Travelog: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Cook Islands
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New Zealand Trip Calendar

It was quite difficult for us to plan the schedule without a decent knowledge of the travel times between points of interest. We found a few online calculators, but found them to be a little conservative. With all of our stops and breaks, we found it occasionally took several hours more than the estimated times. That said, nearly all of the days described here were very do-able, and you can feel relaxed following this schedule.


  Day 1   Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6
WK 1 Tuesday
5-March 		Wednesday,
6-March		 Thursday,
7-March		 Friday,
8-March		 Saturday,
9-March		 Sunday,
10-March		 Monday,
11-March
Depart LAX 8:00 p.m. Crossed International Date Line, lost a day Arrive AUK 5:45 a.m. Depart AUK 7:50 a.m. Arrive CHC 9:10 a.m. Southern Scenic Highway, including stops at Lake Tekapo & Pukaki. Hike: Hooker Valley at Mt Cook. Southern scenic highway to Oamaru, Dunedin and Otago Peninsula Penguin viewing, hiking to lovers leap & the chasm (Otago Peninsula). Afternoon in Dunedin
Night: on Airplane   Night: Christchurch Night: Glentanner Holiday Park, Mt. Cook Night: Glentanner Holiday Park, Mt. Cook Night: Portobello Holiday Park, Otago Peninsula Night: Waihola Holiday Park, south of Dunedin
               
  Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12 Day 13

WK 2

 Tuesday,
12-March		 Wednesday,
13-March		 Thursday,
14-March		 Friday,
15-March		 Saturday,
16-March		 Sunday,
17-March		 Monday,
18-March
Checked in with DOC for Milford Track, packed food, enjoyed sunset over Lake Te Anau Milford Track Day 1 Milford Track Day 2 Milford Track Day 3 Overnight cruise on Milford Sound Returned from Milford via Bus. Relaxing day to recover. Lunch in Queenstown, drove Crown Ridge Road
Night: Te Anau Holiday Park Night: Clinton Hut, Milford Track Night: Pompolona Hut, Milford Track Night: Dumpling Hut, Milford Track Night: Milford Wanderer, anchored in Milford Sound Night: Te Anau Holiday Park Night: Mt Aspiring Holiday Park, Wanaka
               
  Day 14 Day 15 Day 16 Day 17 Day 18 Day 19 Day 20
WK 3 Tuesday,
19-March		 Wednesday,
20-March		 Thursday,
21-March		 Friday,
22-March		 Saturday,
23-March		 Sunday,
24-March		 Monday,
25-March
Drive to Mt Aspiring Holiday Park, walk along Lake Wanaka Haast Pass, Blue Pools, Haast Visitor Center, Salmon Farm Hike to Fox Glacier, get very wet Early morning at Lake Matheson, Hike to Franz Joseph Glacier Shop in Hokitika, drive to Hanmer Springs Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve, Drove to Kaikoura, Whale Watch in the afternoon. Swim with Dusky Dolphins, Marlborough Wine Region, visit Montana/Brancott Winery
Night: Mt Aspiring Holiday Park, Wanaka Night: Fox Glacier Holiday Park Night: Fox Glacier Holiday Park Night: Hokitika Holiday Park Night: Hanmer Springs Holiday Park Night: 69 Beach Road Holiday Park, Kaikoura Night: Blue Anchor Holiday Park, Picton
               
  Day 21 Day 22 Day 23 Day 24 Day 25 Day 26 Day 27
WK 4 Tuesday,
26-March		 Wednesday,
27-March		 Thursday,
28-March		 Friday,
29-March		 Saturday,
30-March		 Sunday,
31-March		 Monday,
1-April
Hike Queen Charlotte Track, Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge Day 1 Kayaking Abel Tasman, Marahau Beach to Mosquito Bay Day 2 Kayaking Abel Tasman, Day paddling, seal colony, Bark Bay Day 3 Kayaking Abel Tasman, Mosquito Bay to Marahau Farewell spit, Wharariki Beach, PuPu Springs, Seifried Winery Cape Foulwind, Pancake Rocks Pancake Rocks, Arthur's Pass
Night: Top10 Holiday Park, Motueka Night: Mosquito Bay Campsite Night: Mosquito Bay Campsite Night: Pakawau Holiday Park, Golden Bay area Night: Richmond Holiday Park Night: Punakaiki Holiday Park Night: Spencer Beach Park Holiday Park, Christchurch
               
  Day 28 Day 29 Day 30 Day 31 Day 32 Day 33  
WK 5 Tuesday,
2-April		 Wednesday,
3-April		 Thursday,
4-April		 Friday,
5-April		 Saturday,
6-April		 Sunday,
7-April
NZ: Shop in Christchurch, RAR: Arrive RAR 10:35 p.m. Stay on Rarotonga NZ: Depart CHC 9:30 a.m. Cross back over International Date Line, Gain a day. RAR: Arrive in Rarotonga the night before. Enjoy beach, fruit smoothies, and get settled. Snorkeling near Muri Beach Rent Scooters, drive around island. Depart RAR 12:30 AM, Arrive LAX 1:15 PM. Depart LAX, 1:45 AM, Arrive DTW 10:00 AM
Night: YMCA Christchurch, Taakoka Villas, Rarotonga Night: Taakoka Villas, Rarotonga Night: Taakoka Villas, Rarotonga Night: Taakoka Villas, Rarotonga, then airplane Night: Airplane Night: HOME!