South Island (Queenstown) Agenda?

Question

My wife and I fly into QT, will have a car and 4 nights before we need to arrive in Christchurch (via car). We're looking at staying 2 or 3 nights in an apartment in QT. The challenge is, we think we want to see Milford Sound and need to then drive to Christchurch to catch another flight. I'm wondering if anyone has feedback on what I'm thinking:

Option A:

Days 1+2 : in QT (Shotover canyon, river, balloon maybe, those type of activities). Stay in QT.

Day 3. Drive to Milford Sound, spend time there, then drive a little beyond there towards CC (any wineries?) and stay a night somewhere on the way.

Day 4. Continue driving the next day towards CC and stay 1 more night on the way.

Day 5: Drive and arrive CC.

Option B:

Days 1-3: 3 nights in QT, skip Milford Sound and do something else in the area instead (Te Anu?).

Day 4: Drive towards CC, hit a winery or other activity and stay a night somewhere on the way.

Day 5: Drive and arrive CC.

Any and all feedback is appreciated

Answer 1

Don't sell the QT area short, there's lots of fine hiking to be done around the city.  Also, what about one of those day trips via plane to Milford sound.  I did that last February and it was quite nice.  It's a bit of a drive to get to Milford Sound from QT and there aren't a huge number of places to stay along the way.

As for Te Anau, unless you're planning on doing some of the trails (definitely worth it), there's not much in town.  Oh, beware of the sand flys!

Whatever you end up doing, enjoy your trip.

Answer 2

You sound as though you are not completely familiar with the area.

Do NOT drive to Milford Sound. It's half a day from Queenstown by an experienced driver and half a day back again.

Take the bus, or as someone's suggested, fly in and out.

Actually Doubtful Sound has all the majesty that Milford has, plus more, and the bonus is that there are only about 200 tourists per day and not the 5000 that Milford gets. The same company that buses and flys to Milford (Real Journeys) will also take you to Doubtful, and the time frame from QT is the same. They can also book you for jet boating, ballooning (weather permitting), rafting, Skippers, and Macetown and a host of other things. Mind you, your hotel receptionist will do this for you too.

Spend a day  doing the adrenalin things in QT, next day visiting a Sound, next day doing the wineries of Gibbston, Cromwell and Alexandra, and then on the 4th head to CH up through the Mackenzie Country travelling by Omarama, Ruataniha, Twizel, Tekapo and Geraldine. Take in all the sights on the way.

To fill in another day if you need to, go visit Mt Cook on the way up through the Mackenzie and spend a night there.

Welcome to NZ, and have a good time while you are here.

Driver T