New Zealand Trip

[multi power]

you got to see Aurthers pass, Queenstown is great but milford sounds did not excite me( i had seen plenty of rain before) Canturbry plains a MUST

 

[Yorkshire92]

Reading all these threads brings back some amazing memories! I work on a farm in the Canterbury plains and loved it! I'd say do queens town and Dunedin right nights out! Dunedin is full of students but think I pulled a lecturer when I was there! But that's another story. Also go see the glow worms in the north island I can't just remember where it was but you'll find out while your over there! I'd just try and do as much as you can even if you ain't really that bothered about doing it still do it just so you can say you've done it!

 

[BLG]

some beautiful beaches round Gisborne and further up north past Tolaga. Perfect place to finish a trip and relax for a couple of days. I bet the weather is scorching at the minute too! Ideal for Rhythm and Vines this weekend!

Had a bit of rain but but nothing but sun and 25 to 28c for the next week or so

 

[benferg]

@Jon Boy & I are North Canterbury near Hanmer Springs, drop either of u a line if you want a look about around here. Can take you to some bigish dairy units & I've got sheep & beef guys too. one of my dairy guys runs over 2,500 cows & has hill property on other side of the road, some interesting development work going on.

I'll be away between 10 & 16th of Jan in the north island.

Milford is a whole day ex queenstown, if you've ever been to norway or british Canada then a bit similar, depends on the weather. If you are flush with cash can fly from Qtown. A flight over the glaciers/mount cook is cool too.

 

[Ben M]

We had a month in nz a few weeks back, im still on a massive downer since we got back! Was the best experience ever!

My advice, spend more time of s island! I preferred Marlborough sounds to milford, altho the drive to milford was amazing. Take a ride on the mailboat at picton. have to visit marahau, do the abel tasman canyoning and grab a fat tui burger whilst there. Allow couple of days at queenstown, do the luge its a must and cheap. Wanaka is stunning. Haast pass, lewis pass and aurthers pass all must do drives. Banks peninsula is stunning, take a dolphin trip out from akaroa. Dont waste to much time in chch, not much to see imo. Take as much money as u can get your hands on!

 

[Forever Fendt]

We had a month in nz a few weeks back, im still on a massive downer since we got back! Was the best experience ever!

My advice, spend more time of s island! I preferred Marlborough sounds to milford, altho the drive to milford was amazing. Take a ride on the mailboat at picton. have to visit marahau, do the abel tasman canyoning and grab a fat tui burger whilst there. Allow couple of days at queenstown, do the luge its a must and cheap. Wanaka is stunning. Haast pass, lewis pass and aurthers pass all must do drives. Banks peninsula is stunning, take a dolphin trip out from akaroa. Dont waste to much time in chch, not much to see imo. Take as much money as u can get your hands on!

could you tell me did you go on an organised trip or did you sort things out yourself is it expensive for car hire, accommodation and eating out ect and what would be the best time of year to go

 

[rusty]

If you are into grassland mgt you should visit Lincoln university dairy farm. It's open house on I think Tuesday morning when anyone can turn up and walk round the farm paddocks with the manager while he plate meters the paddocks. Into the office afterwards to put data into computer and work out the next weeks grazing plan. the drive from Christchurch to Queenstown via Twizel has some fantastic scenery. Google Siddc for Lincoln dairy farm info.

 

[ploughman1963]

If you are into grassland mgt you should visit Lincoln university dairy farm. It's open house on I think Tuesday morning when anyone can turn up and walk round the farm paddocks with the manager while he plate meters the paddocks. Into the office afterwards to put data into computer and work out the next weeks grazing plan. the drive from Christchurch to Queenstown via Twizel has some fantastic scenery. Google Siddc for Lincoln dairy farm info.

+1 for the Christchurch to queens town drive - brilliant. Hoping to go back out in march for a former workmans wedding down Dunedin way - can't wait

 

[Princess Pooper]

Although focusing on dairy, this is a great read with some really funny bits and some truly stunning pictures to inspire you!
http://flinnz.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/1-heathrow-to-christchurch-part-1.html

 

[devonshire farmer]

Reading all these threads brings back some amazing memories! I work on a farm in the Canterbury plains and loved it! I'd say do queens town and Dunedin right nights out! Dunedin is full of students but think I pulled a lecturer when I was there! But that's another story. Also go see the glow worms in the north island I can't just remember where it was but you'll find out while your over there! I'd just try and do as much as you can even if you ain't really that bothered about doing it still do it just so you can say you've done it!

The glow worms are at waitomo caves in north island, I worked near there, got stuck raking down there one day, after the event I was told Waitomo stands for wet hole in Mairi, was never quite sure if it was a p**s take though!!

 

[Dave6170]

We had a month in nz a few weeks back, im still on a massive downer since we got back! Was the best experience ever!

My advice, spend more time of s island! I preferred Marlborough sounds to milford, altho the drive to milford was amazing. Take a ride on the mailboat at picton. have to visit marahau, do the abel tasman canyoning and grab a fat tui burger whilst there. Allow couple of days at queenstown, do the luge its a must and cheap. Wanaka is stunning. Haast pass, lewis pass and aurthers pass all must do drives. Banks peninsula is stunning, take a dolphin trip out from akaroa. Dont waste to much time in chch, not much to see imo. Take as much money as u can get your hands on!

Great farming scenery on way to milford, te anu area ( spelling?) Arrowtown and drive there is lovely. Drive to mt cook. All south island is amazing. shame about christchurch tho. Ruined

 

[Beckbury Ben]

could you tell me did you go on an organised trip or did you sort things out yourself is it expensive for car hire, accommodation and eating out ect and what would be the best time of year to go

Lived there for 5.5 years and loved it.
You can do it all yourself, plenty of accommodation options to suit all budgets, and car hire relatively cheap, no need to book up ( avoid Xmas and first 3 weeks Jan ). Eating out also relatively cheap, good fush and chups cooked to order for $10.00.
Feb/March good time to go, generally settled weather and still pretty warm.

 

[Ben M]

Great farming scenery on way to milford, te anu area ( spelling?) Arrowtown and drive there is lovely. Drive to mt cook. All south island is amazing. shame about christchurch tho. Ruined

Te Anu was imo a lovely little town, we had 2 nights there. The bar on the corner (opposite the camper site we stayed at) was bloody good to eat at.

 

[Ben M]

could you tell me did you go on an organised trip or did you sort things out yourself is it expensive for car hire, accommodation and eating out ect and what would be the best time of year to go

We did the whole trip ourselves. Hired a camper for a month, best way imo. Camper sites are very good there, clean and modern. Lots of cheap DOC (national trust) sites too. Would of cost a lot more to hire car and hotel every night. We cooked a lot in the camper and on bbqs, so that saved a lot of money for activities etc! I was told november into december (their spring) was best time to go and thats when we went, and it was perfect! Hot, long days but hardly anyone around as peak season doesnt start till mid Dec.

 

[Well Refreshed]

@Jon Boy & I are North Canterbury near Hanmer Springs, drop either of u a line if you want a look about around here. Can take you to some bigish dairy units & I've got sheep & beef guys too. one of my dairy guys runs over 2,500 cows & has hill property on other side of the road, some interesting development work going on.

I'll be away between 10 & 16th of Jan in the north island.

Milford is a whole day ex queenstown, if you've ever been to norway or british Canada then a bit similar, depends on the weather. If you are flush with cash can fly from Qtown. A flight over the glaciers/mount cook is cool too.

That would be great thanks. I've sent you a PM.

Cheers

 

[Well Refreshed]

You can drop in and see us. We're on the East Coast NI, Gisborne, not on the tourist trail but have a sheep, beef, citrus and cropping farm with great beaches not far away and you're welcome to stay a night or two.

Sounds Ideal, I've sent you a PM

Cheers

 

[Dukes Fit]

North Island for fun a silly things head to Taranaki, Taupo and Rotorua. If you have time take a road trip via Coromandel where the scenery is absolutely stunning and head to the hot water beach. One thing worth mentioning about North island, if you're driving anywhere in a hurry, forget your hurry. Away from Auckland it's all twisty A-Roads which are great fun for driving but not for covering miles quickly

 

[combineguy]

BB, your on the money there, thats exactly what I'd suggest, ......with the exception of Gorrrrrre

Where's the dislike button

Gore is not that bad. 20mins south is the largest dairy factory in the southern hemisphere by volume

 

[Davy]

A boat trip around the bay of islands at the top of the north island is well worth it. The problem with going to NZ is it's hard to leave

 

[Gulli]

A boat trip around the bay of islands at the top of the north island is well worth it. The problem with going to NZ is it's hard to leave

+1 I just got back from a holiday visiting friends. 4th time I've been ther now since 2008
Most stuff has been covered but 90 mile beach is worth a drive, and lots of nice places to stop for the night all over the country.