NZ holiday must dos?

[NinjaNanna]

Hi There

My Mum and Dad are planning on playing tour guide and bringing 2 other familys across to NZ in Sept 2010.

My folks are mid 50's, one family is mid 30's with a 7 and a 9 year old and the other family is mid 40's with a 13, 15 and a 17yr old.

All of them live and work on large Aust cattle properties (workers not owners unfortunately) so budget will be a major consideration.

They are planning on coming for about 16 days and wish to see both the north and south islands.

So with that in mind what would you say are must do's / must see's (green bling awarded for any suggestions with links or contact info)

Also they'll be planning on hiring 2 mini vans to get everybody around.

Cheers in advance

NN

[ynot slow]

Tell them to fly into Auckland and leave from Queenstown/Christchurch,that way they won't lose the time returning to Auckland to fly out.
Your folks can pick them at Auckland,tiki tour south,go over Cook Strait and enjoy Sth Island,when they leave the parents cruise back to Auckland.

My cousin did that last time,they flew from GB into Akl and out of Chch,used campervan and also my uncle used his campervan to tiki tour with them when down south.

[jim.cox]

So with that in mind what would you say are must do's / must see's


Dryland Aussies, Huh?

Show them some green and wet

West Coast of the South Island

Include a flight up onto the glaciers

[Devil]

yeah as stated before, in at AKL out at CHCH.
6 days north island, 10 days south.

[Edbear]

Tell them to fly into Auckland and leave from Queenstown/Christchurch,that way they won't lose the time returning to Auckland to fly out.
Your folks can pick them at Auckland,tiki tour south,go over Cook Strait and enjoy Sth Island,when they leave the parents cruise back to Auckland.

My cousin did that last time,they flew from GB into Akl and out of Chch,used campervan and also my uncle used his campervan to tiki tour with them when down south.

Good idea!

For the North, I thoroughly recommend the Waipoua Forest and a stop at Tane Mahuta. Paihia is a beautiful spot for general access to the North. Day trips up 90 mile beach to the top. Great restaurant on the water and a ferry ride across to Russell for the craft shops, a trip either on the ferry or the fast boats through the "Hole in the Rock", right next to Waitangi which I recommend having a look through. Kerikeri with the stone cottage, Mangonui for their world famous fish and chips...

For Auckland I recommend the Sky Tower for dinner, the buffet is better value than the revolving retaurant. The Museum of Transport and Technology at Western Springs, and a tram ride up to the aircraft museum.

[Headbanger]

Ignore the North island, Fly into ChCh from Aus, do the South Island loop and fly back out of ChCh, No need to go near Auckland. And anything worth seeing in the North island has a more impressive counter part down South.

Unless they are here to shop, in which case they should've visited a major Aussie city.

[ynot slow]

Ignore the North island, Fly into ChCh from Aus, do the South Island loop and fly back out of ChCh, No need to go near Auckland. And anything worth seeing in the North island has a more impressive counter part down South.

Unless they are here to shop, in which case they should've visited a major Aussie city.

Not far off the mark,except the Forgotten Highway in campervans,gotta keep the tourist tradition.And Mt.Egmont isn't too bad either while in the area.

[chef]

hope the 15 year old and 17 are girls do em. theyll have fun then

[JMemonic]

West cost of the South Island, vist Franz Glacier but the flights cost a fortune, you can walk so far in, and there are walking tours, try to avoid the camp ground there as costs a fortune compared to others.

Pelorus Bridge (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-41.29852,173.572222&num=1&sll=-43.531637,172.636645&sspn=0.01618,0.032015&ie=UTF8&ll=-41.296848,173.574779&spn=0.010995,0.019119&z=16&iwloc=A) is worth a stop to stretch your legs on the way from Picton to Nelson and try Queen Charlotte drive on the way there as well.

Avoid Shanty Town and visit Ross (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-41.29852,173.572222&num=1&sll=-43.531637,172.636645&sspn=0.01618,0.032015&ie=UTF8&ll=-42.899044,170.814056&spn=0.042881,0.076475&z=14), its free and a nice stop.

Of course one should try and stop at Punakaki (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-42.109362,171.335496&num=1&sll=-41.296848,173.574779&sspn=0.010995,0.019119&ie=UTF8&ll=-42.107926,171.337173&spn=0.005428,0.009559&z=17), if there is time.

Wanaka is good for overnight the camp ground there was basic but friendly and affordable last time we went through.

[peasea]

Good idea!

For the North, I thoroughly recommend the Waipoua Forest and a stop at Tane Mahuta. Paihia is a beautiful spot for general access to the North. Day trips up 90 mile beach to the top. Great restaurant on the water and a ferry ride across to Russell for the craft shops, a trip either on the ferry or the fast boats through the "Hole in the Rock", right next to Waitangi which I recommend having a look through. Kerikeri with the stone cottage, Mangonui for their world famous fish and chips...

For Auckland I recommend the Sky Tower for dinner, the buffet is better value than the revolving retaurant. The Museum of Transport and Technology at Western Springs, and a tram ride up to the aircraft museum.

Not forgetting a late-night jaunt along K Road. Real eye-opener for outback folk I'd say.

[ynot slow]

Not forgetting a late-night jaunt along K Road. Real eye-opener for outback folk I'd say.

As long as they take a 5 ltr nilverm drench pack with them.

[peasea]

West cost of the South Island, vist Franz Glacier but the flights cost a fortune, you can walk so far in, and there are walking tours, try to avoid the camp ground there as costs a fortune compared to others.

Pelorus Bridge (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-41.29852,173.572222&num=1&sll=-43.531637,172.636645&sspn=0.01618,0.032015&ie=UTF8&ll=-41.296848,173.574779&spn=0.010995,0.019119&z=16&iwloc=A) is worth a stop to stretch your legs on the way from Picton to Nelson and try Queen Charlotte drive on the way there as well.

Avoid Shanty Town and visit Ross (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-41.29852,173.572222&num=1&sll=-43.531637,172.636645&sspn=0.01618,0.032015&ie=UTF8&ll=-42.899044,170.814056&spn=0.042881,0.076475&z=14), its free and a nice stop.

Of course one should try and stop at Punakaki (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-42.109362,171.335496&num=1&sll=-41.296848,173.574779&sspn=0.010995,0.019119&ie=UTF8&ll=-42.107926,171.337173&spn=0.005428,0.009559&z=17), if there is time.

Wanaka is good for overnight the camp ground there was basic but friendly and affordable last time we went through.

Good suggestions here but my money would be on Arrowtown over Wanaka.
Ross? Gotta stay at the Empire, classic old joint.

[peasea]

As long as they take a 5 ltr nilverm drench pack with them.

Along with a gun or two?

[kit]

Gotta go to milford sound!

[ynot slow]

Arrowtown camp ground is good for campervans,as long as nothing happening when there to book up all accomodation.

[JMemonic]

Good suggestions here but my money would be on Arrowtown over Wanaka.
Ross? Gotta stay at the Empire, classic old joint.

Yeah we have to look into Arrowtown, any suggestions for around there as we might consider staying there on the way to the Burt Munro this time?

[peasea]

Yeah we have to look into Arrowtown, any suggestions for around there as we might consider staying there on the way to the Burt Munro this time?

Last summer we stayed at the Mace Motel. Not the most up-market but it was a spur of the moment thiing and they had a room. It was the best bed of the whole trip though. There would be flasher places but what do you need?

[Blackbird]

If they get to the Wanaka area, they MUST try this out:http://www.wanakariverjourneys.co.nz/. It's run by the son of a workmate of mine and is in the most breathtaking scenery imaginable. You can either do the boat trip on its own or combine it with a helicopter trip that lands you in the snow in Mt Aspiring national park, then returns you to the boat for the return trip. It's just about the best thing I've ever done in NZ. Costs about $400 pp for the combined trip which lasts half a day.

[ynot slow]

Last summer we stayed at the Mace Motel. Not the most up-market but it was a spur of the moment thiing and they had a room. It was the best bed of the whole trip though. There would be flasher places but what do you need?

The pub is good to apparently,at my brothers' wedding last year people stayed at motels,pubs,campground.Campground was tidy,and that was cabins,the motel units were good,15 min walk to town.The motels were ok by those staying there.Dad stayed at the pub,he said nice and quaint(quiet)but had parking around the back.Should mention the big mountain bike event was on that weekend,and the Sunday was start of masters world cricket,so accomodation was pricey.

[Headbanger]

If they get to the Wanaka area, they MUST try this out:http://www.wanakariverjourneys.co.nz/. It's run by the son of a workmate of mine and is in the most breathtaking scenery imaginable. You can either do the boat trip on its own or combine it with a helicopter trip that lands you in the snow in Mt Aspiring national park, then returns you to the boat for the return trip. It's just about the best thing I've ever done in NZ. Costs about $400 pp for the combined trip which lasts half a day.


Freakin Awesome.

[Blackbird]

Freakin Awesome.

Cheers, it really is. Brent Pihama, the tour operator, has the sole concession on the Matukituki River so it's not full of boats plying their trade. He does a few spins and the like but Brent concentrates on the history and geology of the area and he's a wonderful guide.

I might mention the chopper flight too. It's run by a local large cattle and deer station. The pilot, Alex Aspinall, is the daughter of the station owner; probably in her mid 20's with already 7 years of chopper and fixed wing experience. Smoothest pilot I've ever flown with.

The photo of the glacier face on one of the pics below is 25 metres high - shows the scale of things. It felt like we could reach out and touch it!

[NinjaNanna]

Thanks for the input guys, for those who haven't added anything yet I'm looking for that local knowledge that uncovers the gems.

For those interested about stuff to do in or around Auckland, I highly recommend:

Tree adventures high ropes course at Woodhill forest
Mountian biking at Woodhill forest
Bungy Ball near Skytower
Caving Adventures @ Waitomo
Leisurely walk through the tunnel and mining ruins around the Karangahaki gorge near Waihi
Tongario Crossing walk


Most of these are relatively inexpensive to do.

So what other gems are out there?

Cheers
Shane

[peasea]

Adventure tours? Meh. Stay home, watch DVD's for two weeks. PS3, all that shit is so much better for you.

Ooops, the teenager in me has escaped!:kick:

Get back in there....