New Zealand

[firstbubba]

Hi - thinking of going to NZ (south island) for a holiday sometime this year. Not to ski, but just to drive around and do the touristy/sightseeing thing. What time of year would be best to go? We are thinking August/Sept ? Also, have you ever flown with Jetstar or Virgin to NZ ? Are they ok, or would you stick with Air NZ or Qantas?? Any other helpful tips etc on what to see and do in NZ would be great too! Thanks

[Jo9999]

I think summer is best if you don't want to ski - Feb.
Virgin is fine, but spend the extra if it's not much, but it is only 3 1/2 hrs.
Highlights in my opinion...
Abel Tasman Nat Park or Queen Charlotte Sounds (can recommend a place called Portage - Google it)
Queenstown
Milford Sound
The West Coast and Glaciers

If you can would recommend doing a loop drive from Christchurch to Queenstown, up through Wanaka up the West Coast past the glaciers, then across to Queen Charlotte Sounds or Abel Tasman Nat Park, then down the East Coast back to Christchurch. Or something like that...
Others would have

[Ky]

Summer probably is your best option - it doesn't really get much over 30degC in most areas.

I have never flown with Virgin or Jetstar, but Freedom Air is the Air NZ budget airline and I have never had a problem with them. That said .. I do prefer to go Air NZ if possible. The flight is pretty short, so really any budget airline isn't going to be a problem as you are on and off in a matter of 3-4 hours from most places in Australia.

If you get the chance and are into it - try doing some bushwalking/hiking/tramping in the national parks. Take heaps of mozzie repellant (the sandflies are like small horses in the South Island ) and just take your time. It is so peaceful and beautiful - it has a lovely smell of fresh, damp earth that you don't quite get over here and most of the waterways are crystal clear and unpolluted.

The West coast of the sth island is beautiful and rugged, but be prepared to travel a bit between your destinations - again, take it slowly, stop and check out local curiosities on the way and your trip will be enjoyable.

The touristy thing as in most countries is pretty expensive, but most of the experiences are worth it in the end.

I hope you enjoy planning and then actually going on your trip - there are some great websites that will give you info on accomodation of all levels, areas of interest and activities.

[firstbubba]

thanks heaps for that info

Mainly because of holiday availability with DH's work we probably have to look at April/May or Aug/Sept to go. Prob be quite cold then hey? oh well, we will just have to rug up!

Yeah, will definitely check out websites for more info.

We are looking at going prob 10 days - would you suggest hiring a car and staying in hotels/b&b's etc, or hiring one of those motorhome thingys?? There will be me, DH and our 1-something yr old DD!

[Tipani]

thanks heaps for that info

Mainly because of holiday availability with DH's work we probably have to look at April/May or Aug/Sept to go. Prob be quite cold then hey? oh well, we will just have to rug up!

Yeah, will definitely check out websites for more info.

We are looking at going prob 10 days - would you suggest hiring a car and staying in hotels/b&b's etc, or hiring one of those motorhome thingys?? There will be me, DH and our 1-something yr old DD!

My DH & I got married in Fiji in Oct 2006 & then flew to NZ for our honeymoon. We flew Air NZ from Fiji to Auckland & from Rotorua to Christchurch but flying back from Christchurch to Sydney we flew Virgin. We also flew Virgin to Fiji. The Virgin flights were better than Air NZ (newer planes). Whenever I fly back home to Adelaide, I fly Virgin & I can never fault them. If you are looking to save a few dollars, I would definitely recommend Virgin. Jetstar also flies to Christchurch & when I booked our flights, they were around $40 cheaper but as I had never flown with them, I chose Virgin instead.

In regards to the South Island, it is beautiful. My favourite places were Wanaka, Te Anau & Dunedin (if you've been to Hobart, Dunedin is very similar). DH & I hired a car & stayed in b&b's/tourist parks. We initially were going to hire a motor home but the cost worked out roughly the same either way so we chose comfort & ease of getting around (some roads would be difficult with a motor home particularly if there's snow or ice). All of the tourist parks have self contained cabins so if you want to save some money by preparing food yourself, that's the way to go (if you don't get a motor home).

If you can afford it & it's the right time of year (ie winter), I would definitely recommend going up in a helicopter in Franz Josef & landing on one of the glaciers. I had never seen snow before & even though we were there in November, it had snowed the night before we did the tour so to get out of the helicopter & sink almost to our knees in powdered snow was amazing & something I will always remember. I'm pretty sure that you would be able to do something like that with a little one, I guess it would just depend on age limits for the helicopter.

DH's sister moved to Auckland last year so we are hoping to go back sometime & do the north island.

[Jo9999]

Hmmm... probably April - May I would say, but NZ weather is notoriously unpredictable so I would just go whenever it suited best. If travelling around I would suggest a car and staying in a mixture of campsite cabins and other accommodation. Motorhomes can be a bit cumbersome and slow around some of the narrow roads in the South Island.

[firstbubba]

thanks heaps everyone - that has given me heaps of ideas and good stuff to know! ta

[ThomasMum]

Hi - thinking of going to NZ (south island) for a holiday sometime this year. Not to ski, but just to drive around and do the touristy/sightseeing thing. What time of year would be best to go? We are thinking August/Sept ? Also, have you ever flown with Jetstar or Virgin to NZ ? Are they ok, or would you stick with Air NZ or Qantas?? Any other helpful tips etc on what to see and do in NZ would be great too! Thanks

Is Christchurch south island? Hehe am not very good with geography cant u tell lol. If its in the south then you should drive to lil France town call Akaroa, its beautiful and quiet drive there...

Dunno anything abt airlines, we flew only with Qantas whenever we go to NZ