New Zealand on my todd!

[adam85]

Had an unfortunate turn of events recently - I booked a holiday a few months ago with my girlfriend and two of her (female) friends to New Zealand for one month July - August time.. We have just gone through a difficult split after six years together and she has basically told me that it would be much too awkward right now for me to go with them.

So now I am left with tickets worth over 1K and am trying to decide what to do. I have considered hiring a camper and driving from the South Island (I arrive in Christchurch) to the North Island where I depart (Auckland).

Any advice or has anybody dome something similar before?

Much appreciated.

Adam

[Toobin]

why don't you advertise for some like minded travelers to join you and make the most of it? are the tickets transferable?

[dan1981]

Go on your own you'll have a great time. On my phone at the moment but will post more when back on a pc I've done it myself and it's brilliant.

[adam85]

dan1981 said:

Go on your own you'll have a great time. On my phone at the moment but will post more when back on a pc I've done it myself and it's brilliant.

Great, would be interested to hear - thanks!

[ewenm]

I'd definitely go on my own but I wouldn't rent a camper van in that situation - too isolating. I'd stay in Youth Hostels (or similar) as you always meet like-minded people to go for a beer/food/activity/few days travel with. So I'd fly out, rent a car (or if you're brave join one of the Kiwi Experience buses), and book hostels as you go.

[hornetrider]

I'd second the hostel idea - camper van on your own will be no fun. There is a travellers car market in Christchurch where you could pick up a shed, or you could buy a car privately.

When you get to Auckland there is a massive weekly car market at the (racecourse?) where you can offload it quite easily. We sold our camper there for good money, lots of buyers.

[v15ben]

I did NZ on my own. Would certainly recommend getting into hostels as you go and hiring or buying a car for the freedom to choose where you go without getting isolated on campsites.

I did Greyhound buses around the place though a mate of mine was doing Oz Experience around the same time and enjoyed it.

If you want some car hire quotes let me know. I could have a word in the ear of one of our suppliers if you do want to purchase a car as they do sometimes have some of their fleet available if you fancy a cheeky bid

[dan1981]

adam85 said:

dan1981 said:

Go on your own you'll have a great time. On my phone at the moment but will post more when back on a pc I've done it myself and it's brilliant.

Great, would be interested to hear - thanks!

Sorry took a while longer than expected!

I'd second what alot of people on here have already said - i'd give the camper van a miss, to be hoenst i'd probabaly not bother with a car either - I used buses to get around and had no problem getting everywhere i wanted, more or less when i wanted.

Stay in hostels - everyone in there are usually friendly folks - you'll make some great friends - and some of them may well help you get over your breakup!

To be honest i'd avoid the kiwi experience bus. Unless you're 17/18 (which i guess from you're post that you're not), I encoutered them at a few of the hostels that i stayed at -basically they seemed to be bus loads of spoilt kids whe's parents had paid for them to go to NZ on a "supervised adventure".

Arrivign in Christchurch is good - if i were you i'd head south - check out queenstown if thats your sort of thing - bungie jumping, river raftign etc etc. Great fun.

Other places i'd advise checking out....

Taupo - do a skydiver above lake taupo - its amazing. one of the best rushes you'll ever get. Taupo Tnadem Skydive were the company i used a couple of years ago and they were great.

In Queenstown do the jetboat on the river. - shotover i think its called.

Wellington is a nice city - coupel of good museums to chill out and relax around before crossing to the south island or when arriving on the north island

you can go whale watching but the name of the town escapes me - that was godo funn too and one of those experiences that stay with you....

Definitly go to the Franz Josef glacier and do a glacier hike - really enjoyed this.

Dunedan is a nice town - Scottish infact almost! - also got the steepest hill in the world! But i think its quite far south so you may not have time for all of this. Likewise going North from Auckland would be good to visit the beaches and islands - but again i'm not sure a month will be long enough for all of this.

I'll try and find a route plan of where i went - (it was 2004) and how long it took me -

But whatever you do - Do NOT pass up the oppurtunity to go just because you might have to do it on your own.

Edited by dan1981 on Friday 22 May 15:09

[hornetrider]

I thought the Shotover was a bit meh.

The best thing in Queenstown is the Canyon Swing, closely followed by the bungy.

[dan1981]

hornetrider said:

I thought the Shotover was a bit meh.

The best thing in Queenstown is the Canyon Swing, closely followed by the bungy.

I know what you mean about the shotover - but i enjoyed in itself - compared to things like the parachute jump its a little tame but still good i think.

[adam85]

Thanks so much for this guys, invaluable information there! Yeah I checked the Kiwi Experience and found it did have a hint of School Trip about it! With a bit of homework I could suss out the places to go of my own accord. Would you recommend booking hostels in advance (would this be cheaper) or is it acceptable to just source one on the spot and check in?

I am definitely going, no way am I sitting this one out! As you have said, meeting people over there is going to be a great help and I'm sure will open up more oppertunities and perhaps join them in activities they have planned.

[hornetrider]

Just read the rest of your post. Whale watching is Kaikoura, north of Christchurch. We did that and the swimming with dolphins on the same day. The dolphins were frigging amazing, our boat just bimbled around a bit looking for the school, then dropped us off in the middle of them, crazy stuff, they are really interactive. One of the best things I did over there.

I'd also recommend a heli-hike up Franz Josef, top stuff.

As for hostels, I wouldn't bother booking in advance because that then ties you to a schedule. Personally I reckon you're better off having a rough plan which can be changed as you pull travelling totty you go along.

Edited by hornetrider on Friday 22 May 15:13

[dan1981]

adam85 said:

Would you recommend booking hostels in advance (would this be cheaper) or is it acceptable to just source one on the spot and check in?

I found i usually booked the hotels the night before i arrived. So if i was in X and was arriving in Y the next day then i'd give X a ring and book one or two nights just to get in.

I don't think you'd have any problem just turning up but I found this method made sure I was in the Hostel i wanted.

Oh and buy a lonley planet - its invaluble - will let you knwo where to stay / what the main attractions are etc.

A general New Zealand one will be fine.

[v15ben]

I always booked hostels 1 or 2 days ahead just to be on the safe side. You can usually just turn up and find somewhere but run the risk of paying a bit more. I very much doubt you'd get left out in the road though

[Stitch]

Tell her that if it's too "Awkward" she doesn't have to go!!

..... Then screw both her mates

[havoc]

v15ben said:

I always booked hostels 1 or 2 days ahead just to be on the safe side. You can usually just turn up and find somewhere but run the risk of paying a bit more. I very much doubt you'd get left out in the road though

No need. We went in September and didn't have any trouble getting in anywhere. Do a little bit of research on e.g. TripAdvisor before you go and you'll find decent places.

July-Aug is the middle of their winter, so:-
- Expect mixed weather
- Expect it to be COLD - especially in the South Island. They've proper mountains and proper winter there, so unless you're Scottish or you've been skiing you'll probably be unprepared with the usual 'English' gear...
- Expect some places to be near-deserted (Taupo in mid-Sept was a ghost-town given its popularity in their summer!)
- Winter-sports in Wanaka (cool place) and Queenstown (also pretty cool) will be in full-swing (so you may need to book accom'n there). Q'town is pricey (@ 2.5NZD/£ it was near to London prices for food and drink unless you found the right spots - shocked us given how little NZ'ers are supposed to earn), but Wanaka less-so.

Where to go?
South Island:
- Fiordland is fantastic, although check who's running cruises at that time (it's down-time season) - if you can overnight on one of them do it, but I doubt you'll be able to.
- Qu'town and Wanaka will be a must at that time of year.
- Southern Alps and glaciers will be very cool, and you've the time to do both sides of the mountains as well.
- Christchurch is very 'english' but worth visiting. Can swim with dolphins (Black Cat Cruises) from Akaroa peninsula - again, check if in-season.
- Kaikoura whale-watching is supposed to be pot-luck and "we saw one whale for 20 seconds on a 4-hour cruise in a small boat pitching in all the swell", so make sure you've got sea-legs for that one.
- Abel Tasman Nat'l Park supposed to be lovely - the one bit we wish we'd seen.

North Island
- Auckland will be worth a (quick) visit at any time of year
- Coromandel and Northland will have the warmest weather in winter - Coro has some stunning scenery too.
- Taupo will only be a base to see the volcanoes from at that time of year (you can do skydives from Wanaka or Queenstown over the southern alps, which is supposed to be a better 'view' than Taupo)
- Rotorua has the Maori stuff (touristy but quite interesting) and the thermal mud-pools (worth it if you're passing)
- Didn't do Wellington but it's their capital, so...


Other stuff:-
- Good wine regions on both islands. Reds in the southern part of South Island are a bit weak though, IMHO.
- Outside of the cities and tourist areas you'll be shocked how 'empty' the place is, and how quiet and backwatery all the little towns are - very different to the UK!


If you're interested I've got 3 threads of photos up in the last week on the Photo forum, plus a link to more.

[51mon]

Glad this topic has come up as I'll be in NZ for a couple of months on my own in oct / nov this year and was going to post something similar myself!

I'm planning on bussing it around, but am a bit uncertain as to which company is best? As mentioned previously Ive heard that the Oz / NZ Experience busses can be a bit '18-30s'-esqe and be full of pissed up teens just after an easy holiday (does sound like it could have its advantaged tho....!), Im mid twenties, and although obviously after having a good time, dont just want to spend my time getting smashed and doing organised 'activities' if you catch my drift..?

P.s sorry for the thread hijack! Let us all know how you get on when your back!

Si

[dan1981]

Plenty of "normal" bus services to choose from, i can't remeber the names of the firms i used but they all have adverts in the hostels you'll be staying in.

Mid 20's and in my experience you'd be towards the upper age range of the "experience" coach trips.

Its dead easy to get around once you're out there. I worried before I got started aswell, but it is very very easy - especially in English speaking countries.

You 'll also meet people in hostels with cars who may be heading your way - they'll usually be happy to give lifts for a share of fuel costs, I even tried thumbing a lift in NZ - took a while but worked. Probn wouldn't advise it though.

[v15ben]

Greyhound buses were the more grown up option that I used back in '05 and they were really reliable and a decent mix of people. NZ Experience is good for the 18-30 experience but not necessarily something you want every day of your holiday