New Zealand

Tomsk

Tomsk

Tomsk

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
5,238
Location
Overground, underground..
I'm planning a trip to NZ (& Australia) next April/May.
My intention is to hire a car and cruise around for 1 or 2 weeks.
What's the B&B/motel/hotel situation like in NZ for someone who hasn't booked in advance and is just dropping in?


I'll be dropping into Sydney & Melbourne briefly as well to visit some relatives and friends as a pre-cursor to a longer visit to Australia in 2015 or 2016
 
There is an abundance of easy to book accommodation when you'll be travelling in off season. You're biggest hurdle will be the awful exchange rate but even with that taken into account you'll generally get much better accommodation for your buck compared to the UK.
 
It's not a lot of time, i'd spend it all on the South island personally. Splitting between the two would be a bit of a rush job.

Book into hostels if you want to have fun with others. You'll be popular with access to a car! You can book hostels online the same day if you want.
 
Visas.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

New Zealand.
As a UK citizen I believe I can get in without applying for a visa before I leave. I should be granted a visa on arrival.

Australia.
I only need to get the electronic version online.


Melbourne and Sydney.
Is it easy to park in the city? I'm used to driving in LA, SF, LV and Canada and these are cities that are generally car friendly.
 
I just got back from Aus/NZ on Monday. I go once or twice a year as the folks live out there.

You're right about visas, you just fill in the form on line for Australia, and the wisa waiver for NZ you do on the plane before you arrive.

Accommodation is easy, motels/hotels/backpackers are everywhere in NZ, we used booking.com to find ours usually on a day by day basis. Always worth phoning them up once you've found the one you want as they'll do a better rate.

The exchange rate is terrible at the moment, I used a halifax clarity credit card for everything, much better rate than changing money but still expensive out there.
 
Just update this old thread with my itinerary in case anyone else is out there

23-27 Feb Sydney
27 Feb - 15 Mar New Zealand (north island only)
15 Mar - 22 Mar Melbourne (not going to the GP :p)
 
SAy hi to my girlfriends parents for me, they live in Whangaparaoa (Arkles bay) :D

Have a good trip, it'll still be summer there (Just).
 
Why on earth would you choose the north island only? South island is far superior from a tourist point of view with amazing scenary. I live on the north island and love going down south.

Plus Magnolia lives on the north island so get as far south as possible!
 
Totality said:
Why on earth would you choose the north island only? South island is far superior from a tourist point of view with amazing scenary. I live on the north island and love going down south.

Plus Magnolia lives on the north island so get as far south as possible!
Click to expand...

Only got 2 weeks and trying to fit the south island in would be a bit of a rush. Besides I plan to go back in a few years time.
 
I've just returned from a 15 month NZ / Aus trip, though I stayed in a campervan.

NZ is AMAZING. 2 weeks on North Island is doable but you wont spend more than 1 day in any single place, though the roads around the coast are very scenic so driving's not a chore. We didn't plan our trip at all so ended up in our campervan just parking up in any of many free-camp spots, we did spend a couple of weeks in a hire car with a tent but it was a bit cold for that. (When you're looking at going I would imagine it would be too cold for tenting to). However, knowing how friendly everybody (and I mean EVERYBODY) is out there I'm sure finding a B&B every day wont be an issue at all.

As for Australia, we found Sydney better than Melbourne. Harbour bridge climb is a little pricey but worth it and the harbour tour on a boat is cheap and good. Melbourne is a nice city, a lot more 'arty' but didn't do it for us.
 
Just to recommend, don't stay too long in Auckland. I live here and its not a tourist place, perhaps a day before heading off but the south island is where it is at for the adventure and the sights.
 
BlizzardX said:
Just to recommend, don't stay too long in Auckland. I live here and its not a tourist place, perhaps a day before heading off but the south island is where it is at for the adventure and the sights.
Click to expand...

Agreed. 10,000 more places to see than Auckland. Only good if you have a day to kill before a flight in or out.
 
I wouldn't rush through the North Island though, still plenty of places to go and see.

Lake Taupo
Rotorua
The Coromandel
Bay Of Islands
Wellington

Admittedly South Island still does have the best to offer though.
 
As of next Friday I'll be living in Christchurch. Positively cannot wait. I've not seen much of the North Island bar visits to Auckland and Wellington. I have friends living just south of Auckland and they're moving to Queenstown next month. But then I have friends living in the heart of Auckland and wouldn't dream of moving elsewhere
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom