New Zealand

[Denise S.]

We fancy a holiday driving through the whole of N.Z. Has anyone done this? What is the best/cheapest time to go? Any advice appreciated. Many thanks.

[bongerman]

You can hire a car in the North and drop it off in the South. We "did" new Z in 3 1/2 weeks - camping - best campsites I've been to in the world.

Enjoy.

[thedelbwa]

I arrived in NZ (Christchurch) in late-July 2002, and hired a car for I think the equivalent of about �8 per day - it was a Hyundai Accent, so not a bad motor really. We were due to get a smaller one, but that one was at the back of the garage, and so they guy said just to take the Hyundai as it was right at the front! Typical of your Kiwis really. Very laid back, great people and easy to get on with. Cost about �10 - �12 to fill up (at the time, we were getting about $3.2 to the �). EXCELLENT!! Then heading south, we took in (in no particular order) Oamaru, Dunedin & Otago Peninsula, The Catlins, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Wanaka, Greymouth, Franz Josef glacier, Hanmer Springs, Kaikoura & Nelson - and then the North Island - absolutely unbelievable - AMAZING COUNTRY....will post more tomorrow but am off now as I need to go out.....

[Gef]

Last July I hired from this company in Auckland.

http://www.a2brentals.co.nz/

Car (Toyota Starlet) was about 10 years old but in excellent condition. Cost about �50 for four days including full damage waiver.

I didn't hire in the South Island (used the Magic Bus instead) and was certainly glad as some of the snow covered and icy roads were pretty treacherous.

Beautiful country and I'm going back for another 5 weeks this "summer".

[Snowy Owl]

Best time....February/March (their late summer, early autumn) or October/ November (their spring)

Allow at least a month...more if you can.

Camping/campervan/carhire/motels all very good value.

There are loads of web sites that will let you see all you nees, or borrow guide books from your library, such as Lonely Planet, try to make sure they are up to date

So much depends on what you want to do/see, it's difficult to give general ideas of where to go....imagine trying to do it for the UK!

[jno]

best time is now (summer), cheapest time is their winter, when it can can be drab and wet. Most expensive is the summer school hols in mid-Dec to end of Jan, so I wouldn't recommend that. Full tank currently costs �20 or so depending on your car. You might like to consider whether to take the car on a ferry between the islands or drop one off, fly, and pick another one up. (Me, I'd see Wellington, sail with car to Picton, visit the Marlborough wine areas and drive down the coast to Kaikoura to watch whales.) You can camp or stay in motels which are frequent, cheapish, and often have kitchenettes in the rooms so you can cook your own food.

[sense4all]

We stayed with these guys on a campervan pitch basis. But when we go back I will hire a CAR ( not van ) and spend more on the better accomodation at these guys sites.

http://www.topparks.co.nz/

They also have a loyaly card scheme to lessen the cost of stays with them all around NZ.

Whale watching a must at Kaikoura. The best meal we had on our stay in nz was nearby at this place ...
http://www.whitemorph.co.nz/kaikoura/restauran t/

Fun time here too
http://www.akaroa.com/fpnew/fastpage/fpengine. php/templateid/204

Some idea of how much organised trips cost to work out spending ( other operators may offer similar trips.)

http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/index.cfm

Enjoy - it's a gorgeous place !