NZ holiday spots

[Chesand]

If staying on north island, the Bay of Islands around Keri Keri and across to Russell is definite must. If you have time go up to Cape Reinga and along the beach highway - probably best to do this on a day tour in a four wheel drive coach.
Chocolate factory at Keri Keri has some nice delights.
Be careful driving as the roads are nowhere as good as ours - highways are not as wide as ours and curves much sharper and not as well cambered.
It takes at least 3 hours to drive from Auckland to Keri Keri.

[kiwigeo]

• The Cantebury Plains

Um er..that should be Canterbury. Sorry as a born and bred Cantabrian Im duty bound to correct your little typo.

[kiwigeo]

Stinky,


Christchurch up the east coast to Nelson is also good, there is Whale watching at Kiakoura, (sorry spelling), put the car on the ferry then off to Windy Wellington.

Kaikoura (sorry...spell checking Kiwi)

[Sir Stinkalot]

All sounding good so far thankyou.

We fly into Auckland on December 27th and fly our of Wellington 17th Jan.

[kiwigeo]

Can't disagree with that! C'mon down South. Get a rental and drive down to Wanaka/Queenstown on the Scenic Route through Geraldine etc, Lindis Pass, then over the Haast Pass to the West Coast there is a real nice hotel on the beach at Punakaiki near the rocks- up to Nelson, then down via Blenheim and Kaikoura. November can be a bit wet - but can also be warm and beautiful. If you are short of time omit the top bit and come back via the Lewis Pass. Have a good stay.

Murrays suggestion is a good one....get to see a wide variety of contrasting scenery in a short period of time. if youre going over the Lewis pass then overnight at Maruia Springs. A japanese women has refurbished the hot spring resort. The service can be a bit slow and its a bit on the pricey side but the hot pools are great. Oh yeah, and theres not TV, radio or mobile phone reception so its QUIET.

Another place worth popping into for lunch on way back to Chch is the Pegasus Bay winery just out of Waipara...the Pinot and Rieslings are fantastic.

Cheers Martin

[kiwigeo]

Christchurch up the east coast to Nelson is also good, there is Whale watching at Kiakoura, (sorry spelling), put the car on the ferry then off to Windy Wellington.

If youre in a rental car then its usually cheaper to leave the car in Picton and pick up another one on the other side of Cook Strait. I think alot of rental car companies either wont let you put a car on the ferry or they'll charge you a huge relocation fee to get it back to its home base.

[ian]

We fly into Auckland on December 27th and fly out of Wellington 17th Jan.

So it'll be just the North island, unless you hop over the strait to visit the Marlborough wineries.

IMO, trying to do both islands in 3 weeks is way too much driving.

En Zed is only 3 hours away, so plan on visiting more than once. (says he who is planning his 8th visit)


ian

[mic-d]

West Coast there is a real nice hotel on the beach at Punakaiki

We stayed at that hotel at puna a few years back, tis a magic spot. If you were going in winter then Cardrona is pretty good because you can stay on the mountain.
Cheers
Michael

[Shedhand]

All sounding good so far thankyou.

We fly into Auckland on December 27th and fly our of Wellington 17th Jan.

Don't forget to pack the Aus/NZ dictionary for translations.

[elphingirl]

Hello Stinky

Unless you make a bee-line directly South, you'll have a bit of trouble seeing much of the South Island. But if you have time, hop on the Ferry over to Picton from Nelson. All the major car rental places allow you to drop your car off and pick another up at the other end (so you don't pay the $150 car ferry fee). The drive from Picton to Havelock is just wonderful, windy roads, spectacular islands rising out of the sea. Just past Havelock is Nelson which is a fantastic town full of arts, wine, lots of great weather. If I was going to live in New Zealand (again), I would definitely live here.

If you have a couple of days, you could then drive South from Nelson, and over the Lewis Pass back to the East Coast, and back up to Picton through Blenheim (more wine here).

Have fun,
Justine

[kiwigeo]

Hello Stinky

Unless you make a bee-line directly South, you'll have a bit of trouble seeing much of the South Island. But if you have time, hop on the Ferry over to Picton from Nelson.

Ferry runs from Wellington to Picton not Nelson to Picton. If time is short there's also the option of flying from Wellington to either Nelson or Blenheim and picking up a car at either airport.

[Tonyz]

Dont try and do both. It took me 28 years to see the whole place. Take ya time Id suggest just the north isl. this time try and get off the beaten track but your going in high tourist season Blah. Enjoy ....Tonz

[johnc]

John, sounds like you might have missed out on experiencing a hungi, what a shame!!!!! - Yuuummmmmmmm!!!!!!! sigh! brings back some very fond memories

cheers
Wendy

Wendy,

Your right about the the hungi, forgot all about that a very nice feed and entertainment on top plus boiling mud to boot.

John

[TassieKiwi]

Definately stick to the North Island for your 3 weeks. Plenty to see and do, and lots of places to chill out when you're knackered. Places to visit, from top down:
Tataputapu Bay (Spirits bay, near cape Rianga)
Drive along 90 mile beach. Lots of fun, don't tell the company:eek:
The kauri museum
Pihia and Russell - get on to the Tucker Thompson (tall ship) for a day
Drive thru Auckland. Pus hole.
Anywhere on the Coromandel Peninsula, esp. hot water beach (at low tide), Lonely Bay near Cooks Beach.
Raglan, west coast. Check out my birthplace and black sand beaches.
Huka Falls. You used to be able to walk nearly under them. Awesome.
Take a drive past Lake Taupo, and up Mt Ruapehu. The chairlift runs in summer, I think. Stunning on a good day.
Drive through Opotiki and around East Cape if you have time. You can take a shortcut through the gorge if you want, and go to Gisbourne.
Napier with the art deco buildings
Wellington is good for a couple of days. Cool place.

[MikeK]

Stinky,

I lived in NZ for a couple of years. I find myself agreeing with the general consensus: 3 weeks is not enought for both islands. Stay on the north island and plan on visiting NZ again. There are so many good things to see and do on both islands. The food and wine (both a pastime for me) are sensational. One of the things that I did that I will always remeber was to hire a boat and sail around Marlborough Sounds. Sensational!

Have fun,
Mike.