Newbie visit - appreciate if I can ask some questions.
Discussion
Morning all,
I'm making my first trip over from the UK this Thursday. We'll be there 11 days in total, landing in Auckland and driving for 4 days down to visit my sister in the Hawkes Bay (Napier) area of North island. It's going to be completely different to my normal holidays (city breaks, seaside) but that's the appeal and I'm really looking forward to it.
I do have a few questions though and hope the NZ forum can help. I'm also interested in any other advice, comments, input, etc since most of what I know I've just heard via friends. Guide book purchased to be read on the plane though
.
Jet lag - We fly via Hong Kong without stopover and arrive midday. What to expect?!
Auckland - we are planning to spend the first day and night there taking it easy, but couldn't get an affordable hotel there. So we're booked into a motel by the airport. Is it worth seeing Auckland, given that it's going to be in the opposite direction to our final destination? Can we drive into Auckland and park for free? I drive in the London rush hour weekly so I'm not bothered by city driving.
Car hire - I can sort this but any PH input welcomed. Everything affordable seems to be a Corolla or equally dull. I loved the idea of buying something cheap for the time there and dumping it at my sister's. I even looked at used cars. But OH really wouldn't be amused if it went wrong.
Hotels - hoping to just turn up and find rooms in the various areas e.g. rotorua, taupo, etc. Good plan?
Routes - Any recommended routes/stops? We'll be at the coast for 5 days once we're at our final destination, so I'm not fussed about seeing the seaside on the way down there.
Are there any interesting things in North Island to check out that have an engineering/motoring/racing theme? Or at a stretch a WWII/miltary theme? My Dad will be out there and we're into that. I'm concerned he will be bored.
That's all. Really appreciate any answers that you can give since local experience is always the best. We're coming by Cathay Pacific/Air NZ premium economy which I'm sure is something to look forward to and I hope will make it a lot more comfortable. I've spent the whole weekend loading my iPad with hours of videos so I reckon I'm ready for the painful parts of the trip!
I'm making my first trip over from the UK this Thursday. We'll be there 11 days in total, landing in Auckland and driving for 4 days down to visit my sister in the Hawkes Bay (Napier) area of North island. It's going to be completely different to my normal holidays (city breaks, seaside) but that's the appeal and I'm really looking forward to it.
I do have a few questions though and hope the NZ forum can help. I'm also interested in any other advice, comments, input, etc since most of what I know I've just heard via friends. Guide book purchased to be read on the plane though
.Jet lag - We fly via Hong Kong without stopover and arrive midday. What to expect?!
Auckland - we are planning to spend the first day and night there taking it easy, but couldn't get an affordable hotel there. So we're booked into a motel by the airport. Is it worth seeing Auckland, given that it's going to be in the opposite direction to our final destination? Can we drive into Auckland and park for free? I drive in the London rush hour weekly so I'm not bothered by city driving.
Car hire - I can sort this but any PH input welcomed. Everything affordable seems to be a Corolla or equally dull. I loved the idea of buying something cheap for the time there and dumping it at my sister's. I even looked at used cars. But OH really wouldn't be amused if it went wrong.
Hotels - hoping to just turn up and find rooms in the various areas e.g. rotorua, taupo, etc. Good plan?
Routes - Any recommended routes/stops? We'll be at the coast for 5 days once we're at our final destination, so I'm not fussed about seeing the seaside on the way down there.
Are there any interesting things in North Island to check out that have an engineering/motoring/racing theme? Or at a stretch a WWII/miltary theme? My Dad will be out there and we're into that. I'm concerned he will be bored.
That's all. Really appreciate any answers that you can give since local experience is always the best. We're coming by Cathay Pacific/Air NZ premium economy which I'm sure is something to look forward to and I hope will make it a lot more comfortable. I've spent the whole weekend loading my iPad with hours of videos so I reckon I'm ready for the painful parts of the trip!
Edited by Pentoman on Sunday 9th February 22:39
Good choice in Napier, it's a lovely spot, and I think you'll enjoy it.
Can't help on the jetlag bit but getting in to see Auckland city for a day would probably be easiest done by taking a bus in from the airport. You could Taxi, but that's going to be expensive. There's a decent bus service from the Airport to the city and back, and it's pretty cheap.
As for booking in advance, you SHOULD be okay just to rock up on the day and book a room without reservation in most places, HOWEVER this can go awry if there happens to be a big event in a town on any given day/weekend. Trying to get a room in Rotorua when the Marathon's on, or in Taupo when the Ironman / Cycle-round-the-lake events are on are near impossible even if booking ahead.
There are slightly more interesting rental options available. Some places rent out MX5s, some rent out exotics, but the exotics are very expensive to hire. Buying a car is not a silly idea, so long as your sister doesn't mind having it dumped on her and she's willing to sell on your behalf once you're gone. (helps if you're willing to sell it slightly cheaper than market rate).
Can't help on the jetlag bit but getting in to see Auckland city for a day would probably be easiest done by taking a bus in from the airport. You could Taxi, but that's going to be expensive. There's a decent bus service from the Airport to the city and back, and it's pretty cheap.
As for booking in advance, you SHOULD be okay just to rock up on the day and book a room without reservation in most places, HOWEVER this can go awry if there happens to be a big event in a town on any given day/weekend. Trying to get a room in Rotorua when the Marathon's on, or in Taupo when the Ironman / Cycle-round-the-lake events are on are near impossible even if booking ahead.
There are slightly more interesting rental options available. Some places rent out MX5s, some rent out exotics, but the exotics are very expensive to hire. Buying a car is not a silly idea, so long as your sister doesn't mind having it dumped on her and she's willing to sell on your behalf once you're gone. (helps if you're willing to sell it slightly cheaper than market rate).
Hi
We've just done a 2 week tour of the North Island and loved it.
I find jet lag worse when travelling back to the UK, but I think all people are different so may be hard to add further comments.
Napier is a beautiful town with Gisborne not too far away. It's a wine growing area and was hot and dry when we was there. Havelock North is nice with a good look out point - all the locals know about it.
We found Auckland nice although is was wet the day we walked round. Look for The Depot and have a good look around the marina. Parking was expensive where we stopped.
We hired a Nissan Tiida, rubbish car but it did what we needed it to do.
You should be ok for rooms, we pre booked but it was busy season when we was touring.
A route to Napier we did over a few days was
The Coromondels are very nice (Hot Water Beach). Tauranga and Mt Monganui nice. Did the drive from Opotuki to Gisborne which was good.
If you like Lord of the Rings Hobbiton at Matamata excellent. There is a car museum just north of Wellington which is the best car collection in the Southern Hemisphere.
Lots to see and do at Rotarua and Taupo.
All in all a great place and 11 days will be too short.
We've just done a 2 week tour of the North Island and loved it.
I find jet lag worse when travelling back to the UK, but I think all people are different so may be hard to add further comments.
Napier is a beautiful town with Gisborne not too far away. It's a wine growing area and was hot and dry when we was there. Havelock North is nice with a good look out point - all the locals know about it.
We found Auckland nice although is was wet the day we walked round. Look for The Depot and have a good look around the marina. Parking was expensive where we stopped.
We hired a Nissan Tiida, rubbish car but it did what we needed it to do.
You should be ok for rooms, we pre booked but it was busy season when we was touring.
A route to Napier we did over a few days was
The Coromondels are very nice (Hot Water Beach). Tauranga and Mt Monganui nice. Did the drive from Opotuki to Gisborne which was good.
If you like Lord of the Rings Hobbiton at Matamata excellent. There is a car museum just north of Wellington which is the best car collection in the Southern Hemisphere.
Lots to see and do at Rotarua and Taupo.
All in all a great place and 11 days will be too short.
If you're staying at an airport motel, most of them have a courtesy shuttle to and from the airport.
I've used these in the past to get from the accommodation to the airport, then use the express bus to Auckland. http://www.airbus.co.nz/
Then on the return, once you're back at the airport, ring the courtesy shuttle to take you to your bed!
An economic way to get into Auckland from the airport which isn't in Auckland as such!
To get to Napier you could hire a car or look here to buy something that needs selling quickly
http://www.backpackerboard.co.nz/noticeboard/cars-...
Of course you have http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors - our eBay.
I'll be happy to sell the car for you if you leave it in Hawke's Bay.
Alternatively, get to Napier and then plan cars and touring etc. Travel by bus from $38 each one way, or fly down in an hour on Saturday for $159 each one way.
And when you are here, call into this museum http://www.britishcarmuseum.co.nz/
I've used these in the past to get from the accommodation to the airport, then use the express bus to Auckland. http://www.airbus.co.nz/
Then on the return, once you're back at the airport, ring the courtesy shuttle to take you to your bed!
An economic way to get into Auckland from the airport which isn't in Auckland as such!
To get to Napier you could hire a car or look here to buy something that needs selling quickly
http://www.backpackerboard.co.nz/noticeboard/cars-...
Of course you have http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors - our eBay.
I'll be happy to sell the car for you if you leave it in Hawke's Bay.
Alternatively, get to Napier and then plan cars and touring etc. Travel by bus from $38 each one way, or fly down in an hour on Saturday for $159 each one way.
And when you are here, call into this museum http://www.britishcarmuseum.co.nz/
and for military http://www.armymuseum.co.nz/visit-us/getting-here/
On jet lag it depends on your timings. I've done this a lot, if arriving in the evening it's a case of getting to a hotel ASAP and sleeping, next day you will be Ok ish. Arriving in the morning is harder, I make sure the hotel knows I'm arriving earlier and am assigned to a free room, if they have one, then I can arrive and go to bed with an alarm set for around lunchtime, then get up and do the day through to normal sleep time in the evening.
If you arrive early and can't check in until later it becomes a real struggle (for me).
Auckland is well worth a visit into though, going there and not seeing any of it would be a shame. Personally I'd pre book hotels simply because you can spend a lot of time travelling round trying to find somewhere if it's busy, aside from Auckland nowhere in NZ is very big.
If you arrive early and can't check in until later it becomes a real struggle (for me).
Auckland is well worth a visit into though, going there and not seeing any of it would be a shame. Personally I'd pre book hotels simply because you can spend a lot of time travelling round trying to find somewhere if it's busy, aside from Auckland nowhere in NZ is very big.
Could be a bit out of the way
http://www.drivingcreekrailway.co.nz/
Also MOTAT in Auackland
http://www.motat.org.nz/explore/collections/aviati...
http://www.drivingcreekrailway.co.nz/
Also MOTAT in Auackland
http://www.motat.org.nz/explore/collections/aviati...
Something you're familiar with
https://trademe.co.nz/695246940
Make them an offer, run around in it, flog it in Napier
https://trademe.co.nz/695246940
Make them an offer, run around in it, flog it in Napier
Auckland is busy this weekend http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/21391139/...
My suggestion is don't plan too much on the first day. Do something in Auckland if you want but you probably wont feel like doing much. Try to stay awake till at least around 8pm so you get used to NZ time then you should wake up around morning and be good to go after that.
I wouldn't recommend any significant driving (100+ks) after that long a flight.
Though it depends if you can sleep on a plane. Last time I flew from the UK I was awake for 50 hours straight so you might do better.
I wouldn't recommend any significant driving (100+ks) after that long a flight.
Though it depends if you can sleep on a plane. Last time I flew from the UK I was awake for 50 hours straight so you might do better.
mark387mw said:
Something you're familiar with
https://trademe.co.nz/695246940
Make them an offer, run around in it, flog it in Napier
Thanks for that. Tempting. At the moment a Holden Spark (below) is £255 for just 5 days from Saturday to Wednesday.https://trademe.co.nz/695246940
Make them an offer, run around in it, flog it in Napier
or it's £270 to hire a Corolla and £324 for a Camry.
Am I right in believing the rumours that if I purchased a car I would be automatically insured to drive it? And that I can drive my sister's car too?
As for the rest - thanks for input. Noted the bits on dealing with jet lag and not doing too much on day 1. Some useful links to things we can go and look at there too.
Yup it's a short drive to Napier really, so far we're planning to see Matamata, Taupo, Rotorua, possible Tongariro park, and whatever else we can fit in during the initial 3-4 days. After that some day trips out from Napier.
I've screwed up leaving the hire car booking this late, haven't I?
I will consider more suggestions for cheap, functional cars, especially if any members know any. My Dad's a mechanic so maybe it would also solve the problem of finding something for him to do...
I'll leave it there and make it my wedding gift.
Yup it's a short drive to Napier really, so far we're planning to see Matamata, Taupo, Rotorua, possible Tongariro park, and whatever else we can fit in during the initial 3-4 days. After that some day trips out from Napier.
I've screwed up leaving the hire car booking this late, haven't I?
I will consider more suggestions for cheap, functional cars, especially if any members know any. My Dad's a mechanic so maybe it would also solve the problem of finding something for him to do...
I'll leave it there and make it my wedding gift.
Edited by Pentoman on Wednesday 12th February 14:30
no if you purchase a car you are not insured.
insurance is not compulsory in NZ. You should be insured to drive your sisters car most polocies has any driver over 25 covered (does this include international licences)
as for accom look at www.bachcare.co.nz/holiday-homesý
this is how we stay when we travel around a bit. dont have the hotel functions but I think you get a better feel for the place and I love nothing more than sitting on a quiet deck and having a drink while the sun is going down with only nature to see and hear.
Lake Tarawera is where I always stay when I go to rotorua 20 min drive to rotorua but a very nice spot. http://www.bachcare.co.nz/accommodation-holiday-ho...
not sure on your budget. but these are my suggestions.
if your looking for a pure driving road (with some history for dad) look at http://www.taranaki.info/visit/theme.php/page/forg... although it is on the opposite coast to where you are NZ is not that big a place if you like to have drive.
I ran a car event through there recently and had a blast www.gumbootrally.com
and IMO New Plymouth is definately worth a look in the parks and walkway are unreal oh and the view of the mountain still gets me everyday on the way to and from work.
insurance is not compulsory in NZ. You should be insured to drive your sisters car most polocies has any driver over 25 covered (does this include international licences)
as for accom look at www.bachcare.co.nz/holiday-homesý
this is how we stay when we travel around a bit. dont have the hotel functions but I think you get a better feel for the place and I love nothing more than sitting on a quiet deck and having a drink while the sun is going down with only nature to see and hear.
Lake Tarawera is where I always stay when I go to rotorua 20 min drive to rotorua but a very nice spot. http://www.bachcare.co.nz/accommodation-holiday-ho...
not sure on your budget. but these are my suggestions.
if your looking for a pure driving road (with some history for dad) look at http://www.taranaki.info/visit/theme.php/page/forg... although it is on the opposite coast to where you are NZ is not that big a place if you like to have drive.
I ran a car event through there recently and had a blast www.gumbootrally.com
and IMO New Plymouth is definately worth a look in the parks and walkway are unreal oh and the view of the mountain still gets me everyday on the way to and from work.
Pentoman said:
Am I right in believing the rumours that if I purchased a car I would be automatically insured to drive it? And that I can drive my sister's car too?
No, that's not the case, but insurance isn't compulsory in NZ !! It's a lot cheaper than the UK though, so at least having 3rd Party cover seems wise.Pentoman said:
At the moment a Holden Spark is £255 for just 5 days from Saturday to Wednesday.
Am I right in believing the rumours that if I purchased a car I would be automatically insured to drive it? And that I can drive my sister's car too?
That Holden Spark will equate to approx $510, the depreciation on a longer term purchase?? and it'll be return to the pick up point as there are one way drop off fees.Am I right in believing the rumours that if I purchased a car I would be automatically insured to drive it? And that I can drive my sister's car too?
IIRC insurance is still optional, third party recommended however. If not insured, don't have an accident!
as far as purchasing a car here. as mentioned in an earlier thread our second hand cars are not what you are used to in the uk.
what would be your budget on a second hand car and what would you be looking for.
if you are looking for a fun weekend drive try this
http://www.fraser.co.nz/hire-sports-car/
what would be your budget on a second hand car and what would you be looking for.
if you are looking for a fun weekend drive try this
http://www.fraser.co.nz/hire-sports-car/
A Falcon? err, no. It's more like a Vauxhall Cavalier or maybe a Mondeo. I had an XR6 for a week in NZ last year, it was alright but don't get excited. But NZ isn't a place you put the foot down and feel the power anyway, much more about following the car in front in convoy on the single carriageway roads.
Falcons are one of the main chouces for taxis in Australia
Falcons are one of the main chouces for taxis in Australia
siscar if you are looking to travel the main roads thens its a case of follow the leader.
but with a bit of creativity you can find some very forgotten roads and blow the cobwebs off (if that is what you are after)
ive never driven a falcon always steered towards mid size vehicles. but im sure a falcon will make the main road driving effortless. hire a gps (tom tom) or similar or even buy one their cheap for the basic model they work well here.
but with a bit of creativity you can find some very forgotten roads and blow the cobwebs off (if that is what you are after)
ive never driven a falcon always steered towards mid size vehicles. but im sure a falcon will make the main road driving effortless. hire a gps (tom tom) or similar or even buy one their cheap for the basic model they work well here.
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