New Zealand Holiday

[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

Have the old person holiday in 15 years.

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
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"

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

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

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

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

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

Dazzler

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