Our New Zeland Adventure-Sharing Itinerary

You need a lot of time in New Zealand since it basically takes 3 days to get there (with time change).  Plus its a huge country so to get from point A to point B requires a lot of driving or 2-3 hour flights.  Our itinerary is at the bottom of this post & I included Melbourne Australian Open visit too.  Special thanks to buddy Torie for all her NZ tips.

Doubtful Sound Cruise

Rippon Vineyards

This says it all. 
Public Kitchen right on water after we disembarked TSS Earnslaw from Walter's Peak Sheep Farm visit.  Not shown:  Maharongi oysters which were creamy (not briny) + delicious

Walter's Peak Sheep Farm demo

Great Ocean Road 12 Apostles trip in Melbourne

One of my favs:  Gael Monfils, Australian Open

boating in Doubtful Sound.  We didn't want to kayak

whereas Norman & Betty wanted to kayak and we took pix of each other

overnight on Fjordland Navigator

We wanted this background that's why we aren't centered

Peace

Meat pies! Can't get enough

Hike at Abel Tasman.  Te Pukatea means tree

Discovered my new favorite vineyard Te Whare Ra (pronounced Tay Faira Ra).
Goal was to discover organic wines

Also a bestie fav:  Lawson's Dry Hills.  PINK is the best best best Rose.  

Excellent lunch and self serve tastings.  We were like kids in candy stores

Couldn't get enough of greenshell mussels

Visited No1 bubbly vineyard at 10am before our 1pm flight to Auckland!

So did these bikers, part of their bike package included delivery of any wine they bought.  Look how happy this lady is

walking tour of Auckland included these huge trees.  The largest one in NZ is called Tane Mahuta

Day trip:  ferry to Waikehe island & visited Mudbrick - stunning Auckland views

Best view down below in our makeshift table away from loud Americans

Fish and chips at the beach on Waiheke -->  Onetangi

Place	# Days	Hotel and Restaurants	Comments & Activities
Melbourne	7	Royce Hotel	Near Shrine of Remembrance
Australian Open tennis		379 St Kilda Rd Melbourne	25 minute walk to Rod Laver through park
		+61 3 8614 1414
			Free Walking Tour, Culture Capital Tour
		Secret Kitchen-baby abalone
		Miznon-fun Israeli
	12 Apostles	3.5-4 hour drive from Melbourne	Be careful if you get car sick
Queenstown NZ	3 days 2 nights	Peppers Beacon 34 Lake Esplanade, 9197 Queenstown, New Zealand Phone: +64 3 441 0890 We had a fantastic 2 bedroom apt, lakefront view	Cooked in kitchen and ate on balcony, request higher floor Could have used one more night here
			Rented a car
	KJ Boatride nice but not as thrilling as promised.  Walter’s Peak sheep farm – loved this Made res for Rippon Vineyards tasting, wine ok-property stunning! Investigate Mt Difficulty-Cromwell Warning:  drive from Queenstown to Wanaka is very winding.  Stopped in Arrowtown
Te Anu	1 night	Lakefront Lodge Address: 58 Lakefront Drive, 9600 Te Anau, New Zealand Phone: +64 3 249 7728	Te Anau Glowworm Caves 3:15-5:30
		Get burgers at Fergburger and breakfast pastries and meat pies at Fergbaker The Fat Duck (make res or get lucky & walk in) Olive Tree Café Avoid The Ranch Bar Grill
2.5 hour drive from Queenstown	1 night	Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise	Highly reco if you like wilderness Takes a long time to get there (drive, ferry, bus, more boat…)
Drive back to Queenstown & leave Fly to Nelson	5 days 4 nights	Chelsea Park Motor Lodge, no car needed yet 214 Rutherford Street, 7010 Nelson	Very good little motel
	We used Nelson as a base for two tours so we didn’t have to rent a car here/went to places w tourguide
	Booked 2 tours through this company https://wineartandwilderness.co.nz/tour/abel-tasman-water-walk-tour/ --		1.      e-bike tour “Great Taste Trail” 1.5 hours 2.      Abel Tasman walk & wine
		Vineyards visited: Flaxmore (pinot noir) Heaphy’s (great lunch, pinot noir rose) Seifried	Restaurants Lambretto’s Café Hawker House
Picton (Queen Charlotte Sound)	2 nights Rented car and drove from Nelson to Picton (1.45 hours)	Picton Waterfronts Apartments 6 London Quay, Picton	2 bedroom apt-AMAZING w loft bedroom/huge balcony overlooking Queen Charlotte Sound
	Greenshell Mussel Boat Tour - Seafood Odyssea Cruise Half day guided sea kayaking tour (4 hours) – wilderness guides NZ.con Could have stayed another day just to hike, bike, relax, do nothing
Blenheim	2 nights Blenheim is Marlborough Blenheim airport = Marlborough airport	Blenheim Palms Motel 78 Charles Street, Blenheim, Marlborough, 7201
	TE WHARE RA WINES (organic) favorite for SB & Gewurztraminer 56 Anglesea Street, Renwick, Marlborough   Wairu River fantastic lunch Number 11 Restaurant at Wairu River Lunch & tasting 11 Rapaura Road, Blenheim 7273, https://www.wairauriverwines.com Phone: 6435729800 Allan Scott Bistro excellent lunch & fun self-service tastings 229 Jacksons Road, Rapaura 7273, New Zealand Clos Henri  https://closhenri.com/?srsltid=AfmBOor1HDkr3JLTFkKSKHg0bSB4aOTzG03k65LDSNr3DWQEYKp30ahg Fromm Winery Lawson’s Dry Hills – PINK rose a must have No1 Family Estate (bubbly) can’t wait for my case to arrive
Fri Jan 31
Auckland	2 nights	Barclay Suites +64 9 916 1888	70-74 Albert St 1010 Auckland
	Buy lots of Mahuca honey and lanolin face cream	Bring bug spray and beware pesky sand flies