We are a healthy retired couple in our 60's visiting Australia and NZ for the first time. Considerab

We are a healthy retired couple in our 60's visiting Australia and NZ for the first time. Considerable research has been done on the forums and in a number of travel guides. We have already organized 12 days in Australia and are now planning for 9 days in NZ.
Our high level plan is to fly into Auckland and immediately fly to Christchurch and spend 3 nights there, travel to Wellington and spend 3 nights there and then back to Auckland for another 3 nights then off to Hawaii on our way back to North America. Our travel in NZ has not been arranged yet (except the flight to Christchurch) but we were considering a 7 day Scenic Rail Pass which would let us take the TransAlpine luxury downtown san diego hotels day trip out of Christchurch to Greymouth, the Coastal luxury downtown san diego hotels Pacific trip to Picton and Interislander ferry to Wellington and then the Overlander to Auckland. This is 3 days of train travel but we feel it would let us see a decent part of NZ. Comments? Suggestions? One of the things I'm a little concerned luxury downtown san diego hotels about is the ferry crossing of Cook Straight as many have said it can be quite rough. Any input on this? Maybe train to Picton and then fly to Wellington? Fly to Auckland? We have taken ferries in the Greek Islands so it's just the rough weather that's a concern.
Hotel/apartments suggestions in the Central areas of Christchurch/Wellington luxury downtown san diego hotels and Auckland in the moderate+ range would also be appreciated. I've looked at Tripadvisor and the guides so personal recommendations are what I'm after.
After the TransAlpine train trip we have one day left in Christchurch (how's the earthquake repair going? Many things luxury downtown san diego hotels closed like museums?). Suggestions about things to do for the day would be appreciated. Also, the train station is in Addington...is this far from downtown?
In Auckland we plan to visit the Museum, Sky Tower, Art Gallery, Viaduct basin....other must do's? Is a harbour ferry trip to Devonport something worth doing considering we just have 2 full days here?
Don't listen to the Ancient Mariners, just do it, what's a few waves even if it is rough? I quite like a bit of 'action', these days with ships so big and so stabilized, you're more likey to experience 'rough' crossing luxury downtown san diego hotels strapped inside a plane!
Thanks Man_in_seat_61......my inclination luxury downtown san diego hotels is to take the ferry and hope for a good day. All reports say it is worth it. My wife did get ill on a fishing boat in Barbados a few years ago so I'm looking for encouragement!
Pity about the ratio of Oz:NZ - you've got it the wrong way round!! But that's just my Kiwi bias showing. Your nine day sojourn will hopefully give you a taste of what you are missing and encourage you to come back and do the job properly.
I think three days in Christchurch is a bit excessive. Two would be plenty. Then a half a day on the train. Say a day and a half to Picton. A day in Wellington. Then allow two days for the trip to Auckland. Two days in Auckland to finish.
luxury downtown san diego hotels We really only planned one day in Christchurch as the first day is travelling from Sydney via Auckland and one other day is the TransAlpine train that we really want to do. This leaves us one day in Christchurch and it's good to hear that the museum and Antartic centre are open. As far as the CBD goes can you give me some street names that bound the earthquake damage zone? This would help me plan hotels and other things to do.