Ended up leaving straight after work on Thursday 30/06 at 1700, had a few stops to do on the way through Matamata and about an hour in Hamilton for dinner so got to National Park for the night about 0030 on Friday morning. Leaving at 0830, spent a good two hours in Wanganui and got to Wellington 5 minutes late for our 1430 check in for the 1530 ferry. In Picton at 1900 and Nelson around 2045. Saturday we left at 0900 and went down the west coast through Westport, stopping at Punakaiki for an hour and another hour walking to the base of Franz Josef (so sad to see how much this has retreated in just the last few years) and arrived in Wanaka at 2115.
Skied Cardrona for 5 days. Although there wasn't a huge amount of snow, every day was perfect weather.
Left Cardrona at 1430 on Thursday 07/07 to make it to the lakes while there was still some light, sunset at Tekapo at 1730. Half an hour stop in Fairlie and we arrived in Okuku (about an hour north-west of Christchurch) at 2115. Friday we left at 0915, making it to Picton at an acceptable 1315 for our 1300 check in for the 1400 ferry. After a very harrowing crossing we got back to Wellington at 1800, went up Mt Victoria and left around 1845. Arrived in Karamu between Hastings and Havelock North at 2245. Leaving at 0800 on Saturday, spent about two hours stopped across Taupo and Hamilton and got to Auckland right on 1500 just in time for my football match.
Overall would rate experience 10/10 but have already booked flights for August. I'll drive it again one day.