New Zealand Travel Forum

Hi all

have the below qns.Will be my first trip to NZ in mid-end july and appreciate if anyone can advise on the below

will it be too cold to do water rafting and jetboating during winter?
Is North Island lake taupo or Queenstown better for such sports?

Does anyone know of a good accommodation for Queenstown/Lake Tekapo/Rotoura/Auckland /Christchurch/Our budget is about 120NZD per day.Is it too short to stay in Tekapo for one night?

Planning to go skiing in Queenstown.Any good recommendation for ski resort?Is there any winter festival during this period?

Thanks in advance!

Not sure what you mean by "good". I use budget accomodations.

In Rotoura I stayed at a great motel: Six Union. Large room, good hot water, large double bed and very comfortable. Full kitchen facilities within the room. Convenient location. Quiet, tree lined, residential street. 3 minute walk from town centre for food and such.
http://www.sixonunion.co.nz/

In Auckland I stayed at the City Central Hotel. A decent budget hotel. Clean, professional staff at the desk, electric kettle and coffee/tea in the room, *perfect* location. Decent breakfast included in the rate.
http://www.citycentralhotel.co.nz/

In Christchurch I stayed in the Avalon Motel, located in a quiet residential neighbourhood. Very clean and comfortable. Good bed. Fully furnished kitchen in the room. Coffee/tea makings free in the room.
http://www.avalonmotel.co.nz/

Full details on all of the above on my NZ pages, Tips: Hotels & Accommodations.

1. I would surely not do the rafting in winter but jetboating is no problem. The jetboats have heated handrails, but you also have to wear warm clothes. Do not forget a beanie! You are provided with long raincoats with hoodies, so you do not get cold from getting wet.

2. I consider the Shotover Jet in Queenstown as the most exciting jetboat ride in New Zealand. It really makes you scream ;-) The other rides are less exciting versions.

3. I have listed accommodation in your price range on my respective VT pages. Please refer to them. Plus: For all places but Queenstown you do not have to book accommodation in advance and can get great deals on www.wotif.com, especially for the the cities.

The place with the greatest views at Lake Tekapo is the Holiday Park. It has cabins and motel units in your price range.

The cheapest inner city quality hotel in Christchurch is the Hotel SO.

For Auckland, absolutely go with Wotif. We have been there in winter and got fabulous rooms in good hotels for about NZ$ 100, sometimes including breakfast.

4. If you arrive at Lake Tekapo in the evening, I would say one night is not enough. On the other hand, if you do not want to do a scenic flight, not bathe in the hot pools, not go hiking or ice skating, but just enjoy the views, and do not mind leaving after lunch the next day, I would say one night is good enough. An additional night would be better - for all the above reasons, and on a beautiful day. If it is rainy and you have no views, I would not bother staying any longer. And P.S. As there are skifields around Lake Tekapo, you could also do skiing there. On a clear day there is nothing more spectacular than a scenic flight from the Tekapo Airfield over the lakes, mountains and West Coast glaciers.

5. Queenstown surely is the most spectacular ski resort in the South Island although Mt. Hutt (near Methven) has the safest snow. As you also travel in the North Island, you might consider Mt. Ruapehu which has NZ's highest skifields.

6. The Queenstown winter festival takes place before you arrive. See here:

http://www.winterfestival.co.nz/

Hi

thanks for your valuable response..certainly help me a lot in my planning
I have booked So hotel Christchurch and Holiday Park in Tekapo..
considering sixonunion Rotorua.

has anyone stayed in a good farmstay before in queenstown and Rotorua..certainly something that i wish to try while in NZ..many thanks!

I can only give you links for farmstays at those two places:

http://www.aatravel.co.nz/new-zealand-Rotorua/Rotorua_Farmstay.html

Or just google.

I have stayed at some but not in Rotorua and Queenstown. Whereas you can find a lot of farmstays in the Rotorua area, there are not many in Queenstown, due to the specifics of the mountainous landscape. There are vineyard stays but the tariffs are far above your budget.

But you could try it in Glenorchy which is located at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, about 40 km from Queenstown, and stunningly beautiful BTW, 45 min drive. There would be the Routeburn Farm Cottage, costs NZ$ 105 for two people. Email: elfinbay@queenstown.co.nz

Could be tricky in winter. The road to Glenorchy might be frosty or icy, and the skifields (Remarkables, Coronet Peak) are into the opposite direction out of Queenstown. So not very handy if you want to go skiing. Best would be to stay right in town. You have to consider the possible road conditions.

Best you look for a farmstay in the Rotorua area. They have no snow, the land is rather flat, there are lots of farms, so commuting to the attractions is easy.

Hi Unas/Kakapo

have decided to give a farmstay a miss
will be staying at sixonunion Rotorua and staying in 2 Tekapo 2 nights..so that i can do some stargazing and cycling and iceskating.
counting to my trip on 19 July..cheers :)

Have fun!

Make sure you get snowchains for your rental car. A lot of snow on the South Island at the moment, including Lake Tekapo. But also in the central North Island (Desert Road).