New Zealand Holiday

[dazzler]

Hi

Seeing as our sheep are starting to look a little bit like runway models due to the drought i thought I might take the family for a trip to see our southern brothers and sisters (might even pick up if ewe no what I mean :wink: )

We are thinking of going in winter (cold doesnt bother us) and there will be Me, Her, 12 and 5 yo boys and the baaaaaaby.

Would love to hear of any holiday experiences good :) or bad:(

Thought motorhome hire might be okay. Are there ample places to stop overnight - powered camp sites?

cheers

dazzler

[ian]

Concentrate on visiting either the north or south Island. Don't try to do both unless you're staying 3 weeks or more.
I'm not sure a motorhome (more fuel) is cheaper than hiring a car and staying in motels.
Plan to stop in a place for a minimum of 3 nights and visit the surrounding highlights. Take your time — don't rush around


ian

[Sir Stinkalot]

Was over there in January this year for 3 weeks. Loved it! Did the hire car and hotels as apposed to motorhome. Motorhomes just were not our thing, bulky, slow, uncomfortable and quite expensive.

If we were going back again it would be to spend more time down south, but that being said we are also very glad that we got to see some north as well.

Dazzler if you like I can email our itinery which will give you some idea on what you can cover in 3 weeks.

[dazzler]

Thanks . Thought of the car/motel idea but would need self contained accommodation to feed the kids so will factor that in.

[craigb]

One of the best holidays we've had was a trip to NZ's South Island a couple of years ago.

The scenery is just magnificant. The locals do a pretty good job of looking after tourists too imo. I'd definitely go there again. In fact, a flight from Sydney to Queenstown for "special" long weekend would be hard to beat. :wink: :)

[ian]

Thanks . Thought of the car/motel idea but would need self contained accommodation to feed the kids so will factor that in.Daz
we took a 15 month old to NZ in 2000 and visited again in 2002 we he was 3
stayed in motels/apartments or B&Bs both trips
didn't have any trouble feeding the kid on eitehr trip


ian

[johnc]

Dazzler,

We did three weeks in a motor home with two children slightly older than yours at the time. Covered both the North and South Islands, and found diesel cheap (seven years ago) and overall fuel costs low. The truck cruised at about 90 but struggled on the hills which was no more than we had expected. There were plenty of places to stop and the camping parks are of a good standard, we bought a voucher book before we left and park costs seemed cheap by Oz standards and even cheaper with the vouchers. It made it easy being able to stop anywhere with the kids and make lunch or a cup of tea.

Once on the south island and again in the North we spent two nights in the one place and some days we covered large distances. If I was to do it again I wouldn't let SWMBO pick the stops without checking the distances between stopovers as we spent too long on the road on some days. The kids still talk about it, and thought the trip was great but Dad was grumpy. Hardly surprising after the holiday I felt exhausted we covered a huge distance in those three weeks and a break in the middle would not of hurt.

If you do hire a van the one thing we did do right was take out the extra insurance cover, which covered tyres (your cost on standard cover) We blew two tyres which more than covered the extra insurance. Interestingly the reason for the blow outs might have been caused by rusty wheel rims, but the tyre bloke wasn't sure so our cost.

If I was to do it without kids it would be car and motel, but with kids I'd still look closely at the motor home, there are usually other kids in the parks to keep your own amused.

Cheers. John.

[Gumby]

I love NZ but it's I think it's more for the older crowd. Great scenery, lots to see but no Movie World etc. for the kids. I think you'll find they get bored in a van for 2 weeks.

Head to Surfers :2tsup:

Have the old person holiday in 15 years. :wink:

[Tonyz]

TOOOOOOOOOO long since Ive been 'home' but motorhomes are the way. Most run desiel (European desiel =value; we in Aus run aussie d = crap) south Isl would be better in winter but then noth isl hot springs in winter just blood brillent. Google Automobile Asociation in NZ they'll give more info. Yes its tiring but I once did tip of north Isl to tip of South Isl in 32.5 hours that included the ferry crossing. Unofficial record aahhh classis mini cooper S rally job.
Hell the memories that are flooding me at the moment.
Queenstown is a s**t tourist hole but the area is fantastic, west coast exciting ( !!) drive: youll see strange looking sheep....things are WHITE;if down south, fiordland is breathtaking, just the water and height of mountains. We do not have mountains in Australia.

North Isl, Mt Reuapahu (sp) if its smoking then from Rotaroura/Toupo up towards Tauranga brillient hot springs some smell like **** but the feeling, esp if its one of the outside ones (the best) and its raining; was there for part of honeymoon ..ahewm not saying anymore
then Coromandal Peninsula is great too. Truly Gods country. the old saying used to be "see the world visit NZ" not prejadist biased or affiliated in any way at all
Tonz

[Poppa]

I'd go the motor home. Friends of ours hired one for some of the SI in a week in February and loved it. They were camping on the side of lakes, really taking in the scenery. Take your time, and there is plenty to do, for kids as well as adults. Before you go, plan in a few activities, but leave time to explore as well. And you'll discover more to do once you get there. Lovely place, I lived in NZ for 8 years, did the NI extensively but have only briefly visited the south. The beer is great, the fresh air is sensational and as long as you are friendly the locals will be too.

[Ianab]

Thought motorhome hire might be okay. Are there ample places to stop overnight - powered camp sites?


Yup, every town will have at least one campground with power sites for campervans etc. Summer is the peak season and many are full up, but winter will be pretty sweet, no crowds anyway.

South Island if you want the scenery, mountains, lakes, forests etc. As long as your kids like the outdoors ( I take it they are farm kids?) there will be plenty to keep them interested. Christchurch is the major city down that way, nice place even in winter. Be aware it's pretty cool down there in winter, so be watch for iced roads etc and keep an eye on the weather if you are heading up into the high country. You WILL get to touch snow if you head up into the mountains, try out some sking if you are that way inclined. The kids would love it.

You can do a nice round trip from Christchurch, go up through McKenzie basin to Mt Cook, back down to Dunedin and Southland. Then head up though Fiordland, Manapouri and Queenstown and through Haast to the West Coast. Forests / glaciers / good beer and up to coast to Nelson (good wine there). Then back down the East coast via Kaikoura to Christchurch.

Sounds easy, but allow about 2 weeks :wink:

North Island is OK ( I live here :- ) but it doesn't have the scenery of the Sth Is. More cities, but then if you want to holiday in a city, go to Sydney. See the Sth Is first. :2tsup:

Cheers

Ian

[dazzler]

Hi Ian

Are there any thermal springs in the south?

cheers

[johnc]

No:wink:

[Ianab]

Actually yes ;)

Just not as many as the Nth Island, but no boiling mud or geysers :(

http://www.hanmersprings.co.nz/

Cheers

Ian

[johnc]

Actually yes ;)

Just not as many as the Nth Island, but no boiling mud or geysers :(

http://www.hanmersprings.co.nz/

Cheers

Ian

Bugger, got that wrong:B

[Grunt]

I spent 6 months in NZ about 15 years ago. It's a great place. One thing you'll notice which does put a dampener on it is that there are sooo many New Zealanders there.

My advice for all holidays is not to spend too much time travelling. Stay in just a few places and get to know them well. The stressy part of holidays is the getting from A to B.

[Harry72]

I love NZ but it's I think it's more for the older crowd. Great scenery, lots to see but no Movie World etc. for the kids. I think you'll find they get bored in a van for 2 weeks.

Head to Surfers :2tsup:

Have the old person holiday in 15 years. :wink:

Errrrrr your kidding right?
There probably more extreme sports in NZ than there is in any other country!

Agree with the motorhome thing dont, there's plenty of accommodation at good prices and many have basic kitchen facility's.
We spent 20days and did both islands... we'll be back to do each island, I preferred the Nth Island to me there's more to see if you like nature type things(and the Karri museum, its a must see). The "bay of Islands" is stunning.

[dazzler]

This looks good;


http://www.hanmersprings.co.nz/

[Tonyz]

You'll also be stunned at the amount of Japanese signage around but then I dont know Queensland :o
Extreme sporots...seen the latest Aus Goverment ad for travel insurance,all filmed in NZ Gezz more crook prawns here than that fair land.

Hanmer Springs Private Thermal Pools =equates too "get rid of the kids":B

I'll make a deal take me with you Know the place backwards ...well used too and I'll be personal guide.. will stay out of the private pool:C :o

GO man dont around.

Tony

[dazzler]

I'll make a deal take me with you Know the place backwards ...well used too and I'll be personal guide.. will stay out of the private pool:C :o

Tony

Watch from the bushes, he will:)

[dazzler]

Well we are off for 16 days tomorrow.

Land in Auckland and pick up the camper. Fly out of Christchurch.

Just going to take it easy and mainly look at stuff for the kids to enjoy and note places to come back to when its just the two of us.

Probably spend 10 or so on the nth island, cross on the ferry and dawdle around the top of the sth for the remainder.

cheers

dazzler

[Tonyz]

Have a great time Dazzler things will be quiet without you (sic)
North Isl try and get up Mt Rueapahu (spelling?) live volcano. In right time of year can have swim in mineral lake then ski down the slopes -not in ya cozzies though :oo:

South Isl if travelling down West coast Pancake (yip yip yah yah) Rocks then when coming through Arthurs Pass from the west side try and get to walk somewhere on the up track. There are places where they have literally put steel girders into the mountain sideways to build the road on.

If coming through Lewis Pass there are the Marauewa (sp?) Springs Hanmer springs is too over rated.

Give a PM to MurrayD99 he lives in the area.

[Harry72]

Mate dont miss the Karri museum on the nth island...

[woodbe]

Just got back from 16 day trip to NZ.

3 Days in Nth Island, rest in the South. We did a mix of hire car and motorhome (5 days in the motorhome) Motorhome was no hassle, lots of parks around, and no worries getting a spot this time of year anywhere we went. Some of the facilities are a bit agricultural, best we had was at a chain called 'Top 10' but there are lots of choices. we all enjoyed the Trans Alpine Railway, the Fox Glacier walk, the ferry, the glow worm caves at Te Anau, various remote spots we found ourselves in, and of course Milford Sound.

Motorhome travel is a bit of a drag if you are in a hurry, so don't get sucked in with time pressures and take it easy. Highly recommended. :)

woodbe.

[dazzler]

Hi Woodbe

SWMOM asked the following.

What was the weather like. We are ex Tasmanians so cold doesnt bother much.

Parking for Campervan overnight.....Do you need to book or just drive till your fancy is striked.

Washing facilities for clothes?

Why so short on the Nth Island?

Cheers
:D
Dazzler

[woodbe]

Hi Dazzler,

Weather was very good, most days were fine. (we were lucky though)

Temperatures were in the Tasmania range, definitely cooler than where you live. We saw frost on the ground a couple of times in the morning down south (Te Anau and Queenstown) The Motorhome we had was equipped with a built-in fan heater, we used it about half the nights to warm things up.

We saw rain on the west coast, but that's where we were lucky. It bucketed down the day we drove to Fox Glacier and that night, but was clear the next day when we did our glacier walk.

Campervan Parking. We booked ahead from the brochures, but everywhere we went there were vacancy signs up. We only saw one 'No Vacancy' sign at a small motel the whole trip. Last week was the first week back for NZ schoolkids, so I think you would be safe stopping wherever it took your fancy.

Washing Facilities for clothes: Everywhere we went, including Hotels, Motels, and Campervan sites had good guest clothes washing facilities. Some were free, some were coin operated (NZ $2)

Washing Facilities for humans: The Campervan parks ranged from free, free but timed showers (7 minutes) to coin-operated showers. We never wanted for hot water, and generally, NZ has no idea about water conservation, they have oodles of it.

Toilets: Unless you are going to park away from a Camper Park, don't use the campervan toilet unless you need to. There is an unpleasant business about emptying the waste that most people don't want to know about. They have limited capacity, which means you will need to empty it, and the rental company charges to empty it for you at the end if you leave it. That said, there was no shortage of waste dumping stations at the parks, so it's not a disaster.

We had some friends to visit on the Nth Island, but our real destination was the Sth Island. We just zipped through Auckland and Rotarua and Wellington. Could easily spend a couple of weeks just in the north, there is a lot to see...

Enjoy your trip. Feel free to ask more questions..

woodbe.

[woodbe]

Oh, and if you are looking to do any spring snow-skiing, the south island shutdown a week ago. Mt Rhuapehu in the north may still be open, but I haven't checked. We were a day too late to go skiing when we got to Queenstown. (grumble)

woodbe.

[Tonyz]

Hi Woodbe

SWMOM asked the following.



Why so short on the Nth Island?

Cheers
:D
Dazzler

Because, (he says getting ready to be dumped on) the Nth Isl creates the smog the Sth Isl creates the beauty :2tsup::oo: