NZ for one week

Hi everyone Im travelling SE Asia from June, but catching a flight onto NZ for a week in August before heading home. I was meant to spend 2 weeks but my budget can't afford it. I'm flying into Aukland and really want to visit Mount Cook. Is one week enough time to get there and back, and have time to actually enjoy it? Any suggestions how to go about it would be helpful. Thanks Reply to this

Unless you're into serious mountaineering (and August probably isn't the right time of year), Mount Cook probably isn't the best choice. It's a beautiful mountain from the right places (if it's clear of fog!), but it doesn't take long to gawk at it. Queenstown, Wanaka (I prefer to Q'town, although with less thrillseeker activities) are better bases. August is probably the month with maximum snow-cover, so be prepared in mountain areas (cold, roads can sometimes be closed, etc.).

Also remember that to get down south, you'll need domestic flights, unless you want to spend your whole week on buses and trains. If your budget runs to a rental car (cheaper in NZ than many places), then fly to Christchurch, drive Chch-Lake Pukaki (Mt. Cook views)-Wanaka-Queenstown, or longer (and snow permitting) Chch-Arthurs Pass-Glaciers-Haast Pass-Wanaka-Queenstown. Then fly out of Queenstown.
Reply to this

Hey guys thanks for the comments

I think I've decided that I'm gonna just stay in the north island this time round, and will visit south island in the future.
I was thinking of renting a car but im just 19 and most places are over 21. But I think some places do let under 21s rent as well.
Where do people suggest in the north Islands?
Do people know any good rental companies that allow under 21s? I've found some but they say its at the managers discretion, which probably means if I pay loads more money.

Cheers
Thomas Reply to this

Noone has mentioned Pahia and the bay of Isles ,up to Kaitia and Cape Reinga, most Northern part of NZ, then back to Aukland via the Rawani ferry and Oppononi.Northland is a beautiful ,less talked about, part of NZ.You may even still have time to get over to the Corromandalls.Sorry about my spelling but all these town names are from memory Reply to this

My son and I spent 16 days touring NZ in December. Arrived in Auckland and drove to Matamata to see Hobbiton from The Lord of the Rings movies. What a hoot! Check closely because they may be filming the Hobbit or getting the set ready so it may be closed. We then drove to Rotorua. Worth a couple of days, particularly if you are interested in the Maori culture and have never seen a geyser. Highlight there: ZORBING! I don't know if they do it in the winter but if they do you should do it. You are like a giant hamster in a ball rolling downhill. A New Zealand invention not to be missed. Then drove to Tongariro Nat'l Park. THis will be ski season so you may have to book lodging early. I recommend the Discovery Lodge. The best part of our entire trip was the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a famous one day (19 km) hike between active volcanoes. One of which you will recognize as Mt. Doom from the movies. The winter crossing is much more difficult so get online to see how to prepare. Oh, so worth it. Then down to Wellington for a couple of nights. We did the Rover Ring Tour half day Lord of the Rings tour (are you sensing a theme here?). Well worth it. Felt like it gave us a really good overview of Wellington also. The one thing we missed because of time constraints was the Te Papa Museum which from all accounts is amazing. You must go back and do the South Island some time, spectacular! Queenstown is one of my favorite cities in the world. Reply to this