Achim D.

...smart to go?

hello,

I am planing to travel to NZ in August 2005
(25.07 - 05.09.) but is it smart to go there
in the winter?

The plan is to travel around the north and
south island by bus (kiwi experience?) now
is my question how bad/cold/wet is the weather
in NZ at these time in the year?

and there are any outdoor-activities/tours
you can do only in the summertime? because
I don't want to read every day a new sign
with "open only in the summertime"...

and - I know these is a stupid question...
but what I have to do (to see) in NZ?!?

Auckland => down to Wellington... after that
to the south-island: ... => christchurch ...
around the southisland...and flying home from
christchurch.
a goog plan for 4,5 weeks or should I change
something?

there are other crazy backpackers on tour in
the winter or will I be allone?

best regards

achim

Brooklyn Waters

"achim d." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > ...smart to go?
    > hello,
    > I am planing to travel to NZ in August 2005
    > (25.07 - 05.09.) but is it smart to go there
    > in the winter?
    > The plan is to travel around the north and
    > south island by bus (kiwi experience?) now
    > is my question how bad/cold/wet is the weather
    > in NZ at these time in the year?
I just spent my first winter in the south island of New Zealand
(Christchurch).
The weather is not particularly cold but plenty of snow in the mountains for
great skiing. A lot of rain on the west coast at any time of year but pretty
good elsewhere, lots of fine, crisp days.

    > and there are any outdoor-activities/tours
    > you can do only in the summertime? because
    > I don't want to read every day a new sign
    > with "open only in the summertime"...

There are some restrictions on hunting and fishing but I'm not sure what
they are. Most things are running in Winter.

    > and - I know these is a stupid question...
    > but what I have to do (to see) in NZ?!?
    > Auckland => down to Wellington... after that
    > to the south-island: ... => christchurch ...
    > around the southisland...and flying home from
    > christchurch.
    > a goog plan for 4,5 weeks or should I change
    > something?
    > there are other crazy backpackers on tour in
    > the winter or will I be allone?

There are heaps of tourists, skiiers, adventurers. Do carry snow chains when
you are driving. The snow is not heavy but it can bring you to a standstill
if you're not prepared. Make sure you see Queenstown, Franz Joseph, Aoraki
Mt Cook. Check out our blog at http://www.galleryvittoria.com/nzblog for
ideas.

cheers

Brooklyn Waters

Laughing Terrier

"achim d." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > ...smart to go?
    >
    > hello,
    >
    > I am planing to travel to NZ in August 2005
    > (25.07 - 05.09.) but is it smart to go there
    > in the winter?
Hello Achim, I went there in the winter of 2003 and thoroughly
recommend it. Firstly, flights from Europe are much cheaper then, also
once you get there so is car hire.
    >
    > The plan is to travel around the north and
    > south island by bus (kiwi experience?) now
    > is my question how bad/cold/wet is the weather
    > in NZ at these time in the year?
Auckland- lots of rain but not cold (not to me anyway) About 12-15C by
day, 7-10 at night. Wellington- windy, chilly but not freezing, 'if
you don't like it, wait a minute' type weather! Central N.Island- mix
of and sunny days and showers, day temps similar to Wellington but
nights colder, sometimes below freezing. S.Island- eastern part much
drier than Auckland, expect bright, chilly days and frosty nights.
Winter temperatures in Christchurch/Dunedin are similar to in England,
but with noticeably more sunshine. Westland is wet all year round.

    > and there are any outdoor-activities/tours
    > you can do only in the summertime? because
    > I don't want to read every day a new sign
    > with "open only in the summertime"...
I was there July 2003, and compared with the UK where I live things do
not shut down for the winter at all! Hostels etc. stay open, Kiwi
Experience and the intercity buses keep running, only thing that could
be difficult is bathing in the sea!
    >
    > and - I know these is a stupid question...
    > but what I have to do (to see) in NZ?!?
    >
    > Auckland => down to Wellington
Stop in Rotorua; see the geysers, go to a concert/hangi, and go for a
dip in the Polynesian Spa pools (cold winter nights are definitely the
best time to appreciate these). Also a day in Taupo- everything stays
open there.
... after that
    > to the south-island: ... => christchurch ...
    > around the southisland...and flying home from
    > christchurch.
See Kaikoura; the whale-watching runs through the winter and mustn't
be missed. Again, winter may be best because of fewer (but not no)
other tourists.
If you've a few days spare, go to Stewart Island. Awesome for just
getting away from it all. Yes you can get there in winter- the pub and
shop stay open too.
    > a goog plan for 4,5 weeks or should I change
    > something?
    >
    > there are other crazy backpackers on tour in
    > the winter or will I be allone?
Plenty, enough to meet people but not so many that they take over the
place as I'm told can happen in summer. You'll see many on
round-the-world tickets. Finding accommodation is easy except in
Queenstown and other ski areas where you should book ahead.

Have a great time.

Simon DOLBY

I'm planning to do exactly the same, and have the same concerns!!!!!

Will be very interested in your travel plans & itinerary.

I'm still working on what we want to do and see!


"achim d." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > ...smart to go?
    > hello,
    > I am planing to travel to NZ in August 2005
    > (25.07 - 05.09.) but is it smart to go there
    > in the winter?
    > The plan is to travel around the north and
    > south island by bus (kiwi experience?) now
    > is my question how bad/cold/wet is the weather
    > in NZ at these time in the year?
    > and there are any outdoor-activities/tours
    > you can do only in the summertime? because
    > I don't want to read every day a new sign
    > with "open only in the summertime"...
    > and - I know these is a stupid question...
    > but what I have to do (to see) in NZ?!?
    > Auckland => down to Wellington... after that
    > to the south-island: ... => christchurch ...
    > around the southisland...and flying home from
    > christchurch.
    > a goog plan for 4,5 weeks or should I change
    > something?
    > there are other crazy backpackers on tour in
    > the winter or will I be allone?
    > best regards
    > achim

Dwayne

Winter's fine. There is snow on the glaciers so you'll get to cover more
ground. Plus the days in winter are more likely to be clear (in Franz
Joseph and Fox). The slopes for skiing/boarding will be in full swing. You
can still bungy, raft and ski dive, but obviously it will be colder.

Walking/hiking/trekking/tramping (or whatever you want to call it -> NZ uses
tramping) is a different story. Most of the great walk tracks are closed.
The Milford track will be closed, since DOC (Department of Conservation)
removes the bridges. The Tongariro crossing will cost you double because in
winter you need a guide and boots with crampons. The Routeburn, Rees-Dart,
Greenstone-Caples, Kepler, and various other tracks will be accessible, but
alpine experience will be required (typically it will only be a portion of
the track that is under snow). Nights at higher altitude will be below
freezing.

Kiwiexp will get you around the country, and you'll see all the major sites,
but it's becoming more and more like a pub crawl. The best way to see NZ is
to buy/hire a car or hitch. Take the bus if you're stuck.

If there is anything in specific you want to do (ski/board, jet boating, sky
dive...) or see (scenery, wildlife, sea life...) let me know. I was in NZ
for a year with a working holiday visa (got back to Canada (home) recently).

Dwayne


"achim d." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > ...smart to go?
    > hello,
    > I am planing to travel to NZ in August 2005
    > (25.07 - 05.09.) but is it smart to go there
    > in the winter?
    > The plan is to travel around the north and
    > south island by bus (kiwi experience?) now
    > is my question how bad/cold/wet is the weather
    > in NZ at these time in the year?
    > and there are any outdoor-activities/tours
    > you can do only in the summertime? because
    > I don't want to read every day a new sign
    > with "open only in the summertime"...
    > and - I know these is a stupid question...
    > but what I have to do (to see) in NZ?!?
    > Auckland => down to Wellington... after that
    > to the south-island: ... => christchurch ...
    > around the southisland...and flying home from
    > christchurch.
    > a goog plan for 4,5 weeks or should I change
    > something?
    > there are other crazy backpackers on tour in
    > the winter or will I be allone?
    > best regards
    > achim

Shaun and Alaina

    > The plan is to travel around the north and
    > south island by bus (kiwi experience?) now
    > is my question how bad/cold/wet is the weather
    > in NZ at these time in the year?


Kiwi Experience is not a good insight as to what we kiwis are really like.
But if you want to spend your holiday nursing a hangover and sleeping
between destinations because of hangover then this is the one for you.