My Impending Visit to your Neck of the Woods
Discussion
Hi guys, I was advised to stick this query regarding my impending trip on the board so the "locals" could help me out as well! Any help greatly appreciated, there could even be a few drinks in it for you when I am out there! Especially as my co-traveller is a car nut as well!
I am off to New Zealand for two weeks on november the 14th (after I get back from a 2 week p&o cruise round the med. with my folks ) and I was wondering if anyone has any advice, tips etc. I am going with a mate from uni, his last bit of fun before he joins the ranks of accountants in London . We have booked a 6 day coach trip from Christchurch which incorporates a number of activities inc. Bungey Jumping, White Water Rafting etc with other youngish people but as for the other 8 days or so, we are a tad stuck! I fancy seeing the real New Zealand, the scenary etc but we aren't a 100% sure how to organise such stuff. Additionally, I was wondering if anyone has any experience of the youth hostels over there, and knows how to book in advance! Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
I am off to New Zealand for two weeks on november the 14th (after I get back from a 2 week p&o cruise round the med. with my folks ) and I was wondering if anyone has any advice, tips etc. I am going with a mate from uni, his last bit of fun before he joins the ranks of accountants in London . We have booked a 6 day coach trip from Christchurch which incorporates a number of activities inc. Bungey Jumping, White Water Rafting etc with other youngish people but as for the other 8 days or so, we are a tad stuck! I fancy seeing the real New Zealand, the scenary etc but we aren't a 100% sure how to organise such stuff. Additionally, I was wondering if anyone has any experience of the youth hostels over there, and knows how to book in advance! Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Wow.... trecking round NZ after a cruise in the Med? ounds like a hard life to me eh?
If I'm guessing right, your coach trip will take in a lot of the Canterbury/Otago area.... typically where most of the "adventure tourism" stuff goes on.
You should get to see a fair bit of "Real NZ" on the road there as it doesn't get more "real down there", with thousands of hectares of sheep stations and snow capped mountains etc. I'm guessing if you're spending over half your time looking round the south of the sough island you should spend the rest of your time moving north up to Nelson/Marlborough (wine country), Wellington, Hawkes Bay (Fruit and Wine Country), Possibly some of Taranaki, or up through Taupo in the centre of the Nth island as it's a wonderful area there and you can also visit Rotorua too as that's also very touristy and rather interesting (lot of natural hotsprings and geothermal stuff there).... It all depends, what sorta stuff are you interested in seeing? I've no experience with youth hostels but trust me, they're easy to afford and given you'll be bringing british pounds over, you'll be able to afford to stay most places.... you'll be surprised how cheap MOST things are.
Thing to remember with NZ is it's big for a small country.... we may only have 4 million people, but we're roughtly the size of the UK and our roads aren't nearly as good so bussing everywhere will EAT up time like nothing else... if you can hire a car, it's probably worth it, or better still, fly between centres over longer distances.
I'm happy to give you more specific info if you want and I'm sure most of the other forum-goers in here would be happy to do the same.... just give me a buzz if there's anything I can help with and of course if you're in Auckland, I've got a settee you can doss on if you need to and the first pint's on me.... always happy to help a pistonhead
If I'm guessing right, your coach trip will take in a lot of the Canterbury/Otago area.... typically where most of the "adventure tourism" stuff goes on.
You should get to see a fair bit of "Real NZ" on the road there as it doesn't get more "real down there", with thousands of hectares of sheep stations and snow capped mountains etc. I'm guessing if you're spending over half your time looking round the south of the sough island you should spend the rest of your time moving north up to Nelson/Marlborough (wine country), Wellington, Hawkes Bay (Fruit and Wine Country), Possibly some of Taranaki, or up through Taupo in the centre of the Nth island as it's a wonderful area there and you can also visit Rotorua too as that's also very touristy and rather interesting (lot of natural hotsprings and geothermal stuff there).... It all depends, what sorta stuff are you interested in seeing? I've no experience with youth hostels but trust me, they're easy to afford and given you'll be bringing british pounds over, you'll be able to afford to stay most places.... you'll be surprised how cheap MOST things are.
Thing to remember with NZ is it's big for a small country.... we may only have 4 million people, but we're roughtly the size of the UK and our roads aren't nearly as good so bussing everywhere will EAT up time like nothing else... if you can hire a car, it's probably worth it, or better still, fly between centres over longer distances.
I'm happy to give you more specific info if you want and I'm sure most of the other forum-goers in here would be happy to do the same.... just give me a buzz if there's anything I can help with and of course if you're in Auckland, I've got a settee you can doss on if you need to and the first pint's on me.... always happy to help a pistonhead
Thats great mate! I have just spoken to my co-conspirator and it turns out we may not be able to do this south island tour now but may swop to the north island trip which is quite similar in set-up. Anyway, as we arrive and leave via Auckland, and I have heard its a good place re. nightlife, we shall certainly be there!
Hi if in Auckland you could go up the Sky Tower, take the ferry acoss to Waiheke island and hire scooters for the day and return back to Auckland. Take a wine tour. Bungy jump off the harbour bridge. Go for sail in one of the older America cup boats. Plenty of good places to eat and drink down town Auckland and along the water front. Depends on what floats your boat really and budget .
.The sailing and Bungey ideas sound pretty gd, thanks Kylie! I can see that my friend and I are going to end up with a packed couple of weeks! By the way, it will be my 22nd birthday on november 20th, so I quite fancy a good night out for that. If any one has any bar/club suggestions then they would be most welcome, as would any PHers!
Iceman82 said:
The sailing and Bungey ideas sound pretty gd, thanks Kylie! I can see that my friend and I are going to end up with a packed couple of weeks! By the way, it will be my 22nd birthday on november 20th, so I quite fancy a good night out for that. If any one has any bar/club suggestions then they would be most welcome, as would any PHers!
The type of bar depends on your 'requirements'. If you're of the heterosexual variety, I'd definitely avoid 'Hello Dorothy' on Ponsonby Rd
If you stick down the bottom end of town (High St, Vulcan Lane area) there are loads of good bars (and a few crap ones). If you're pining for England there's Mad Dogs and Englishmen (I think it's on Hobson or Albert St) - they even play football on the big screen.
However, what can be a laugh is Karangahape Rd (K Road) in the City - try Caluzi. Though mind you don't end up with a woman that's not a woman...
Hi everyone,
Just a quick note to say thank you for your help and advice. My friend and I will be over in New Zealand next monday, landing in Auckland and staying there till wednesday then moving on. We have now totally changed our plans and have hired a car, constructed our own list of things to do (thanks in part to your input) and now we can't wait! If anyone lives in or near to Auckland, and is free on monday or tuesday night let me know and maybe we can arrange to meet up for some drinks, on me in exchange for all the help! Thanks once again! (ps obviously we will be travelling around, mainly the south island, but if i get the chance I will post a msg saying where we are in case anyone wants to meet up for a drink!)
Just a quick note to say thank you for your help and advice. My friend and I will be over in New Zealand next monday, landing in Auckland and staying there till wednesday then moving on. We have now totally changed our plans and have hired a car, constructed our own list of things to do (thanks in part to your input) and now we can't wait! If anyone lives in or near to Auckland, and is free on monday or tuesday night let me know and maybe we can arrange to meet up for some drinks, on me in exchange for all the help! Thanks once again!
(ps obviously we will be travelling around, mainly the south island, but if i get the chance I will post a msg saying where we are in case anyone wants to meet up for a drink!)Gassing Station | New Zealand | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff