Who is from or has been to New Zealand?

[remphish1]

Hi all,

 

I know we have some well traveled folks here and even some kiwi's so your input would be appreciated! I have 10 nights free in feb for a trip and the wife and I were planning for New Zealand...after the 20 hours of flying I am down to 8 nights so here is what I was planning...

 

 

2 Nights in Auckland with a day trip to Rotorua

2 in Queenstown (Te Anu, Milford Sound day trip)

1 Night Franz Joseph/Fox Glacier

2 in Christchurch

1 in Auckland at end

 

I decided to axe Wellington, Dunedin...Would I be missing out by forgoing these 2? Obviously I have a very limited time frame so I got to cut something...Will be flying between Auck>Queenstown Christchurch>Auckland driving the rest.

 

Thanks

 

[Doug C]

That is going to be an enjoyable trip. We, wife and I, want to return to New Zealand for a longer stay. 3 summers ago we chaperoned some students on a trip to NZ, Sydney and Honolulu. I don't really care for these trips as a guided tour is not my way of traveling but the price is right! Anyway, we were in Auckland for a day and Rotorua for 2. We didn't really see a lot of Auckland. The waterfront was nice and we found a good brewpub, the Shakespeare Brewery Tavern and Hotel. Rotorua was wonderful. It is in a Moari cultural area and is also a geothermal area. Our hotel had 3 private, natural geothermal spas. We definitely enjoyed those, twice. Rotorua itself is a nice little town. Good fish and chip shops. The best was the Whaka geothermal area itself and the Whaka Maori village. Very interesting people. We learned lots about the history and culture. If possible, go to the Waitomo caves. A cool cave in general but part of the tour is in a boat through darkness and includes glowworms. A unique experience. We also went to the Agrodome, which we expected to be incredibly lame but it was surprisingly fun. We learned a heck of a lot about different sheep and their different wool but the sheep shearing exhibition and the sheepdog show were old school cool. We also attended a hangi feast in Rotorua. Kind of like a luau, I'd guess. Touristy but incredible food. Our guide for the entire trip was Maori, so that was a bonus. I also watched a hell of a lot of rugby! Go All Blacks.

I am envious as will be my wife when I tell her. Enjoy!

[remphish1]

That is going to be an enjoyable trip. We, wife and I, want to return to New Zealand for a longer stay. 3 summers ago we chaperoned some students on a trip to NZ, Sydney and Honolulu. I don't really care for these trips as a guided tour is not my way of traveling but the price is right! Anyway, we were in Auckland for a day and Rotorua for 2. We didn't really see a lot of Auckland. The waterfront was nice and we found a good brewpub, the Shakespeare Brewery Tavern and Hotel. Rotorua was wonderful. It is in a Moari cultural area and is also a geothermal area. Our hotel had 3 private, natural geothermal spas. We definitly enjoyed those, twice. Rotorua itself is a nice little town. Good fish and chip shops. The best was the Whaka geothermal area itself and the Whaka Maori village. Very interesting people. We learned lot's about the history and culture. If possible, go to the Waitomo caves. A cool cave in general but part of the tour is in a boat through darkness and includes glowworms. A unique experience. We also went to the Agrodome, which we expected to be incredibly lame but it was surprisingly fun. We learned a heck of a lot about different sheep and their different wool but the sheep shearing exhibition and the sheepdog show were old school cool. We also attended a hangi feast in Rotorua. Kind of like a luau, I'd guess. Touristy but incredible food. Our guide for the entire trip was Maori, so that was a bonus. I also watched a hell of a lot of rugby! Go All Blacks.

I am envious as will be my wife when I tell her. Enjoy!

 

Sounds cool...Thanks!

[u2roolz]

Go All Blacks.

 

Hmm. Odd coming from a Wilco message board. Queen Latifah, can you read this?!

[remphish1]

Hmm. Odd coming from a Wilco message board. Queen Latifah, can you read this?!

Not so wierd...she was all about U.N.I.T.Y.

[Griddles]

I spent about 6 months in New Zealand studying in Christchurch. As Such I spent most of my time on the South Island. I did spend about a week in Rotorua with the study abroad program. We also went to the Agrodome and everyone there seemed to have a really good time (I was not as fascinated because I grew up around farming sheep, but the sheep dogs are still really cool). I would say that if you are up to it to go Zorbing is is really fun. Queenstown might be the most fun city on the planet. There are all sorts of adventure things to do from sky diving, to white water rafting, to jet boating, to Fergburger. Depending on you level of adventure of course. A trip to Milford Sound is well worth it. I would recommend taking a bus down and take either a plane or a helicopter back. It coast more, but I took the plane back and wow it was awesome. The glaciers are great. There are some great breweries in Christchurch. I went to this one and it was really great, Wigram Brewing. If there is a rugby game defiantly get to that. If it is warm go Summner beach. If you are a Lord of the Rings Fan there are no shortage of opportunities all over the place to see where that was filmed. Castle Rock is a great place outside of Christchurch to see some of the outdoorsy shoots that are in the movie and you can go hiking there as well.

I am very jealous of your free trip,if your wife decides not to go I am more than willing.

[tinnitus photography]

i spent 3 weeks there on my honeymoon in '95, one on the north and two on the south. seemed like a good split. i personally wouldn't skip Dunedin, as i had an absolute blast down there...how could i not, hanging out @ the Empire and drinking beers w/ Peter Jefferies, Michael Morley, Alastair Galbraith, etc?

 

a glacier hike and a milford sound trip are a must. i was blown away by coromandel too. didn't make it to rotorua; headed down the west coast via new plymouth (traded a bunch of records w/ Brian Wafer of Ima Hitt) and took the ferry from Wellington to Picton. Nelson was really great, and i enjoyed the stop in Greymouth too.