NZ only or NZ + Tasmania? We need your help pls...!
Feb 24th, 2007 | 06:07 AM
#21
Original Poster
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Melissa,
I don't know what to say... apart from THANK YOU for sharing so many tips!!!
I was thinking of doing - as you suggested -:
1 week Tas
3 weeks SI
1 week NI
Once I've put together a sort of itinerary I'll post it - it would be great if you could give me your feedback! Thanks again,
Barbara
I don't know what to say... apart from THANK YOU for sharing so many tips!!!
I was thinking of doing - as you suggested -:
1 week Tas
3 weeks SI
1 week NI
Once I've put together a sort of itinerary I'll post it - it would be great if you could give me your feedback! Thanks again,
Barbara
Feb 24th, 2007 | 10:27 AM
#22
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 0
babam, I'll keep my eye on you as I'm excited for you! 
I've been to New Zealand twice...the second time was recent, February 2007. But Melnq8 has been there a lot more times...I think maybe a dozen?
There are 2 ongoing trip reports you can read for tips...one of them is mine, which I keep adding to...I'm taking a bit of a break this weekend so it has dropped down a bit but it's the long one with a title something like "New Zealand South Island Splendor: 25th Anniversary Surrounded by Ribbons of Waterfalls." I'll be adding to it tomorrow again.
Though it's long, there are bolded sub-titles, so you will be able to skip to those sections that help with your trip.
There is another great trip report that is also being written about a recent trip by someone else...not sure of the title but you will find it somewhere near the top.
I plan our exciting trips by getting a few guidebooks and also printing out my favorite trip reports and using a highlighter. Especially helpful is printing out ones you enjoy reading written by people who went during the same season you will be going. Also recent ones can update you on changes which may not be in the guidebooks yet.
Happy trip planning!
I've been to New Zealand twice...the second time was recent, February 2007. But Melnq8 has been there a lot more times...I think maybe a dozen?There are 2 ongoing trip reports you can read for tips...one of them is mine, which I keep adding to...I'm taking a bit of a break this weekend so it has dropped down a bit but it's the long one with a title something like "New Zealand South Island Splendor: 25th Anniversary Surrounded by Ribbons of Waterfalls." I'll be adding to it tomorrow again.
Though it's long, there are bolded sub-titles, so you will be able to skip to those sections that help with your trip.
There is another great trip report that is also being written about a recent trip by someone else...not sure of the title but you will find it somewhere near the top.
I plan our exciting trips by getting a few guidebooks and also printing out my favorite trip reports and using a highlighter. Especially helpful is printing out ones you enjoy reading written by people who went during the same season you will be going. Also recent ones can update you on changes which may not be in the guidebooks yet.
Happy trip planning!
Feb 24th, 2007 | 03:10 PM
#24
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,146
Likes: 83
Melissa, not quite a dozen times, only 6, with #7 currently being planned.
Babam - your itinerary looks great.
If you're looking for yet more trip reports - I have two for TAS and several for the SI of NZ here on Fodor's. I tend to be rather detailed though, so they might put you to sleep.
Babam - your itinerary looks great.
If you're looking for yet more trip reports - I have two for TAS and several for the SI of NZ here on Fodor's. I tend to be rather detailed though, so they might put you to sleep.
Feb 24th, 2007 | 05:52 PM
#25
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
Hi babam
Lucky you! We have just returned from the South Island of NZ and I am posting my report on this site - "Our family's trip to South Island...."
I found the other Fodorites comments and advice very useful when planning our trip so I hope you will find it similarly helpful
Lucky you! We have just returned from the South Island of NZ and I am posting my report on this site - "Our family's trip to South Island...."
I found the other Fodorites comments and advice very useful when planning our trip so I hope you will find it similarly helpful
Feb 25th, 2007 | 04:38 AM
#26
Original Poster
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Melnq8 and agelnot1 - I'm reading your trip reports, they're extremely useful!!! I'm still in the 'creative/chaotic' phase of putting together a sort of itinerary... I'm aiming to post a first draft in the next couple of weeks!!! I believe there's nothing like first hand experience, so I would be very grateful if you could spare few moments to give me your feedback :_)
Feb 25th, 2007 | 11:40 AM
#27
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 0
babam, there's nothing quite like that creative/chaotic phase...exciting! I'll be happy to peak at your itinerary when you are ready.
As for me, I'm still floating along on happy dreams of NZ while adding to my trip report...and we're trying to decide where to go for our September 2008 trip...Eastern Europe or Greece maybe...so I'm in 2 phases at once...the "coming down off the mountain" phase...home from wonderful New Zealand. And the PRE-creative/chaotic phase...the phase where you are thinking, hey, why not start preparing to be in the next creative/chaotic phase!!!
Enjoy your planning. Don't know if I mentioned this, but I love my guidebooks, and usually buy too many. For New Zealand I bought 5 guidebooks, and these were the most valuable 2 for us:
Fodors New Zealand 2007
and
Rough Guide, 5th edition, published September 2006
Now that we have completed our trip, I felt those were more accurate than the others, more reliable, and also well-written and easier to use.
As for me, I'm still floating along on happy dreams of NZ while adding to my trip report...and we're trying to decide where to go for our September 2008 trip...Eastern Europe or Greece maybe...so I'm in 2 phases at once...the "coming down off the mountain" phase...home from wonderful New Zealand. And the PRE-creative/chaotic phase...the phase where you are thinking, hey, why not start preparing to be in the next creative/chaotic phase!!!
Enjoy your planning. Don't know if I mentioned this, but I love my guidebooks, and usually buy too many. For New Zealand I bought 5 guidebooks, and these were the most valuable 2 for us:
Fodors New Zealand 2007
and
Rough Guide, 5th edition, published September 2006
Now that we have completed our trip, I felt those were more accurate than the others, more reliable, and also well-written and easier to use.
Feb 25th, 2007 | 04:13 PM
#28
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,146
Likes: 83
Hi babam -
Planning is half the fun, but can also be maddening. We're in the early stages of planning a trip, but we seem to change our minds daily. One day we think we'll spend all our time on the SI, the next we think, no maybe we'll try to fit in some of the NI too, the next we're talking about Adelaide and the Grampians! Too many choices.
We're off to Western Australia on Friday, but I'll keep my eyes peeled for your first draft.
Planning is half the fun, but can also be maddening. We're in the early stages of planning a trip, but we seem to change our minds daily. One day we think we'll spend all our time on the SI, the next we think, no maybe we'll try to fit in some of the NI too, the next we're talking about Adelaide and the Grampians! Too many choices.
We're off to Western Australia on Friday, but I'll keep my eyes peeled for your first draft.
Feb 25th, 2007 | 09:15 PM
#29
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
melissa5 -Let me know if you decide on eastern europe.That is my neck of the woods and I can suggest places other than just Cracow( although that is unmissable). I will be there either autumn this year or early spring 2008
babam - be EXTREMELY creative and chaotic at this stage and wherever you decide to go at this point cut it by half...weeell maybe a third
babam - be EXTREMELY creative and chaotic at this stage and wherever you decide to go at this point cut it by half...weeell maybe a third
