Enhanced Kiwi Itinerary

One thing about tour planning is the itinerary is always subject to changes. Just like the New Zealand tour my family and I are planning. Just when we got the proposed itinerary set up, now my dad has enhanced it according to timing, distance and budget. It is never easy to plan a tour as one has to take into account the number of people, the preferences, the budget, the attractions, as well as distance and activities.

Thus, even in a group package tour, the itinerary is sometimes subject to changes as well. If we stay too long at one place due to unforeseen events, we just have to cut away other places. If everything is on schedule and we have extra time, of course we can have things thrown in. Some people are just so narrow-minded! They get frustrated over changes. If one wants to go on a trip, then be flexible right? There will always be unforeseen things happening, so why be so rigid that one must follow the itinerary to the very last second? If one is not willing to be flexible then may as well not go anywhere!

Anyway, the enhanced itinerary for our New Zealand trip is as follows :

North Island

24 October : Auckland via Singapore Airlines

Accommodation : Auckland Youth Hostel

Apparently, "The Phantom of the Opera" will be showing in Auckland during the time I will be there! But a pity I will not be able to catch it, because it will be almost midnight when we reach Auckland and we have to leave early the following morning! What a pity! :-(

25 October : Auckland - Waitomo
Auckland Sky Tower, Iguacu (lunch), Parnell Village (Ewelme Cottage), Waitomo Woodlyn Park Hobbit Motel

Accommodation : Waitomo Caves Kiwi Paka Youth Hostel

26 October : Waitomo - Rotorua
Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, Rotorua Buried Village, Te Puia Maori Village / Whakarewarewa Thermal Geyser, Skyline Skyride, Fat Dog Cafe (dinner)

Accommodation : Rotorua Kiwi Paka Youth Hostel

27 October : Rotorua - Taupo
Agrodome Sheep Show / Bungy and Jetboat, Huka Prawn Farm (lunch), Geothermal Power Project, Volcanic Activity Centre, "Craters of the Moon", Huka Falls, Max Cafe (dinner)

Accommodation : Taupo Youth Hostel

28 October : Taupo - Palmerston North - Wellington
Barista (lunch), Rose Garden, Wellington City : historical government buildings, Parliament House ("Beehive"), New Zealand Film Archive, Te Papa Tongarewa Museum, Kai (Maori Hangi dinner)

Accommodation : Wellington Youth Hostel (two nights)

29 October : Wellington
Wellington half-day Lord of the Rings tour, Katherine Mansfield birthplace, The Weta Cave, Wellington Wind Turbine

South Island

30 October : Wellington - Picton - Hanmer Springs
Depart Wellington (Ferry to South Island), Picton (lunch), Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve

Accommodation : Hanmer Springs Youth Hostel

31 October : Hanmer Springs - Fairlie
Fairlie Farmstay

1 November : Fairlie - Moeraki - Dunedin
Moeraki Coastal Sanctuary (Ancient Boulders), Dunedin Wildlife Tour

Accommodation : Dunedin Youth Hostel

2 November : Dunedin - Gore - Te Anau
Dunedin City Tour : Baldwin Street (steepest street in the world), Otago Museum, Otago University, Railway Station ("Gingerbread House"), Cadbury World, Speight's Brewery (lunch), Gore (tea break), Te Anau

Accommodation : Te Anau Youth Hostel

3 November : Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown
Milford Sound, Redboats Cruise / Underwater Observatory, Queenstown

Accommodation : Queenstown Youth Hostel

4 November : Queenstown
Williams Cottage, Gibbston Valley Wines Tour (lunch), Queenstown Lord of the Rings Tour

5 November : Queenstown - Arrowtown - Franz Josef
Arrowtown (breakfast), Lake District Museum, Chinese Settlement, Wanaka Puzzling World, Lake Matheson (near Fox Glacier), Franz Josef Glacier

Accommodation : Franz Josef Glacier Youth Hostel

6 November : Franz Josef - Hokitika
Guided glacier valley walk, St James Anglican Church (good view of glacier), Hokitika Tancred Street Jade Shops, Glass Blowing Studio

7 November : Hokitika - Arthur's Pass - Christchurch
Arthur's Pass (breakfast), Christchurch International Antarctic Centre, Dux de Lux (pub)

Accommodation : Christchurch Youth Hostel (Rolleston House) (two nights)

8 November : Christchurch
Canterbury Museum, Botanic Gardens, Christchurch Cathedral, Mum's (lunch), Market / Arts Centre, Nga Hau E Wha

9 November : Home Sweet Home via Singapore Airlines