New Zealand Itinerary Breakdown

vincentadventure

After years of dreaming about a trip to New Zealand, it was finally coming to fruition.  The hours of researching, building itineraries, booking accommodations and activities was about to become a reality.  To this date, this was by far the biggest and longest vacation we had ever taken and took a lot of planning to try and fit in as many of our bucket list things as possible.  Crossing places or things off our list due to time was a major challenge at first, but we finally landed on the itinerary below.   Our 17 day trip in November covered visits to both the North and South Island, with most of our time being spent on the South.   Below is a recap of our trip.

Click on a day to see where we went and what we did in more detail.

Day 1: Minnesota – Auckland
  • Our journey started off with a long day of traveling from MSP to LA, and then boarding our Air New Zealand overnight flight to Auckland.  As we were making our arrangements, we came across the Sky Couch offered on some Air New Zealand flights.. This option gives you an entire row of 3 seats that have adjustable leg rests that can be lowered or raised to make a bed.  You are also provided extended seat belts, pillows and blankets.   The idea of this sounded great; it gave us a bit more room during the 16-hour flight to stretch out, however for 2 adults, who are not tall human beings, we felt cramped and just couldn’t get comfortable for both of us to sleep at the same time. It was better than having a normal economy seat for the entire flight but maybe something more useful for a single traveler who’s got the extra money to buy the row, or for a family traveling with a small child.  
  • We landed in Auckland at 6AM, picked up our rental car and were ready to get out and explore. Our original plan was to head west to the walk some of the coast, however it was raining pretty hard when we landed so instead we decided to drive to the city and our hotel to drop off luggage and get freshened up.
  • We walked the “K Road” to check out some shops and street art near St. Kevin’s Arcade and had our first of many sausage rolls and pies.  After a few hours, the rain started to pick up again so we called it and headed back to our hotel. We stayed at the lovely Cordis Hotel which was in a great location, within walking distance to the famous Sky Tower, small boutiques and city parks.   
    https://www.cordishotels.com/en/auckland/?htl=cdakl&src=organic&eng=google&size=na&cid=yext_profile&y_source=1_MTAwNjI1OTYtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D  
Day 2: Exploring Auckland
  • Today was all about exploring the city of Auckland and the best way we knew how to do this and get around was on the Auckland Explore Bus, which travels all throughout the city and allows you to get off at any various locations and attractions.  These sightseeing hop-on hop-off buses have become a bit of a staple on past trips we’ve taken.  We spent a few hours traveling on the bus and checking out some of the sites (Sky Tower, Queen Street, Holy Trinity Cathedral, and the Auckland Museum). 
  • Later that evening, we were going to see Coldplay at Eden Park. We decided to take the scenic route by walking from our hotel to the venue, which was about a 40-minute away. Along the way, there were different activities which allowed fans to connect with one another and get some swag before the show. The show was amazing, and we love that they try to make each show unique by bringing in local artists who have ties to the city/country for a special performance.
Day 3: Auckland – Rotorua
  • The next morning, we left Auckland and started to drive down towards Rotorua where we would be making a home base for the next 3 nights.  Our first stop was at Hunua Falls. The walk was very easy and led to a beautiful waterfall that was not overcrowded so we could spend our time taking pictures and enjoying the uninterrupted view.
  • After Hunua Falls, we then made a our way to Owharo Falls in Waikino.  This is a popular waterfall due to its easy access and view from the main road. It’s a very quick stop to check out the waterfall but also great spot to stop and stretch your legs or even have a dip in during the summer months. We got a few photos and then parked here for a quick bite to eat with a great view.  
Owharo Falls
  • Rotorua is a city filled with a so many things to do; from zorbing to geothermal Parks, to Māori cultural experiences and ziplining there’s bound to be something that catches your eye.  One of the activities we booked was Hell’s Gate Mud Spa, a place where you can bathe in the world-famous mud baths, soak in the Sulphur spas and take a quick dip in the cool plunge pool.  The geothermal mud and Sulphur water is said to have unique healing properties and leaves your skin and body feeling refreshed and relaxed.  The smell of Sulphur hits you immediately when you drive through certain parts of the city but it does dissipate and was only noticeable at certain attractions.  
Hell’s Gate in Rotorua
  • When we arrived at Hell’s Gate, we changed into our suits, checked in with the staff and were led to one of the available mud pools to begin our experience. Due to safety and health reasons, you are only allowed to be in the mud pools for a max of 20 mins and the staff is there to keep track of your time. Once our time was up, we showered off and made our way over to the Sulphur pools to relax and enjoy the steam and cold pool. Hell’s Gate offers a few different packages to enjoy at their facility.  We opted for just the mud spa experience, but they also had packages that included a geothermal walk throughout the property in addition to the spa activities.   * Note – I would suggest bringing a suit that you won’t be heartbroken if it gets damaged. There is a small possibility with lighter colored swimsuits it may discolor but it will definitely smell like Sulphur for a bit, even after a few washes.
  • We left the spa feeling relaxed, and checked into our Airbnb, a cute 2-bedroom guesthouse in a great location that was well equipped with everything we needed for our stay.  https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/680770457490437879?source_impression_id=p3_1741998199_P3h6pjXXr5A_Av1t.  This was also a perfect location for our final activity of the evening, a night walk in the tree tops of the Redwood Forest. This was a magical experience where you walk on bridges and platforms 30-65 feet above the forest floor, and as the sun sets, the forest begins to light up with beautifully designed lanterns. They do offer these tree walks during the day but you miss out on seeing the forest lit up. If you do want to see this at night, I would recommend prebooking a time as the lines start to get very long before sunset.   https://www.treewalk.co.nz/the-walk/redwoods-nightlights/ .  
Day 4: Rotorua and the Waitomo Caves
  • Today, we woke up a bit nervous and anxious as we would be testing our courage and pushing our limits with the legendary Black Water Rafting Company near the Waitomo Caves.  We had a 2-hour drive to make to the caves so we grabbed some quick breakfast and hit the road. 
  • We booked the 3-hour Black Labyrinth Cave Rafting Tour and weren’t completely ready for what we were about to do.  https://www.waitomo.com/black-water-rafting/legendary-black-water-rafting-co-black-labyrinth  After checking in, we were lead down to the changing rooms to get suited up with our provided wetsuits, boots and helmets.  It felt like an eternity trying to get everyone in our group wedged into our suits, but we then hopped on the bus and made our way to the river.  When we arrived, we lined up with our tubes and each jumped off the ladder into the water.  At first, I don’t think any of us knew what we were doing or how this had anything to do with the caves, but we were then told this was to help acclimate our suits and bodies to the cold-water, and I think for our guides to assess each person’s physical ability and comfort level jumping off from different heights.
  • We hopped back on the bus and a few moments later arrived at the opening of the cave.  One by one we each made our way in and encountered our first test where we were told to glide through the water, lean our heads back on the tube and push our way through an opening with about a 2-foot clearance between the water and the rocks.  Once we completed that, we climbed up and through a small tunnel on our hands and knees. I was one of the first ones through and immediately began questioning why anyone would pay to do this, but I took a deep breath and kept moving ahead. A little later into the trip we encountered our first waterfall. Each of us grabbed our tube, stood backwards on the edge, and jumped off the top of the waterfall into the deep water below.  Not sure if that was the bravest or the dumbest or things I’ve ever done, but I did it and it was thrilling. 
  • Throughout the entire 1.5-hour trip in the cave, we jumped off several waterfalls, climbed up rock formations, and stumbled our way over limestone with rapids coming at us, but the main attraction was still to come, the glowworms.  We pulled aside and began linking our tubes together, turned off our headlamps, and floated down the water in the darkness. It was just a few moments later we began to see the cave light up by the glowworms. This was an amazing sight to see and very calming to just be floating through in the darkness.  Once we reached the end, we got back onto the bus and headed back to peel ourselves out of our wetsuits.  Unfortunately, we were not allowed to bring cameras with us, but the guides did take photos that we could purchase.  This was one of the more expensive activities we booked but was worth it and an incredible experience.  If tubing or ziplining isn’t your thing, there are other tours available that keep you dry and allow you access to see the glowworms.   
  • After leaving Waitomo, we headed back to Rotorua and enjoyed the rest of the day walking around the city, eating some delicious meat pies at Patrick’s Pies Gold Star Bakery and watching people go Zorbing.   This is where people dive into giant inflatable balls and roll down the hill on different tracks.   Rotorua is the only place in New Zealand where this is offered.  https://zorb.com/. 
Day 5: Rotorua – Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland – Hobbiton
  • For our last and final day in Rototura, we visited the Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland Park and walked around the geothermal park that had geysers, mud pools and a beautiful champagne pool.  The place was very busy and people started arriving early in the morning to view the scheduled eruption of the Lady Knox Geyser which happens daily at a 10:15AM presentation. Although this is still an active geyser that could go off at any time, they do activate it during the presentation to educate guests on the history of this particular geyser and how it was discovered. I would recommend checking out the park if you’re interested in seeing some of the different geothermal features, and aren’t able to get to other attractions within Rotorua. This was an activity that we did not have to prebook ahead of time and is open every day. https://www.waiotapu.co.nz/
  • The highlight of the day though was our visit to Hobbiton.  This was the number one thing Jason wanted to do while visiting New Zealand. He even made a prerequisite that I had to watch each of the Lord of the Ring’s movies before visiting New Zealand; (don’t tell him, but I actually enjoyed them).  We made our way to Matamata, where the Hobbiton movie set was located, and arrived at the lush rolling hills and manicured landscape of The Shire.  We walked with our guides all throughout The Shire, taking as many pictures as we possibly could of the different views.
  • A new experience that started in 2023 allows guests to enter one of two hobbit holes on Bagshot Row with each of them decorated to showcase the daily lives of the Hobbits and their dwellings. The level of detail within the homes was incredible and they gave us plenty of time to take pictures and interact with the props.  
  • We booked the evening banquet feast that included a tour of the set at dusk, a beverage at the Green Dragon Inn, a dinner feast, and a walk back through the shire at night with lanterns in hand. This was an incredible experience and something I didn’t think I would enjoy as much as I did.  If you’re interested in the Banquet dinner or the Second Breakfast Tour, note that those have limited availably and do book out quite far in advance, but if you simply want to take in the sites and walk through the Shire, they have walking tours available throughout the day.  https://www.hobbitontours.com/
Day 6: Rotorua – Wellington
  • Today we left Rotorua and traveled down to Wellington. To make the most of our time, we decided to fly down in the morning and spend the afternoon and evening there before traveling to the South Island. We arrived in Wellington, checked into our beautiful room at the Naumi Hotel  https://naumihotels.com/naumi-hotel-wellington/, and walked to Cuba Street and the harbor to check out the vibrant art scene, cafes and shops. Wellington is a beautiful city full of culture, art, amazing food and gorgeous views of the city and views and harbor.  
  • We then made our way over to the Weta Cave Workshop  https://www.wetaworkshop.com/tours/wellington. We booked a 90-minute guided tour through the workshop where they create special effects and design movie artifacts.  Past credit for this special effects studio include Lord of the Rings and Avatar among many others.  If you’re into special effects or movie props, this tour may be something to check out.  They also have a workshop in Auckland if you don’t make it down to Wellington.  
  • Before our flight the next morning, I also wanted to check out the cable car for one of the best views of the city.  The quick ride takes you up to the Wellington Botanical Garden, the Cable Car Museum, walking paths and restaurant.  Unfortunately, we were a bit too late in the day to check out some of the attractions but did enjoy the view before heading back down.
Day 7: Left Wellington with stops in Christchurch, Tekapo and Twizel
  • Today we would be leaving the North Island from Wellington and making our way to the South Island where we would be spending the remainder of our trip.  During our planning, we needed to make choices between taking the ferry between the 2 islands or flying, and into which city to arrive.  We ended up choosing to fly between Wellington and Christchurch to save a bit of time and money.  I’m glad we made the decision to fly as the ferry can be a bit unpredictable due to weather and schedules.
  • We had a short flight to Christchurch, picked up our new rental car and headed into the city center.  Christchurch is ranked as a global street art capital so we spent a few hours walking throughout the city admiring the work. If this is something you’re interested in, there are walking tours offered to take visitors around to explore the art and hear from the artists about their work.
  • Christchurch is also a city that is still recovering from 2 major earthquakes back in 2010 and 2011 and you don’t have to walk around long to still see the effects as rebuilding projects were still underway. There is even a museum and exhibit called Quake City that shares stories from the people who survived the earthquakes.  
  • Another highlight of this quick stop was the indoor Riverside Market in the heart of the city that has many different shops and small restaurants to walk through. We only spent a short time here but it is worth a stop if you’re looking for local foods and crafts.  For those interested, they also have a narrated hop on/hop off tram that takes passengers throughout the city providing details about the local sites.  
  • We had a 3.5-hour drive to Twizel, so after checking out a few sites in Christchurch, we hit the road so we could get there before dark.  By early evening we were approaching the beautiful sights of Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd. The vibrant pink and purple lupins that surround the area of Lake Tekapo were in full bloom when we visited, only enhancing this stunning view. This is one of the most popular places to see the lupins so be aware of peak times during the day if you want to avoid large groups of tourists.  
Day 8: Twizel – Tekapo
  • This was the first day of our trip where we had nothing planned out. We finally slept in and decided we would let the weather and our moods determine what we would do for the day. First stop was to Fairlie Bakehouse, highly recommended as one of the best places in New Zealand for gourmet meat pies, and definitely lived up to the hype https://www.fairliebakehouse.co.nz/.  So many great options to choose from and we landed on a steak and mushroom pie, and a pastry for dessert.  This was hands down the best meat pie we had on this entire trip and we should have stopped again on our way back to Twizel.
  • We then stopped at the Three Creeks Trading Co, which had vintage gifts and collectables set up with an old service station and general stores that is worth a quick stop to walk around the different set-ups if you’re into that kind of stuff. Lots of fun things to walk around and see.
  • Later that afternoon, we went back to Lake Tekapo to see the turquoise lake and lupins in the daylight.  We walked around the lake area, checked out the Dark Sky Project, and then drove up to Mount John Observatory to walk the summit track and take in the views of the Mackenzie Basic, Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mt Cook. The track we walked was 1.5 hours/3km and started at the top to walk around loop track with some pretty great views.  
  • After the hike, we tried to go find the Lord of the Rings Peace Ring, a large sculpture of one of the rings and views of the Battle of Pelennor Fields filming location, but didn’t realize that it’s on private property and requires advanced arrangements and a $10 per person fee.  We opted to skip this but if you’re interested make sure to call ahead to make arrangements.
Day 9: Mount Cook National Park
  • Today’s visit was all about Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park where we booked a boat tour on Tasman Glacial Lake with Glacier Explorers,  https://www.hermitage.co.nz/experience/glacier-explorers/. It started off with a short bus drive followed by a 1.5km walk to the launch site.  Once there, we got our life preservers and assigned to a guide and a small boat.  Soon after taking off, we began weaving around the massive icebergs and were able to fish out small bits of the crystals so we could feel just how dense and heavy even the smallest pieces of ice could be. Our guide mentioned that with the extreme effects of climate change, the Tasman Glacier is melting and breaking at a rapid rate and may not be around in a few years.  If you have the chance to get out and see this area, or any glaciers, do it while they are still around.  
  • After the boat trip, I somehow talked Jason into hiking the Hooker Valley Track while we were in the Mount Cook area.  We grabbed a quick bite to eat at the Hermitage Café and then set out on the 6.2 mile/4 hour+ hike in the late afternoon. This is an extremely popular trail due to its location, relatively easy track status, and gorgeous views throughout the entire hike.  Despite being very busy, the views were stunning and worth the time, sweat and blisters.  This hike has so many things to see: 3 different swing bridges, Mount Cook in the background and the glacial lake with icebergs.  There is virtually no shade on this trail, and with it being very popular, it’s recommended to get out early to avoid the crowds and direct sun in the afternoon. This was probably one of my favorite hikes of all time.  
Day 10: Twizel – Lake Hawea
  • Today we left Twizel and made our 2-hour drive to Wanaka.  On the drive down, we made a quick detour off the main road to check out the Omarama Clay Cliffs.  This was a short 30-min walk, however it’s quite a long drive from the main road and costs $5 per vehicle to enter.  We walked around for a bit taking in the sights of the tall pinnacles, which were formed by the glaciers over a million years ago.
  • Our next stop was to see #ThatWanakaTree, and walk around this popular resort town. The Wanaka Tree is now one of the most famous trees in the world and a tourist destination ever since a photographer captured an image of the tree back in 2014 and went on to win photograph of the year.  
  • Another thing we checked out while driving through Wanaka was the Food Truck Park.  This was a cute, well-maintained park with different food truck options that were open in the afternoon and evening.  We grabbed some tacos, (although mine was WAY too spicy for my mid-west palette) and sat at one of the picnic tables enjoying our lunch outside in the spring air.  
  • After lunch, we made our way over to our accommodations as the Cross Hill domes in Lake Hawea, https://crosshill.co.nz/.  This place was one of our splurges while on our trip and completely worth it. The property has 6 domes available and each is equipped with its own luxury bathroom, a gas fireplace with a heating and cooling system, floor to ceiling windows and your own private deck and for star gazing.  This place was amazing and I’m so glad we decided to stay here for 2 nights. Each morning, we were provided breakfast that we enjoyed alongside the other guests and this was a great way to get to know others and trade stories and travel suggestions.  If you are looking for a place outside of a traditional hotel, I would highly recommend a stay at the Cross Hill lodge and domes.  Our first night, we had an extremely clear sky which provided amazing views of the stars, something we don’t often get to see back home.   
Day 11: Lake Hawea – Wanaka
  • We had purposely left our 2 days in this area fairly open to adjust plans for any weather issues we might encounter. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the weather that altered our plans, but closures on a few trails we wanted to do in Mount Aspiring National Park.  If I’m ever able to make it back to New Zealand, I absolutely want to spend time in this area exploring the blue pools and glacier tracks.  
  • We had breakfast at the lodge, and then decided to head out and hike the Historic Bridle Track.  This was a 2.5-hour out and back trail that followed sections of the old Bridle track and has some steep elevation, narrow sections and a swing bridge to cross over, but if you’re looking for a quiet trail, I would recommend this one as we only ran into 2 other people on the entire hike.  
  • Later that evening we decided to take a recommendation from one of the guests at the lodge and check out the Cinema Paradiso theater in Wanaka https://www.paradiso.nz/.  Seeing a movie while on vacation isn’t normally something we’d do, but based on their suggestion, we had to check out Cinema Paradiso in Wanaka, and trust me, it wasn’t the actual movie that peaked our interest.  
  • The Cinema Paradiso isn’t your typical theater with reserved seating, ultra-sized screens and state-of-the-art sound.  The theater is in an old church and has kept a lot of the original features from arches, pews and stained-glass windows.  This small theater has just 3 screens with a variety of unconventional style seating, like lazy boys and couches that people arrive early to claim.  They also offer another thing you won’t find at the big theaters, an intermission and a warm cookie.  
  • After arriving at the theater, we placed our cookie order, received our tickets to claim during intermission, and made our way into the theater to find the best couch in the room.  As we waited for others to arrive, you could spot the tourists who’s faces couldn’t help but smile as they walked in and saw the unique set up.  
  • When the movie abruptly paused, someone walked into the theater with a sign letting us know it was intermission, and we made our way to the concession counter to collect our freshly baked warm cookies.  This was either one of the best cookies I’ve ever had, or I was just that hungry for a treat, but either way, it was delicious.  The idea of the intermission is a brilliant idea as it gives you that planned moment to stand up, stretch your legs, head to the restroom or refresh your snacks without missing any of the movie.  This was such a fun and unique experience, and nothing like we have back at home.  The movie we saw, Gladiator 2, wasn’t anything to write home about, but the overall experience at the theater is worth checking out if you are visiting Wanaka for an evening or rainy day.  
Day 12: Wanaka – Cardrona
  • Our time at the dome had come to an end and we were sad to be leaving this beautiful area.  We grabbed breakfast, went back to the lodge to pack up and were on our way to visit the Lavender Farm, https://www.wanakalavenderfarm.com/, a place for kids, families and influencers of all ages to enjoy.  We were here in late November, so the fields themselves were just days away from starting to bloom, but we were still able to enjoy the acres of lavender fields, animals and sample the teas, ice cream and products made with honey and lavender.  I could definitely see this place, when in full bloom, being an influencer and Instagram hot spot with all of the different picturesque sites across the property.
  • We left the farm and drove down to the Cardrona Distillery https://www.cardronadistillery.com/ where we took a tour, walking through each of the different stages and ending up in the tasting room to sample several of the spirits they make.  This was a beautiful facility with amazing views of the Cardrona Valley. We’ve taken several tours while visiting different distilleries over the course of our travels and manage to learn something new at each one.  
  • After visiting the distillery, we decided to stay the night at the famous and one of New Zealand’s most iconic hotels, the Cardrona Hotel https://www.cardronahotel.co.nz/. It has been around since 1863 and has the rustic charm to show in the rooms and across the property.  We booked a standard king room that felt quaint with a mix of modern features and rustic old school charm, including a “vintage tv”.  This place is worth a stop, even if you aren’t staying overnight, to walkthrough the old schoolhouse shop and property grounds, or take time to grab a drink and try the amazing food.  
Day 13: Cardrona – The Catlins – Invercargill
  • This was our most ambitious day of this entire trip, driving from Cardrona, through the Catlins on the south east coast and ending in Invercargill for the evening. After just over 3 hours in the car, we reached our first stop of the day Nugget Point Lighthouse in the city of Clutha. The walk out to the lighthouse is an easy 20 min walk from the car park. Once you reach the viewing platform, you can see the large, nugget-shaped rocks the lighthouse is named after.  
  • After leaving the lighthouse, we made our way to our next stop, Pūrākaunui Falls.  Because it was Spring and a bit rainy, there were very few tourists at each stop so we had plenty of time to take in the views and explore. Pūrākaunui Falls is short walk from the car park, and when you reach the falls, you will see why it’s one of the most photographed in all of New Zealand.  
  • The main reason I wanted to take this trip down to the Catlins was to visit the  breath-taking Cathedral Caves, however they can only be accessed when the weather and tide conditions allow. Unfortunately, on the day we were visiting, the tides and wind were just too strong to allow visitors access.  It is highly recommended that you check the website https://www.cathedralcaves.co.nz/ as you plan your visit since they post opening and closing times which can change quickly, and are often closed at certain times of the year.  
  • Since we weren’t able to visit the caves, we decided to head over to Mclean Falls which was a beauty. We walked about 30-mins into the forest and encountered some native goats while on the trail, until we reached the cascading falls that stand over 70 feet tall. There are different levels of the falls and if it’s not to wet and you have sturdy footing, you can walk up close for an amazing view. 
  • The next stop for us was Curio Bay to attempt to see yellow-eyed penguins and dolphins, and to walk the track that overlooks the Petrified Forest from the Jurassic period. Unfortunately, though because we were visiting just ahead of the tourist season, most of this site wasn’t completely open yet to the public.
  • The final stop on this trip through the Catlins was Slope Point. A short 10-min walk through a field lead us to the cliff’s edge and the southernmost point of the South Island.  The sun started to peak out for us as we made our way to the edge to soak up the amazing views along the coastline.   
  • After a long day trip to the south coast and visiting several of these stunning sites, we made our way to Invercargill where we checked into the The Langlands Hotel https://thelanglands.co.nz/ and quickly sprinted over to Burger Fuel for some dinner before crashing out. It was exhausting, but I’m glad we spent some time checking out a part of the country that often gets overlooked, even if it was just for a day.
Day 14: Invercargill – Te Anau
  • Today was mainly another travel day, driving from Invercargill to Te Anau, so we took our time getting to our final destination. We made a quick stop at the Clifden Suspension Bridge, which is the longest suspension bridge in New Zealand, but is now only accessible to pedestrians.  
  • When we arrived in Te Anau the rain had begun to let up and the sun was starting to peak out which gave us great views of the lake. We booked 2 nights at the Fiordland Lakeview motel and apartments https://fiordlandlakeview.co.nz/. Our apartment was very large and had a 2nd story balcony that allowed us to take in the views of the lake and the floatplanes taking off and landing. Te Anau is known as the gateway to the Fiordland National Park, so this makes it a very popular location for people to stay at if they plan to visit Milford or Doubtful Sound.  We walked around the shops and stopped at a restaurant for some dinner before returning to our apartment and relaxing on the balcony.
Day 15: Milford Sound
  • Day 15 was American Thanksgiving for us back in the States and the day we were heading to Milford Sound for a boat cruise.  This was the number one thing I wanted to do on the trip and we opted to self-drive to Milford Sound rather than take the coach bus tours. We enjoy having the freedom to stop wherever, and for however long we choose along the way.   We had an early morning start and got some great advice from our hotel receptionist on places to stop on the way to Milford Sound vs what she recommended to save for the way back. The drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound is a little over 2 hours, however it will most certainly take you longer due to traffic and stops you make along the way, so it’s important to build in extra time when making this trip if you’re driving yourself.   The other big thing to note is that there are no shops or gas stations between Te Anau and Milford Sound so you will want to make sure your tank is full before heading out.  
  • Our first stop on the way was at Mirror Lake.  The skies weren’t completely clear that morning when we arrived, but we pulled over to the small parking area, walked the short distance down the boardwalk, and got a view of the mountain range from the mirror-lake reflection on the lake.  A beautiful stop that takes about 10-20 minutes to walk down to the viewing platform.   
Mirror Lake
  • After leaving Mirror Lake, we made the decision to drive straight through to Milford Sound and save the pit stops for the ride back as we were told parking can be a bit of a challenge and there are very few free spots available. We also knew that we would be driving through the Homer Tunnel which can have delays of upwards to 20 minutes or more.  As we approached the start of the tunnel, we turned our car off and waited before we could pass through.  If you have time, take a look at the valley below for amazing views, and keep your eyes open for Kea, a native bird on the South Island of New Zealand.  As we exited out of the tunnel, we began to make our way down into the valley on the winding road and we could see the clouds and visibility start to change and clear immediately.  
  • Once we arrived, we checked into our cruise that we booked with Milford Sound Boat Cruise Company https://www.cruisemilfordnz.com/.  We chose this tour company because they offered a scenic small boat cruise and limited the number of passengers to below capacity. This gave us more room to roam around the boat and also allowed us to get up closer to some of the waterfalls which isn’t always doable on some of the larger vessels.  You honestly though can’t make a bad choice when choosing your tour company because they nearly all take the same route.  
  • Milford Sound is the wettest place in New Zealand, averaging 182 rainy days a year.  This is why it is often said that the best way to experience Milford Sound is on a rainy day when hundreds of waterfalls can be seen.  We unfortunately, (or fortunately), missed the rain by a day and had to settle for a gorgeous sunny day in Milford Sound. Despite the sun and calm weather, we still managed to see many different waterfalls, the peaks of the mountains in the clear sky, crested penguins, fur seals and breath-taking views in every direction.  This place absolutely lived up to everything I had hoped it would be and felt magical.
  • Once we returned, we walked the Milford Sound Forrest Walk and found the wooden swing with beautiful views of the mountains. The views from this area were amazing and you realize just how small you feel in a place this large.
  • We then began to make our way back to Te Anau and decided to check out some of the sites we passed on our way down.  We made a quick stop at Eglinton Valley before driving over to The Chasm which was as short walk with views of a waterfall over large boulders.  Once we made it back, we spent our American Thanksgiving Day enjoying some cold beer and pizza; maybe a new tradition we’ll start for future holidays.  
Day 16: Te Anau – Glenorchy – Queenstown
  • Today, we left Te Anau and made the 3-hour drive to Glenorchy. Glenorchy is a beautiful little town that was made famous because of it’s amazing hikes and popular filming locations.  We stopped at the iconic red barn shed for some photos and went to the waterfront and lagoon walkway for some views.  Before heading out, we also stopped at the popular Mrs. Woolly’s General Store –for some souvenirs and treats.  
  • I would have loved to have been able to spend more time here doing some of the longer hikes, but we needed to make our way over to Queenstown. Queenstown is known as the “Adventure Capital of the World,” however neither of us are huge adrenaline junkies so bungee jumping or parasailing was not in the cards for us, but we decided that the luge might be more our speed.  We rode the gondola up to the top of Bob’s Peak where you get amazing views of the city and Lake Wakatipu.  https://queenstown.skyline.co.nz/
  • Once we got to the top, we were fitted with our helmets, and hopped onto the chairlift to take us to the starting line. I admit, I was slightly nervous to get into the luge cart and cruise down the course, I think this is why Jason wanted me to go in front of him. We sat down in our carts, got a quick overview on how to drive it, and then were off.  Once I eased off of the brake and started to pick up speed, the adrenaline and kid in me started to take over and my competitive side came out.  I started passing kids on the left and right, zigzagging around them and was treating this like a race I was going to win.  We had so much fun doing this and wish we would have had more time for a few more runs. 
  • For our final night we knew we wanted to do something to relax and reflect on this amazing trip so we prebooked a hot tub with a retractable roof for sunset at the Onsen hot pools https://www.onsen.co.nz/. These hot tubs have amazing views of the mountains across the Shotover River.  The facility was immaculate, and service was excellent during our visit that I would highly recommend booking this.  This was a great way to end the final evening our of trip.   After leaving the Onsen Hot Pool, we checked into our accommodations at the Kamana Lakehouse hotel  https://kamana.co.nz/ for our final night in New Zealand.  
Day 17: New Zealand – Minnesota
  • Reality was starting to set in as our vacation was coming to an end and this was the day we would be making our way back home. We had a few hours before we needed to head to the airport, so we decided to take a drive down to the lake and watch the boats and parasailers before heading to the airport and the long journey home.  
  • This was one of the most amazing trips we’ve ever had the pleasure of taking and I can’t recommend New Zealand enough. I’m hopeful that we will be able to get back there some day to see so many of the other fantastic places this beautiful country has to offer.  I hope this breakdown of our trip was helpful if you ever plan on visiting.
Accomodations:
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