We're just starting some planning for our honeymoon to the south island of New Zealand. We're hoping to plan for 2-1/2 weeks in the beginning of December. The amount of information out there is huge and overwhelming, particularly the guide books. Can anyone point us in a direction of more focused planning or provide a suggested itinerary? We're both interested in hiking and canoeing/ sailing/ kayaking, but like a little urbanity and wine-tasting as well. We're also concerned about costs, as some of the hotels and resorts we've looked into online are very pricey. Thanks to all.

Hi Molly,

Assuming you're flying into Christchurch and renting a car, if you're interested in whale watching you can drive north to Kaikoura (best to book in advance for a whale watching tour which you can do online) then backtrack south missing Christchurch and heading for Ashburton. Some wineries around this part. Head for Mount Cook and stay at the Hermitage at Mt Cook. Ignore what the Rough guide has to say about this place, it's not true, it's an amazing place to stay. Some nice hiking around the trails from there. Next, drive to Queenstown. Loads to do, plenty of accommodation choice, food and a good base to explore. I stayed at the Ridges hotel, got a good deal online. Lovely place. Take a day trip to Arrow town. After Queenstown it's on to Milford sound. Don't do it all in a day, spend the night a Ti Anau. The drive down to Milford sound is stunning. Go on a boat trip, you're spoilt for choice.
Now we're going north to Franz Joseph. Take a heli hike on to the glacier. Fantastic!
Now things quieten down on your home stretch. Up the coast to Greymouth (not very exciting but lots of accommodation)then across country back to Christchurch via Arthurs pass.

I haven't suggested how much time to spend in each place because that depends on what you want to do personally and at what speed. I can tell you what I did though. Christchurch 2 nights, Ashburton 1 night, Mount Cook 1 night, Queenstown 4 nights, Franz Joseph 1 night, Greymouth 1 night, Christchurch 1 night. If I did it again I'd have stayed at Ti Anau on the way to Milford sound instead of doing what we did and doing it as a day trip from Queenstown. it's too far for a day. I would have stayed at Kaikoura overnight rather than drive back down to ashburton in a day. I would have liked to have gone to Dunedin but we didn't have as much time as you, although I have heard mixed views of the place. I could've happily stayed at Queenstown for a week.

Hope this helps, and have a fantastic time :)

i've just travelled NZ for 4 1/2 months and it was AMAZING!!!! you will love it! :)

NZ has so many activities to offer (skydiving, rafting, bungee-jumping, heli-hiking to name but a few) that i would rather try to save money in accomodation. since NZ has excellent hostels, you will still get high quality! only about 30 dollars for a double-room!! if you don't like cooking (since it's your honeymoon) you can still eat out! i always stayed at BBH-hostels (budget backpacker accomodation), that's a network of about 360 hostels, that uses a rating-system. if you choose a hostel with over 90% rating, you cannot go wrong. once in NZ you can get a BBH-guide for free in any BBH-Hostel. To have a look before, check www.bbh.co.nz .
my favorites (highly recommended for honeymooners!):
- Curio Bay Backpacker Accomodation >> for Beach-Lovers
Only 2 rooms in this hostel (one double, one dorm) located just 20 meters from the beach near the petrified forest in the catlins (bottom of south island west of invercargill). from your bed you overlook the beach and can even see the sunrise!! fon. +(03)2468797

- Kinloch Lodge >> for Hikers and Lovers of scenic views
Where should I start? You could easily spend your whole honeymoon here and never get bored! Located at Lake Wakatipu and overlooking a stunning mountain range this 1886 built Lakefront Wilderness Lodge is only 1 hour from Queenstown, but separated even from the neighbouring village (Glenorchy) by the Lake and the Dart River. One of the most beautiful places I have seen in NZ!!! The family running the hostel are the most lovely people you can imagine. Many of NZs famous hikes start around Kinloch (Greenstone Track, Caples Track, Routeburn, Restart), you can choose between easy day-walks and up to demanding 5-day-hikes. plus, PARADISE is just around the corner! that's a piece of land where some Lord Of The Rings scenes where shot. Ask any local if he was in the movie and you are likely to run into an Ork or an Elb :) and don't forget to try the hot tub at kinloch lodge: soak in hot water, open-air, overlooking the lake & the mountains!
fon: +(03)4424900, reservations@kinlochlodge.co.nz

Other hostels I really liked (because they are small, friendly and I felt very much at home and because they are in a beautiful location):
- Somerset House (Collingwood, Golden Bay, near Farewell Spit)
fon. +(03)5248624, cjledger@actrix.co.nz
- Le Bons Bay (Banks Peninsula, just next to Christchurch). Surrounded by nature, close to the beach and great home-made dinners!
fon. +(03)3048582
- Old Slaughterhouse (Hector, northern Part of the West Coast)
fon +(03)7828333

another place to stay, beautiful for honeymooners, but a lot more pricy (about 500 NZdollar per night) is
The Lazy Fish (http://www.lazyfish.co.nz/ )
Located in the Marlborough Sounds, you can only reach it by taxi boat (about 30 min. from Picton). 4 bungalows (max. 8 people) make for a homely atmosphere. Famous dinners with candlelight, overlooking the lake. There's a beautiful 2-4 hour-walk leading to a platform with a 360-degree-panoramic view over the sounds (http://www.soundswalk.com/) - a lot better than what you get to see if you do the famous Queen Charlotte Track!!

other highlights on the South Island:

- Overnight Cruise on Doubtful Sound (Fjordland, starting from Te Anau or Manapouri)
Doubtful Sound is much bigger and much more remote than Milford Sound. You have to cross Lake Manapuri (1h by boat), cross the mountains (45 min. by jeep) before you go on board and spend two half days and the night in absolutely stunning nature! I did both cruises and preferred Doubtful. I recommend: Go with Chris on board the Flyer!! the boat is small (max. 6 guest - no private cabin for honeymooners, though!) and Chris is the perfect skipper, fisherman (you get a try at fishing!), cook (plenty of fresh fish & crayfish!) and host! he knows everything about doubtful sound and will make this trip unforgettable for you!
Deep Cove Charters, fon. +(03)2496828, deepco@xtra.co.nz

- Banks Peninsula
Just stunningly beautiful!

- Mt. Cook
NZs highest mountain, amidst other peaks of the Southern Alpes, very scenic! Lots of beautiful walks and hikes.

- Golden Bay
Beautiful beaches, very relaxed and still quite remote. I liked Collingwood - a small village, once a bustling goldmining town, with a nice, laid-back spirit. Close to Farewell Spit or Whanganui Beach, but also to Abel Tasman National Park or the Tasman Mountains.

Urbanity/ Towns:
NZ isn't famous for its towns but for its nature.
I did like Dunedin, though (student town with nice bars&cafes - and I'm used to Berlin's bars :) and quite a few museums).
Queenstown isn't famous for being an interesting town but for offering almost every adrenalin kick you can imagine (i.e. world's first bungee jump!).
I also liked Nelson and Wanaka - but both are neither big cities nor very urban, just pleasant towns with a nice spirit.

wine-tasting:
best place on the south island is around blenheim (boring town, though) or the marlborough sounds (beautiful). there's also vinyards around Alexandra (btw. queenstown and dunedin).


Enough for now!
If you have any specific questions, just email me: js(a)julia-schoon.de

Have a great time in New Zealand!!

Wanaka is a stunning place. I am posting about it as so many people I met in my campervan skipped it and went only to Queenstown. If campervanning head up the matutukui and lake Hawea. Wanaka is my favourite place. The over to Haast and up the coast.