NZ in April - Book hotel or wing it
 

We're in NZ in 2nd half of April. Will be spending 12 days driving from Queenstown to Auckland (I know - not enough time) and have hotel reservations in Queenstown. Had not planned to make reservations along the way - but wanted to keep some level of sponteneity. Saw other thread today in which poster said that hotels were booked. I know that it is summer (high season?) now, and that April may be different.

Suggestions? Should I pre-book hotel (home stay?) or can I wing it?

thanks
doug

What is your road plan?

You can probably get a place to stay in the larger areas, but may have a problem in the glacier and other smaller locations.

Also, you may have to settle for less than you want, if you have particular wants. Depends on your flexibility. ((*))

Assuming you're talking about April 2007, you'll be traveling during NZ school holidays (April 6-22). Easter weekend also falls during this time (April 6-9). Anzac Day, another holiday, is April 25.

This is a busy time as locals take to the road when the kids are out of school and over the long weekend.

Suggest you book any accommodation and activities you don't want to miss out on, particularly in popular spots like the west coast, glaciers, Mt Cook, etc.

Here's the Ministry of Education web site which lists school terms/holidays through 2009:

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/index.cfm?...ocumentid=3767

Wing it--see my post "Reservations not needed in NZ"

I was also there on a school holiday and had no problems. Just returned last week!!

Nothing beats not having a plan and just enjoying NZ without the stress of having to be somewhere every night.

With all due respect to Lisa and her spontaneity, we were in NZ April 2005 during school holidays and there wasn't a room to be found in all of Franz Josef. We were very glad we'd booked in advance.

We also found Queenstown as busy as we'd ever seen it in our six visits to the SI.

Keep in mind that if you arrive someplace like Franz Josef late in the day without reservations during a busy holiday weekend, you have to drive a fair distance to find the next town. Some areas are remote and options are limited.

For what it's worth, we've never booked activities in NZ ahead of time (helihike, Milford Sound, etc), but we usually visit in the off season. If there's something you absolutely want to do, and it coinsides with a NZ public holiday, or falls on a weekend during school holidays, I strongly suggest you at least consider booking to avoid disappointment.

Have a great trip!

I guess it probably depends on the level of accommodation you require. If it's a small place you end up in, and there is only one smart place, and you need smart and it's full, you may have to settle for less. If you MUST HAVE smart/lux then I guess you'd better book in advance.

I wouldn't - and haven't. But am pretty easy going on accommo - it's only a bed for the night, so as long as it's clean and well run (never stayed anywhere in NZ that wasn't) it's OK by me.

If it's OK by you too, oh, then wing it - much, much better.

Have a great trip.

Fuzzylogic, thanks for agreeing with me. I was beginning to think is was alone in this :)

Thanks to all who responded. (I've been away from a computer for 5 days)

Not sure how I'll proceed, but appreciate the feedback.

doug

Hi Doug:

Hope you don't mind me throwing in my bit of advice. We just got back from a great trip. Some was pre-arranged with Hotel and rest in a campervan which was terrific.

I would suggest that you go to the www.newzealand.com website. E-mail an agent that works at one of the i-sites where you will be traveling. Build a relationship with them via e-mail and give them you suggested plans. They will help you with when you could wing it and when you would need pre-arrangements. They can make bookings and they know the properties. I had someone we worked with who was incredible and I'm sure she would help you if you are interested. Let me know and I'll send you her e-mail. She really helped us alot.

We returned from the south island yesterday. I asked several proprietors about their busy times versus quiter times.

They all said up to easter is very busy then it drops off.

I usually prefer to wing it too, but must say that found that Queestown, Te Anau and Franz Joseph were incredibly busy (10-22 February.We stayed in a range of accommodation from YHA to 5 star establishments and they were 100% full.
Mind you the weather was so nice that bunking under a tree somewhere would have been ok.. :-)

SenohDH1
Not sure how to get you in touch with me. Either I can post my e-mail address here (gulp!) - or you can post the address of the agent here.

doug