bwhizz

Hello,

I will be going to NZ for 10 Days and Fiji for 6 for my honeymoon. All my flights are booked already so need help filling in the gaps:

Arrive Auckland Oct 27
Fly Wellington to Christchurch Nov 1
Fly Queenstown to Auckland to Fiji Nov 7
Fly Fiji-AKL Home Nov 12

Can anyone recommend good resorts that dont cost $1,000 / night in Fiji? Looking for adults only with meals included and close to day-time activities.

Thanks!

Melnq8

Can't help with Fiji, but have you filled in the Nov 1-7 gap?

bwhizz

Kind of Sort of

We arrive in Auckland Oct 27 5AM and have our domestic/fiji flights already booked. Here is the plan:

Auckland Oct 27-29 (With 1 full day in Waiheke). No Hotels booked
Wellington Oct 29-Nov 1. Arrive in Wellington via bus? Fly out of Wellington Nov 1 to Christchurch.

Nov 1 Christchurch. Rent a car find somewhere to swim w/ dolphins, book a pure pod and make our way to Milford Sound (stops on the way have not been researched.

Fly out of Queenstown to Fiji (via Auckland) Nov 6th in the afternoon.

Need lots of help with this one

deSchenke

Taking a bus from Auckland to Wellington sounds like torture to me. The Northern Explorer rail trip takes 12 hours, but only runs on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. The 29th is a Sunday.

I suggest you fly.

Melnq8

Pure Pod?

Closest place to Christchurch to swim with dolphins is Akaroa, about a 90 minute drive.

http://akaroa.com/things-to-do

deSchenke

Pure Pods (I had to look it up) : https://www.purepods.com/locations/

Looks to be a glass house in the middle of nowhere.

tasmangirl

'Torture' is probably a bit harsh for the bus trip to Wellington! From Auckland to Waiouru is probably the scenic bit and then it's a bit boring through the middle of the North Island. Buses here are quite comfortable with free wifi and stop for breaks often. This could be cheap if you book well in advance and you could have more money for an awesome resort in Fiji.
The train is a good option if you can work it in but it's not that cheap.
If you are lucky enough to visit Fiji for your honeymoon then please do some research as to what YOU would like to do there. Do you want total romantic privacy from everything and everyone or a more social holiday with others around and doing water activities/dining out every night? This might help determine what sort of resort best suits you. Denarau has the big hotel names (Hilton, Sheraton, Westin, Sofitel) so if you want a lovely hotel honeymoon that would be fine. They are all in walking distance of each other so you can dine/drink at other places.
My friend with her well off ex stayed at Likuliku (saw some photos) which looked really nice, adults only but $$$. My daughter stayed at Radisson Blu (Denarau)when she went with some girl friends last year.
There is plenty of choice in Fiji but some island/resorts will involve further travel. Are you okay with flying within Fiji to another island?
The Mamanuca islands are close to the main island and lots of good mid range resorts are there. The Yasawa islands off the west coast and a bit more laid back/backpacker style. Tavenui is good for the ecotourist.

Diamantina

The Pure Pods were recently featured in the design and architecture magazine, Dwell. (I'm a subscriber.)
https://www.dwell.com/article/8-uniq...world-6de55a63
Looks like one is in Little River, about 32 minutes from Akaroa.
https://www.booking.com/hotel/nz/pur...tle-river.html

bwhizz

Thanks everyone!

We booked our flight from AKL to Wellington. Only $70 each all in LOL.

All the purepods are booking up quick so we will need to organize that soon, but renting a car and driving for hours on the other side of the road is kind of daunting but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.

Does anyone have any recommendations for road trips from Christchurch to Queenstown?

We would be leaving Christchurch on Nov 2 and need to be in Queenstown on the 5th and are hoping to go to Milford Sound for a scenic helicopter or plane tour.

As for Fiji - we are considering Davui Resort
https://royaldavuifiji.com/

We want something secluded and romantic but something also close by other activities and other couples (we like socializing, drinking etc)

Melnq8

Those Pure Pods look enticing. Now I'll have to choose between the Silo Stay and the Pure Pod on my next trip to Little River.

As for the trip from Christchurch to Queenstown -

You could drive Christchurch-Mt Cook-Wanaka-Queenstown - spending two nights in Mt Cook en route

Or you could drive Christchurch over Arthur's Pass-Greymouth-Hokikita-Franz Josef/Fox Glacier-Wanaka Queenstown

A much longer drive, but my personal favorite. I'd suggest spending two nights at the glaciers en route.

tasmangirl

Royal Davui looks a great choice! Have a lovely holiday here and honeymoon there.

CultureClub

Blue Lagoon Resort, Fiji is great value for money for an Island stay. Matamanoa is a reasonable adult only option but more pricey. For a really great honeymoon the Islands of Fiji will be better for you but will cost more. Great mainland resorts that I would recommend - Warwick, Hilton Denerau, Sofitel Denerau. Vinaka!