Holiday: New Zealand or South Africa

supermodder

supermodder

supermodder

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15 May 2010
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Location
Ashford, kent
Never been to either, would like to go to both but can only have one holiday this year. Was wondering if anyone that has been could recommend places to go and help me to decide where to go. thanks
 
What are you looking to do? New Zealand has two islands which, combined, are larger than the UK. We only have a population of 4 million though so whilst the cities are populated there are large tracts of empty country.

NZ great for :
1. Watching and playing sports,
2. Walking, hiking, camping, tramping
3. Warm but not roasting weather. If you want real heat, go to Australia.
4. Very friendly people
5. Generally positive outlook (much more so than the UK)
6. Breathtaking scenery
7. Far superior food, particularly in cafés
8. High performance Japanese cars are very common :D

NZ not so good for :
1. Big city life/'feel' (there's no London equivalent for example). Whilst Auckland in particular is quite bustly, it's not even on the same page as London for scale.
2. The driving here is shocking. If you're renting a car, be very aware of this.
3. You'll need to do a lot of travelling to see everything both islands have to offer. 4 weeks is acceptable but longer is better.
4. 12,000 miles is a long journey
5. Your pound is worth next to nothing right now. The lowest its been in a considerable while.
6. I can't actually think of any other negatives :o

Just so you understand, I'm not a kiwi banging on about how great NZ is. I'm a Brit who moved here last August and I'd previously lived in London for 10 years so I'm able to do some kind of comparison.

I don't know anything about South Africa other than they're a terrible pack of Saffer douches :p
 
New Zealand, obviously.

SA will be full of irritating Englishn people shouting ENG-ER-LAND, and people who will carjack you.
 
Il be honest im not too sure what i want to do, just something different to usual 2week break sitting on a beach. unfortunately this is all i have really ever done.
I would like to explore and see all the different sides of life wherever i go. i am liking the sound of nz though, the weather isnt to much of an issue for me. The high performance jap cars are right up my street but i have been in some of the worlds fastest here in the uk.;)
just want a change of scenery.
Oh and want to do an extreme bungee jump!! :D
 
We emigrated to NZ over a year ago and still can't believe how much we love it, if you only have two weeks then I would probably spend a couple of days in Auckland then fly down to the South Island and spend the rest of your time there. Perhaps fly to Queenstown, spend some time there then drive up to Christchurch (or fly as it would be cheaper/quicker).
 
oli356 said:
Would go to NZ over SA, though i would go AUS over NZ ;)
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Depends on what you're after - if you're after stacks of red sand and average beer - go to Aus - if you're after some of the most awe inspiring scenery in the world coupled with some of the nicest people in the world - go to NZ.

I am baised BTW...

Cereal tho - Aus is beautiful but large and very spread out - NZ has the advantage of being quite compact and relatively easy to get around. Not to mention the produce many of the best white wines in the world. Aus also has some cracking red wines but again you have to be prepared to travel for very long distances.
 
SteveOBHave said:
Depends on what you're after - if you're after stacks of red sand and average beer - go to Aus - if you're after some of the most awe inspiring scenery in the world coupled with some of the nicest people in the world - go to NZ.

I am baised BTW...

Cereal tho - Aus is beautiful but large and very spread out - NZ has the advantage of being quite compact and relatively easy to get around. Not to mention the produce many of the best white wines in the world. Aus also has some cracking red wines but again you have to be prepared to travel for very long distances.
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Yer true. NZ has better scenery. Actually Tasmania has some as well!


2 minutes in to get past the talking ;)
Very nice beach atleast :D
 
ricky1981 said:
We emigrated to NZ over a year ago and still can't believe how much we love it, if you only have two weeks then I would probably spend a couple of days in Auckland then fly down to the South Island and spend the rest of your time there. Perhaps fly to Queenstown, spend some time there then drive up to Christchurch (or fly as it would be cheaper/quicker).
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I'd agree with this altho the drive from Auckland to Welly is quite pleasant and Taupo coupled with either Rotorua or the Desert road is pretty spectacular. It has nothing on Queenstown, The Remarkables coupled with Fiordland - get yourself down there mid summer - there is no place like it.
 
ricky1981 said:
Perhaps fly to Queenstown, spend some time there then drive up to Christchurch (or fly as it would be cheaper/quicker).
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Why go to Christchurch, it's a complete dump....

NZ is awesome though, so many cool activities / points of interest to check out. Both islands are fantastic and have a lot to offer, most people say South island is more beautiful and better, but I think I had the better experience on North island.

Don't stick around Auckland too long there's not much to see, New Zealand requires hiring a car and checking out all the weird and wonderful places/activities. Queenstown does make a good base though if you're in the south.

I'm yet to meet someone who hasn't thoroughly enjoyed New Zealand. :d

Can't comment on SA unfortunately.
 
Well popular opinion seems to be NZ, I like the idea of maybee a week driving around the north then flying down to the south and stayin in queenstown. Thanks for all the info though it is very useful. I see nobody has recommended SA. ;)
 
Well, as stated in this thread already, I wouldn't go to South Africa this year. Wait till after the World Cup has died down. If you go this year they will extort you for all you are worth.
 
Agreed, SA this year will be pretty horrific and I think it might we even hit the news in a bad way. On any other year I would highly recommend it. I went for 3 weeks in 2007 and absolutely love it. I was however staying much of the time with family and friends of my travelling companion so I kinda got a more homely experience than just staying in hotels.

Highly recommend St Lucia Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal, the Kruger National Park and the Mpumalanga region which includes the Blyde River Canyon and quite a numer of other sites to see in the area.

Really loved it but would give it a wide berth this year for sure.
 
[FnG]magnolia;16582044 said:
NZ not so good for :
1. Big city life/'feel' (there's no London equivalent for example). Whilst Auckland in particular is quite bustly, it's not even on the same page as London for scale.
Click to expand...

Just to underline this fact used to drive into central auckland (queens street) park outside at 11pm on a thurs nite to get a McD! Try doing that in central london
 
Would highly recommend New Zealand as it has so much to do and see, especially if you like being out doors!!
 
Having been there twice already I can recommend NZ, especially the Fjordlands , Queenstown and that area, Christchurch is quite boring imo and only worth a day or 2 there.
 
Perfect. I'd do 4 weeks in NZ, no doubt. Rent a car (or two, one on each island) and drive from auckland to milford sound,with all the stops along the way, then up and across to Christchurch for the flight home (via Sydney).

If you do this, make sure book the ferry in advance.
 
not been to NZ but been to south africa twice in the last 5 years, and done the garden route both times, from port elizibeth to cape town
hired a car and over a 3 - 4 week period travel to capetown !! epic times, best holidays we have been on yet !
can 100% reccomend SA
 
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