North Island FAQS..answers.
 

I am here in Auckland ending the first 11 days of my 6th? visit to New Zealand. I was able to get a last minute frequent flyer ticket, on Air New Zealand. Once here, I've discovered that thanks to competition, intercity airfares are about the only thing that has gone down in price since the last visit 3 years ago. I wonder if tourism is down a bit, it doesn't seem as difficult to get last minute bookings and lodgings as my prior trip.

How much does gas cost? To fill up a Toyota Corolla $30NZD seems to get one about half a tank. I think my gas expense to drive from Wellington to Auckland via National Park/Taupo/Hamilton was $85NZD. At current exchange rates that's about $70 US for about 650 kilometers. I rented a relocation special from Avis. You get luck of the draw, the Toyota they rented does have a small covered trunk (you could get two 22-.24-in type roll one bags in there ). There is no problem with inadequate seating space or lack of power.

How long does it take on the road? On a highway, you'll be lucky to average 70km per hour. The top speed limit is 100 km/hr, but you can't average that since you will find many speed reductions for curves, bridges, roadworks, etc. In mountainous areas you may only average 50km/hour.

Internet access?..Most often, you're going to have to pay. Typically $4/hour, if your hotel is charging you more than that they are gouging.

Food costs?..at our exchange rates, fairly high. NZD prices about $3-$4 for coffee, $10 for continental breakfast, $15-$20 lunch, dinner mains in fine dining restaurants are $30-ish. Fish and chips should be under $10.

Hotel costs? The sweet spot seems to be $99NZD. Hard to find something for much less, but you can get a very good hotel for that on a special rate. Backpackers private rooms can be nearly that much. Dorm rooms are about $30NZD. YHA are the cream of the crop.

Shopping? At our exchange rates, I'd forget it. Most of the clothing is made in China now anyways.












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mlgb, i hope you enjoy your stay. To get a hotel for $99 NZD, are you using a particular web site? thanks

Carolynne,

I am also headed to NZ next week and I am only paying over $99 for "special places", but I am am happy with a modest, clean, safe room and do not need a 5* hotel. I am traveling both North and South Islands.

I have prepaid some rooms in advance to get these rates once my dates were firm. I have booked directly online with Copthorne hotels, Accor/Ibis, etc. in the cities. I am paying more booking directly to stay at Mt Cook and on Kapiti Island.

Kapiti Lodge is a unique case and at least 3 meals were included, along with the room..it was definitely more than $99 but worth while.

I have been using the Millenium Copthorne special deals website, mckhotels.co.nz to book directly with them, the Copthorne Queenstown on their Hotdeals rate for $90. I also use wotif.com to search, then try to find the rate on the hotel's own site, eg for Wellington I found a sale at the James Cook for $99NZD.

I found a great B&B in Martinborough that was a steal at $60NZD for a single, including breakfast and wine sampling! For B&B's I like the website bnb.co.nz

For backpacker type places I picked up a BBH guide and used them to find the Park Lodge at National Park, a private ensuite with fridge, tea/coffee (I can't recall if there was a TV) was around $90. Also I do stay at the YHAs if I can get a private room, and those are usually under $100. The one in Mt. Cook is very nice.

I also use the AA lodging guides for motels on the road..in Cambridge I found a basic double room for about $90/nt. Cambridge has quite a cute little town center, I had never been thru there before and it has its charms.

Tomorrow I'm on my way to stay at the Kinloch Lodge for two nights..I was charmed by Glenorchy/Paradise my last trip, so wanted to experience it overnight. Here is their website, you can go basic or luxury www.kinlochlodge.co.nz

We popped into Kinloch Lodge on our last trip mlgb, and have considered staying there. I was under the impression the luxury digs were pretty basic with shared facilities. Please report back with your findings.

And beware the sandflies - we found them particularly fierce at Kinloch.

I will be staying in the 'wilderness' rooms so one can imagine how basic they might be! Thanks for the sandfly warning I will lather up. And report back.

I'm here now at Kinloch and the wilderness rooms are like a nice YHA, small but with a bit more decor (eg pictures on the wall, and end tables). And there is free wireless internet! I may ask to look at the "upscale" room tomorrow since it's either a bunk room or an upgrade.

Thanks mlgb. Let us know if you get a peek at the Heritage rooms.

Hi there. I've been in NZ since Dec. 14th and love NZ. We stayed in a heritage room at Kinloch Lodge Christmas eve and Christmas day. Because there was only one other couple in the Lodge the two roomy bathrooms were always available and so it was no problem. If all six rooms were filled it could get tight!

You also get the use of a lounge with couches and a big table with a laptop provided for your use for free. Coffee and tea making supplies were available there as well. The rooms themselves were small, and we had the largest, but with the lounge that was not an issue. If you are self catering, lodge guests are allowed to use the communal kitchen in the backpackers as well.

There are lots of sandflies in Kinloch,and I still got bitten all over the South Island in spite of practically bathing in DEET. There are some good day hikes close to Kinloch, like Glacier Burn, but it's very steep. More on that in a trip report. I'll do another post as I am having itinerary issues for the last week of our trip.

Thanks for that susncrg - I look forward to your full trip report.