Haven't been on this travel chat board for some time, but I am Melnq8 can help me. We are both returning to NZ early next year, as we want to use up our FFP's, and secondly we love NZ. Melnq8...you mentioned some time ago a Motel chain that you used, and found them to be good & not too costly. Is it possible to mention that motel group again?
Any advise is appreciated.

Hi tropo -

I think you're probably referring to Bella Vista - they can be found in most towns throughout both islands. We've stayed at several of their motels, and would happily stay again. Only complaint I had with them was that some of their rooms are a bit small.

Here you go -

www.bellavistamotels.co.nz/

Happy planning!

If you want to try something different or challenging depending on how you want to look at it, you'll find many great hostels about NZ, www.bbh.co.nz being the main independent guide and away from the main cities or even not in the heart of Auckland or Wellington you can get some really nice options, a twin/double room with facilities (if available) for about half the price of a motel.

And then there is www.holidayparks.co.nz with many having cabins which you'll likely find cheaper than motels.

Melnq8 - thanks for the website, I will download it for future reference. We intend to use motels, and whilst in Northland, near Mangonui, we intend to rent self contained unit, overlooking the bay for 3 nights. Should be good.
Thanks once again.

Sounds like a nice break tropo. We're thinking about heading to the SI in November ourselves.

Bushranger - I hear what you are saying. But it's not the way to go for most people who post here.

And when push comes to shove if people have that many FF points they must fly a lot!! It follows, therefore, that they have money else they wouldn't have so many FF points!! They certainly wouldn't be into budget lodging.

What I always find so interesting is that folk with FF points are so focussed on using them that they only go to places where they CAN use them.

But then I suppose if you have that sort of mentality you are sucked into what the marketing people want you to do, rather than what YOU want to do. Tropo isn't aiming at what he would really like to do, just at what he can do with points.

I find it sort of sad.

I'm not getting at you, Tropo, just that it's a whole world that I am divorced from because (a) I don't fly much unless I am going on holiday and (b) where I WANT TO GO is paramount.

And I'm happy with that. I would hate to choose my destination based on where FF points would get me.

Afterall, I think your wrong here. My wife & I save strongly to travel to "various" places, just like anyone else. About every two years, after saving madly we fly to London to see our son, wife & grandson who live in London. We fly with Emirates, because we like the airline and its service. Being a member of Emirates Skywards Points for the last 5 years, we automatically get sufficient points each time we go to UK, to fly to NZ..not Singapore or back to UK, just enough points to go to either Christchurch or Auckland. We love visiting NZ every 2 years or so. WE USE OUR POINTS (we still have to pay airport taxes) and yes we do travel to other places in the world, apart from NZ/UK/Europe.
What I think is said, are persons who who attack other persons on this Board, without "full knowledge" of their circumstances.
I don't visit places because of so called marketing people, we make up our own mind, as to when/where we want to go.
Melnq8 thanks once again for your imput, I am looking into that website now, it looks interesting.
We are hoping for good beach weather?? in late November, at least the NZ Christmas tree flowers will be out. We hope to visit Taupo Bay, Taipa Sands beach, Coopers Beach, up near Karikari Peninsula.

Even before reading your reply tropo, it was forming in my mind to suggest there could be some presuming going on for I have saved up FFpoints myself at times with use a few years apart.

NZ in November may not be too summery as they do have a relatively short summer most years but at least in heading north to what the locals call the winterless north it will not be too cold, and if you're looking to base yourself somewhere a couple of days or so, Coopers is as good as anywhere and http://www.bookabach.co.nz/__Coopers_Beach.cfm might even offer some options to a motel.

Mangonui is also a quaint little stop with a quiet pub and coffee shop opposite the waterfront - this google - http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=e...NZ&spell=1 giving a few links and it shows the SH10 - you turn off from SH1 just past Kawakawa or as I rember it, SH10 runs straight ahead whereas SH1 kinda peels off left from itself, and then you'll drive through Kerikeri though I hear there may be something of a partial town bypass now.

If you haven't been up that way on your previous visit, there's lots of great little places like Whangaroa Harbour to pull off the main highway into, and you'll see what is called the twin coasts tourist drive, and if you want one of the most pleasant country drives you'll find anywhere, then going back the east coast way from Kataia towards Apihara> http://www.kohukohu.com/ and across on the Hokianga Hbr. ferry, a great historical pub - Masonic Hotel at Rawene - http://www.realestate.co.nz/861292, and it's on the market.

Enjoy your trip

Bushranger, many thanks for that website, I will certainly look up whats on it.
From going to UK with Emirates for the past 4 years, we started using our points to revisit NZ, firstly the North Island, and then later the South Island. My points are now exhausted, but my wife still has enough, but only, to fly to NZ again. This time we are going to try & visit some of the out the way places we missed before, and then finish off in the Northland. We have visited Bay of Islands, Kerikeri, but not north of there, hence basing ourselves somewhere like Coopers Beach. We wanted to visit in Feb/March, but Emirates blocks out any F/F seats in the high season. We realised the weather may not be that great, but we will take whatever comes along.
Last visit in the SI, we swam in the Abel Tasman National Park (November last year), well I did, my wife didn't...warm sunny day, sea temps around 18 degrees, a bit bracing, but okay.
We are hoping to revisit Wellington again, not been to Waitomo Caves, then want drive from Wellington (via Martinborough) up to Napier, then back through Taupo, then straight up to Northland, first stop Tutukaka, on the coast out from Whangarei (new territory to us), then up Northland, most of which will be "new territory" to us.
I earmarked NZ Weather reports onto my favourites & will be watching the weather reports.
I like the idea of a beach bach.

Waitomo area to Wellington is a great drive on SH4 going down western side of Tongariro National Park, not too windy, more nice sweeping bends, Taumarunui being a nice little town and virtually no traffic, and same on route 49 until you get back on to SH1 and not too far further is a good stop for getting high on a coffee - if you haven't been, a hint - http://www.davidwallphoto.com/search...70&phrase=

Also, when in Whangerei, there's falls there, just north (walking distance) of town centre where you can view glow worms for free (at night) and if you haven't picked up that Wh is pronouced F, don't be too shocked with what you think the local radio jock has said in referring to Whang....

Bushranger, yes I heard about the waterfalls, we will check them out.
I didn't mention the fact, that we first visited both islands of NZ, about 30 years....spent six weeks touring in a campervan, took my trout rods etc, and had a ball fishing. We especially enjoyed Lake Hawea, where we caught quintet salmon right near the dam wall. Loads of trout fishing in the rivers etc, with a bit of sightseeing thrown in. I still have the NZ trout lures, which are slightly different to the Australian trout lures.
Yes, I know about Wh towns, you didn't mentioned Whakatane!

When we visited NZ, my daughter's godmother insisted that she go back and tell her class she had been to Whakatane during her holidays, and taught her to pronounce it the Maori way. She was 8.

Caused a bit of a stir.

We also stayed in Mt Maunganui in Serviced Apartments - I think they were the Oceanview apartments. It's a nice local beach resort.

I went to Northland and the West Coast of the North Island a few years ago, here is my report:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34918906

I found some nice places using bbh, if you use ratings from the mid-80's and up, you can do quite well. Many even have private bathrooms.

I recall a rather large graffiti sprawled on a billboard in Whangerei...Wanker-aye! (Not using the traditional "WH" sound however).