New Zealand

[drs]

Aye that's the fellow, also a 5 minute walk from the bus stop for the airport link as well.

Probably best to run an Expedia type search on the Central Business District and see what hotels pop up.

[German Jag]

Been to Auckland quite a few times, both on business and vacation.

Have found the "apartment" style hotels to be better.

Would recommend the Auckland Harbour Oaks on Gore Street. Bottom end of Queen Street close to the Britomart.

Also good is the Chifley Suites on Albert Street. Bit further up the hill from the waterfront, but convenient for the casino.

[KiwiDB]

Been to Auckland quite a few times, both on business and vacation.

Have found the "apartment" style hotels to be better.

Would recommend the Auckland Harbour Oaks on Gore Street. Bottom end of Queen Street close to the Britomart.

Also good is the Chifley Suites on Albert Street. Bit further up the hill from the waterfront, but convenient for the casino.

Yeah, stayed at the Chifley a few times and it was always good. Don't think it's called that any more though.

[fanny paddery]

I stayed at the Waldorf Stadium apartments in December. Probably about a 10 min walk to Britomart but it was only $140 for a huge room for the night, compared to about $220-250 the closer you got to the centre. Had no problems with the hotel for one night and would recommend it.

[Moonglum25]

Thanks for the replies - will look into them

[Mr Rational]

I see Eitihad are doing direct flights from Doha to Auckland soon. So it's just two flights from Edinburgh rather than three from Glasgow or three from Heathrow (if you include the flight down!)

[KiwiDB]

I see Eitihad are doing direct flights from Doha to Auckland soon. So it's just two flights from Edinburgh rather than three from Glasgow or three from Heathrow (if you include the flight down!)

Emirates have just announced Dubai straight to Auckland as well.

[Mr Rational]

Yeah was just going to post that. Saves being glowered at by Aussie customs which is a good thing.

Saying that, LA was the worst by a long shot.

[Eednud]

Thanks for the replies - will look into them

If price isn't a worry then you could try Hotel DeBrett in High Street. Stayed there last month as were guests at a wedding there. Best hotel bed I can remember sleeping in. Friendly staff, good food. Also handy for pubs, restaurants, shopping etc.

Wherever you stay suggest you don't taxi from city to the airport as it will cost anything from NZ$75-90.

[Mr Rational]

I was going to suggest the Fat Camel as well. Perfectly located, dead quiet with charming guests, it's the most romantic place to take your missus when down there.....

[Fudge]

Worked in Queenstown for a few months. I can easily say it was the best few months of my life

[Guest Moomintroll]

Bumping this thread, going to be using the wifes redundancy money to spend 3 weeks next January/February in NewZealand. Planning on starting in the South and working our way back up driving all the way. Any hints, tips, things to see or experiences gratefully received. Especially if it relates to someone who can put a decent itinerary together.

[doulikefish]

When driving if you turn on to a dirt track where there should be a main road...that is the main road when you are out of the cities

[Fuctifano]

3 weeks is pretty tight for time to do both islands, especially if only one of you is driving as there'll be a lot of it.

Invercargill and Gisborne Queenstown and Rotorua are  probably the two biggest must sees IMO, the latter will be like nowhere else you've (probably) ever been with the geothermal activity and the Maori history. Wouldn't be spending much time in the cities, they're nice enough to look at (well Christchurch sadly isn't any more) but  not what you're there for. Even in Auckland you can see most sights in a day.

Not sure if something like this would work

Dunedin- Queenstown-Milford Sound-Queenstown-Franz Josef -Christchurch-Kaikoura-Nelson- ferry to Wellington- Napier -Tongariro National Park- Rotorua-Auckland

That's roughly 14 places so you'll see what I mean about being tight for time. You could miss out something like Napier but then it's a fucker of a drive from Wellington.  Most of the good touristy stuff is in the South Island but lots of long drives to hit them all and to get to Milford Sound (or Doubtful Sound) you have to go in and out via Queenstown. From Dunedin you can do half day nature tours to see penguins / albatrosses in the wild.

I'm completely ignoring any LOTR / Hobbit stuff as it didn't interest me but I think that's all on the North Island.

[Mon_The_Fife]

Bumping this thread, going to be using the wifes redundancy money to spend 3 weeks next January/February in NewZealand. Planning on starting in the South and working our way back up driving all the way. Any hints, tips, things to see or experiences gratefully received. Especially if it relates to someone who can put a decent itinerary together.

Jan/Feb is a good time to come over here. It’s bloody roasting, it has been mid 20’s for weeks now and no sign of letting up.

3 weeks will get you to the main tourist spots. It feels like I spend that long most mornings trying to get over the Auckland Harbour Bridge. In terms of the South Island, Queenstown is beautiful so to as nearby Wanaka, we did a kayak trip on Lake Wanaka. Milford Sound is worth the trip too, even featured in the last Mission Impossible movie. It’s a bit of a drive (like most places in NZ) but worth it.

I haven’t been any further south so don’t know too much about Invercargill and Dunedin but there is a lot of Scottish heritage there. Wasn’t a fan of Christchurch, it’s still a massive building site post earthquake. Nelson, is probably my favourite place in NZ. Trying to get the mrs to move there from Auckland but she isn’t keen. It depends on what you’re interests are but a trip to the Abel Tasman is a must and walking some part of the track is worth it.

As has been said, you can do Auckland over a couple of days, but a wine trip to Waiheke Island is good fun. My parents are coming to visit me again at the end of the year, I swear that they are only coming back to do the wine again.

If you need any Auckland based info, feel free to drop me a message.

[AberdeenHibee]

Doing a 15/16-day New Zealand tour with my best mates in October/November 2019.  Doing:

1. Auckland. 

2. Auckland. 

3. Auckland/Hahei. 

4. Rotorua. 

5. Rotorua/Wellington. 

6. Wellington/Kaikoura. 

7. Kaikoura/Hanmer Springs. 

8. Hanmer Springs/Franz Josef. 

9. Franz Josef. 

10. Franz Josef/Queenstown. 

11. Queenstown. 

12. Queenstown. 

13. Queenstown/Twizel. 

14. Twizel/Christchurch.

15. Christchurch. 

A lot of travelling and a bit of a whistle-stop tour of a huge and amazing country I know.  But we all work full-time professionally and this was the most time any of us could get off consecutively.  So just thinking **** it, lets go for it.  We are 27 so now is a good time to go!  Thinking can do this, then if there are any more specific areas I really loved the look of could always go back in a couple of years! 

[paul wright scores]

On 27/03/2019 at 21:55, AberdeenHibee said:

Doing a 15/16-day New Zealand tour with my best mates in October/November 2019.  Doing:

1. Auckland. 

2. Auckland. 

3. Auckland/Hahei. 

4. Rotorua. 

5. Rotorua/Wellington. 

6. Wellington/Kaikoura. 

7. Kaikoura/Hanmer Springs. 

8. Hanmer Springs/Franz Josef. 

9. Franz Josef. 

10. Franz Josef/Queenstown. 

11. Queenstown. 

12. Queenstown. 

13. Queenstown/Twizel. 

14. Twizel/Christchurch.

15. Christchurch. 

A lot of travelling and a bit of a whistle-stop tour of a huge and amazing country I know.  But we all work full-time professionally and this was the most time any of us could get off consecutively.  So just thinking **** it, lets go for it.  We are 27 so now is a good time to go!  Thinking can do this, then if there are any more specific areas I really loved the look of could always go back in a couple of years! 

Sounds brilliant - we went to Rotorua, Franz Josef, Queenstown and Christchurch, amongst other places in 2017 and had a fantastic time.

Use https://www.bookme.co.nz if possible as you can save yourselves a lot of money for doing a lot of the activities. 

[AberdeenHibee]

On 20/04/2019 at 12:56, paul wright scores said:

Sounds brilliant - we went to Rotorua, Franz Josef, Queenstown and Christchurch, amongst other places in 2017 and had a fantastic time.

Use https://www.bookme.co.nz if possible as you can save yourselves a lot of money for doing a lot of the activities. 

We are now booked to go with Haka Tours.  They sound absolutely brilliant and have rave reviews online.  One of our mates did a Haka Tour and highly recommended!  Planning to do: 15,000 ft skydive, Franz Josef Heli-Hike, swimming with wild dolphins, sea kayaking...amongst many other things!

[paul wright scores]

On 21/04/2019 at 19:26, AberdeenHibee said:

We are now booked to go with Haka Tours.  They sound absolutely brilliant and have rave reviews online.  One of our mates did a Haka Tour and highly recommended!  Planning to do: 15,000 ft skydive, Franz Josef Heli-Hike, swimming with wild dolphins, sea kayaking...amongst many other things!

Sounds great - enjoy.