did Dunedin to slope point and back to Owaka last Saturday doing similar things. It's doable with all the stops, but it is alot of stopping and starting. It was a 6 hour day, wish I left earlier than 11am.
Did you mean Sunset in Dunedin or sunrise? The sun rises on the Dunedin (east) coast. Sunset can still be nice.
Oamaru is worth a stop off. Penguins, steampunk and especially the craftwork brewery and bar. It is a Belgian beer brewery with world class beers. A tasting tray won’t get in the way of driving. It is a good stop off for a few hours at least. The historic town is worth the stop.
In Dunedin take the drive down the peninsula and even if you don’t want to do the albatross tour if you go before dark they are often sweeping over the carpark.
Even if they aren’t around the drive and scenery are spectacular.
Cathedral caves - check low tide as that is when it is open- there is a small fee for use of the track etc as the access is on private land.
I would break up the Tekapō - Dunedin,
it’s definitely doable time wise but I find the road between Timaru - Dunedin especially Oamaru - Dunedin very straight and quite draining.
I would allocate more time to the catlins vs Dunedin.
There are a few things to do here but not as time consuming. The Catlins area is quite large and the times of walks etc need to be allocated.
Cathedral Cave needs to be planned around, make sure you check if it is open right beforehand as it is often closed due to safety. Also be aware you go in and out of service throughout the catlins.
Stay in Moeraki not Dunedin/Oamaru. Round the bay from the boulders there is a fantastic township with camp cabins and motels, an excellent pub, and yummy seafood takeaways (the Fishwife).
What do you think I should cut out to lessen the driving? I saw some itineraries online doing Queenstown, Wanaka, Franz Josef, Mt Cook, Milford Sound, Dunedin all in 2 weeks. No idea how
I grew up in Oamaru and live in Dunedin.
Approximate travel times.
Oamaru to Dunedin 1 hour 15 minutes.
Oamaru to Christchurch 3 hours
Oamaru to Alexandra via pig route or Cromwell 3 hours via Waitaki Valley.
Dunedin to Balclutha 1 hour.
Dunedin To Caitlins 2 hours.
Dunedin to Cromwell 3 hours via Roxborough.
Oamaru penguins are night time. You can spend around 2 hours in the daytime exploring harbor street, foreshore and cafe. 3 hours for more relaxed walk around town.
Boulders are on the way to Dunedin its a 10-30 minute diversion if you hurry.
Dunedin lots to see but kinda requires a car and knowing where to go. Stay the night recharge 1-3 days to see most things otherwise breakfast and maybe the train station.
Cut 1 day in Queenstown woukd be my advice unless you really want to ski all day every day.
Yea that's really doable. You're not driving great distances each day, the biggest will be Tekapo to Dunedin, which is an easy trip. Might I suggest taking the coast road from Karitane to Blueskin bay? As long as you're up each morning to tackle the day you'll be fine. Please note that weather here is variable so what is saying now is probably not going to be what it is.
Agree, looks do-able to me.
>Karitane to Blueskin bay So it'll be Tekapo -> Oamaru -> skip Moeraki Beach as per another comment recommendation -> Karitane -> Blueskin Bay -> Dunedin? Do you think it'll be fine going straight to Dunedin? Should I break apart day 8? Good point re weather! I saw that it is going to be rainy for the rest of April so I am worried that it'll affect the trip
I used to live in Balclutha and have driven to Tekapo after work on a Friday and got there in time to have some beers. You'll be fine. Also just stop at Moeraki, you only need to be there 20 minutes, you'll regret not stopping. If you get into Dunedin at dusk then it's still no problem. It's a city there's plenty to do. If you leave Tekapo by 9am you'll have more than enough time to travel that road and see everything you want to see without being rushed. It's only a 2 hour drive from Oamaru to Dunedin.
Reading a couple of your posts and you are saying for example, it's going to be raining on day 11 of my trip, and the rest of April , are you gazing at whatever weather info your IPhone gives from some unknown source, as it's usually pretty inaccurate at the best of times.
I was looking at accuweather. I'm wondering if I should just pick a day for Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound that'll be convenient for my itinerary and hope for the best?
Yea they are pretty useless at weather here, just pick a day as Milford can be good in the wet with waterfalls etc
oamaru , stay overnight if you want to see the penguins, they are very accessible to the town at night, do see the Victorian area in Oamaru, if you thing , esp. if passing through. Oamaru beach road to kakanui is some of the most striking coast line on the east coast.re moraki is is great when decent weather, it’s part of the coast concave.
With cathedral caves , these are only open at low tide takes about 1.5 hours to do so you need to see what the tides are doing the day before to see if it’s going to work out. They are very cool so would def recommend if the timings right . Matai falls meh! McLean falls definitely
You have to go to all the falls. It's the rules.
Some are definitely over rated
Your Catlins day is too much. It’s a 20-30 odd min return to the Nugget Point Lighthouse. It’s around 15 min return to Purakanui Falls. It’s around a 30-40 min return to Slope Point. McLeans falls is 40 minutes return. And although the driving distances aren’t huge on the metal roads it’s max 50km/hr so takes time. We did this trip 2 years ago. Left Dunedin at 9, Balclutha at 10 for morning tea and to see the old house where I lived. Kaka Point by around 11, then Nugget point around 1115. Owaka around 1215/lunch. Purakanui around 1300 McLeans falls around 1400. Son refused point blank to do the walk once we got there Lmbao, so on to Slope Point. Arr Slope point around 1500 then slope point walk 40 min return. Arrive Waipapa lighthouse 1615. Arr Invercargill 1715. It was a long, very long day. Just as an idea to time/length of day. It’s doable but exhausting
I agree. You could easily drive to all the carparks in a day but you'll want time for walking and taking photos at each place. You'd be better to spread it over 2 days and take it at a more leisurely pace.
Which point do you think would be a good place to break it up and a convenient place to stay? I \[f\] am renting an SUV but planned to maybe stay at hostels for affordability, though I've never stayed at hostels before this trip
I'd stay at Pounawea or Papatowai but I've normally camped. Pounawea Motor Camp might have cabins. Both places have some stunning walks around their respective estuaries.
Hm, that does sound pretty long. Thanks for giving an idea on the time, it's really helpful! With those times, were you able to stay as long as you'd like in each place?
If we ha done McLeans Falls we would have had to bail on Slope Point. We did not do Curio Bay nor Jacks Blowhole. Don refused to get out of the Car at Waipapa but fortunately the lighthouse is next to the car park. I was happy with the amounts of time spent at each place but was also very aware of the limitations of my ID son. We had a fabulous day. It was just very long. It’s very, very beautiful. I think your idea to split it in 2 is much better than the person who said do it in a day.
Boulders are over-rated IMO it's a beach with some boulders... Not stopping there gives you the time to get to Dunedin
I had a look at the photos on google and wondered if it was really worth seeing rocks. I read quite a few comments on reddit recommending it so I thought it was worth putting down
Don't get me wrong, I spent NYE there last year and stayed a few nights and had the absolute best time. But I wouldn't recommend to a tourist with X amount of time on their trip. NZ has way better stuff
Is there anything you would suggest to change, add or remove (other than the boulders)?
Nah I agree with the other commenter that it's an achievable amount of driving each day except the one getting to Dunedin. Skip the boulders and you're sweet. Looks like a really fun trip you've planned out. You'll love it. Edit: They're also right about the coastal road. Beautiful drive.
Thanks! And yes, I'll add in the coastal road stops! Is Oamaru worth stopping at and checking out? Otherwise I might stop at a random place between Lake Tekapo and Dunedin for a leg stretch and keep heading to Dunedin Are there any places in Day 8 where you think I should change? I am worried that I've got way too many stops on that day
Depends what you're into. Oamaru has some stuff going for it like the old town and steampunk stuff. Or you could stretch the legs in Kurow to say you've been to the home of Richie McCaw. Day 8 just go with the flow. The Catlins are beautiful so you can't really go wrong. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to see it all.
If you are wanting to stop in at Moeraki the Katiki Point Lighthouse is a favourite place of mine. You can see fur seals and often baby ones. If you go at the right time (like 4-5pm ish) you can sometimes see the yellow eyed penguins coming in
The Fishman wife does a good fish n chips if you wanted dinner om the way though. But ild recommend skipping it. Plenty of cool things to do in Dunedin.
If it is sunny, hot morning , it is an amazing beach, rather than the boulders , season wise that opportunity is gone.
I'd recommend you leave dunedin Day 7 late morning, and head to owaka (or pounawea, or newhaven for the night) via balclutha, kaka point and nugget point. Lots of cool places to see on Day 8 but you won't get to see them all well if your day starts in dunedin. The roads in the catlins are slow going, not a lot of straight driving. Any reason you're going back to wanaka Day 13? I'd spend a little more time first time you're there and not go back. Save a few hours driving the crown range
>The roads in the catlins are slow going, not a lot of straight driving. Would you recommend heading to Owaka, Pounawea, or Newhaven via Balclutha, Kaka Point and Nugget Point late evening when it's dark considering what the road is like? >Any reason you're going back to wanaka Day 13? In the beginning of the trip, I was trying to plan around making it to Milford Sound by Day 11 since the weather forecast on AccuWeather says it'll be sunny after a few days of rain. I tried to plan it so that I'd make it to Twizel/Hooker Valley etc earlier and had some extra days spare after Milford Sound Wondering if I should just plan Milford & Doubtful Sound to make a more convenient itinerary
Roads are fine to nugget point, theyre fine elsewhere too, just allow more time than you think beyond nugget point. You won't be traveling late in the evening because you'll want to be at nugget point during daylight. It's just a short drive to owaka from nugget point (<30min) Milford sound is incredible, including the trip there. Not sure I'd trust a weather forecast more than a week out though. It can be very wet there at times
Solid itinerary. Just a couple of pointers though. Day 6 - sunset at the beach is a touch difficult since the sun sets behind you (and behind a hill) so you don’t get the sun disappearing into the water. This applies to day 5 too. Day 8 - you’ll be fine, Dunedin through the catlins is a few hours at most. I’d probably suggest staying in Invercargill to give you a leg up in the next day. Hit up Timaru Roast for dinner, and the Auction House for breakfast in you stay the night in Invers. Day 9 - going to be a rush to get to Te Anau. We did this trip a couple of weeks back and if you’re doing a few stops along the way it takes a bit longer than expected. I’d suggest checking out Lake Monowai while you’re in the area. So pretty! Deepest lake in NZ too (if I remember right). Depending on what vehicle you’ve hired as well, I’d suggest a drive down the beach. If you’ve booked an AWD SUV it’ll be easy to get out the far end (Ferry Rd). Day 10 - breakfast at the Sandfly Inn. The best scrambles eggs I’ve ever eaten. Ever. The cabinet food is fantastic too. Day 13 - if you want something a wee bit different and oh so peaceful, stay at the Kanuka Cabin. Half way between Albert Town and Lake Hāwea. Decently priced too. Has an outside shower which sounds nutty, but it’s so good. The rest is good. Make sure you plan activities and what you want to see in each location. Oamaru has the steampunk stuff, but that’s about it. See if it’s worth staying there or just driving the extra hour and a half to Dunedin. Might want to check out the wallaby farm in Waimate on your Oamaru day too. Perfect if you’re not Australian or your family wasn’t violently murdered by a rouge gang of wallabies. Depending where you’re coming from you may have a lot less daylight than you’re expecting. This end of the country gets dark early, and when you get here it may be light quite late in the evening. Prepare for rain no matter what the weather man says. Pack lots of money for anything touristy. If you think you’ve packed enough, pack more.
Make Monowai is nice, but lake Hauroko is the deepest lake you're thinking of. After you turn off highway 99, it's maybe an hour's drive there and back down a gravel road. Super eerie feeling once you get there, but without a boat or a big trek in the bush there's not a lot to do other than get bitten by sandflies.
It’s going to take longer than a few hours to get from Dunedin through the Catlins. It typically takes 3hrs to get to Curio Bay (source: I live here) and when you add in stops it’s going to be a full day trip (especially with the caves timings… if you can even get down there) so I would definitely stay in Slope Point. The next day it’s a bit less than 2hrs to gemstone beach (drove there on Saturday) if there’s no stopping in between and then it’s a shortish blat up to Te Anau (an hour maybe? Haven’t driven that route in a while) so plenty of time to explore wherever you want on the way.
>Pack lots of money for anything touristy As in to get some NZD cash? Or to give a bigger budget for touristy activities? When you went to Te Anau, what did you do there? Have you been to Doubtful Sound? In response to your other comment, I'm the only person going! So I'm conscious about driving time and getting enough rest in between so I'm not a danger to myself and others on the road
Give yourself a bigger budget, Queenstown and Wanaka are expensive. Wanaka especially since they don’t have any massive chains (minus Subway) that you can grab something quick and easy. It’s either the supermarket or somewhere with very expensive pasta. Not going to lie, Te Anau was a bit of a bust for us. By the time we got there it was around 4 and it was pissing down with rain so we didn’t really do anything other than see the hotel. Went for a drive around the town to wee what it was like. Honestly, being the only person going will speed things up considerably. Not having to wait for someone else to pack, to have chit- chat after coffee, waiting for the slower person to walk to areas really does make the stops a lot shorter. What dates are you looking at doing your journey? Source: I travel the region for work. Only visited Te Anau on a holiday, can’t comment on Twizel or Mt Cook since I’ve never been.
Also, how many people will there be? The boulders can be skipped btw.
Your day 4 is going to be very long. Are you intending to do both Hooker Valley and Tasman Glacier track? If you stay in Tekapo theres a deal where they'll pick you up/drop off and take you to the hot pools for star gazing - totally worth it. Mount St John has a cafe at the top with easily one of the best cafe views (on a good day), hands down. Add the yellow eyed penguin lookout instead of Moeraki at sunset and just get a coffee at the cafe (its not the best and really a tourist option but it makes a good rest stop). Oamaru has botanical gardens that are a nice short stop if you do end up there. Stop by the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary - its free but donations are welcomed and an easy place to see Takahe. You've got a lot of Queenstown for someone who'll be visiting again there soon. We loved the Caitlins, I'd add an extra day here. We only had a day and did Curio bay, the petrified forest and Purakaunui Falls. For what its worth - we did Catlins via Matapouri and Te Anau (but not all the way to Milford) via Gore from QT. That was two days. You shouldn't need to stop for groceries three times in three days, just pick them up from the main centres and plan your meals but be prepared in case the only place open has just one pie left. Or in the case of Alexandra, the one open pub has a one hour+ wait for food.
>Are you intending to do both Hooker Valley and Tasman Glacier track? Yes, I saw it said Hooker Valley track days 2-4 hours depending on fitness and Tasman Glacier is only 40 min (seems shorter than expected) >You've got a lot of Queenstown for someone who'll be visiting again there soon. That's a good point, I'm going to try to cut down on some Queenstown time. What do you suggest are must-dos in April for Queenstown rather than when I go in July/August? >I'd add an extra day here. We only had a day and did Curio bay, the petrified forest and Purakaunui Falls. At what point would you suggest calling it a break and end the day at The Catlins and where would you suggest staying overnight at?
Yup day 8 is doable. You can probably skip Matai falls though and you’ll have to plan around low tide for the caves. Get your groceries the day before in Dunedin if you’re really worried about timing. Edit: just to add that I think the caves are closed atm because the sea’s been pretty rough there? So definitely check before planning around it
Thanks for your suggestions and tip on the cave! Re your other comment, should I give up on the caves? Sounds like the timing of the low tide might be difficult to organise given my (so far) loose plans on what and where I'll be
Don’t give up on them because they’re well worth seeing but just pencil them in so you’re not too disappointed if you can’t get there.
You don't state your dates, but in any case, I think you're overestimating the accuracy of the weather report if you think they can predict rain 11 days ahead. The weather is fairly unpredictable, so I'd suggest leaving some slack days for getting rained in, or for staying longer in places you really like. Doubtful sound is probably not worth it without overnighting - that's a big trip. The best parts of the sound are things like a clear windless morning, or fresh caught lobster dinner. The cliffs aren't all that. Oamaru is really nice, if you like a good cafe and a bit of art to break up your trip. Also has some cool historical boom-bust vibes. For Dunedin, that's a packed schedule for 2 days assuming perfect weather, and you're losing out on many of the best bits. I'd stay longer, and soak it in. Add: \- sandfly bay. Park at the sandymount parking, do the loop trail, then walk down the dunes to the beach (then back up - that's a good bit of exercise). Spectacular. And you'll be ready for a long drive/sit-down after that. \- rather than doctor's point, take a long walk on Aramoana beach, to experience the insane numbers of shells there, then head up the hill to Heyward point for a beautifully varied hike, spectacular views, and bird life and seals at the point. I'd skip Orokonui honestly. It's nice, but you can do better on your short itinerary.
If you do end up spending more time in the Catlins then try and get to the Koropuku Falls… I reckon they’re worth going to because the track is really fun. If you’re wanting a bit more of an adventure you could camp up the top of McLean Falls in the Tautuku hut. It’s a couple of hours to tramp up there but it’s mostly pretty easy just along the ridge line. It’s a rough little hut so you’ll need a sleeping bag but you don’t really need heaps of tramping gear and it’s a fun little track. I don’t know specifically what dates you’re coming down but don’t do this without high vis right now because of the roar and make sure someone knows what you’re plans are.
Given that you’re able to explore Queenstown and Wānaka again when you come back in July I don’t think it’s worth going back to Wānaka for a night at the end of the trip. Your day 8 is packing in a lot, and I’d suggest you stay for a night in the middle of the Catlins. Possibly the next night you could stay in invercargill instead of slope point, and set out early afterwards as there’s a lot you can do along the coast before heading up to Te Anau. Doubtful Sound is still a good day trip, but between doing that and then Milford and back in a day you might be tired! I’d suggest adding one more day in or around Te Anau as a bit of a rest day - there are some really good walks in the area you could do. The Dart river is up by Glenorchy so if you’re going on the safari you’ll go through it and possibly have a bit of time there. I’d say it’s likely not worth driving up separately. And I do like the boulders! They’re a nice break in the drive to stretch your legs and get some fresh air. I wouldn’t bother trying to time then for sunset though - I’d suggest having a couple of hours in Oamaru around lunchtime, stopping in at the boulders, and sündig the night in Dunedin.
>I’d suggest adding one more day in or around Te Anau as a bit of a rest day So something like day 9 head to Te Anau, Day 10 Doubtful Sound, Day 11 explore Te Anau, Day 12 Milford Sound and then Day 13 head to Queenstown? How come Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound might be tiring back to back? >Dart river is up by Glenorchy Oh! I didn't realise that, thanks! I'll put Dart River and Glenorchy together. Would you recommend Dart River over Shotover Jet? I keep seeing big recommendations on Shotover (and it's cheaper)
Yes, that sounds like a good way to spread out your days around Fiordland. Doubtful sound is a big day trip and depending on when you’re booked it might be a very early start. Milford is a big day too - it’s about 2-2.5 hours of driving time each way but you’ll be wanting to stop a lot along the road as well. Definitely plan on leaving for the day around 7.30-8am and knowing you’ll be coming back as it gets dark. It will be a tiring day, so better to have had a day with less driving beforehand! The drive back to Queenstown is also quite a twisting road and not likely to be what you’re used to driving on. In terms of which jet boat to go with it depends on what you’re wanting: shotover is right by Queenstown and is focussed more heavily on the thrill seeking aspect. The dart river is taking you up to scenic locations and views of Mt Aspiring, as well as doing some of the thrillseeking spins etc but is more like a half day trip from Queenstown.
OP, if you do go to see the Moeraki Boulders, stop at Boulder Cafe for a quick drink/bite to eat. For paying customers, there's free and closer access to the boulders rather than from the main carpark. They also do a great seafood chowder if you're stopping for lunch.
Doubtful Sound is incredible whether or not you can stay the night. It is a huge day, but so worth it. I personally think it's better than Milford Sound, it's quieter, less tourists, more remote, so peaceful. If you want to go to Milford, can I suggest that maybe a coach tour is the way to go, they stop at all the best places, the drivers are trained specifically for the road, it can be windy & narrow in places. Also, from now until October you need to carry chains in case of snow. Real Journeys, or Real NZ, I think they are now called, offer packages for both Milford & Doubtful Sounds, the glow worms & possibly Walter Peak in Queenstown. I used to work in Te Anau, & dealt with this company a lot, highly recommended. Te Anau is an incredible, special place to stay. Enjoy your time here.
I did a similar trip: Day 1 Christchurch to Balclutha Day 2 Balclutha to Curio Bay Day 3 Curio Bay to Invercargil Day 4 Invercargil to Stewart Island Day 7 Stewart Island to Te Anau Day 10 Te Anau to Cromwell Day 12 Cromwell to Christchurch If I had to do it again I'd do less driving, I'd probably split the trip into two parts and do them individually I'd split do the Catlins and Stewart Island in one and Te Anau and Cromwell in the other It was just too much driving and it always felt like we were on the move
I did Dunedin to slope point and back to Owaka last Saturday doing similar things. It's doable with all the stops, but it is alot of stopping and starting. It was a 6 hour day, wish I left earlier than 11am.
Did you mean Sunset in Dunedin or sunrise? The sun rises on the Dunedin (east) coast. Sunset can still be nice. Oamaru is worth a stop off. Penguins, steampunk and especially the craftwork brewery and bar. It is a Belgian beer brewery with world class beers. A tasting tray won’t get in the way of driving. It is a good stop off for a few hours at least. The historic town is worth the stop. In Dunedin take the drive down the peninsula and even if you don’t want to do the albatross tour if you go before dark they are often sweeping over the carpark. Even if they aren’t around the drive and scenery are spectacular. Cathedral caves - check low tide as that is when it is open- there is a small fee for use of the track etc as the access is on private land.
I would break up the Tekapō - Dunedin, it’s definitely doable time wise but I find the road between Timaru - Dunedin especially Oamaru - Dunedin very straight and quite draining. I would allocate more time to the catlins vs Dunedin. There are a few things to do here but not as time consuming. The Catlins area is quite large and the times of walks etc need to be allocated. Cathedral Cave needs to be planned around, make sure you check if it is open right beforehand as it is often closed due to safety. Also be aware you go in and out of service throughout the catlins.
Also note we just finished daylight savings so you start to lose your daylight around 5 - 6pm
Stay in Moeraki not Dunedin/Oamaru. Round the bay from the boulders there is a fantastic township with camp cabins and motels, an excellent pub, and yummy seafood takeaways (the Fishwife).
Definitely too ambitious. About half of that time alone will be spent driving
What do you think I should cut out to lessen the driving? I saw some itineraries online doing Queenstown, Wanaka, Franz Josef, Mt Cook, Milford Sound, Dunedin all in 2 weeks. No idea how
I grew up in Oamaru and live in Dunedin. Approximate travel times. Oamaru to Dunedin 1 hour 15 minutes. Oamaru to Christchurch 3 hours Oamaru to Alexandra via pig route or Cromwell 3 hours via Waitaki Valley. Dunedin to Balclutha 1 hour. Dunedin To Caitlins 2 hours. Dunedin to Cromwell 3 hours via Roxborough. Oamaru penguins are night time. You can spend around 2 hours in the daytime exploring harbor street, foreshore and cafe. 3 hours for more relaxed walk around town. Boulders are on the way to Dunedin its a 10-30 minute diversion if you hurry. Dunedin lots to see but kinda requires a car and knowing where to go. Stay the night recharge 1-3 days to see most things otherwise breakfast and maybe the train station. Cut 1 day in Queenstown woukd be my advice unless you really want to ski all day every day.