Otago Travel Forum

I'm thinking of getting married at Chapel by the lake and then Stone ridge Estate for the reception in Queenstown, but I live in Australia and won't be able to see it before I get married there, so any feedback would be great! Thanks so much :)

HI,

I live in Australia, and am thinking of getting married in NZ,but have never been. I love the whole European scenery and I think Queenstown looks like that from the photos I've seen.

As, I won't be able to go to Queenstown before I get married, does anyone know what Queenstown looks like at the end of march or start of April??

I've been looking at Stoneridge estate/chapel by the lake, and TRelawn Place, but I'm a bit worried as in some photos,the scenery looks quite brown, and I want green.
Would appreciate any responses. Thank you :)

Has anyone taken small children (ages 4 & 6) river rafting on the Shotover river with Family Adventures?

Hello,

Me and my boyfriend are travelling around New Zealand in April, and are planning to do the Routeburn Track in the South Island. We want to find out if it is possible to leave some of our baggage in a self storage locker or something in Queenstown, so we don't have to lug all of our stuff over the track, only taking the things we need for three days. Does anyone have any information on any storage facilities, or recommendations for ones they've used? There doesn't seem to be any information about them in the guidebooks.

Thanks

Anna

Hey there,
Does anyone know if they are going to do flights in the dc3 plane for the public, if so how much does it cost and can you pre-book or do you just do it on the day? I went to the Warbirds over Wanaka a few years ago now but we paid to do a short senic flight over lake Wanaka and I would like to do it again this year.
email at holysmokes_2121@hotmail.com if you know!
Cheers,
Bryah

Hi all,
A friend and I will be in the Wanaka area over New Year's Eve...while we don't feel the need to get obliterated in a bar, we would like to have a fun New Year's Eve! Is Wanaka a good place for us to be that night? It seems like a great area, outdoors-wise...but I'm worried it might not be a good place to celebrate. Am I off-base? Any thoughts would be appreciated!

I am a student from Singapore and I'm planning to backpack alone to New Zealand for the entire month of March 2008. I'm thinking about spending most of my time, maybe 14 days, in Queenstown. Will the town be busy then? Do i need to book my activities before hand? I have quite a low budget, just there to take a break, but I have to try the bungy jump.

Any recommendations for sites or affordable activities in Queenstown or any other city?
What other parts of New Zealand should I visit?
As i do not have a driving license, how can i travel and is it convenient?

I am so excited but clueless!
Thank you so very much for your time.

Hi there

We've just started thinking about a holiday to NZ, but I really know nothing about it so I need to do some research, I was wondering if anyone could help on here too though. We're thinking of going in late June/early July, flying from the UK to Singapore, staying for 2-3 nights, then flying onto NZ. I think we'd have to fly to Auckland, then get an internal flight to Queenstown, as if we flew to Christchurch, not sure how we'd get to Queenstown as we won't have a car.

The idea was we'd spend 5 nights doing activities, sightseeing etc, then go up to the mountains and ski for the rest of the time.

Would there be enough to do? Places to see, stay? Can you stay in a hotel in the mountains? I'd like to transfer from a city hotel to the ski hotel if we could.

Any advice much appreciated - I'm excited, but clueless!!!

Sam xx

Hi. I am visiting newzealand in november this year. Me and my friend are planning to drive from Christchurch to Queenstown. What is the best driving route to take please? We have about 12-13 days total.

Plus is it cheap to check into hostel or motels whereever or is it better to book it beforehand. As we are students we cant afford expensive hotels

Thank you.

could someone pls advise on how best to get from dunedin to auckland? i've found that it'll cost me about 300dollars return for airfare. Will buses be more affordable or worse? I guess time and extra costs will factor in for land travelling as I'd have to put up overnights on the way there, yes?

Hi,
We are travelling to Queenstown in last week of September - just wondering what weather we can expect and also if anyone can advise on best route to take between Christchurch and Queenstown - hiring car in Christchurch.

Can anyone tell me if it is worth taking a tour into Skippers Canyon..if so
who is the best tour operator to book with.

Thanks Kel

pls anyone knows the public transport website of Dunedin, can you tell me?
is there any public bus that goes to the Otago Peninsula and how long does it take to travel there from the city centre?

I found some information about a bus called citibus (gold and blue color) that offers $6 all day fare. Does anyone know where I can catch this bus from the city?

Also, I'm planning to stay at this backpacker 36 Arden Street, Opoho , Dunedin, New Zealand. Do you know how far it is from the CBD and how to get there by public bus?

Many thanks for your help!

Hi,

I'm going to be in Queenstown in January and was wondering whether I should book any activities or accommodation beforehand.

Hopefully I'll be in a motor home as we're travelling around NZ and want a bit more flexibility.

If you have any other tips it would be much appreciated.

Thank you
Scotty Mac

Can you tell me how far it was from Dunedin to the Catlins, Thanks

We are touring South Island in sept 07 and want to take the kids to see snow. As they are young we just want to do some toboganning (need to hire) and build a snowman. Where would be the best place to go. We are staying in Wanaka and Queenstown during our time on the South Island

I am working on my itinerary to New Zealand during the latter part of November, and early December. I am considering visiting Dunedin, but my time is limited. I'd like to see the penguins, and albatros colony, but my time would be short, and I was wondering if I should go or not. As of now, would probably be arriving from Te Anau, arriving around 4 pm, and departing next day to head to Mt. Cook. Therefore, I think going to Dunedin would be out of the way, but maybe worth the time. I just wish I had more time, but I don't and can't help but want to "see and do it all." With that, I thought, we'll lets go for it, but now I am starting to wonder whether to go or not. So, I just thourght I'd ask on this forum what others thought. Thanks for your help.

hi my partner and i are travelling to Queenstown july26th to 1st august and are wanting to make it a adventure holiday, but we dont know much about the area. we have researched all the activities but am not sure about the cost of general living and how we can save some money.
we will be snow skiing at the remarkables and coronet peak. My partner is an intermediate-advanced skiier and myself beginner so will these mountains suit at that time of year? or is it better to go to mt hutt or something. we are used to skiing at mt hotham in aus which doesnt always get a lot of snow, but were wondering what type of snowfall we could possibly expect at that time of year.
we appreciate your feedback and look forward to our trip.
thanks alisha and justin

Hi there

My boyfriend and I are planning on moving to Q-Town for a couple of months during the ski season. I've been doing a bit of research and hear that it's pretty hard to find accommodation in the town itself during this time and I was wondering if anyone knew of the surrounding areas close by that might be a little easier to find a place to live in, but are still reasonably accessible to Queenstown itself? We're not looking for anything remotely 5-star (quite the opposite) as we'd just be living, working and boarding when we can - nothing major. Is it likely that our only options would be hostel-type places, as we're sort of after something with a little more privacy?

Also if anyone has any good leads on places to stay or agencies that do short term rental (two to three months), that would be great!

Thanks

Steph

Hi all! Im planning on goign to Queenstown for some snowboarding for aprox 7 days some time between 25 of June and 22 of July. My question is: When is the best time (in my time frame) to go skiing/snowboarding to Queenstown SNOW WISE (both Coronet or The remarks)???? I want to go and be in the best conditions possible, and fortunately board some powder.
Thank you very much for your time!

Im in my gap year and im going to new zealand for about 3 months with a friend, im looking for the cheapest possible way to get there and back, which is a return ticket.
But we dont know what date we are going to return. Is it possible to buy a return ticket and change the date of return once we know when we want to, ie after we've been there for a while?
And if so, does it cost?

thankyou
Charlie

Hi there

My niece (!!) is off to start her Foundation Year at University of Otago this February. I will be there with her for a month before flying back home.

The catch is that while she's a Malaysian, she was born in NZ and is considered by the university as a "local" student and therefore accomodation at the university is not guaranteed. Considering that neither one of us have ever been in NZ (except for her in her baby days), could someone advice us on temporary accomodation for both of us and then permanent accomodation for her alone? Would be great if it's within walking distance from the campus. (Actually I have no idea where exactly the University is located).

Also, what would be considered reasonable rates?

Thanks so much in advance! :)

Is there any motorhome rental company operating out of Dunedin? It suits me to fly in/out of Dunedin but the major rental companies don't appear to have depots there.

Is there anything to stop/see between QT & Te Anau?

2) We check out of our accomo at noon at Methven. We want to proceed to QT. Is it better to drive thru to QT (6 hrs), or do a sleepover in between? Where is a good sleepover point between QT & Methven?

Thanks!

A few of my friends and I planning to visit Queenstown sometimes between 29 Jan 07 - 2 Feb 07. It will be a "pit stop" for us as we are going for "racing" (drifting) at Timaru on the 26/27 Jan and Invercargill 3rd Feb. So, anyone keen to catch up etc or know a good place to stay please let me know. We looking for some maybe cabin or good camping ground. Cheers

We're kinda torn between the two. We've not done either before, but wonder if they're similiar.

Is Queenstown the best place in NZ for white water rafting, or will the North island be better?

Should we just go for one activity (which one?), or will the combo deal - Jetboat + white water rafting, be better?

Hey guys me and a buddy are moving to queenstown in late may of 2007 and was wondering how hard it is to get a job at a local mountain we are both liftys as we speak at whistler and whats renting like thanks every body

My wife & I are off camping for 2 weeks in Alexandra and Catlins areas.

Any recomenndations on where to camp & what to see?

Thanks!

We are on a coach trip and arrive in Dunedin in the evening and then have the morning free. Is it possible to get a trip to the penisular to see the penguins in this time.

when you were there, was there nightlife midweek not just the weekends? we'll be there mid dec any info greatly appreciated...