Return from trip to NZ.
Apr 27th, 2004 | 07:01 AM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 757
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I also just returned and the weather has been fantastic. No rain. As for Auckland, I would recommend taking one of the ferries. I went to Devonport. Very nice little town across the harbor. I would also say go up to the observation deck at the Sky City Hotel. The view is awesome and if you are lucky like me, you might see someone jump off the building! Shopping is on Queen Street. Enjoy.
Apr 30th, 2004 | 10:08 PM
#5
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Well folks the trip was fantastic. The only thing I would recommend is not to try and cram too much in your short vacation no matter how long it is. There is simply too much to see and do. The weather was fantastic except for the one day that it rained on our visit to Milford Sound. We did the Red Boat tour which offers both a long and short tour. The short tour costs $50NZ (about 1 1/2 hrs.) and the long one which is about $100(aobut 2 1/2 hrs). Sorry that was from Queenstown. Temperatures were much cooler on South Island about 60's to 40's, but warmer in North Island 70's to 50's. In Auckland we just kind of walked around our first day and ended up eating dinner 3 nights at a small restaurant named La Porchetta. It's reasonable and the pizzas are fantastic($10-15NZ).
Our first full day we drove to Whangarei and visited the Bay of Islands which is absolutely beautiful. We plan to stay there the next time. The next day we drove the Coromandel Peninsula which is a must see in my opinion. Another place to stay for a long time. Distances are much longer than you would think so allow lots of time for travelling at a leisurely pace.
There is just so much to see and do that our 10 day stay was WAY too short. We didn't get to Rotorua or Hobbiton or any of the other "must see and do" places. We stayed at a Mercure Hotel Windsor which is on the waterfront and the place is not up to par. I would definitely not stay again. It's close to everything downtown, but so is the Rydges Hotel which looks much nicer. I'd try that one. there is another hotel that sounds like Copthorne or something like that, that is also a nice place.
Christchurch is a beautiful city with a strong European influence. The suburbs are beautiful and the small shopping malls are cool. Our first day was spent in the city where we visited the Town Square and the many fountains and sculptures there. We visited Lake Tekapo on the way to Mt. Cook, but didn't have the time to get to Mt. Cook. The drive is about 3-4 hours one way. Tekapo is beautiful and is a "must see". The third day we went to Akaroa which is about a 2 hr. drive, but it's beautiful and well worth it. It's a nice little tourist town with many small shops for souvenirs. My wife liked Christchurch the best. We stayed at the Holiday Inn and that was quite good, but has no air conditioning, but it's not needed.
We then flew to Queenstown and spent the day walking around the town which is quite small. The have a relatively large shopping mall, but it is primarily a tourist town. We stayed at the Mercure St. Moritz which was very nice, but parking our car was a bit of a squeeze. Our second day we went to Milford which is a smooth and easy 3 hr. drive at 100kmph. Our third day was spent at Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. Both are beautiful lakes and are great for a quiet picnic.
Queenstown is my favorite as it sits right on the shore of Lake Whakatipu. It is very picturesque and quite romantic. You kind of think you're in Switzerland when you're there.
That in a nutshell was our 10 day trip which as I said is way too short. We didn't go to the northern or southern part of South Island, nor did we get close to the northern or southern tip of North Island.
Our first full day we drove to Whangarei and visited the Bay of Islands which is absolutely beautiful. We plan to stay there the next time. The next day we drove the Coromandel Peninsula which is a must see in my opinion. Another place to stay for a long time. Distances are much longer than you would think so allow lots of time for travelling at a leisurely pace.
There is just so much to see and do that our 10 day stay was WAY too short. We didn't get to Rotorua or Hobbiton or any of the other "must see and do" places. We stayed at a Mercure Hotel Windsor which is on the waterfront and the place is not up to par. I would definitely not stay again. It's close to everything downtown, but so is the Rydges Hotel which looks much nicer. I'd try that one. there is another hotel that sounds like Copthorne or something like that, that is also a nice place.
Christchurch is a beautiful city with a strong European influence. The suburbs are beautiful and the small shopping malls are cool. Our first day was spent in the city where we visited the Town Square and the many fountains and sculptures there. We visited Lake Tekapo on the way to Mt. Cook, but didn't have the time to get to Mt. Cook. The drive is about 3-4 hours one way. Tekapo is beautiful and is a "must see". The third day we went to Akaroa which is about a 2 hr. drive, but it's beautiful and well worth it. It's a nice little tourist town with many small shops for souvenirs. My wife liked Christchurch the best. We stayed at the Holiday Inn and that was quite good, but has no air conditioning, but it's not needed.
We then flew to Queenstown and spent the day walking around the town which is quite small. The have a relatively large shopping mall, but it is primarily a tourist town. We stayed at the Mercure St. Moritz which was very nice, but parking our car was a bit of a squeeze. Our second day we went to Milford which is a smooth and easy 3 hr. drive at 100kmph. Our third day was spent at Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. Both are beautiful lakes and are great for a quiet picnic.
Queenstown is my favorite as it sits right on the shore of Lake Whakatipu. It is very picturesque and quite romantic. You kind of think you're in Switzerland when you're there.
That in a nutshell was our 10 day trip which as I said is way too short. We didn't go to the northern or southern part of South Island, nor did we get close to the northern or southern tip of North Island.
May 10th, 2004 | 10:20 PM
#7
Original Poster
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Hi Jed,
The only thing I was sorry about was the weather. Red Boat Tours did an excellent job!! The fares I quoted was for the BUS TOUR from Queenstown. The $100 tour is from the the Red Boat dockside, NOT including bus fare from Queenstown.
It's a great tour and a "must see" so do it anyway you can.
The only thing I was sorry about was the weather. Red Boat Tours did an excellent job!! The fares I quoted was for the BUS TOUR from Queenstown. The $100 tour is from the the Red Boat dockside, NOT including bus fare from Queenstown.
It's a great tour and a "must see" so do it anyway you can.
