New Zealand

[lilypoppyfre]

My son and daughter have decided to make their 50th birthday next year memorable and would like to go for a couple of weeks to New Zealand....Their budget is about £ 10.000 ....I travelled quite a lot when I was younger but only in Europe.....so can't be of much help ...

does any AB have any advice for them, ie when is it best to travel, how to make the most of their trip .....they would love to read about travellers' experience over there so as to plan their trip ( of a lifetime, I think ) with knowledge....

[emmie]

suggest that a couple of weeks won't be nearly enough, it's a pretty long flight, and you need several days to get over that. Could they go for longer?

[emmie]

at least it's a start.. hope it's of some use.

http://www.tourism.ne...ther-and-climate.html

[RATTER15]

pop in here and say Hi to my Son, he manages the bar.

http://www.thebunker.co.nz/restaurant.html

[TWR]

I would go on Trip Advisor Lily & just pop the question on there, Its one hell of a journey 2 days with the time difference, en-route from OZ we stopped & dropped off people at Auckland en-route to Hawaii, before setting off on this journey they need to do their homework well in advance, flights, times, money, health, injections, insurance, whatever activities they are going to do, as the insurance soon jumps on the wagon when an activity is not down on their policy.

[jno]

their summer is best, say February-April (Dec-Jan can be good too, but it's school holiday time and gets a bit crowded).

Get flights through Trailfinders.co.uk (other agents may be okay too).

I would also suggest more than two weeks if possible; it takes a few days to get over the jetlag.

Hiring a campervan is popular. Not the huge ones you get in the USA, but fine for two

http://www.maui-rentals.com/

Or hire a car and stay in motels. There are lots around. Most have kitchenettes so you can self-cater. You can get lists of hotels, motels etc from the AA (though it's no longer affiliated to the UK AA) plus maps. Or you can go on coach tours.

They'll probably fly into Auckland so from there it's relatively easy to get to the Bay of Islands (north) and the thermal/volcanic areas around Rotorua and Taupo (south), both well worth a visit. A bit off to the east is Napier, with the centre of town built mostly in Art Deco.

If you've got time to go further afield, Wellington (in good weather) is lively and has great views. Take a ferry from there to the South Island; you can visit winelands round Marlborough, whales off Kaikoura, the high country round the Southern Alps and adrenaline activity in Queenstown (which, apologies to Ratter jnr, is quite an expensive tourist spot but very beautiful).

[Brinjal]

Def Feb to April is better.

[boxtops]

My sister went in early Spring, she hired a car when she go there, and toured - only time for South Island, not North as well.

[jno]

incidentally, if you are around the Bay of Islands, don't miss the Hundertwasser Toilets in Kawakawa!

http://www.flatrock.o...rs_ultimate_stand.htm

[piggynose]

i´ve been twice, just avoid june, july, august+september, lots of cold days + rain.
where to go, well it depends what they like doing, i´d recommend nelson, for that 3 day trek, "abel tasman" the geysers in smelly rotarua, the 16km walk around aukland coast to coast, its a thin stretch of land.
well enjoy

[DTCwordfan]

well NZ is a country of many colours and it depends on what they are like - 5 weeks for us was not enough!

The budget is a good one and immediately it suggests that they should look at the high quality lodges to stay in, once they clear Auckland (Regent is a nice hotel, near the waterfront).

Muraiaroa (sp) in Rotoroa, Moose Lodge, Huka Lodge (very special and not cheap) in Lake Taupo, Timara Lodge in Malborough etc.......the advantage of the lodges is that they are intimate and usually all in, offering massive breakfasts and dinners inc wine - so their rates may look high but are in fact reasonable, esp out of season when you can find you are given upgrades and the best rooms in the house.....all we needed in the day time was a "nuclear" scone and jam and cream (and NZ has awesome produce). Don't count on eating rainbow trout unless you catch it - that's the only way they sell it.....(Moose/Solitaire and Huka best for fishing).

We went out of season May/June and Oct and had a blast - we took a hire car and got a Mazda sports which we even took over on the Wellington to Nelson ferry and back both times.....saved the hassle of moving all the luggage which was copious esp after their amazing art shop/potteries/galleries - we ended up Fedexing stuff back to HK (and avoided customs "interest" as well).

Musts, the drive from Marlborough south along the coast, Fox Glacier, Doubtful and Milford Sounds (helicopters are reasonable) - you will have to slum Milford but there was a reasonable motel and a more than adequate Chinese where we were treated like Gods being from HK even though we were gweilos (foreign devils).....Waikomoto caves over to Rotoroa is a heck of a drive too with some of the Lord of the Rings terrain.....

The Nzers are incredibly well read and love meeting visitors. Warning you look at the map and say "well that's 3hrs or so away - it will take you most of the day as (i) it is 3.5 hrs or more, (ii) stopping to take pics - we went through 75 rolls of the film the first hol (iii) the arts and crafts (iv) people nattering to you.

Avoid any shop that has Japanese signs - elevated prices and even a whacky Japanese practice of trading currency for special counters....yes, a scam.

Roads are easy to drive...getting off route is fun - they love their sports too - note Sat pm is dead as shops close as they all head outdoors for whatever. Do go to a rugby match, (it really is a religion), the fishing, golf and sailing are world class too.

[DTCwordfan]

sorry "depends what they like"...

[DTCwordfan]

And Marlborough/Gisbourne (and Coramandel Peninsula on the latter) as two destinations if they like wine - serious drinking of the national product!

[zebo]

I'd fly into Christchurch and see the South Island if I only had two weeks. Like others have said, hire a car and stay in motels. At the car hire places, and others you'll be able to pick up the Jason guides, for free, they're very helpful. I don't know how Christchurch itself is now after the earthquake, it was lovely when we were there. Try and get down to Akaroa, about 70km down the Banks peninsula from Christchurch, also cross over to see the glaciers on the west coast, making sure you've made reservations, it gets very busy. There are in NZ some very good back-packers hostels as well as motels. Queenstown, though very touristy and not getting better, is wonderful for adrenalin activities suitable for all ages. I'm very envious of them, if they need a bag-carrier, I'm free!

[DTCwordfan]

With the budget indicated, I would go for Nugget Point -modern but comfortable and good food, above the Shotover River where the Bungy Jumping and river jetboats ply the rapids.

http://www.nuggetpoint.co.nz/

[lilypoppyfre]

many, many, many thanks to all who answered.....they will read, digest and decide....reading of some experiences, I feel quite sad that I never had the time ( nor the funds....)to go over there.....years ago, when there was a drive to get £ 5 Poms to settle there, I was very tempted but my husband's mother did a good job of emotionally blackmailing him in staying here......still.....I was and am still frightened of spiders.......