17 Days New Zealand South Island Trip Itinerary

Hello,

I would like to propose my itinerary for comments and improvements :). Thanks !

For beginning Feb. We are 2 parents and 1 5yo kid. We like nature (Explore and see landscape), hiking, relaxing. We will take rent a car.

Day 1 - CHC :

  • Arrive to CHC at 5:20pm
  • Pick up the car at airport
  • Head up to hotel

Day 2 - CHC -> Kaikoura :

  • Morning : head to Kaikoura 
  • Whales and seal viewing
  • Head to Oahu Point for Seals or Point Kean

Day 3 - Le 28 - Kaikoura -> Nelson/Abel Tasman :

  • Head to Nelson starting (Stop Blenheim)
  • Relax
    • Tahunanui Beach
    • Centre of New Zealand Walk

Day 4 - Nelson/Abel Tasman:

  • Head to Motueka, drop language 
  • Go to Abel Tasman Park
    • Marahau to to Apple Tree Bay or to Anchorage or  Abel Tasman to Coquille Beach
    • Water Taxi
    • Kayak
    • Kaiteriteri Beach (Kayaking)
    • Tonga Island Marine Reserve 
    • Te Waikoropupū Springs 

Day 5 - Nelson/Abel Tasman -> Westport :

  • Head to Golden Bay beach and spend time (really not sure)
  • Head to Westport
  • Rest

Day 6 - Westport -> Franz Joseph :

  • Head to Franz Joseph (See Hokitika Gorge in between ?)
    • Stop : Punakaiki or Hokitika or treetop walk
    • Fox glacier
  • Hikes potential :
    • In the morning Lake Matheson 
    • Franz Josef glacier walk
    • Okarito
    • Lake Mapourika
    • Betsy Jane 

Day 7 - Franz Joseph -> Wānaka  :

  • Helicopter/Glacier 
  • Head to Wānaka
    • Lake Matheso in between
  • Lake Wānaka
    • Wanaka lake front
  • Wānaka Tree for sunset
  • Crown range  summit
  • Rocky Mountain Summit

Day 8 - Wānaka :

  • Hike Diamond Lake Track instead ?
  • kayak
  • Rest on the lake

Day 9 - Wānaka to Te Anu via Queenstown:

  • Head Te Anu 
    • via Crown Range Road  and enjoy the scenery 
    • Lake Wakatipu

Day 10 - Le 04 Te Anu (Milford sound day trip):

  • Head to Milford for Cruse
    • Take food and fuel and replient
    • Minor Lake
    • Homer Tunel
    • The Chasm
    • Monkey creek
    • Marian lake

Day 11 - Te Anau -> Mt Cook  :

  • Lake Te Anau Walk
  • Te Anau Bird Sanctuary
  • te anau downs
  • Head to Mt Cook 
    • Lake Pukaki 
    • Lindis Pass
    • Kea Point

Day 12 - Mt Cook :

  • Hooker Valley Track
  • Tasman Glacier 
  • Kia Point Track
  • Stargazing
  • Lake Ohau 

Day 13 Mt Cook -> Te Kapo  :

  • Stargazing
  • Head to Te Kapo

Day 14 -  Te Kapo :

  • Tekapo Lake
  • Stargazing
  • Relax

Day 15 - Tekapo -> CHC :

  • Head to CHC
  • Pass by Lewis pass ? Geraldine and Rakaia Gorge easier

Day 16 - Le 10 CHC :

  • Trip to to Akaroa
  • Relx

Day 17 -  CHC :

  • Relax
  • Head up to airport