Pre-Trip Checklist — Before Leaving the USA

Friday

  • [x] Cancel car rentals
  • [x] Figure out queenstown 3rd night location, cancel airbnb for wanaka
  • [x] Update purchases itinerary, and put in here
  • [x] Figure out parking for Auckland IHG hotel
  • [x] Purchase socks

Saturday (less important)

  • [x] Purchase flight AKL -> CHC, cancel AKL->CHC refundable flight
  • [x] Purchase shoes
  • [x] Check with REI about changing member name
  • [x] Ask for Chase Credit Card

Sunday

  • [x] Start packing

Monday

  • [x] Research REI Co-op Merino 150 Crew or Smartwool Merino 150 Slim Fit Crew
  • [x] Try out adidas shoes and use them for next five days to break them in
  • [x] Cancel Airbnb for Fairlie, cancel all airbnb
  • [x] Purchase socks more pairs after trying them out
  • [x] Put actual accomodations in the itinerary
  • [x] Get better price for Auckland hotel

Tuesday

  • [x] REI: Purchase torrentshell jackets (separate with gift card) and trailmade pants and base layer and sun hoodie with 2 gift cards if it comes

Wednesday

  • [y] Charge toothbrushes
  • [y] Move repo to online
  • [ ] Papers to print
  • [ ] NZ Visa, Passport proof, NZeTA, Travel insurance proof
  • [ ] REI $70 off coupon today, only today
  • [ ] Amazon -> pick up socks from downstairs, complain about order, order socks if haven't come
  • [ ] Order hand sanitizer, headlamp / flashlight

Thursday

  • [ ] Send luggage to Swiss Air
  • [ ] Laundry
  • [ ] Check email for Blue Thistle
  • [ ] Wash water bottles
  • [ ] Esim set up

Last Minute / Together

  • [ ] Download google offline maps of new zealand
  • [ ] Set up other 2 airtags for bags from other apple account
  • [y] Finish packing
  • [ ] Figure out backpack situation, packing food for trip situation, Pack some ziploc bags for food, extra bags in luggage
  • [ ] Get lots of bags, ziploc bags, laundry bags, etc...
  • [ ] Clean bottom of shoes
  • [ ] Get mail and process mail
  • [ ] American Airlines frequent flier mileage
  • [ ] Wash merino wool items to make smoother
  • [ ] Cancel superos
  • [ ] Test out purchasing franz josef with chase travel
  • [ ] Call hotels/boats for preferences
  • [ ] Bilt -> call about New Zealand
  • [ ] Call Blue Thistle and send dispute to Chase United Club
  • [ ] Discuss cancel Onsen
  • [ ] NZ Traveller Declaration

Skip for now

  • [ ] 10% off expedia
  • [ ] Get airtag battery
  • [ ] Target appointment for eye exam
  • [ ] purchase CHC -> AKL flight, cancel CHC -> AKL refundable flight, Finalize CHC and Greymouth hotels with booking.com or Chase Travel portal because 20% off
  • [ ] Possibly cancel Lake Tekapo hotel

After Return

  • [ ] Return shoes to Costco and Adidas (2x)
  • [ ] Return REI items, kohls items
  • [ ] Toggl/Chess Clock
  • [ ]

Sections

  • [ ] Flights (NYC -> AKL, AKL -> CHC, CHC -> AKL, AKL -> NYC)
  • [ ] Car Rentals (AKL -> AKL, CHC -> CHC)
  • [ ] Accomodations (AKL, Tekapo, Mt Cook, Te Anau, Doubtful Sound, Queenstown, Franz Joseph, Greymouth, Christchurch)
  • [ ] Events (Caves, Hobbiton, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Gondola, Deer Park, Onsen, Heli hike)

Bookings to Make or Confirm

Must Book in Advance

  • [x] Spellbound Glowworm Caves (Day 2, Mon Mar 23) — 9:30 AM slot. Meeting point is 334 Boddies Rd, Te Kuiti — NOT in Waitomo Village. Check-in 20 min before departure
  • [ ] Hobbiton (Day 2, Mon Mar 23) — 2:40 or 3:40 PM tour. Arrive at Shire's Rest by 2:20 PM. 501 Buckland Rd, Matamata
  • [x] Milford Sound Cruise (Day 6, Fri Mar 27) — 9:30 AM departure. Cruise Milford counter, arrive 25 min before departure
  • [ ] Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise (Day 7–8) — Real Journeys, Pearl Harbour, Manapouri. Contact to request vegetarian meals for dinner and breakfast
  • [ ] Queenstown Gondola + Luge tickets (Day 8, Sun Mar 29) — book online to skip queue, tickets not time-specific. skyline.co.nz
  • [x] Onsen Hot Pools (Day 10, Tue Mar 31) — 7:45 PM appointment, must book in advance, evening slots sell out days ahead. onsen.co.nz
  • [x] Franz Josef Glacier Heli-Hike (Day 12, Thu Apr 2) — 8:00 AM session. Book well in advance. Know the weather cancellation and rebooking policy. franzjosefglacier.com

Make Dinner Reservations

  • [ ] Queenstown dinner, Day 8 (Sun Mar 29, 8:30 PM) — Queenstown restaurants fill up on weekends. Options: Rata, Yonder, Amisfield
  • [ ] Queenstown dinner, Day 9 (Mon Mar 30, 9:00 PM) — late after Queenstown Hill sunset hike
  • [ ] Queenstown dinner, Day 10 (Tue Mar 31, 6:00 PM) — last Queenstown dinner before Haast Pass

Request & Notify

  • [x] Hotel Indigo Auckland — call to request early check-in (aim for 9 AM, IHG Platinum status). Figure out parking
  • [ ] Holiday Inn Express Queenstown — confirm check-in on Day 8, arriving from Doubtful Sound mid-afternoon

Documents & Admin

  • [ ] NZeTA — New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority required for US citizens. Apply online at immigration.govt.nz before travelling. Takes minutes but do it in advance
  • [ ] NZ Traveller Declaration — fill out online before flying to speed up arrival. travellerdeclaration.govt.nz
  • [ ] Passport — confirm valid for at least 6 months beyond April 6, 2026
  • [ ] Notify bank and credit cards of NZ travel dates to prevent fraud blocks
  • [ ] Travel insurance — confirm coverage includes adventure activities (heli-hike, luge, glacier walking)
  • [ ] Car rental confirmations — Auckland pickup (Day 1, Mar 22) and Christchurch pickup (Day 3, Mar 24). Check pick-up instructions for both. Confirm CHC return bay and shuttle for Day 15 (Apr 5) before the 10:20 AM flight
  • [ ] All accommodation confirmed — Hotel Indigo Auckland (Days 1–2), Airbnb Tekapo (Day 3), The Hermitage Mt Cook (Day 4), Te Anau (Days 5–6), Holiday Inn Express Queenstown (Days 8–10), Franz Josef/Fox (Day 11), Greymouth (Days 12–13), Christchurch (Day 14)

Tech & Maps

  • [ ] Download offline Google Maps — download these regions before flying: Auckland, Waikato/Matamata, Christchurch, Tekapo/Mackenzie, Mt Cook, Wānaka/Queenstown, Te Anau, Milford Sound road, Manapouri, Glenorchy/Paradise, Haast Pass (SH6), West Coast (Franz Josef → Greymouth), Arthurs Pass/SH73
  • [ ] International phone plan — no cell coverage in Fiordland (Milford, Doubtful Sound, much of the Haast Pass road). Have maps and bookings accessible offline
  • [ ] Air New Zealand app — save domestic flight details (AKL → CHC, Day 3; CHC → AKL, Day 15)
  • [ ] Charge camera batteries before departure — limited charging on the Doubtful Sound cruise

Packing Essentials

Medications

  • [ ] Avomine (seasickness tablets) — for the Doubtful Sound cruise (Day 7). Take before boarding. Available at US pharmacies (meclizine / Bonine is equivalent)
  • [ ] Any personal medications for 18 days

Clothing & Gear

  • [ ] Waterproof jacket — essential for Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, West Coast, Arthurs Pass. Rain is guaranteed at some point
  • [ ] Hiking boots (sturdy, broken in) — Hooker Valley Track, Rocky Mountain, Lake Marian, Queenstown Hill, Devil's Punchbowl, and others
  • [ ] Warm layers — glacier heli-hike surface is cold regardless of valley temperature; Arthurs Pass can be cold in April
  • [ ] Insect repellent — sandflies at Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound are aggressive. Cover up or apply before leaving the boat
  • [ ] Sunscreen — high UV even in autumn; glacier surface reflects strongly
  • [ ] Headlamp — Queenstown Hill descent (Day 9) will finish after dark
  • [ ] Non-slip shoes or boots — for the Doubtful Sound cruise deck
  • [ ] Swimwear (optional) — Onsen Hot Pools (Day 10)

Day Pack Supplies

  • [ ] Snacks for the car — many long drives with no food stops (Haast Pass, Milford road, Glenorchy to Paradise, etc.)
  • [ ] Reusable water bottles — fill up at mountain streams where noted

Notes

  • Do not exchange USD to NZD before leaving. Use ATMs at Auckland Airport on arrival (ANZ or BNZ). Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) accepted everywhere. Avoid airport exchange kiosks — rates are poor
  • Drive on the left in New Zealand. Take it slow leaving the rental lot, especially at roundabouts
  • Declare everything at NZ biosecurity — hiking boots with soil, any food, wooden items. NZ biosecurity is strict and fines are high. When in doubt, declare
  • Daylight Saving ends at 2:00 AM on Sunday April 5 (Day 15) — NZ clocks go back 1 hour. Confirm flight times are in the correct timezone