Looking at staying 3 weeks in NZ after a cruise that ends that ends in Auckland. Planning to fly from Auckland to Queenstown and spend 2 weeks in South NZ and 1 week approximately in the North. My initial dilemma is I want to visit areas both east and west of Queenstown and I’m trying to figure out how to best travel to all these places while using our precious days judiciously, I.e., not going over the same route twice, etc…. Other than Queenstown, I’m looking to go to Milford Sound on an overnight cruise and thought we’d overnight in Te Anau. I’d also like to overnight in Wanaka, Mount Cook or nearby and I’d like to go to Oamuru if possible to see the penguins( or Dunedin if that works better). These are the areas where I worry I’ll be wasting time by picking the wrong route or the wrong order.
After this I move north on the South Island and would like to visit Pancake Rocks, Kaikoura and finally Picton before we ferry to Northern NZ. Can anyone help direct me? The trip could be slightly over 2 weeks on the South Island and slightly less than a week on the North if that helps. It will be just my husband and I. We are in our 60s but fairly healthy and active and looking to see and explore the natural beauty and adventure NZ offers.
Thank you in advance.