looking for advise on Milford Sound to Dunedin Overnight Tour ship excursion

please let me know if it worth the time and money, thank you

here is a description:

Day 1 (D)

Upon disembarkation at Milford Sound, you will board a chartered motor coach and drive south from Milford Sound, passing through the magnificent Fiordland National Park. Weather permitting, you’ll stop for photos at the Chasm. Pass through the legendary Homer Tunnel and south along the forest-clad Eglington Valley to Te Anau where lunch will be served at a local hotel. Depart for Queenstown, crossing the North Southland Plains to Kingston; then continuing along the eastern shoreline of Lake Wakatipu to Frankton. In Queenstown, you will take a breathtaking gondola ride up to Bob’s Peak for spectacular views across Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the Remarkables mountain range. Then, check into your centrally located hotel for the night. In the early evening, walk down to the steamer wharf and board the 1913 historic steamship TSS Earnslaw for a cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Sheep Station. Here, you will dine carvery-style in the Colonel’s House, which is splendidly sited overlooking the lake. A glass of New Zealand wine or beer will accompany the meal. After dinner, there will be a short farm tour. You’ll see a sheepdog demonstration and a sheep being shorn before you return on the TSS Earnslaw to Queenstown. On arrival at the steamer wharf, stroll back to your hotel.

Day 2 (B, L)

After breakfast, depart Queenstown for Dunedin. En route, you will visit Arrowtown—a beautifully preserved gold mining village retaining much of its 19th-century character. You will have a chance to do some shopping and to walk along its quaint, tree-lined streets. Continue on through the picturesque Kawarau Gorge with a stop at the Old Kawarau Bridge, where you may see a bungy jumper leaping from the bridge. Opened in 1987, this was the first commercial bungy jumping operation in the world. Continue to Clyde, where you’ll cross the Clutha River. Lunch will be served in a former fruit-packing shed. After lunch, you’ll continue to Dunedin, passing through the sheep farming districts of Lawrence and Milton. In Dunedin, a brief sightseeing tour will introduce you to the city known as the Edinburgh of the South. Dunedin boasts a large number of fine Edwardian stone buildings, including the stunning Railway Station and the Law Courts. Arrive at the quaint town of Port Chalmers, just a short distance from Dunedin, where you will re-join the ship.

We are booked on this Celebrity excursion in the opposite direction. I searched this forum and found several threads including TLCOhio's summary with photos!

There are some cons in that we will miss cruising the sounds, but the chance to experience the interior of the South Island, and the generally positive reviews from those who've done this tour, convinced us it will be worth the cost!

BTW, where did you get your Elite logo?

BTW, where did you get your Elite logo?

by saving the image on my computer and adding it to my signature:)

this time i am taking HAL cruise and roll call there is so quiet...

We are booked on this Celebrity excursion in the opposite direction. I searched this forum and found several threads including TLCOhio's summary with photos!

Appreciate this above mention from our good neighbors on Lake Erie. Yes, we did this Queenstown overnight excursion early last year. Below are just a few of my visual highlights and details. More pictures, etc., on the full live/blog connected below. Happy to answer any and all added questions.

We did, along with other couples in our travel group from Central Ohio, the two-day, overnight Queenstown excursion. It's a choice, not cheap. There are pro's and con's to consider. Milford Sound is suppose to be the best of the three you will visit. BUT, the biggest roll of the dice is the weather. These fjords can be spectacular, but you can have iffy weather. Maybe great and sunny. Maybe rainy with overcast, etc. Possible a little of both as your travels that day cover a varied amount of distance/travel among the three different areas.

On my live/blog I detail much on ALL that we did on this two-day excursion. WOW!! What a great trip. Loved it ALL so much. Not just charming Queenstown, but seeing a wonderful rainforest area, the charm of the interior of NZ's South Island, a cute old gold-rush town, a winery, the bridge where bungee jumping got its start, etc. On the Queenstown side of the mountains, there are less weather challenges, etc. With our tour, we still got a nice sampling of Dunedin, its very special train station, etc.

Either one can work well. Much depends on what you most like, seek and enjoy most. Added questions? Below are a few visuals to give previews for what you can see in this excellent part of the world.

Worth it? It was for us and the others in our group. Personal choice!! The NZ South Island is amazing and being able to sample it was very important for us to "feed" our personal interests to see and learn more about this unique part of the world.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 121,293 views for this posting.

Going into Milford Sound on the Solstice, there were great views from our balcony on the tenth floor. We did not like the overcast skies and rain, but it added to the “drama” with the huge number of waterfalls in this area. In this picture, my wife is checking out these great sights from our balcony early this morning. It was a rocky crossing of the Tasman Sea.:

Our first stop after getting off of the Solstice and boarding our bus was a major rainforest areas in the Fiordlands National Park. Amazing site and stop!! Yes, there was some rain that morning. But, here are some facts to consider. In the Milford Sound area, they get an average of 23 feet (that's right FEET) of rain each year. At times, it might go as high as 46' yearly. That means most ever day gets some rain as the churning Tasman sea air loaded with moisture hits these South Island mountains. By sharp contrast, just 25 miles away (across the mountains), Queenstown averages only 30 inches of rain annually. Big difference!!:

Here is a view of the main street in Arrowtown with lots of character and charm. Plus, many shops! High-quality ones!! Just the kind that my wife and others love. There were historic places for beers, cheese, etc., too! Not just clothing and jade/jewelry.:

Here is one of my visuals in connection with this steamship sailing leading to the dinner at the sheep station at the other end of this scenic lake near Queenstown during the two-day Solstice excursion. You will see lots of scenic mountains and areas during this sailing that is a key part of this evening fun. And, there was food!!:

Here is one my pictures from the Kawarau Suspension Bridge and its dramatic gorge nearby to Queenstown. It's a classy bridge design in a setting that is world-class. This bridge is narrow, being built way before cars and trucks had been invented and built.:

Among the highlights in Dunedin was their rail station with its many special design touches. As our guide, John, explained, Dunedin was very rich at the time from its gold and other resources. Why did they make it so fancy? Because they could!! You can see some of the fancy tile work, a stained-glass window, etc., there. They do not build things like this these days. In this below picture, you can see our skilled guide John with some of the folks from our Central Ohio travel group outside in front of this landmark building.:

Terri, thank you for your reply

i read your review of that cruise before even posting my question.

HAL wants $1270 for a single person to take that tour (1199 p/p for double occupancy) while Princess and Celebrity lines show price below $800 for singles.

huge difference:( while descriptions for that tour on all three lines are identical

Does your cruise end in Auckland? If it does have you considered flying to queenstown after the cruise to spend a few days? We are doing exactly this and for flights and 3 nights accomodation it's still cheaper than the overnight tour, and we get to spend 3 times as long there and not miss any cruise time :)

Does your cruise end in Auckland? If it does have you considered flying to queenstown after the cruise to spend a few days? We are doing exactly this and for flights and 3 nights accomodation it's still cheaper than the overnight tour, and we get to spend 3 times as long there and not miss any cruise time :)

no, it is round trip from Sydney

Terri, thank you for your reply i read your review of that cruise before even posting my question. HAL wants $1270 for a single person to take that tour (1199 p/p for double occupancy) while Princess and Celebrity lines show price below $800 for singles. huge difference:( while descriptions for that tour on all three lines are identical

Jacs: Does your cruise end in Auckland? If it does have you considered flying to queenstown after the cruise to spend a few days? We are doing exactly this and for flights and 3 nights accomodation it's still cheaper than the overnight tour' date=' and we get to spend 3 times as long there and not miss any cruise time [/quote']

 

Yes, that HAL pricing does seem high, high. Some cruise lines, however, seek to keep their "sticker prices" low and then make it up with inflated drink, excursion, spa, etc., pricings. Other lines balance out things in a better/different way.

 

Jacs' option is a potential to consider, if and if. We researched doing that post-cruise fly down and back to Queenstown. BUT, that took much more time!! Time versus money?? Plus, the hassles on luggage, etc. Always a challenging question. As I noted earlier, there are a number of "trade-offs" and various pro/con factors. If you do a pre- or post-cruise trip to Queenstown, it was will take some added time/logistics to see the rainsforest, winery, etc., options that we enjoyed on the way to Queenstown, plus the sights between Queenstown and Dunedin.

 

For us, the Queenstown excursion cost us $585 each in January 2014. Not cheap, but with all that we did and saw during these two days, it worked well for our needs and interests.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 121,497 views for this posting.

There's lots of advice in these threads (and in other similar threads linked to from them):-

• Are we mad???
• Milford Sound Tour to Queenstown Overnight on the Solstice
• Are these flights/cruises doable?
• Quuenstown Overnight off of Celebrity
• Oceania Cruise- Australia to New Zealand

Don't forget the following points:-

• In addition to the cost of the excursion (which can already be more than the price that you would pay if you booked a standalone trip of that kind without a link to a cruise), you are basically also throwing away two days of a cruise that you have already paid for. There's a limit to how much the credit the ship will give you for that in the excursion price, because it still has to sail the ship and all its staff and crew to the end point of the excursion.
• Some of what is advertised is nothing special to the the excursion. If you didn't do the overnight excursion, you'd be very likely to see all of this anyway when your ship calls at Dunedin: "In Dunedin, a brief sightseeing tour will introduce you to the city known as the Edinburgh of the South. Dunedin boasts a large number of fine Edwardian stone buildings, including the stunning Railway Station and the Law Courts. Arrive at the quaint town of Port Chalmers, just a short distance from Dunedin, where you will re-join the ship."
• The amount of time spend on this overnight excursions does not allow you to appreciate much of the area that you are driving through. As I said in one of those other threads:-

  The two-day ship's excursion usually seems to involve one day of driving from Dunedin to Queenstown, and one day of driving from Queenstown to Milford Sound. In between, you get to graze a few of the bits and pieces very briefly. This is like "If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium", but on steroids. And you miss two days of the cruise that you've already paid for. But it's just a facet of the fact that if you actually want to see New Zealand, don't try to do it on a cruise.

please let me know if it worth the time and money, thank you

 

here is a description:

Day 1 (D)

Upon disembarkation at Milford Sound, you will board a chartered motor coach and drive south from Milford Sound, passing through the magnificent Fiordland National Park. Weather permitting, you’ll stop for photos at the Chasm. Pass through the legendary Homer Tunnel and south along the forest-clad Eglington Valley to Te Anau where lunch will be served at a local hotel. Depart for Queenstown, crossing the North Southland Plains to Kingston; then continuing along the eastern shoreline of Lake Wakatipu to Frankton. In Queenstown, you will take a breathtaking gondola ride up to Bob’s Peak for spectacular views across Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the Remarkables mountain range. Then, check into your centrally located hotel for the night. In the early evening, walk down to the steamer wharf and board the 1913 historic steamship TSS Earnslaw for a cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Sheep Station. Here, you will dine carvery-style in the Colonel’s House, which is splendidly sited overlooking the lake. A glass of New Zealand wine or beer will accompany the meal. After dinner, there will be a short farm tour. You’ll see a sheepdog demonstration and a sheep being shorn before you return on the TSS Earnslaw to Queenstown. On arrival at the steamer wharf, stroll back to your hotel.

Day 2 (B, L)

After breakfast, depart Queenstown for Dunedin. En route, you will visit Arrowtown—a beautifully preserved gold mining village retaining much of its 19th-century character. You will have a chance to do some shopping and to walk along its quaint, tree-lined streets. Continue on through the picturesque Kawarau Gorge with a stop at the Old Kawarau Bridge, where you may see a bungy jumper leaping from the bridge. Opened in 1987, this was the first commercial bungy jumping operation in the world. Continue to Clyde, where you’ll cross the Clutha River. Lunch will be served in a former fruit-packing shed. After lunch, you’ll continue to Dunedin, passing through the sheep farming districts of Lawrence and Milton. In Dunedin, a brief sightseeing tour will introduce you to the city known as the Edinburgh of the South. Dunedin boasts a large number of fine Edwardian stone buildings, including the stunning Railway Station and the Law Courts. Arrive at the quaint town of Port Chalmers, just a short distance from Dunedin, where you will re-join the ship.

I doubt you will see very much. We did all of this but it took 6 days as part of a coach trip of NZ. You will be very rushed.

please let me know if it worth the time and money, thank you

 

here is a description:

Day 1 (D)

Upon disembarkation at Milford Sound, you will board a chartered motor coach and drive south from Milford Sound, passing through the magnificent Fiordland National Park. Weather permitting, you’ll stop for photos at the Chasm. Pass through the legendary Homer Tunnel and south along the forest-clad Eglington Valley to Te Anau where lunch will be served at a local hotel. Depart for Queenstown, crossing the North Southland Plains to Kingston; then continuing along the eastern shoreline of Lake Wakatipu to Frankton. In Queenstown, you will take a breathtaking gondola ride up to Bob’s Peak for spectacular views across Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu to the Remarkables mountain range. Then, check into your centrally located hotel for the night. In the early evening, walk down to the steamer wharf and board the 1913 historic steamship TSS Earnslaw for a cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Sheep Station. Here, you will dine carvery-style in the Colonel’s House, which is splendidly sited overlooking the lake. A glass of New Zealand wine or beer will accompany the meal. After dinner, there will be a short farm tour. You’ll see a sheepdog demonstration and a sheep being shorn before you return on the TSS Earnslaw to Queenstown. On arrival at the steamer wharf, stroll back to your hotel.

Day 2 (B, L)

After breakfast, depart Queenstown for Dunedin. En route, you will visit Arrowtown—a beautifully preserved gold mining village retaining much of its 19th-century character. You will have a chance to do some shopping and to walk along its quaint, tree-lined streets. Continue on through the picturesque Kawarau Gorge with a stop at the Old Kawarau Bridge, where you may see a bungy jumper leaping from the bridge. Opened in 1987, this was the first commercial bungy jumping operation in the world. Continue to Clyde, where you’ll cross the Clutha River. Lunch will be served in a former fruit-packing shed. After lunch, you’ll continue to Dunedin, passing through the sheep farming districts of Lawrence and Milton. In Dunedin, a brief sightseeing tour will introduce you to the city known as the Edinburgh of the South. Dunedin boasts a large number of fine Edwardian stone buildings, including the stunning Railway Station and the Law Courts. Arrive at the quaint town of Port Chalmers, just a short distance from Dunedin, where you will re-join the ship.

Only you can decide if its good value or not.

If it is your one and only chance to travel through this area , it could be considered a cheap option .

Queenstown , Lake Wakatipu , Arrowtown and the surrounding areas is becoming a must see on many a bucket list and ranks with some of the top destinations in the World. The new International airport is becoming one of the busiest in the country both in winter and summer .

Heres a chance to sit back, relax and be shown it all. You can , and will see a lot in those 2 days

I also spent ages deciding if we wanted to do this tour on our cruise in November. We only have 2 days when we disembark or we would have flown down after the cruise for a couple days which worked our considerably cheaper than the ships tour. At the end of the day we decided not to do it due to the 'full on' schedule & missing 2 days of our cruise plus the Taieri train in Dunedin which we wanted to do. We also booked a 10 day RCCL cruise from Venice next June for not much more than this tour so that kind of swung it for us. Hopefully we will return one day to enjoy NZ by land.

We're on an Auckland to Perth Calebrity cruise. Are considering doing this tour. We have $800 shipboard credit and would like to use this instead of prepaying now. What are the chances of seats being available on the tour once we board the shop?

We're on an Auckland to Perth Calebrity cruise. Are considering doing this tour. We have $800 shipboard credit and would like to use this instead of prepaying now. What are the chances of seats being available on the tour once we board the shop?

Here are two key factors to consider. First, this excursion does tend to be fairly popular. If you are waiting to try to book until you are on the ship, it might be either unavailable and/or higher in price. Second, the tourism infrastructure (buses, guides, etc.) is a little limited on this NZ South Island. Why is this a factor? In some cases, including our cruise, Celebrity was able to add extra space to accommodate more interested in doing this excursion. BUT, at other times, they might not be as flexible to be able to add extra room for more late in doing their bookings.

GAMBLING??: How much risk do you want to take on getting closed out?

Chat with the Celebrity folks about whether you can book/pay now, but still be able to apply that credit later and make it all work out OK for your cash flow.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 186,776 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

We're on an Auckland to Perth Calebrity cruise. Are considering doing this tour. We have $800 shipboard credit and would like to use this instead of prepaying now. What are the chances of seats being available on the tour once we board the shop?

I agree with Terry. It needs to be booked in advance so that they can reserve the accommodation for you. Queenstown is a very popular destination and although new Hotels have been , and are being built, demand is high.

Also , the buses that will meet you at Milford Sound will have travelled all day the day before to get there.