Travel Answers

hi - i am hoping you can advice me; we are a family of 4 travelling in december (23rd - 30th december). we will be traveling in south island and could be 6-7 people .. it will be 4 or 7 people. In this group will be 2 kids; 13YO and 6YO. Do we look for a different bed and breakfast every day? Or look for a motor home and drive it around to all aof south island, drop off the van at christchurch airport.. naturally we are looking at reasonably priced options. you could write me on pankaj1203@gmail.com - thanks

can someone recommend a a good basic place to stay that provides transport to support the walking of the Tongariro Crossing.

We are travel the South Island Sep - Oct and would like suggestions for the first week. We want to go from christchurch to wanaka in 6 days via Picton but would definatly like to check out the wineries in Blemheim. We are traveling with our three children 2 teens and a 10 year old.
Regards
Tarome

Hi everyone. I intend to do a trip from Christchurch to Queenstown for bout 8 days in the first week of June. I've never travelled on my own (solo-virgin!) and I'm hoping to meet up with people who have done so or intend to travel during the same time as me for a drink or even a day trip. At this stage I have no idea if I'm planning to rent a campervan and drive down (winter roads??) or grab a bus tix and book into a backpackers where ever I end up for the day. Would love to hear some ideas/suggestions.. cheers!

Travelling December this year and will arrive in Rotorua at 1.00/2.00pm maybe earlier if we need to get there to catch a tour. Departing next day in the morning for the East Cape. Maybe go to Hells Gate in the morning when we leave. What suggestions of things to do in the afternoon and evening? Are there any afternoon tours etc? Also do you know of any accommodation that has undercover parking for motorbikes and air conditioning
Thanks

hi there, just wana know someone could tell me what to do in auckland airport im stuck there for 12hrs for my next flight to hongkong.

Can I leave my luggage at bus dtation for 2 hours?

Hi Mates! i'm going to NZ in a few mouths and i'd like to know about opportunity of jobs? someone can help me? thank you

I found that Top10 Holiday Park NZ offer quite reasonable accommodations. Are there any other holiday park chain/group that offer similar accommodations & price range?? Appreciate if you can give me some websites or links that I can browse through before I start to make my bookings
Thank you VT's

hi there, i am coming to auckland for 3 months a i would like to know of some farms where i could work on, in exchange for accommodation and/or food.

My wife and I will be driving to Te Anau from Queenstown in mid July 2013. Is it best to book a Milford Sound tour ahead of time, or is it better to not book a tour and wait until we are in Te Anau or Queenstown with a better idea of what the weather might be? We have planned one night in Te Anau, and then thought we'd head toward Dunedin. Any suggestions?

Hi All,
Thanks to those who have answered my previous questions. One more question, perhaps my last before arriving in Auckland on 8 May for 7 days. Will be hiring a car from Auckland Airport at 2pm Friday 10 May and return to Airport at 2pm Wednesday 15 May.
I need assistance and advice about the following two possible routes.
A … Auckland - Taupo* - Rotorua** - Tauranga* - Whitianga* - Auckland Airport
Or
B … Auckland – Whitianga* via Coromandel – Tauranga* - Rotarou** - Taupo* - Auckland Airport

Other questions I need help with are:-
1. Is the Auckland to Taupo doable leaving at 2pm
2. Will I make it back to the Airport on time driving from Whitianga via Coromandel, Thames and the West Coast Rd
3. Should I add the area between Whakatane and Tauranga or use that time around Rotorua
Thanks
Peter

Hi will be in Auckland for 3 full days probably staying at Hilton on The Quay for the first night 25/4 arriving late and was thinking aboout the following.....
26th - Spend the day Auckland - sightseeing possible ferry ride
27th - Hire a car and drive to Lake Taupo taking in some sights on the way (?) Stay over night Lake Taupo - Hilton or other suggestions welcome - Drive time from Auckland to Lake Taupo is it 4 hours or less..what are the roads like
28th - Drive back to Auckland for late afternoon drop off of car - what to see on the way ? Overnight Hilton
29th - Have the morning to see some more of Auckland before we depart at 3.00pm for Melbourne
I would really welcome some ideas, this is a quick trip due to some cheap fares but am keen to see some lovely scenery and we will come back again. Had also thought about driving North of Auckland and staying overnight but not sure of what to see or where to go..and need to ensure that hire car can cope.
Lake Taupo for some reason sounds lovely and I think it is the Lake featured in the series Top of the Lake

Look forward to hearing from you and thanks

Hi, I'm new here, my name is Cristina from Spain...and now i'm travelling around New zealand and 5th July I'm going to Indonesia, to Bali, my question is...if somebody are interesting to travel in same dates por join o enjoy diferents places?...I think that sometimes is better to travel with other different people, i like meet other...thanks

I'm seeking advice on the road conditions in the North Island particularly in the vicinity of Auckland, Thames via Easy Coast Road, Coromandel Penninsula, Whitianga, Whangamata, Whakatane, Rotorua and Taupo. Also suggesstions as to which of the above towns would be best to stay overnight.

Hey everybody out there, I'm planning a trip to New Zealand and maybe Australia at the end off the year. I heard a lot off stories about it being easy to go solo and get into the "backpackersstream" when your there. So you travel in international company.
Is it really like that and if so: are there any internet fora on which making contact with other travellers is known to be reliable and ok? Thnx in advance!!

What is quickest route from Tauranga to Rotorua Airport . State Highway 33 or Highway 36 ( Pyes Pa Rd)

Okay I'm the one who wanted to secretly rush off to New Zealand this summer on my own but thought better of it. New plan. What if instead, I take the year after I graduate and instead of going straight to college I do a year of travel. I'll be 18, temporarily free of academic responsibilities, and I'll have time to save up more money. Thoughts anyone?

We are from Thailand and will be travelling to South Islands (starting from Christchurch) from 11-16 April 2013. Since it is a self-drive trip, being able to use iPhone will be essential.

Can anyone please recommend if there are unlimited GPRS data plan SIMs available?

Thanks,

Paul M.

I am going to the north of nz for 6 days and the south for 3 weeks , will the westher be very bad in winter? Once it's not raining the whole time!

Thank you

Hi can I get suggestions on how best we spread out our 6 days in South Island? Can we do Sth Island + One other (like Auckland or Ch'church)? Or will it become too hectic / or too cramped? We return to sydney after the NZ stay

Any nice reasonable priced hotels ?

Hi, my friend and are are planning to backpack through New Zealand next year for about three months, maybe more. Assuming we get the cheepest accomadations most of the time how much money approx would we need to set aside for a trip like this? Is it better to buy a campervan or sleep in a tent but use busses as our main means of tranportation? Any insight on the subject would be helpful- thanks!

Hi, I am planning an Auturm trip next year 2013, so want someone there now to give me some feedback about 2012 Auturm in South Island. based on 2012 update, what is the best time to reach south island to find the most colorful season of the year? in different city? normally we can travel with clock sequence or clock reverse sequence starting from Christchurch. So a right way to travel with best timing is being asked by me. appreciate that.

We will be touring the North Island in early to mid May this year and would like to know what the weather is likely to be like. We are from Melbourne. We are only planning 9 days but could add a few more days if necessary. Our itinerary at the moment is Auckland - Coromandel - Bay of Plenty & White Island - Napier - Rotarou. Would we have time to visit the volcanoes in the national park just south of Lake Taupo.

Thanks
Peter

Can anyone kindly provide me the information about travelling from Akaroa Harbour to Christchurch Airport. Is it possible to get car rental? Is there any shuttle I can book?

If we were to plan a driving vacation to New Zealand, how much time should we allow. We were thinking 2 weeks there.

i see there are two ferry companies. is the any difference?

Hi everyone, I am a fairly seasoned kayaker and outdoorsman from Canada and am trying to organize my own kayak experience in Milford sound this March/April. I have looked at a lot of the guided tour offerings for the area but would really prefer to just rent my own equipment as I expect it should be a lot cheaper and provide more freedom to explore as well. Does anyone know of anywhere in the sound its self that will rent equipment only or anyone in Te Anau that will do this?

Thanks!

Dear All,

I want to visit this wonderful place, and since I am spending the night at Taupo, does anyone know how to get there from Taupo because I am not driving? Or do you suggest I get there from Rotorua instead? I am not planning to stay overnight at Rotorua at the moment but if it is more accessible (other than from driving myself) I will make a night stay at Rotorua.
Do you all suggest if I visit the Craters of the Moon Geothermal Park too? or either? Given the recent weather conditions where can i expect more Geothermal activities? I read that there wasn't much at the Craters of the Moon as it hasn't been raining at the time when the reviewer visited, therefore not enough water for all that heating up and bubbling. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thank you for helping me here.
Kelly :)