How long to visit New Zealand?

[lynnerself]

We are planning our trip for February. We waited until after retirement for this. Original plan was for 4 weeks. Looking at what we want to do it's up to 5 weeks, and that's missing a few things!

Those who have been, how long did you go? What must I see? What can I skip?

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Save yourself some time and pain and skip the Great Whites and the crocodiles.  

[Gardening Grandma]

Following this. A neighbor rented an RV for 10 days driving around NZ.  We want to do something similar.

[mmhmm]

Oct 17, 2016 20:15:26 GMT -5 lynnerself said:

We are planning our trip for February. We waited until after retirement for this. Original plan was for 4 weeks. Looking at what we want to do it's up to 5 weeks, and that's missing a few things!

Those who have been, how long did you go? What must I see? What can I skip?

DH and I went years ago. We stayed 6 weeks and were able to see everything we wanted to see at a leisurely pace. Do your reading in travel guides and don't miss anything you think might interest you. The fiords on the south island are amazing, as is the Mauri village on the North Island. Loved Wellington! Loved the trip down the Shotover river. Really just too many things to see to leave anything out! Beautiful, beautiful place that should never be rushed. Do enjoy your trip!

[Bonny]

Oct 17, 2016 20:15:26 GMT -5 lynnerself said:

We are planning our trip for February. We waited until after retirement for this. Original plan was for 4 weeks. Looking at what we want to do it's up to 5 weeks, and that's missing a few things!

Those who have been, how long did you go? What must I see? What can I skip?

I am envious!

We are in the process of planning a trip to NZ but we are limited in time due to health issues with our cat. We will only spend 10 days and will focus our time in the Marlborough (I'm a freak about the Sauvignon Blanc produced in that area and DH is a big fan of Nelson Hops). I'm sure we will land in Auckland and take a day or two in Wellington. I do want to see somethings about the Maori culture.

 I was joking with a friend today about how exploring NZ is like someone telling us we want to visit CA in a week; you know, LA, San Francisco, Yosemite, Drive the Coast and see the redwoods, lol!

Enjoy your planning!

[Deleted]

Dayum.  I was planning to to Australia next year with a side trip to NZ but I need to do some research.  maybe I need to go to NZ with a side trip to Australia!

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

These are on our bucket list too.  

A friend of mine just got back from New Zealand and Australia.  They spent 3 months over there, but they are retired.  I do know that they cruised from Australia to Hawaii, then flew back as their last leg.

I thought living out if a 22" suitcase challenging for a month, I can't imagine 3 months if living out of ANY sized suitcase!

[emma1420]

I went two years ago.  I only had two weeks, and it wasn't nearly enough time.  I plan on going back for another 2-3 weeks.

The must see's to me are the following:

Mount Cook/Tasman Glacier
Fox/Franz Glacier on the west coast
Milford Sound (but take a bus tour from Queenstown, I really regretted spending a couple days in Te Anau, I wish I had more time in Queenstown)
Lake Pukaki and Lake Wanaka
Rotorura and one of the Maori Villages
Ohau stream park (only in the right season to see the baby seals --  -- this video is cool, but when I went the place was swarming with them, I even had a baby seal walk over my foot to get to the pond, it was awesome!)

Other things I saw that I thought were cool, but that I think were skippable:

Moeraki Boulders
Glowworm Caves
Christchurch


I also went to see the Hobbiton movie set from the LOTR movies, which was really cool, and I went to Mount Ruapehu which had some awesome hiking if you like that kind of thing.   Next time I go I want to see Marlborough, Wellington, and the Bay of Islands, as I didn't get to those, and I want to see the south island again.

So basically, I'd recommend that you take as much time as you can for that trip, because there is so much to see and do.  And if you are driving yourself, there aren't really any interstates (especially on the south island), and the roads are pretty narrow.  There isn't much traffic, but I found it pretty tiring as the roads were narrow and very twisty.   In fact, I tried to visit Akaroa near Christchurch, but the drive did me in, and I never made it.

[Deleted]

Make sure you take a day to go to all the filming sites of "Hercules, the Legendary Journeys"!

[lynnerself]

Just booked flights for a 37 day trip! Still not sure we have any down days.
Not bad at $1350 each.

[movingforward]

I am so jealous!  I keep saying NZ will be the first trip I take after retirement but I am not sure I can wait that long.  I want to go for at least 4 weeks which is my reason for waiting.  My current job will not allow me more than 2 weeks at once. 

Have a great time and tell us all about it upon your return!

[lynnerself]

Oct 18, 2016 14:31:01 GMT -5 movingforward said:

I am so jealous!  I keep saying NZ will be the first trip I take after retirement but I am not sure I can wait that long.  I want to go for at least 4 weeks which is my reason for waiting.  My current job will not allow me more than 2 weeks at once. 

Have a great time and tell us all about it upon your return!

NZ was supposed to be our 1st retirement trip also. For the same reason that you state. We retired  summer 2015 and were supposed to go to NZ Jan 2016. But we had an ancient beagle that we would not leave for 4 weeks or more. He passed away in June and sad as that was, it was time (he was 18). And now we are free to travel as we long planned.

[wvugurl26]

I want to go to Australia next year for my honeymoon. It will be my first international travel besides resorts in the Caribbean.

[lynnerself]

Oct 18, 2016 12:19:47 GMT -5 emma1420 said:

I went two years ago.  I only had two weeks, and it wasn't nearly enough time.  I plan on going back for another 2-3 weeks.

The must see's to me are the following:

Mount Cook/Tasman Glacier
Fox/Franz Glacier on the west coast
Milford Sound (but take a bus tour from Queenstown, I really regretted spending a couple days in Te Anau, I wish I had more time in Queenstown)
Lake Pukaki and Lake Wanaka
Rotorura and one of the Maori Villages
Ohau stream park (only in the right season to see the baby seals -- 

Other things I saw that I thought were cool, but that I think were skippable:

Moeraki Boulders
Glowworm Caves
Christchurch


I also went to see the Hobbiton movie set from the LOTR movies, which was really cool, and I went to Mount Ruapehu which had some awesome hiking if you like that kind of thing.   Next time I go I want to see Marlborough, Wellington, and the Bay of Islands, as I didn't get to those, and I want to see the south island again.

So basically, I'd recommend that you take as much time as you can for that trip, because there is so much to see and do.  And if you are driving yourself, there aren't really any interstates (especially on the south island), and the roads are pretty narrow.  There isn't much traffic, but I found it pretty tiring as the roads were narrow and very twisty.   In fact, I tried to visit Akaroa near Christchurch, but the drive did me in, and I never made it.

We just booked tours of Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound. Per your suggestion, we took out a day in Te Anua and added Mount Cook. We booked about the last room available near Mt. Cook.

Some places are selling out fast. Probably should have started this about a month ago, but we were taking care of some family stuff.

Right now it looks like about 17 days on each island, plus travel time.

[HoneyBBQ]

YESSSS!! Favorite place on earth! I've been twice. Never enough time. I want to retire there. 

Are you guys hikers??

The best things on North island
- Tongariro (mountain) crossing
- Whakarewarewa Forest (Rotorua) to see old growth redwoods
-Waiotapu to see the sulfur pits/volcanoes
- if you really want to get away from people, go to Mt Taranaki (yes that is me)

poofers

I have about 10000 notes on the south island, hard to pick. But I LOVED the transalpine train,  Punakaiki pancake rocks, the glaciers, etc. You really can't go wrong. On the southern tip of the island you can just pull over and watch penguins on the beach, or jump in the water (cold) and swim with wild dolphins. No need to pay for any of that stuff.  Tell me more about what you like to do and I can give you ideas. I've also done several of the treks in the south island. 

OK I NEVER post my picture on the interwebs but it's worth it to get you to see how AWESOME NZ is!

[lynnerself]

Did any of you drive? How hard is it to adapt?

[Bonny]

Oct 20, 2016 10:01:31 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

YESSSS!! Favorite place on earth! I've been twice. Never enough time. I want to retire there. 

Are you guys hikers??

The best things on North island
- Tongariro (mountain) crossing
- Whakarewarewa Forest (Rotorua) to see old growth redwoods
-Waiotapu to see the sulfur pits/volcanoes
- if you really want to get away from people, go to Mt Taranaki (yes that is me)


I have about 10000 notes on the south island, hard to pick. But I LOVED the transalpine train,  Punakaiki pancake rocks, the glaciers, etc. You really can't go wrong. On the southern tip of the island you can just pull over and watch penguins on the beach, or jump in the water (cold) and swim with wild dolphins. No need to pay for any of that stuff.  Tell me more about what you like to do and I can give you ideas. I've also done several of the treks in the south island. 

OK I NEVER post my picture on the interwebs but it's worth it to get you to see how AWESOME NZ is!

And you're such a cutie!

Did you go to Marlborough? Got any hiking recommendations for that area?

[HoneyBBQ]

Oct 20, 2016 13:31:39 GMT -5 lynnerself said:

Did any of you drive? How hard is it to adapt?

I did and have. But I've driven in many counties where you drive on the left. The worst is that you turn on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal.
Actually, it could be a lot worse but you get used to it. And it helps to have a copilot paying attention. Just be careful and think about it and try not to go on autopilot.

[HoneyBBQ]

Bonny
I haven't been to the north part of the south island (Ahhhh) but the queen charlotte trek is there.


www.qctrack.co.nz/

Also, would you mind poofing my pics? I'm paranoid.

[Bonny]

Oct 21, 2016 13:25:05 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Bonny
I haven't been to the north part of the south island (Ahhhh) but the queen charlotte trek is there.


www.qctrack.co.nz/

Also, would you mind poofing my pics? I'm paranoid.

Thanks for that link however I'm not sure exactly how to "poof" a pic?

[mmhmm]

Oct 21, 2016 13:25:05 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Bonny
I haven't been to the north part of the south island (Ahhhh) but the queen charlotte trek is there.


www.qctrack.co.nz/

Also, would you mind poofing my pics? I'm paranoid.

I'll poof them for you, Honey and Bonny.

[HoneyBBQ]

Thanks.

[debthaven]

Did any of you drive? How hard is it to adapt?

It's the same everywhere in the UK. I won't drive on highways in the UK (because at that speed an accident can be fatal) but I'll happily drive on smaller roads.

[lynnerself]

tentative South Island Itinerary ~17days
Christchurch
Mt Cook
Dunedin (penguins and wild life)
Te Anau (Doubtful and Milford sound)
Queenstown (Including Shotover Jet Boat)
Wanaka
Fraz Joseph (possibly helicopter tour to glacier)
Greymouth (Hokatika River)
Kaikoura (Ocean Birding trip, swim with dolphins)
Picton (sea kayak, wine tasting)
ferry to Wellington

Hotels booked for 1st 9 nights.
We are going to fly to Auckland, stay 2 nights and then fly to Christchurch. Pick up car in Christchurch and drive it for 5 weeks until return to Auckland. Currently looking at rental cars and ferry crossing.

[Bob Ross]

Isn't New Zealand where Lord of the Rings is?

If so, I'd see Gondor, and Mordor if I had time.

And while you're at it, try to kill an Ent.  Why?  Cuz f*ck Ents!  That's why! 

[lynnerself]

Nov 2, 2016 12:12:15 GMT -5 Bob Ross said:

Isn't New Zealand where Lord of the Rings is?

If so, I'd see Gondor, and Mordor if I had time.

And while you're at it, try to kill an Ent.  Why?  Cuz f*ck Ents!  That's why! 

We are contemplating a hike that climbs "Mt. Doom"


 



Or possibly a drink at the Green Dragon Inn in Hobbiton.

[movingforward]

Do you mind sharing what you expect to spend on this trip?  Are you flying first class?  I would love to take a trip like this but honestly have no idea how much it would cost. 

[emma1420]

Lynne...I drove it and it wasn't a big deal.  The biggest issue I had wasn't driving on the left side of the road, more than many of the roads are tight and twisty.  And it doesn't surprise me that accomodation around Mt. Cook was also sold out.  There are only three hotels at Mt. Cook Village, and only one of them has more than about 20 rooms.  It's pretty spectacular up there.

Moving...I know you are asking Lynne, but I did my trip in 2014 for just under 4K.  That included flights (I upgraded on the way out using Air New Zelands bid system, which increased my flight expenses by about $500), car rental, accomodation, food, and activities.  The car rental for two weeks was only $450, and I stayed in holiday parks to keep my accomodation and food expenses down.  I wanted to keep the majority of my budget for activities.  But, many things are free. 

[lynnerself]

We are not flying first class. It's about 17 hrs (2 hr layover in San Francisco).  Airfare reasonable at $1350 each. Car rental at about $1000.
Total cost for 37 days will probably be between $15000 and $18000 (for 2). Right now we are at around $100 a night for hotels. I'm not doing hostels.
We are getting kitchens to try and cook part of the time.
Excursions are the other big cost. Rafting, kayaking, boat trips, cultural shows, museums, wine tasting tours etc

ETA  Just checked flights. We actually paid $1250 per ticket.

[lynnerself]

Current question: should we visit Hobbiton?