Kags1694

We are coming over to New Zealand on a Recce/Holiday early March 2008 for 3 weeks.

Two families, (2 adults and three children) at this stage we have only booked flights. We cannot decide were to stay, the idea at the moment is to stay in a hotel in Auckland for the first week. Second and third week hire a motor home or do we rent a house in 2 different locations for a period of a week each time.

We would like to have a couple of days over on the south island, but mainly like to say on North Island

We want to check our schools, houses for sale/Rent but also have a holiday.

We have never been before.

Would you hire mobile homes before we come over or while we are there?

Any suggestions of were to look to rent a house while on holiday.

Car hire would you arrange it in UK or when we get there?

Sorry to ask so many questions.

Regards
Karen

Colin in the middle

Think you meant to say March 2008

3 weeks is not a long time for a good look at the country, my advice to you would be to hire a car when you get into the country simply because you can get a better deal but then again with the internet probably still can these days.

To be really honest a trip to the South Island would take 2 weeks minimum thats just giving you an idea of the size of this country despite being the same size as the UK in Land Area the Roads are nothing like what you have been used to. What looks a 60 mile drive can in fact take you 2 hours simply because of the road. Not so uch traffic but I can guarentee you will be slower than the locals.

We live in the Central North Island near the Volcanoes SH4 is our local Highway and well your in for a surprise to the term Highway Just think of a B road in the UK that will give you some idea

TeamEmbo

We looked into motorhomes for when our inlaws come for hols. 2 weeks = $3,000+ for intermediate 4 berth one. (the + is for the unknown insurance - didn't look into it any further due to expense of initial hire!).

There are loads of motels and b&bs (usually family homes) and farmstays etc.

We had 6 days for our recce in March this year and that mainly involved 11 interviews spread over 2 and a half days in Christchurch, and 3 and a half days on North Island, Bay of Plenty (Tauranga), Rotorua and Hamilton. We got to see what we wanted and even had a chance to look at property and find out about the school system but no point looking at schools as we had no idea which area we'd end up in and schools are zoned (you have to live in the zone to attend that school - see Wiki for NZ Lifestyle, Education).

We didn't have the kids with us and I would not recommend this unless you are naturally an insomniac or are addicted to Red Bull. It was hard work and very tiring and also very informative and worthwhile.

littleal

We did a recce in 3 1/2 weeks - 2 weeks on SI and 1 1/2 on NI. We were totally exhausted by the end but saw most of what we wanted to see. Our children of 9 and 3 were with us but the 3 year old drove us potty. The 9 year old hadn't wanted to travel all that way but she loved NZ and is quite receptive to a move now.

We travelled in April and got quite good car hire deals on the internet as it was lower season. We had different cars on each island. We booked mainly motels through the NZ official tourist site. They were all comfortable with realistic cooking facilities but we mostly ate out.

Good luck and enjoy.
Alison

Colin in the middle

Anyone who is planning a 3 week whistle stop tour one word of good advice and that is
Dont underestimate the effects of Jetlag
Jetlag from a 24 hour flight and 12 timezones takes roughly 3 weeks to fully get over, you may think you are over it in a few days.

Its one of the things a first time traveller from Europe allways underestimates.

Woodlea

Jetlag is for wimps! A few Scotches en route cures Jetlag completely. 3 weeks to get over a wee 24 hr flight - don't give people the frighteners!!

jackietyfry

[QUOTE=Kags1694;5201386]We are coming over to New Zealand on a Recce/Holiday early March 2008 for 3 weeks.

We will be leaving just as you arrive! Like you guys we want to have a holiday but see as much as we can from a recce point of view. It will be hard to get the balance right I guess.
When do you plan to move over?
Jackie

Ash1

Hi Karen,


There is so much to see here that you may need to make a conscious decision not to do the touristy bit but focus on your future location. I think that alot of pomms ( and i mean most .... not all before i get jumped on) visit key areas such as Hawkes Bay/Napier, Bay of Plenty Rotorua/ Taupo/ Tauranga. Auckland/ Northshore + others (didn`t do this ourselves) Bay of Islands, Pahia/ Russell . Wellington, Christchurch the list goes on.
There is loads of research that you can do before you leave. We found this site to be fantastic help if you take an average opinion as obviously one area that is perfect for one family is not so good for another. What we did was make a list of what it was what we wanted and then based our research on that.
March is not the most busy time of year so you should be able to get most types of accommodation. I`m sure if you start threads asking about individual areas, most of the good people on this site will help about accommodation.
Feel free to ask
Ash

Maz

I think before you go booking up for places to stay, if you are treating this truly as a recce and not as a holiday, then you need to find out which area appeals most to you. Do a TON of online homework. What kind of climate are you looking for? Specific jobs? More cafe culture or eclectic mix of ethnicities?

If you want to see a ton of scenery all in one go, and think the kids will be able to handle 12 hours in a train then I would recommend the Overlander Train from Auckland to Wellington. They have a scenic carriage in the back of the train with a lounge area. We were the only people who got assigned seats in that section (as we had a youngster with us) and we made good use of the spare space!

Colin in the middle

Not giving the frighteners is a known medical fact! Some people handle it differant from others but then some just jump in the Car think they are not tired and cause accidents. Oh and its not just a 24 hour flight its more like 40 hrs when you add the 12 hour timezone differance and 4 hours waiting to board
What ever you want to think its an advisory thats all.

littleal

I agree with Maz here. We did the Tranz Alpine train and the Tranz Coastal train on South Island. It gave us a break from being cooped up in a car and from the drain of driving. Also we saw things that would be very difficult and time-consuming to see any other way. (4 or 5 hours per journey instead of 12).

Alison

Ted Logan

I would treat it as a holiday but visit the places which you may want to live. Agree South Island is huge and you may only really be able to do top half.

Do the touristy things, look at the culture of the place and think would this be a great place to live or not.

Do the campervan thing. You can park anywhere (just do it with others for protection).

If you are in a specific city type job than stick to the big cities.

Enjoy yourself, its a lot of money to spend and may as well make the most of it.

Go home and then investigate the places you liked. Come on here and ask questions, but not general ones (there will be a war !!!).

NZ has a lot to offer for familes so wishing you the best on your trip over and have fun with the 'adventure'

jackietyfry

I wanna go on the train!!!!
Haven't booked out flights yet but if we fly into Auckland as seems likely then we will definately catch the train down to our friends in Welly.
Later on we are going to fly down to Christchurch and catch the Tanzcoastal back up to Picton and fly catch ferry back to Welly.
Thanks so much for this link Maz - how excited am I !!!

Colin in the middle

You do realise that there is only one train per day heading to Welly and one heading from Welly to Auckland?

Leaves at 725am and arrives at 725pm (if your lucky) the train station is no where near the Airport roughly 30km away in the Auckalnd CBD.

If you do go by train I will wave as you go passed my front door or possible race the train on part of its trip, race not being the right word as I would actually have to drive less than 100kph on open road to not pass it
Beautiful trip especially around the Raurimu spiral and passed Ruapehu.

jackietyfry

Thanks for that Colin.
Is it feasible for us to stay in Auckland City for a few days and then make our way to the train station. Is there a bus service that will take us there from our city centre hotel or how much would a taxi cost for example?
We see the train as a way to see a bit more of the country on our whistle stop tour.