Author Topic: Question for our Kiwi Cousins (Read 4993 times)

Brock · « **on:** July 18, 2015, 03:21:44 PM »

The Minister for Finance has just suggested that we visit the land of the long cloud sometime next year. Probably around this time.

She wants to see the snow, Lord of Rings set and so on. Any one have any ideas of good places to stay, with good tours and so on.

Any information will be helpful.

ST2UP · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2015, 05:18:07 PM »

RGardner.......speak up my friend

Williamson · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 2015, 06:51:35 PM »

Quote from: Brock on July 18, 2015, 03:21:44 PM

.... Any information will be helpful.

We've only visited the South Island, and enjoyed every place we visited. Mentioning these places may be unfair on places we didn't, but here goes anyway:

* Akaroa - plate of steamed mussels at the pub was the best.

* Queenstown - everywhere, everything was the best - expensive though.

* Wanaka - great drive there and back.

* Arrowtown - great, but expensive

* Invercargill - E Hayes and Sons Hardware houses a motorcycle and vintage car display and includes much Burt Munro memorabilia - certainly worth a visit, if you like that sort of stuff, I do.

* Any Speights' Hotel - at most large towns we visited.

* Greymouth - Monteith's brewery.

Mmmmm, I just remembered, not every thing was the best - I thought the Tranzalpine railway from Greymouth to Christchurch was over-rated, and OVER-PRICED!!!!!

If you are into a bit of solo off-road riding, hire a V-Strom in Queenstown, and you will enjoy some of this:

Wherever, whenever, whatever - you'll both enjoy yourselves.

Brock · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2015, 06:56:27 PM »

Thanks for that, no Vstrom riding tho, cook wont get on...

Williamson · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2015, 07:01:38 PM »

Quote from: Brock on July 18, 2015, 06:56:27 PM

Thanks for that, no Vstrom riding tho, cook wont get on...

Leave the cook shopping in Arrowtown, but be careful as with the $$ she could spend you could probably buy a Strom.

Gadget · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2015, 07:52:26 PM »

South Island:

Hamner springs is good. Hot water baths with snow falling on your head. Or sleet in our case in December.

Avon River in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens

The quaint pub/cafe at Waiau.

Kaikoura on the coast.

North Island: (in no particular order)

Auckland botanic gardens

Lake Taupo sailing cruise on the Barbary (once owned by Errol Flynn) Tea and biscuits provided.

Rotorua lots of different activities and sites from boiling mud to stationary ground based free fall experience.

Bay of Islands, Paihia,

look up Hundertwasser toilets in Kawakawa village.

Kawiti Glow worm caves

Waipu Scottish heritage museum.

The Coromandel (all of it)

Hot Water springs beach (hot water comes out of the sand at low tide)

Wairarapa - Pukaha Mount Bruce Wildlife Centre (parrots both caprice and wild. )

Hastings/Napier for 1930s Art Deco Architecture.

There tons left on my to do list. I could easily spend 2 months on each island

Gadget · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2015, 07:53:09 PM »

Be prepared to look on every motorcyclist with envy when you see their roads.

Brock · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2015, 08:35:58 PM »

Quote

look on every motorcyclist with envy when you see their roads

That I will take as a given, tho there will be no bikes

HOFFY · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2015, 09:59:33 AM »

morning brock.

I have been to NZ twice and both times I have taken the family and toured both Islands.

Cost of staying at hotels etc was far too high to even consider a trip with the tribe so we hired a 6 metre motor home both times.

They are very cheap to run, even the wife drove it because it was that easy, they have everything in them and sleep up to 6 people in comfort. Hot water, showers, microwave, you name it.

Also we went in September as the lower country was green and not too cold but the mountains still had lots of snow.

The van could go anywhere and could usually park in normal carpark bays in shopping centres and towns.

We stayed at caravan parks or national parks which again is easy and cheap and allowed us to see everything that was on offer in that great part of the world.

I've been told if you want to see the world, go to Nz, it has everything from deserts, snow, oceans, waterfalls, etc etc.

I have hundreds of places you could visit and we did them at a slow pace in three weeks just by travelling in the van.

Just my thoughts.

Brock · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2015, 10:15:54 AM »

Thanks Hoffy,

Plenty of time left to research and plan

Gadget · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2015, 11:49:12 AM »

I have to agree with HOFFY on the Motor home idea. We've done this twice. 6 Berth with ensuite with 2 teenagers. 2nd time a large van with ensuite again.

The beauty of the self contained van (ability to not be connected to mains power for a few days) its free or really cheap (under $20) camping at some national conservation camp grounds like the Uretiti Camp grounds.

The other advantage we found was flexibility. If we found ab area we liked we could stay an extra night or two without worrying about changing bookings with motels.

If you go off season or shoulder season hire rates are cheaper as are Motor Parks (Caravan Parks). Off season also means more vacancies at Motor Parks.

Oraki Korako thermal wonderland (well worth a visit) allow overnight camping in their car park.

Shopping centre car parks have long bays designated for motor home.

There are heaps of Grey and Black Waste (sink/shower and toilet waste) sites. Local councils, some servos and most motor parks. Free of charge.

Brock · « **Reply #11 on:** July 19, 2015, 11:50:59 AM »

That is an idea, though we would only need a smaller unit.

Gadget · « **Reply #12 on:** July 19, 2015, 12:05:30 PM »

Hundertwasser Toilets

Van

Pahia Beachside Holiday Motor Park view in the afternoon.

Bush coastal walk from Paihia Beachside Holiday Motor Park

Shiney · « **Reply #13 on:** July 19, 2015, 06:27:44 PM »

The wife and I went to the north island for a bit of a tour after the OzSTOC Rally earlier this year.
We stayed at the Top 10 caravan parks (if you sign up for their club you get a discount at all of their parks and at the Big 4 caravan parks in Oz)

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

WendyL · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2015, 01:21:19 PM »

We spent 2 weeks touring the South Island in a 6 berth camper about 5 years ago. Loved it all, Lake Wanaka was beautiful (the one destination that was locked in for our trip, my brother got married there). Puzzleworld was great, Antarctic Centre in Christchurch was awesome, Cadbury factory of course. Too many other things to remember....

NZLinda · « **Reply #15 on:** July 21, 2015, 08:48:00 PM »

I live in the land of the long white cloud. All the comments provided so far are relevant. 3 - 4 weeks will provide a great holiday. Must do places include Queenstown (I might be able to help with accommodation, even if you hire a camper - a night or two in a real bed and access to washing machine might be useful), West Coast South Island (rugged and beautiful), Nelson/Tasman (coastal and quaint), Invercargill (E Hayes and Sons - serious place to visit and home of the 'fastest Indian motorcycle'. Good thing about this venue is that while the boys are checking out the engine toys and hardware, the girls can be checking out the 'gift-type items' or relaxing with a cuppa tea in the lounge suites provided).
When you get closer to finalising your itinery, let me know and I'll provide more detail on hot spots of where you want to visit.
cheers
Linda
PS Just back from a fantastic (although a bit quick) trip to Victoria and Sth Australia - your country is wonderful.

Brock · « **Reply #16 on:** July 21, 2015, 09:07:59 PM »

Thanks Linda,

That sounds good, we probably will be there for a week or two. One definite is the Wife wants to see Hobbiton, and snow. Not a lot of snow in Thailand, or West Oz. We have a year to plan stuff and research

NZLinda · « **Reply #17 on:** July 21, 2015, 09:28:23 PM »

OK. Sounds like central North Island is on the itinery. Hobbiton is in Matamata (2hour south of Auckland and only 2hours from the snow). Snow is at Mt Ruapehu. Suggest for the snow, either stay at a place called Whakapapa (only 10min drive to the snow and ski field) or Ohakune (30min drive to snow). Another option is base yourselves at Taupo for a couple of days and travel 1hr to Hobbiton on one day and 1hr to Mt Ruapehu (snow) on another day. Taupo is a lakeside town, has thermal hot pools and also plenty of touristy things to do. Beautiful country around Hobbiton.

Linda

Brock · « **Reply #18 on:** July 21, 2015, 09:39:16 PM »

That sounds perfect, cold , hot and Hobbits and only an hour or two driving.

saaz · « **Reply #19 on:** July 21, 2015, 10:01:24 PM »

I would like to do NZ properly as well. Only went to Wellington (it really did live up to windy Wellington while I was there - plane taking us back took a few goes to land) for a work conference out in the Marlborough wine region (life is tough!) but in a mini bus :( Sounds like a plan to do a few weeks some time in between things, same for Tasmania as I have to go down there sometime to finalise a few things. Snow is something I have no need to see more of!

Suppose I will have to get a personal passport as work does not pay for that stuff anymore...

Shiney · « **Reply #20 on:** July 22, 2015, 04:13:47 PM »

We did the Hobbiton night tour when we went over.
The night tour includes extra areas of Hobbiton that aren't included in the day tour

Biggles · « **Reply #21 on:** July 22, 2015, 05:36:11 PM »

Quote from: Shiney on July 22, 2015, 04:13:47 PM

We did the Hobbiton night tour when we went over.
The night tour includes extra areas of Hobbiton that aren't included in the day tour

so that you get to see the real Hobbits rather than the actors?

Shiney · « **Reply #22 on:** July 22, 2015, 06:32:52 PM »

Quote from: Biggles on July 22, 2015, 05:36:11 PM

Quote from: Shiney on July 22, 2015, 04:13:47 PM
We did the Hobbiton night tour when we went over.
The night tour includes extra areas of Hobbiton that aren't included in the day tour

so that you get to see the real Hobbits rather than the actors?

Lol

Nah, just extra areas that are only seen on the night tour (and they put on a feast for the night tour)

Gadget · « **Reply #23 on:** July 23, 2015, 09:30:40 PM »

http://www.newzealand.com

News:

Author Topic: Question for our Kiwi Cousins (Read 4993 times)