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-   -   AUS/NZ trip planning (https://www.fodors.com/community/australia-and-the-pacific/aus-nz-trip-planning-1130897/)

kerrymp Sep 17th, 2016 03:59 AM

AUS/NZ trip planning
 
Hello,

My husband and I are planning a two week trip for this winter. We are trying to fit Sydney, GBR, and the South Island of New Zealand (maybe the train from Christchurch to Marlborough, then the interisland ferry and fly back to Sydney).

Just wondering if anyone has done something similar or has any input? We don't want to spend too much time traveling between sites, but really want to see both AUS and NZ.

Thank you!

Bokhara2 Sep 17th, 2016 04:23 AM

Australian/ NZ winter or North American winter?

kerrymp Sep 17th, 2016 05:22 AM

Sorry- North American Winter. November 2016

Melnq8 Sep 17th, 2016 06:45 AM

Two weeks just isn't enough time to see both Australia and NZ. Two weeks is barely enough time to hit the highlights of one island of NZ.

<<maybe the train from Christchurch to Marlborough, then the interisland ferry and fly back to Sydney).>>

This is merely transport - all you'll see is a bit of countryside from the train, then water from the ferry, then clouds from the plane.

Pick one country and then focus on seeing what you can in the time you have.

crellston Sep 17th, 2016 09:14 AM

Totally agree with Melnq8. Way, way too much for two weeks !

Pick one or the other depending on what you really want to see. My choice would be SI New Zealand. Even then, you would need to plan very carefully to make the most of your time. I suppose you could fly into/ out of Sydney and take a couple of days to explore the city and then spend the rest of your time in NZ. Unless you are divers then the GBR would be long way to go just to sit on a boat!

I am finally beginning to post details and photos of our trip last year to NZ on our blog @ https://accidentalnomads.com/category/new-zealand/

Also our time in and around Sydney and the blue mountains
https://accidentalnomads.com/2015/10/24/sun-sea-sydney/

Rather than train, do consider renting either a car or campervan to make the most of your time in NZ - so much to see!!

tasmangirl Sep 17th, 2016 08:12 PM

2 weeks is not enough time. Chose one country or the other.
Australia is huge (nearly as big as the States)and a combo of Sydney/GBR is the equivalent of Orlando, Florida to past the Great Lakes in Canada.
3000 km of ocean separate Australia and New Zealand.
I wonder if this combination trip promoted by the travel industry in the States?

Carrabella Sep 17th, 2016 10:33 PM

As an Aussie, I totally agree that two weeks is not enough
for both. I've just been researching our 5 day stopover in NZ
on our way home from California soon, and have cut back to Rotorua and Napier only.

We fly from Sydney with Air NZ, so Auckland is our stopover on the way to San Fran, both ways. Flying back to Sydney from New Zealand doesn't make much sense to me.

You could fly to NZ for 9 days, then Sydney for 3 or 4 and fly home direct from Sydney.
We all lose a whole day from USA to Australia, but get it back again the other way.

Sydney in November is fun for the Sculpture by the Sea walk around the cliffs from Bondi. Not sure exactly when, but definitely worth the effort. It will be on line. Happy planning!

Bokhara2 Sep 18th, 2016 01:45 AM

Sculpture by the Sea - Bondi ... 20 October - 6 November, 2016.

http://sculpturebythesea.com/

annhig Sep 22nd, 2016 01:50 AM

in 14 days you could do GBR, Sydney, Melbourne [say] or Tasmania and 1-2 other Oz locations, or NZ SI.

not both.


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