Trip to New Zealand

Hi All,
From the beginning of December to the middle of January, I will be travelling to New Zealand.
I will be spending a few days in Auckland, flying to Queenstown and staying a few days, then hiking the Milford Track.

Eventually I will be driving my way back to Auckland with a crossing from South Island to North Island just after Christmas.

Any ideas of where to go and what to see? I plan on going to Marlborough and some of the other wine regions.
I've been there before, and am looking for suggestions of things I might not have though of.

btw. I've been in touch with SueNZ and others. We have an offline already set.

How fabulous, John! I look forward to your pictures!!!

No doubt you've ben told that many central Otago wineries are quite close to Queenstown. Rent a car in Queenstown - after you go bungy-jumping! - and drive around that beatiful area. Felton Road is the must visit winery there, but there are many other good wineries.

If it's nice day when you get off the Milford Track, do the boat tour. Milford Sound is gorgeous. The track is a blast too - make sure you take the side trail to the waterful after the descent from the saddle. If you are going the independent route (versus the guided option), be sure to bring a bottle of wine or two! If it's a white, put it in the river when you get to the hut, and it will be ready for dinner!

If you have a car after the Milford, drive up the west coast. Lots of great places to see, pubs to visit and walks to do. But you'll miss the dolphin tour at Kaikoura, which can be fun too.

Marlborough is a great, compact area to visit, with lots of great wineries. The Nelson region is quite close, and there are some interesting wineries there too. I quite like visiting the Martinbourough region (just north of Wellington) as well: if you are a pinot lover, it's a must visit area.

If you get a chance, for a really interesting trail, check out Tongariro National Park. There are several trails to choose from, and most either do the 3 day northern circle or the 1 day traverse; the volcanos there are quite something, and the landscape resembles a moonscape in many places.

My favourite wine region is Hawkes Bay. The NZ Bordeaux style reds get no love outside the country, but I really like some of the blends from Hawkes Bay, especially from the Gimlet Gravels area. Underrated wines, IMO.

The blackwater tubing at Waitomo (1 hour south of Auckland) is touristy but fun.

Finally, see as much countryside as possible. NZ is an amazingly beautiful country - every nook and cranny has some wonderful sites, many off the normal tourist route. All the national parks and conservation areas have great trails, either day trails or overnight tramps.

One thing for sure, you'll have an amazing time!

Call Sue and Neil Courtney -- no better guides/friends/resources -- in Auckland at the start of your trip. Wonderful people.

Regards, Bob

I've already been in touch with them.

No doubt you've ben told that many central Otago wineries are quite close to Queenstown. Rent a car in Queenstown - after you go bungy-jumping! - and drive around that beatiful area. Felton Road is the must visit winery there, but there are many other good wineries.

If it's nice day when you get off the Milford Track, do the boat tour. Milford Sound is gorgeous. The track is a blast too - make sure you take the side trail to the waterful after the descent from the saddle. If you are going the independent route (versus the guided option), be sure to bring a bottle of wine or two! If it's a white, put it in the river when you get to the hut, and it will be ready for dinner!

If you have a car after the Milford, drive up the west coast. Lots of great places to see, pubs to visit and walks to do. But you'll miss the dolphin tour at Kaikoura, which can be fun too.

Marlborough is a great, compact area to visit, with lots of great wineries. The Nelson region is quite close, and there are some interesting wineries there too. I quite like visiting the Martinbourough region (just north of Wellington) as well: if you are a pinot lover, it's a must visit area.

If you get a chance, for a really interesting trail, check out Tongariro National Park. There are several trails to choose from, and most either do the 3 day northern circle or the 1 day traverse; the volcanos there are quite something, and the landscape resembles a moonscape in many places.

My favourite wine region is Hawkes Bay. The NZ Bordeaux style reds get no love outside the country, but I really like some of the blends from Hawkes Bay, especially from the Gimlet Gravels area. Underrated wines, IMO.

The blackwater tubing at Waitomo (1 hour south of Auckland) is touristy but fun.

Finally, see as much countryside as possible. NZ is an amazingly beautiful country - every nook and cranny has some wonderful sites, many off the normal tourist route. All the national parks and conservation areas have great trails, either day trails or overnight tramps.

One thing for sure, you'll have an amazing time!

Thanks John S. for the info.

I have a car that I'll be renting. I'm basically following the itinerary as you sketched it out - very loosely however. No Bungee jumping for me (thing for heights)
I'll be hiking the Milford Track as an independent.

I also plan on going to Gisbourne as I didn't make it there the last time.

My favourite wine region is Hawkes Bay. The NZ Bordeaux style reds get no love outside the country, but I really like some of the blends from Hawkes Bay, especially from the Gimlet Gravels area. Underrated wines, IMO.

Hawkes Bay is indeed a good place to go for "something different" in Kiwiland. Cabernet, Syrah and Chardonnay all do well there. You can stay for pennies in Napier, which is pretty near all the wineries. The ones I visited (and liked) were Esk Valley, CJ Pask and Te Mata. And the area is Gimblett Gravels, not that it really matters much. You'll also get the hottest weather of the trip there, most likely.

Do you fly fish? The trout fishing on the South Island is pretty amazing, and these 30 lb brown trout have to be seen to be believed -- not that I'm ever likely to catch one without serious effort being put into it, the wily little bastards...

Mark Lipton

Hi John

I would recommend the Hawkes Bay and Martinborough areas. Some lovely Burgandy style wines in the Hawkes Bay area, and it is a really nice place to travel through as well.

Martinborough is near Wellington which is a great cultural hub for NZ and a compact and easy city to visit. It's a nice drive over there as well, and the Pinot Noir there makes the visit worth it. Also you can stay in some nice restored colonial properties in that area.

Cheers

Scott

Hi All,
From the beginning of December to the middle of January, I will be travelling to New Zealand.
I will be spending a few days in Auckland, flying to Queenstown and staying a few days, then hiking the Milford Track.

Eventually I will be driving my way back to Auckland with a crossing from South Island to North Island just after Christmas.

Any ideas of where to go and what to see? I plan on going to Marlborough and some of the other wine regions.
I've been there before, and am looking for suggestions of things I might not have though of.

btw. I've been in touch with SueNZ and others. We have an offline already set.