jenn248

Hello! It's been a long time since I've posted on the boards here, but my husband and I are planning a three-week trip to Sydney and New Zealand (primarily the South Island) next March-April and we could use some advice on where to stay. We are hoping to save a bit of money by staying in backpackers or B&Bs (preferably with en suite bathrooms). If anyone has lodging recommendations for the following towns/cities, I would greatly appreciate it: Sydney, Christchurch, Keikoura, Picton, Nelson, Greymouth, Franz Josef Glacier, Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau, and Auckland. I am also posting our itinerary below, if anyone feels like taking a look and offering feedback. Thanks in advance!


Tentative Itinerary:

Day 1 - Depart DC

Day 2 - Stuck on a plane

Day 3 - Arrive in Sydney, 7:00 AM; city tour and nap

Day 4 – Sight-seeing in Sydney

Day 5 – Day trip to Manly Beach; surfing

Day 6 - Fly to Christchurch, arrive mid-afternoon; city tour?

Day 7 – Morning: sight-seeing in Christchurch; afternoon: drive to Kaikoura (2.25 hrs)

Day 8 – Wildlife-related activities in Kaikoura (swimming with dolphins?)

Day 9 – Morning: surfing near Kaikoura; afternoon: drive to Picton (2.25 hrs)

Day 10 - Marlborough Wine Tour out of Picton

Day 11 - Morning: boat trip on Marlborough Sound; afternoon: drive to Nelson (1.5 hrs), touristy activities in Nelson

Day 12 - Abel Tasman National Park

Day 13 - Drive from Nelson to Greymouth (4.25 hrs), stopping at various sights along the way

Day 14 - Drive from Greymouth to Franz Josef Glacier (2.25 hrs); spend day at Franz Josef

Day 15 - Morning: drive from Franz Josef to Wanaka (3.8 hours); afternoon: activities in Wanaka

Day 16 - Drive from Wanaka to Queenstown (1.25 hrs); activities in Queenstown (river surfing?)

Day 17 – Drive from Queenstown to Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound (3.75 hrs); afternoon hike/cruise?

Day 18 – Milford Sound/Doubtful Sound (debating overnight cruise or staying in Te Anau)

Day 19 – Drive back to Queenstown; flight from Queenstown to Auckland;

Day 19 – Day trip to Raglan; surfing

Day 20 – Activities/sight-seeing in Auckland

Day 21 – Fly home

Bokhara2

Sydney Harbour YHA is a standout, jenn248. Friends stayed there last week and I had an opportunity of looking through it. Very impressive indeed. They had an ensuite room with a queen and two bunk beds, $140.

http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/nsw/sy...ydney-harbour/

Carrabella

I immediately thought of Sydney Harbour YHA for you too, Jenny. I know Newcastle is not on your itinerary, but considering Lonely Planet had just designated it in the top ten places (in the world!) to visit for this year, and seeing that you like surfing, Newcastle YHA is directly opposite the wonderful Newcastle Beach, as well as easy walking distance from the train, and to the city and the Hunter River, with its high ship traffic and a scenic walk.

http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/nsw/hu...wcastle-beach/

Newcastle is about a three hour train trip from Sydney, and the first half is very scenic, through the sandstone valleys (and tunnels) of the Hawkesbury River valley. Happy travels!

Melnq8

For a great B&B in Te Anau, you can't do much better than The Croft.

Melnq8

I can also recommend The Blue Moon in Riwaka ( B&B near Abel Tasman - Motueka side)

jenn248

Thanks, everyone, for all of the suggestions! Sounds like Sydney Harbour YHA is a great option - can't beat the price for that location, from what I've read so far. I am not 100 percent sure if we will overnight in Te Anau (still trying to decide if we want to do an overnight cruise and then we'll go from there) but will definitely check out the Croft if we do.

Carrabella, it's actually my husband that's the surfer (my one and only attempt at surfing ended with seven stitches and a black eye!), but I will definitely let him know about New Castle. Thanks for the tip!

Bokhara2

Jenn - book as soon as you can for the Sydney Harbour YHA, you can always cancel, but I imagine it fills up pretty quickly..

And, it's Newcastle.

Chenoa

We stayed in BBH hostels during our South Island trip in 2005. Do take our suggestions with a pinch of salt since things may have changed. Here's our favourites along your itinerary.

1. Christchurch : Vagabond (We had a roomy doubles in the front building which has only 3 (or 4?) bedrooms sharing the clean toilets/showers. Quiet and welcoming, they also offer freshly baked bread in the morning.)

2. Motueka: The Laughing Kiwi (We thought it was a relatively new hostel as everything was neat and tidy. Room and shared toilets/showers are bright and airy, has a spacious communal/dining hall.)

3. Wanaka: Wanaka Bakpackers (We had a doubles with ensuite cabin facing the lake. It is a popular hostel, and the small kitchen is very busy at night. Staying nearer to the communal area/kitchen is more lively whereas our cabin right at the end was very serene. Do ask for a doubles ensuite with lake view!)

jenn248

Thanks for the recs, Chenoa! The place in Wanaka sounds particularly nice.

Bokhara2, must be a force of habit - I'm originally from Delaware and one of our (three) countries is New Castle I'll make sure to tell my husband it's Newcastle!

Chenoa

jenn,
U really will not go wrong with Wanaka Bakpakers. I just found that they have a website. And they are still the best hostel in Wanaka. ^^ http://www.wanakabakpaka.co.nz

For other BBH hostels, u can view and compare the ratings on http://www.bbh.co.nz/

Hope this helps.

mlgb

I also suggest using the BBH ratings system.

The YHAs are a bit uneven, Kaikoura is ok, but avoid the ones in Queenstown. Have yet to find a place IN Queenstown that I recommend, prefer Arrowtown Glenorchy or Wanaka

In Auckland the New President or Accor are okay for the central city

In Chch I have yet to find anything I like more than Windsor Hotel! www.windsorhotel.co.nz

You may also want to browse bnb.co.nz for Nelson & Picton in particular/

Recommend signing up with Millenium often good email special rates

And wotif