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NZ travel thoughts & ideas 12:03 - Jan 4 with 2180 views

Afternoon lovely people. We’re planning a c8 week trip to NZ /Aus in March/April and would love to hear your ‘must do’s’.

We’re likely to travel into Auckland, stay with an Aunt in New Plymouth for a few days and then travel to & explore South Island (3 weeks?), before coming back to North Island for a couple of weeks. Might also squeeze in a couple of weeks doing Melbourne/Sydney/Cairns & Great Barrier Reef.

Any recommends gratefully received! Many thanks

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 12:11 - Jan 4 with 1834 views

stowmarketrange

The sky tower in Auckland is worth a trip to the viewing bit,but I’m not sure about the bungee jump from the top.I only managed to make the north island on my only trip so far,but eat a lot of pizzas and take loads of money.Its about the only place I know where pizzas are cheaper than McDonalds.
You’ll have a great time wherever you go and whatever you do.

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 12:56 - Jan 4 with 1765 views

OldhamR

Auckland is a stunning place and has a massive Korean / Chinese population, I went into several shops where there was no English signage even. The skytower is awesome, if you go on a really windy day you can feel it sway.
if your driving down to New Plymouth then Hamilton is well worth a stopover.
Wellington is a great city and place to explore before getting the ferry over to the south island.
If you then drive down through the wine country make sure you stop at Kaikoura, it's only a small town but a great stopover.
Christchurch is very British and still has some rebuilding going on.
Further south lake Tekapo and Queenstown are essential places to visit aswell as the fjords and Milford Sound.
Driving is really easy over there and Kiwis are as layed back as anyone.
Drinks plenty of Speights, eat lots of pies and get a decent spray for the sandflies, enjoy.

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 13:43 - Jan 4 with 1685 views

BrianMcCarthy

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 12:56 - Jan 4 by OldhamR

Great list there.

I'd add:

Abel Tasman National Park - tropical beauty. Stunning hikes/walks on the beaches and through the woods.
Coromondel - similar. Both have hippy vibes in the local villages.
Kaikoura whale watching - approved by the World Wildlife Fund, they even have special engines so as not to hurt the whales.
Glow Worm Caves - absolutely beautiful.
Glacier Hiking on the Fox Glacier - guided and very careful of the ecology.

The most beautiful country I've been in. Did both islands in three and a half weeks which was tight. There is so much to see.

The people are cool, too.

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NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 14:27 - Jan 4 with 1614 views

Hunterhoop

There’s so much to see and do. Very short list from me:

NZ
Obvs Auckland
Fox Glacier
Lake Wanaka
Queenstown

Aus
Brunch/coffee in Melbourne
Manly in Sydney for an afternoon/evening
I thought the Great Barrier Reef was a thrill and would recommend. Does depend on the weather a lot though
Whitsundays - again, lovely in the right weather
Wine Tasting in the Hunter Valley region
Blue Mountains

Both the last two are doable from Sydney. You’ll need an overnight stay for Hunter Valley, especially if you want to indulge, which is the whole point. You can do some good wine tours.

Avoid Gold Coast. It is not worth it.

If there is some form of sport on at the MCG in Melbourne, do it. If it’s a big match and full the atmosphere will be great. Sydney cricket ground is lovely.

Both Sydney and Melbourne have a ton of craft beer breweries that are quite good and, of course, some great parks and museums to spend afternoons in.

You’ll have a great time. 8 weeks should be enough time to see loads.

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 15:06 - Jan 4 with 1554 views

Boston

If you're heading south to north in NZ, drive up through Whangarei (one of my brothers lives close by), keep on until you hit the Bay of Islands, very scenic. On the way(forgotten the name), is the place where the treaty was signed that formed the country.

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NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 15:30 - Jan 4 with 1501 views

PeterHucker

Had 3 weeks in New Zealand in August 2024 with the wife & my kids aged 14 & 11.

We have family & friends near Christchurch & also near Auckland so we went to both south & north islands.

Given it was winter and some of the adventure sports stuff was closed, I think we had just the right amount of time in Rotorua (3 full days)
None of my family are really city people so we thought a day spent in each was plenty in Christchurch and Auckland.
That left more time for the more scenic places and there are oh so many of those.
Everywhere else we went, we just wished we had longer there to explore!!
3 weeks sounds like a long time but I feel like we only just scraped the surface of New Zealand.

I'll just copy & paste this list that I wrote on the plane home.

Saturday 3rd:
Arrive Christchurch
Waikuku beach

Sunday 4th:
Walk around Christchurch
Lunch @ The Riverside
Flying Nun record shop
Margaret Mahy playground

Monday 5th:
Akaroa
Fudge from Pot Pourri shop
Akaroa museum

Tuesday 6th:
Breakfast @ Raeward, near Christchurch airport
Drive to Kaikoura
Whale watching trip whalewatch.co.nz
Seals at Ohau Point
Fish & chips @ Coopers Catch, Kaikoura

Wednesday 7th:
Drive Ohoka - Hokitika
Sheffield Pies
Homer's donut
Castle Hill
Feeding eels in Hokitika
Walk along beach in Hokitika
Stay @ Shining Star, Hokitika
Dinner @ Stumpers, Hokitika
Glow worm dell

Thursday 8th:
Drive Hokitika - Haast
Helicopter trip Fox Glacier
Walk around Lake Matheson
Sunset at Ship Creek
Stay @ Haast Beach Motel

Friday 9th:
Drive Haast - Wanaka
Thunder Creek Falls
Fantail Falls
Blue Pools walk
Puzzling World
Sal’s pizza / Wanaka Brew Bar

Saturday 10th:
Walk up Mount Iron
Lunch at Cardrona Hotel
Rippon Wine tasting
“That Wanaka Tree”
Eel feeding on jetty
Speights pub (All Blacks v Argentina)

Sunday 11th:
Drive from Wanaka to Tekapo
Ice cream @ Oasis cafe, Omarama
Drive alongside Lake Pukaki
Walk the Hooker Valley Track
Stay @ Mantra, Lake Tekapo
Dark Sky observatory

Monday 12th:
Church @ Lake Tekapo
Breakfast @ Fairlie Bakehouse
Drive back to Christchurch

Tuesday 13th:
Willow Bank wildlife reserve near Christchurch airport
Fly to Auckland

Wednesday 14th:
Walk to Cockle Bay / Shelly Beach
Ferry to Auckland from Pine Harbour
Bakery @ Maritime Museum
Walk around marinas
Skywalk @ Sky Tower
Real Groovy record shop
Myers Park
Rock Shop guitar shop, Karangahape Rd

Thursday 15th:
Walk @ Kohimahara beach
Walk @ Half Moon Bay
Lunch @ Grangers, Half Moon Bay marina
Ten pin bowling / Video games @ Time Zone, Botany

Friday 16th:
Drive Cockle Bay to Pauanui (coastal route)
Walk along coast @ Kaiaua
Evening walk @ Pauanui beach

Saturday 17th:
Hot Water Beach
Hot Waves café
Stay @ Pauanui

Sunday 18th:
Tairua estuary walk
Drive to Rotorua (very rainy!)
Dinner @ CBK, Eat Street
Stay @ Kawaha Point, Rotorua

Monday 19th:
The ultimate canopy tour (cancelled, high winds)
Luge @ Skylines
Kuirau geothermal park
Dinner / drinks @ The Fat Brother
Stay @ Kawaha Point, Rotorua

Tuesday 20th:
Wai O Tapu geothermal wonderland
Wild swim @ Kerosene Creek
Drive to Blue Lake / Green Lake / Lake Okareka
Glow worms @ Blue Lake
Redwoods Nightlights tree walk
Stay @ Kawaha Point, Rotorua

Wednesday 21st:
Hobbiton
Drive back to Auckland

Thursday 22nd:
Little Lane coffee @ Clevedon
Walk by beach @ Maraetai
Fly home from Auckland

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 15:33 - Jan 4 with 1493 views

BristolR

Many thanks to everyone for their recommendations so far, plenty to chew on! Will try and do as many of these as possible, cheers! Will keep you posted as to plans.

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 19:49 - Jan 4 with 1307 views

Kiwi76

Have to congratulate the detail given already - Peter Hucker even mentioning Real Groovy records & was in there yesterday spending too much on vinyl.
NZ while small can have challenging roads so don’t underestimate travel times.
Even as Aucklander you have to include QueenstownWanaka, New Plymouth is pretty place if can see Mountain but isolated. Far north of North Island is stunning & March/April is great time to visit.
Wine regions if like that side of things - Central Otago near Queenstown, top of Sth Island & Hawkes Bay.
While in Auckland do get ferry over to Waiheke - 40min trip & see harbour and island has beautiful beaches, more wineries & plenty of places to eat - Man O War is far end and beautiful spot if weather good - they have bus out there.
Our local QPR group have had couple of visitors for one of our Sunday lunches & happy to help if any questions

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 20:17 - Jan 4 with 1263 views

Sommerbreeze

I worked in Wellington for a year recently. lovely city, worst weather on earth unless you are there december to february when it's like heaven so might be a bit tight for you. if you do go then the Weta workshop is worth a visit, the view from Mount Vic is spectacular, the museum is really good, and the food is wonderful in the city just generally. I was lucky enough to watch England play a test there - 50 quid for 5 days - but also went for other men's and women's matches and it's probably my favourite place to watch cricket. also opposite the ground is the restaurant Curryiza - that's curry on a pizza.

it's a city i really love, and much preferred to Auckland in the end.

Someone else mentioned the Bay of Islands, which i'd also recommend. Drove around the area with a mate in a camper van, and had a great time in Russell / Kororareka. Fantastic beaches seemingly everywhere. Waitangi was where the treaty with the Maori was signed, and it's a short boat trip from Russell (the 'treaty' itself i think is in the Museum in Wellington).

Queenstown i found a bit too busy, and the ski slopes were heaving, but people - especially Kiwi friends - love it.

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 20:44 - Jan 4 with 1245 views

W12

A day's gold panning on the South Island was memorable https://www.goldhuntingadventures.co.nz/

[Post edited 4 Jan 20:44]

W12

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 22:17 - Jan 4 with 1181 views

SouthAfricanRanger

Not really helping, but if you in Brisbane at all - Dave, perhaps Steve and I from the Brisbane Hoops Down Under gang, will buy you a beer at the English pub we watch the QPR games at (in the city centre)

DonnieR

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 22:42 - Jan 4 with 1160 views

BristolR

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 15:30 - Jan 4 by PeterHucker

Bloody hell PH, stunning detail, thank you so much for taking the time to do that. Will certainly add this into the planning pot!!

Thanks again to everyone who has taken the time to comment, it’s really appreciated.

Will try and confirm what our final plan looks like for posterity/to show I’ve been taking notes!

[Post edited 4 Jan 22:45]

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 22:55 - Jan 4 with 1130 views

SydneyRs

New Zealand is just ridiculously beautiful. I've only been to the south island. Queenstown is stunning but so is pretty much everywhere else you go there.

If you go to Cairns, Palm Cove is only about 15 mins away by car and a beautiful place to stay. Cairns itself is unremarkable but a good base for exploring the barrier reef.

[Post edited 4 Jan 22:57]

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 00:55 - Jan 5 with 1028 views

Kiwi76

Agree with Sydney - Cairns is gateway but head north - we liked Port Douglas - access to Barrier Reef but also Cape Tribulation rainforest if have couple of days. Prawns bought off back of boat one of nicest lunches ever

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 01:16 - Jan 5 with 1012 views

qpr1976

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 22:55 - Jan 4 by SydneyRs
New Zealand is just ridiculously beautiful. I've only been to the south island. Queenstown is stunning but so is pretty much everywhere else you go there. If you go to Cairns, Palm Cove is only about 15 mins away by car and a beautiful place to stay. Cairns itself is unremarkable but a good base for exploring the barrier reef. [Post edited 4 Jan 22:57]

Much of above is SO true. But my take -

Auckland - Great city, Eden park is great for rugby bot not so good for cricket which is why we went. However, I preferred it from the outside looking in, so ferry to Davenport is worthwhile. Great views, as above regards the Sky Tower.

Wellington - Brilliant, we were lucky as the Super/Cuba/Dupa event was on. Cuba St, lots to enjoy. Park is great to wander around, Basin Reserve a wonderful cricket ground, the Cake Tin less so, but good for Rugby & Football. Windy and Great Pies (even from a petrol station !)

Christchurch - Very English, nice city centre, but Hagley Park/Oval is beautiful and the ‘seating’ memorial is emotional.

Queenstown - Stunning, alot of young adrenaline junkies, but for us oldies the luge and scenery is amazing. Milford Sound is beautiful.

We did Sydney too, excellent. As you might expect. Bridge & a show at the Opera House, Blue Mountains by train, SCG, Bus Tour. Personally, Bondi was a bit of a let down, a bit tacky IMO. But judge for yourself.

Heading to Adelaide & Melbourne later this year for the cricket. Can’t wait.

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 04:59 - Jan 5 with 919 views

stowmarketrange

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 01:16 - Jan 5 by qpr1976

Definitely agree about Bondi beach.We walked across it and kept expecting it to get better but it didn’t.It helps if you’re into surfing I guess.
I stayed at Houghton Bay for the 2nd test at the Basin Reserve in 2023,and I had a quick swim while I was there,and the water was bloody cold,but it was a stunning place to stay.

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 06:19 - Jan 5 with 875 views

SydneyRs

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 01:16 - Jan 5 by qpr1976

Totally agree on Bondi. I was completely underwhelmed the first time I saw it given how well known it is. We moved down there and stayed in a place across the road from the beach for a couple of months.

That was in the 90s and it is worse now as it has become trendy and "gentrified", meaning it is full of tossers as well as not being that great a beach. It still manages to somehow remain quite tacky looking though.

The bridge and Opera house though certainly do live up to expectations. The Opera bar is a great place to have a beer, especially for tourists.

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 10:13 - Jan 5 with 764 views

aussiehoop

Not often I post but this one got me!

Have only spent time in Queenstown and Christchurch and the posts so far have it well covered UNLESS you like your golf at which point Jacks Point is a belter and not too expensive.

When it comes to Aus you’ve got to get to an AFL game in Melbourne and NRL in Sydney. Post closer to the time and the Aussies on here will let you know which games to get to.

Cairns is fab for reef day tours. Agree with sentiments that it’s an average city. Port Douglas is gods country though!

I’m in Canberra these days. Three hour drive from Sydney and plenty of “cultural experiences” like the war memorial, galleries, parliament etc too.

Enjoy - 8 weeks will fly!

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 12:15 - Jan 5 with 679 views

BristolR

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 22:17 - Jan 4 by SouthAfricanRanger
Not really helping, but if you in Brisbane at all - Dave, perhaps Steve and I from the Brisbane Hoops Down Under gang, will buy you a beer at the English pub we watch the QPR games at (in the city centre)

Now there’s a reason to go to Brisbane, cheers

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 15:52 - Jan 5 with 579 views

joe90

I lived out there for about a year (back in 2011/12) and it’s probably changed a fair bit…

Re: Auckland:

Karangahape Road (aka K Road) was the most interesting/cultural part of central Auckland (aka the CBD) A little bit alternative and there was access to a nice little urban park called ‘Myers Park’ via St Kevin’s Arcade. Nice places to eat and drink. It use to be the red-light district, that’ll give you some idea regarding the vibe. Always interesting characters hanging out.

To be honest, Auckland is a slow burner, not that impressive to visit. The CBD is interesting to explore for a few days with usual city activities. The suburbs are sprawling and difficult to access without a car. Public transport was terrible. There was also a surprising amount of poverty in the burbs, which really stuck with me.

I only spent a week in Wellington but that was enough to show me it had far more life to it.

My favourite city was Dunedin, not sure why, it just had a really nice vibe and felt more accessible.

Napier is worth a visit for the Art Deco.

I hiked the Abel Tasman and the Tongariro Crossing, both amazing and worth doing, even if you can only do a small section.

The most stunning drive I’ve done in my life was alongside Lake Pukaki towards Mount Cook. Blew my mind at the time.

Once you’re on the South Island you can’t really go wrong, it’s so stunning.

I’m sure whatever you end up doing you’ll have a great time.

Ps: Completely forgot to mention - you have to get yourself tip-top ice cream (hokey pokey or boysenberry) from a dairy in every city/town you visit and note how generous the proteins become the further out you go! It’s an essential part of Kiwi culture - so I’ve been led to believe by my family. Also, the fush and chips are great!

[Post edited 5 Jan 16:07]

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 16:59 - Jan 5 with 507 views

ProudDad

I went with my better half in 2020. We had planned a month (20 days South, 10 days North) but had to cut it short because of Covid.
I reckon 3 weeks in South Island is a good shout, we had 2 and half weeks and squeezed a lot in, another 2 or 3 days would have been perfect.
We planned 10 days for North but only did Wellington and Tongariro then had to make a dash for Auckland as flights were drying up. I reckon 2 weeks would cover a lot but you could easily find stuff to do for 3 weeks.
A couple of tips:
1) If you are going to do South Island first, take an internal flight to Nelson and pick up your rental car there and drop it off at Auckland when you leave. It saves 2 or 3 days driving and means you don't retrace your steps when you go north.
2) if you have the time and can afford it, do the overnight on Doubtful Sound rather than (or in addition to) Milford Sound. Spectacular and you will hardly see another boat for 24 hours.
3) if you like hiking, the Tongariro Crossing is a good challenge and spectacular.
4) Try to get onto a glacier if you haven't done it before.
5) Try Omega for car rental, they were very competitive and our experience with them was excellent.

Have a great time - best place we've ever been without a doubt.

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 17:18 - Jan 5 with 483 views

stowmarketrange

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 15:52 - Jan 5 by joe90

[Post edited 5 Jan 16:07]

The chippy in Houghton Bay was a strange one.They had fish in batter that I’d never heard of before.Still tasty though.

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 17:35 - Jan 5 with 464 views

joe90

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 17:18 - Jan 5 by stowmarketrange
The chippy in Houghton Bay was a strange one.They had fish in batter that I’d never heard of before.Still tasty though.

Was it hoki? The whitebait and pineapple fritters were also great. You don’t get them in the UK.

Thinking about it, the NZ chip shops remind a lot of the ones I encountered on a trip around the Highlands.

[Post edited 5 Jan 17:58]

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 17:46 - Jan 5 with 424 views

WirralHoop

My brother lives in Wellington and have been lucky enough to visit NZ a few times.

Try favourite place is Kaikoura, whale watching with snow capped mountains as a back drop.
The walk round the peninsula is also breathtaking.

NZ travel thoughts & ideas on 17:55 - Jan 5 with 406 views

PlanetHonneywood

I'd only add: however long you spend in the north island, double it for the south!

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