[myk_edwards]

Hi Folks,

a lady at work is planning a trip to NZ in the new year, our spring, so I guess your autumn. And she asked if I could get some recommendations of places to visit. She's mid 40's and likes to walk and see sights, so anything outdoors is good. she is also a keen photographer, and enjoys scenic views. Having said that, good food and comfortable accommodation are also important, but being ex military she can rough it a little if required.

So, all you NZ based or folks who have traveled, I'd like some idea's fort her. We know that there is lots of info on the travel sites, but a personal recommendation would win every time.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Spike]

Hi Mike
I'm actually in Australia I've been wanting to visit New Zealand myself for quite some time. I'll get there some day. I don't have much info myself but there was a great program on New Zealand called Getaway on TV that went for a full hour last night. Getaway puts all the info on there shows on the web you can visit the site on the following connection. You will have to type it into your browser as I don't know how to insert a link... Sorry.

http://getaway.ninemsn.com.au/

How's that looks like it does that automatically!!

Hope you find some interesting info there and with a little luck someone in New Zealand will give you a little more first hand info.

Nick

 

[rmg08057]

Mike

Just a couple of questions:
1. How long will she be in NZ for?
2. You can do a great car tour in 10-14 days, but you don't stay long in any one location. If you stop a few times for a day or so, then you won't see the rest if you are on a restricted timetable. So, what is her general concept for the trip?

 

[myk_edwards]

1. How long will she be in NZ for?
2. You can do a great car tour in 10-14 days, but you don't stay long in any one location. If you stop a few times for a day or so, then you won't see the rest if you are on a restricted timetable. So, what is her general concept for the trip?

Planning to be there for 3 weeks, but will be in OZ, brisbane for 3 days first.
car trip is good, but she is leaning towards the south west of south Island.

 

[rmg08057]

So, I am going to interpret this as a bit of driving is OK, but not a total car trip, with about 16 days total in NZ (3-4 days in Aust + 1 day travel Aust-NZ-Aust).

What I would do spend two full days around Auckland, 1 day travel Auckland - Christchurch - Auckland and then spend the remain 13 full days in the South Island.

In Auckland do one of the following two:
1. Round trip Auckland - Coromandel Peninsula - Rotorua - Auckland.
2. Round trip Auckland - Bay Of Islands - Rawene/Kauri Forests - Auckland.

In the South Island, I would do a loop around the whole Island, starting and ending in Christcurch. There are lots of options ... for instance:
Christchurch to Mt Cook
Mt Cook to Queenstown via Lindiss Pass.
Around Central Otago
Down to TeAnau and across to Milford
QUeenstown to Wanaka and over the Haast Pass.
Up the West Coast, thru the Buller Gorge to Nelson.
Across to the Marlborough wine area and down past the Kaikoura Mts to Kaikoura.
Back to Christchurch.

Resist using Arthurs Pass and cutting out the northern leg of the trip, as the Kaikoura's are beautiful. The Golden Bay area is nice as well.

This route would give lots of variety, plenty of time to stay for 1, 2 5 days in any location. Even time to do the Milford Track or the Routeburn Track (how about the Heaphy?). Lots of side trips (Stewart Island, whales off Kaikoura, flights up onto Tasman Glacier etc).

This SI portion is high on physical stuff, misses much of the Maori, and the volcanic country in the NI. Anyway, to do all that as well they need to make it a car trip which they don't want.

HTH

 

[myk_edwards]

Thank you very much for taking the time to put this together. I've passed on the info I've been given and will get a few photo's from her when she returns.

 

[rmg08057]

Mike

If she wants to give me a call to discuss, happy to do so. Done the lot a few times and bits of it lotsa times.

PM if she wants a #.

 

[myk_edwards]

If she wants to give me a call to discuss, happy to do so. Done the lot a few times and bits of it lotsa times.

PM if she wants a #.

Thank you, I'll let her know.

 

[cpaine]

Land of the Long White Cloud (Middle Earth)

G'day..

Some personal faves from my many trips to Middle Earth..

Milford Sound
Haast Pass
Milford Track (three day hike - staying in cabins along the way) **HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - INCREDIBLE SCENERY / PHOTO OPS **

Franz Josef Glacier (take the helo ride to the snowfields up above - inaccessible on foot - breathtaking scenery and photo ops again)

Queenstown - take the steamboat across the lake - incredible scenery again. They do a fabulous BBQ lunch as well on a cattle station on the far side.

Lake Tapau

All of these places are in the southern island. North is OK - South is majestic.

Chris Paine
2001 K1200LT
Carool NSW Australia