Patty

My husband and I will be traveling in New Zealand the beginning of
August for 10 days. We are considering a campervan from Auckland to
Queensland. I need advice about traveling this way in August. Never
been to NZ. excited. We want to do a bit of everything. Appreciate
advice.
Patty

Martin Hunt

On 22 Apr 2006 19:49:17 -0700, "patty" <[email protected]>
wrote:

    >My husband and I will be traveling in New Zealand the beginning of
    >August for 10 days. We are considering a campervan from Auckland to
    >Queensland. I need advice about traveling this way in August. Never
    >been to NZ. excited. We want to do a bit of everything. Appreciate
    >advice.
    >Patty


You will need the amphibious version to get across to Queensland :-)

I think you mean Queenstown.
--
Martin Hunt
Ngaio
Wellington
New Zealand

Patty

Thanks to both of you for your responses, and yes I do maean
Queenstown, I seem to have alot of difficulty remembering that. Special
interests include, beautiful scenery, hiking, my husband is a wine
dealer so the vineyards will be important. I like your polint about the
cities, although I would like a bit of history and alot of culture.

Sounds like alot in 10 days but that is all we have, We are not much
interested in relaxation. Two questions; what is the amphibious model?
Is this related to the driving in the southern Island in the winter?
and 2) I am a bit concerned about the weather traveling by campervan...
i.e. freezing our bunkies off at night, and the availability of open
camping areas... again comments appreciated.
Patty

John in Surrey

On 23 Apr 2006 07:34:36 -0700, "patty" <[email protected]>
wrote:

    >and 2) I am a bit concerned about the weather traveling by campervan...
    >i.e. freezing our bunkies off at night, and the availability of open
    >camping areas... again comments appreciated.
    >Patty

Its not that cold down south, compared with europe.
most have a heater, not that effective but keen the temp up.

There are heaps of motor home rental companys.
email for more info
Images of home (NZ)
http://www.titahi-bay.co.nz/home
What we are up to in the UK
http://www.titahi-bay.co.nz

Roadkill

"patty" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
    > Thanks to both of you for your responses, and yes I do maean
    > Queenstown, I seem to have alot of difficulty remembering that. Special
    > interests include, beautiful scenery, hiking, my husband is a wine
    > dealer so the vineyards will be important. I like your polint about the
    > cities, although I would like a bit of history and alot of culture.
    > Sounds like alot in 10 days but that is all we have, We are not much
    > interested in relaxation. Two questions; what is the amphibious model?
    > Is this related to the driving in the southern Island in the winter?
    > and 2) I am a bit concerned about the weather traveling by campervan...
    > i.e. freezing our bunkies off at night, and the availability of open
    > camping areas... again comments appreciated.
    > Patty

10 days isn't enough :)
Be aware that even state h/way 1 is not 100kph all the way.
Akld - Rotorua - (don't stop for the night on the Desert Rd) - Palmerston
North - Wellington
Picton - Blenheim (wine) - Kaikoura (whale watching) - Hamner Springs -
Westport - West Coast south - Wanaka - Queenstown - flight to Milford

This is whistlestop.

NZ culture is Maori, Gold, Mining, Early colonial history, hydro dams.
West Coast scenery is best, if weather lifts.

hth

Kernow

Patty

It's just not feasible to see much of New Zealand in 10 days. Half of
the north Island, or half of the south island is all you will manage.

Reconsider the use of a campervan. It's actually more convenient to use
a cheap rental car, very cheap in August, and stay at motels where you
can cook your own food. If you really want to see both islands drive
from Auckland to Rotorua not on SH1, and then fly to Christchurch, drive
to Queenstown and then fly back directly to Auckland, or if you need to
take your cheap rental car back to Christchurch drive to CHC and then
take an afternoon flight to Auckland.

I hope that you mean Queenstown, and not Queensland. As the man on
Stewart Island would say, that's on the west island.

Hugh


patty wrote:
    > My husband and I will be traveling in New Zealand the beginning of
    > August for 10 days. We are considering a campervan from Auckland to
    > Queensland. I need advice about traveling this way in August. Never
    > been to NZ. excited. We want to do a bit of everything. Appreciate
    > advice.
    > Patty
    >

Patty

Again, thanks for all the activity in response. What I am getting from
this is that we just don't have enough time. Also that the campervan
idea may be just too much if we need the mobility of a car, I have done
some googling and perhaps B&B's would be the way to go, get some local
flavor. If I try to prioritize, my next question is what not to miss?
We have been told Milford Sound is a must see and we do want to ski,
even if it's only one day. The northern islands are not a priority. We
are flying in and out of Auckland. And Hugh, why not on SH1? As to the
'not so cold compared with Europe", we live in Miami, what does that
mean?
Patty

Patty

Again, thanks for all the activity in response. What I am getting from
this is that we just don't have enough time. Also that the campervan
idea may be just too much if we need the mobility of a car, I have done
some googling and perhaps B&B's would be the way to go, get some local
flavor. If I try to prioritize, my next question is what not to miss?
We have been told Milford Sound is a must see and we do want to ski,
even if it's only one day. The northern islands are not a priority. We
are flying in and out of Auckland. And Hugh, why not on SH1? As to the
'not so cold compared with Europe", we live in Miami, what does that
mean?
Patty

John in Surrey

On 24 Apr 2006 05:54:36 -0700, "patty" <[email protected]>
wrote:

Hi
I have put together a very rought page at
http://www.titahi-bay.co.nz/home/nz/ as recommendations for a friend
of mine...
email if you have any questons
Images of home (NZ)
http://www.titahi-bay.co.nz/home
What we are up to in the UK
http://www.titahi-bay.co.nz

Peter Webb

    >As to the
    > 'not so cold compared with Europe", we live in Miami, what does that
    > mean?
    > Patty

It means you will absolutely freeze your nuts off.

Kernow

patty wrote:
And Hugh, why not on SH1? As to the
    > 'not so cold compared with Europe", we live in Miami, what does that
    > mean?
    > Patty
    >

SH1 south from Auckland is the nearest thing to a freeway that New
Zealand has. It's very busy with trucks and other traffic. Once the
four lane section ends it's hard driving with little time to look at the
countryside. If you want to get a flavour of New Zealand take other
routes, either east or west of SH1.

Get a good road map of New Zealand. The AA does a very good road atlas.
Study it before you go. The AA now issue free guides to various parts
of the country. Postage costs may make it prohibitive to get the guides
in advance. Lonely Planet is probably the best guide to buy in the US.

Don't expect to travel great distances in a day. Even though the rural
speed limit is 100 KPH, it's hard to average more than 80 KPH as there
are frequent speed restrictions through small towns and villages, and
winding roads even on SH1. The traffic police have become much more
agressive with speeders, so don't.

If you are arriving directly from Florida you will have travelled for 30
- 40 hours so you will need time to recover. We travelled back to the
US a few weeks ago and it took 38 hours from the time that we left
Christchurch airport until the time that we arrived at our doorstep, 40
minutes from the airport.

New Zealand, and especially the south island has many climatic zones.
Often very close together. Above 1000' in the south island there may
well be snow in August. It's just 60 minutes drive from Christchurch to
be on the ski slopes. There's snow above 8500' all the year round. The
east coast is warmer and damper than the centre of the south island.
The west coast is very wet, rarely snow at low levels, but 200-300" of
rain per annum.

Where I stay on the south island is in a rain shadow area. 5-10" of
rain per annum. 30 miles west there is 50"+ per annum, and another 20
miles west and it's 200"+. Get the picture?

Currently the south island is experiencing a severe drought, so maybe
this Winter there well be more precipitation than normal.

kernow

texan....usenet

On 22 Apr 2006 19:49:17 -0700, "patty" <[email protected]>
wrote:

    >My husband and I will be traveling in New Zealand the beginning of
    >August for 10 days. We are considering a campervan from Auckland to
    >Queensland. I need advice about traveling this way in August. Never
    >been to NZ. excited. We want to do a bit of everything. Appreciate
    >advice.
    >Patty


Try:
http://www.rental-cars.co.nz

www.aaguide.co.nz

www.purenz.com

Like others have said, trying to see NZ in 10 days will be a major
push.

What are you looking for?
Culture,
Scenery,
Things to do,
Special interests

Sit down and look at what you like and want to do then plan it from
there.

There is a 'wine trail' - I will find the url and post later today.

But from memory, the major wine areas that you may be able to visit
would be:
Auckland
Marlborough
Queenstown area

Cath

Roadkill

<[email protected]. .> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On 22 Apr 2006 19:49:17 -0700, "patty" <[email protected]>
    > wrote:
    >>My husband and I will be traveling in New Zealand the beginning of
    >>August for 10 days. We are considering a campervan from Auckland to
    >>Queensland. I need advice about traveling this way in August. Never
    >>been to NZ. excited. We want to do a bit of everything. Appreciate
    >>advice.
    >>Patty
    > Try:
    > http://www.rental-cars.co.nz
    > www.aaguide.co.nz
    > www.purenz.com
    > Like others have said, trying to see NZ in 10 days will be a major
    > push.
    > What are you looking for?
    > Culture,
    > Scenery,
    > Things to do,
    > Special interests
    > Sit down and look at what you like and want to do then plan it from
    > there.
    > There is a 'wine trail' - I will find the url and post later today.
    > But from memory, the major wine areas that you may be able to visit
    > would be:
    > Auckland
    > Marlborough
    > Queenstown area
    > Cath


http://www.newzealandnz.co.nz/wine-regions/

Fred

"patty" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
    > Again, thanks for all the activity in response. What I am getting from
    > this is that we just don't have enough time. Also that the campervan
    > idea may be just too much if we need the mobility of a car, I have done
    > some googling and perhaps B&B's would be the way to go, get some local
    > flavor. If I try to prioritize, my next question is what not to miss?
    > We have been told Milford Sound is a must see and we do want to ski,
    > even if it's only one day. The northern islands are not a priority. We
    > are flying in and out of Auckland. And Hugh, why not on SH1? As to the
    > 'not so cold compared with Europe", we live in Miami, what does that
    > mean?
    > Patty

Rethink the B&B's. Shopping around will get quite acceptable (to most)
motels at around $75 average per night. B%B's just don't seem to come much
under $100 - 120 unless way off the beaten track.
    >

Patty

It sounds like a car and B&B or motels are the way to go. I have been
doing some surfing of the sites that some of you have recommended here,
including the lonely planet site. There is a term 'hosted
accomodations', that I am not familiar with, but one that seems to have
some potential placed to stay. As for B&B, and motels, are there
different rates available in Winter, and is there typically
availability or are reservations recommended? We prefer to be more
spontanious and less scripted. Again, thanks for all the feedback. I
appreciate it!
Patty