If we fly into Christchurch, should we do the bike tour first? ( I think it ends in Clyde with transportation to Queenstown) and then head south to Doubtful Sound?

Hello:

We are 4 women, traveling to South and North Islands next March 2021.

We are planning to do a trip to Doubtful Sound (overnight) and we also want to d a 3 night/4 day bike tour from Middlemarch to Clyde (with Big Skye Tours).

We will be flying from US into Christchurch via Auckland, I think.

We’d like advice on the best way to do both Doubtful Sound and the Bike tour.

1) If we fly into Christchurch, should we go to Doubtful Sound first i.e. drive via the Souther route?

2) If we fly into Christchurch, should we do the bike tour first? ( I think it ends in Clyde with transportation to Queenstown) and then head south to Doubtful Sound?

3) Should we rent a car the whole time or just plan to drop it off at the beginning of the bike tour then pick one up in Queenstown?

Overall, these are two key excursions that we’d like to do on our trip. We know that both present challenges, logistically, but from looking at maps and potential itineraries, both look to be doable, especially since we’re willing and able to drive and look forward to exploring along the way.

We’d appreciate any advice on the logistic, where to pick up and/or drop off rental cars, best driving routes to take and the order to do them in.

Thank you very much for any advice!
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Aberforth

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with your further info in post #5 I'd probably fly in and out of Queenstown (it's an exciting approach... look it up on youtube!).

Look to see if you can do the bikes Clyde to Middlemarch - would flow better...

March 7th arrive Akld, fly to Queenstown

8th Queenstown

9th transfer to Clyde to start cycle

10th cycle trail

11th cycle trail

12th end cycle trail and transfer to Dunedin

13th Elm Wildlife tour out Otago Peninsula

14th pick up rental car and head to Nugget Point

15th continue along Catlins to Curio Bay

16th continue to Invercargill. ... consider staying Invercargill or perhaps Riverton

17th head to Manapouri. The Doubtful sound overnight departs here (Real Journeys) at 12noon.

18th head back up to Queenstown, but you could continue on to Wanaka

19th Wanaka

20th head to Mt Cook

21st Mt Cook

22nd to Christchurch

23rd Christchurch. Perhaps afternoon flight through to Rotorua (North Island)

HEIDI

Upvotes from:

It is not clear how long you have in NZ - ie whether you intend to explore Chch, Aoraki Mt Cook etc as well as the 2 activities you have mentioned.

IME it is more common to cycle from Clyde to Middlemarch than vv.

Regardless of whether you fly into CHC & drive to QTN or into ZQN, this would be a possibility:

1. Real Journeys transfer QTN to Manapouri; DS overnight;

2. Return to Manapouri; transfer back to QTN

3. (or a few days later if you prefer to spend time in QTN) Blue Sky pick up and transfer to Clyde.

4-5 Cycling

6. Finish ride & transfer to Dunedin.

7. Explore Otago Peninsula etc

8. Leave Dunedin according to your plans (rental car to Aoraki Mt Cook or Wanaka...? flight to AKL? etc)

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