Janet Thompson

We can travel ANYTIME! Can stay 2 to 3 weeks. We want to see as much as possible, particularly interested in the parks, scenary, gardens. We are retired, in our 60's. Tell us WHEN we should come (taking in account the tourist crowds); how long we should spend on each island; tour company to use to combine some driving/sightseeing on our own and where we need a tour. Should we fly from North Island to South Island, or take the ferry? Jan & Bill

Alison Taylor

To avoid the holiday "crowds" avoid the period 23 December - end January which is school holidays. February is still relatively busy on the peak walking tracks etc but by March you should have still warm weather and little in the way of other visitors. I say reatively crowded becasue even in peak season there are no big crowds. If it were me I would aim for late Feb - first part of March. Hire a car and stay at backpackers/B&B or hotels depending on your budget and preferences. I would sail between the islands (either the fast ferry hydrofoil or the ordinary ferry). One route would be to fly into Auckland, visit the Bay of Islands and/or Coromandel Peninsula, (for great beaches) Rotorua (gysers etc) and then down around the East Cape (Maori culture, rural NZ) and through Gisborne and Napier (good beaches and good wine) driving into Wellington (new Museum of NZ open by then). Ferry to Picton, down the East Coast, (whale watch at Kaikoura), down to Christchruch - take the trans Alpine express to Greymouth and then down the West Coast (great forests) to Wanaka and Queenstown, take a day trip to Milford before heading back to Christchurch via the Lindis pass and Mt Cook. If you are half fit try to get a few days on the Abel Tasman walkway (near Picton), or the Routeburn track, near Queenstown. You would need to book the Routeburn throgh the NZ Department of Conservation.
Have fun, mail me if you have further queries. I wouldn't use an agent, get the lonely planet guide and work from there..

Christie

Found your inquiry in the Departure Lounge about your forthcoming visit to NZ.
We can help you with accommodation in Queenstown on the South Island. We can also give you suggestions for activities in the Queenstown area that you might be interested in, or point you in the right direction for the best deals.
Check out our web page and let us know if we can be of any assistance.

Christie

Christie

Found your inquiry in the Departure Lounge about your forthcoming visit to NZ.
We can help you with accommodation in Queenstown on the South Island. We can also give you suggestions for activities in the Queenstown area that you might be interested in, or point you in the right direction for the best deals.
Check out our web page and let us know if we can be of any assistance.

Christie

JimFrank

My wife and I spent 3 weeks bicycling through the North and South Islands last January and February. The weather was great and for the "Peak season" there were virtually no crowds. We encountered rain on the west coast of the South Island which we were told is very typical year around. We found Fodor's very helpful for both accomodations and resturants. Have a great trip!

Milton

Alison -- you seem to be the expert; I tried emailing you, but the address above didn't work. We're thinking of going the last two weeks of April, will the weather be good enough for us to enjoy most of the country?
Also -- do the Abel Tasman or Routeburn walks require camping, or are there day hikes possible?

Milton

Alison -- you seem to be the expert; I tried emailing you, but the address above didn't work. We're thinking of going the last two weeks of April, will the weather be good enough for us to enjoy most of the country?
Also -- do the Abel Tasman or Routeburn walks require camping, or are there day hikes possible?