Planning a trip to nz, any pointers?

[hubbahubba]

So a couple years ago we went to Canada. I posted the same thing on here and basically planned our trip around what I was told on here. And it was basically epic.

So now it's New Zealand this time for me and the new wife. Planning to head out around 5th August to aukland and thinking about driving to Queenstown. It's 968 mile I think.... then leave Queenstown around the 25th August to head to family at cairns in Australia for a few days again before heading home.

Any suggestions where to go, stay, roads and markets to go to? Interested in sheep and beef cows

 

[Alicecow]

@BAC will be back soon!

 

[shearerlad]

Stock yards at feilding would be a good shout.
Wairere romneys not that far south of there either.

 

[BAC]

Good job it comes up on my emails, don't think I will have signal for a while!

I'm currently in Christchurch leaving for the west coast!

My suggestions are to avoid cities, waste of time. Also depends how old you are as to what to see.

Not done much of the North of the North Island, there is the bay of plenty which is meant to be nice but personally I wouldn't spend much time travelling the Central north. If your into Lord of the rings, there is hobbiton near Hamilton. There is rotorua and lake taupo to see. Wellington is a nice area, travelled out to a place called castle point which was lovely!

I've mainly done the south Island, able Tasman and Marlborough sounds is a definite place to go. Kaikoura is a nice drive with whale watching and seals to see. Hanmer springs with the heated pools is a good place to see. Central Island is where the mountains are with the lakes and mountain passes, Arthur's pass etc. there is fox and franz josef glaciers on te west coast to see and lake wanaka is a dream to see also. Queens town is over rated for me to see, there are the bunjee jumps and canyon swings with some lovely scenery but I wouldn't personally spend a lot of time there if your not a young couple. Maybe make your base out of there to visit Milford and doubtful sounds, they are a definite to see! South Island is a bit of a logistical nightmare to travel if you are on a timescale. Where you flying out of!?

If you are going to cairns, travel down to Whitsundays, my favourite place in the world, breath taking!!

Any questions, send me a pm and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!!

Just take into consideration the weather as well

 

[BAC]

I thought this was off topic, not livestock! Sorry for the tour guide!

 

[polk_farmer]

+1 for Fielding market. We went on the PGG Wrightson (big auctioneers out there) and checked out their sale dates and went along. Went to a couple store lamb sales down on the south island. Quite a sight to see them sold in lots of over a thousand lambs.

 

[Milkextractiontechnician]

Very sorry but you need 6 months north island and 6 months south. Amazing place very jealous

 

[shearerlad]

Onestopramshop.co.nz
Maybe worth a mention. I have shorn at this place too.

 

[hubbahubba]

Aw sorry I know it is a bit of topic but livestock is what I do and what I want to see out there and this is the forum I am mostly on.

Cheers so far. I am only 29 and it's our honeymoon. I know it's not too much time but need to get back for cows calving in September. So will just cram it all in like we have done in oz and canada over the years.

Yeh @BAC been to cairns before but not whitsundays whatever that is. High fan of the tablelands though above cairns.

Will fly from Glasgow to dubai to aukland I think then Queenstown to cairns but open to any suggestions.

 

[hubbahubba]

Very sorry but you need 6 months north island and 6 months south. Amazing place very jealous

Wish i could but to much at home so not possible to go for any longer 3 weeks will do me fine.

 

[hubbahubba]

+1 for Fielding market. We went on the PGG Wrightson (big auctioneers out there) and checked out their sale dates and went along. Went to a couple store lamb sales down on the south island. Quite a sight to see them sold in lots of over a thousand lambs.

That's what I am talking about. Surprised it's in the north island when I thought most the sheep were in the south island? See they do guided tours for 10 bucks every Friday. My wife should maybe go shopping that day.... ha

 

[polk_farmer]

That's what I am talking about. Surprised it's in the north island when I thought most the sheep were in the south island? See they do guided tours for 10 bucks every Friday. My wife should maybe go shopping that day.... ha

Can't remember what day I went but loads of store and fat cattle selling. The outdoor pens had walkways above them, two huntaways pushing up cattle and quite a plush ringside. Things its one if the biggest markets in the southern hemisphere

 

[Gulli]

Good job it comes up on my emails, don't think I will have signal for a while!

I'm currently in Christchurch leaving for the west coast!

My suggestions are to avoid cities, waste of time. Also depends how old you are as to what to see.

Not done much of the North of the North Island, there is the bay of plenty which is meant to be nice but personally I wouldn't spend much time travelling the Central north. If your into Lord of the rings, there is hobbiton near Hamilton. There is rotorua and lake taupo to see. Wellington is a nice area, travelled out to a place called castle point which was lovely!

I've mainly done the south Island, able Tasman and Marlborough sounds is a definite place to go. Kaikoura is a nice drive with whale watching and seals to see. Hanmer springs with the heated pools is a good place to see. Central Island is where the mountains are with the lakes and mountain passes, Arthur's pass etc. there is fox and franz josef glaciers on te west coast to see and lake wanaka is a dream to see also. Queens town is over rated for me to see, there are the bunjee jumps and canyon swings with some lovely scenery but I wouldn't personally spend a lot of time there if your not a young couple. Maybe make your base out of there to visit Milford and doubtful sounds, they are a definite to see! South Island is a bit of a logistical nightmare to travel if you are on a timescale. Where you flying out of!?

If you are going to cairns, travel down to Whitsundays, my favourite place in the world, breath taking!!

Any questions, send me a pm and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!!

Just take into consideration the weather as well

Bay of islands, 90 mile beach, cape reinga, waipoua forest all worth visiting up north

Queenstown only worth spending time in if you want to party otherwise stay there and do all the stuff outside it. Get a fergburger while you are there though

 

[AMB]

We did the same for our honeymoon in July 2013. Flew into Auckland and made our way down north island, inter islander to the south, down the west coast, over to queenstown, Dunedin then up to Christchurch area.

I didn't like Auckland and was glad to get out of it, a day or two there is enough. Same with queenstown it's self, nice scenery but I thought it was over rated. Best advice I got was to always keep the tank of the rental car full, especially on west coast. Places you'll have no radio or phone signal, it's crazy remote.

Plenty of cows in the Waikato north island and then Canterbury plains, thousands on many of the farms, same with the sheep, you'll see loads as you make your way round.

Napier was a nice place, Hawkes bay was interesting with all the vineyards. Look out for hot water beach on the north island, well worth a visit.

And don't forget that there is a chance you'll get an earthquake whilst you're there, we had one towards the end of our trip and it was very scary, just have it in your mind that it can happen, especially in the South Island

It's awesome, you'll love it.

 

[hubbahubba]

We did the same for our honeymoon in July 2013. Flew into Auckland and made our way down north island, inter islander to the south, down the west coast, over to queenstown, Dunedin then up to Christchurch area.

I didn't like Auckland and was glad to get out of it, a day or two there is enough. Same with queenstown it's self, nice scenery but I thought it was over rated. Best advice I got was to always keep the tank of the rental car full, especially on west coast. Places you'll have no radio or phone signal, it's crazy remote.

Plenty of cows in the Waikato north island and then Canterbury plains, thousands on many of the farms, same with the sheep, you'll see loads as you make your way round.

Napier was a nice place, Hawkes bay was interesting with all the vineyards. Look out for hot water beach on the north island, well worth a visit.

And don't forget that there is a chance you'll get an earthquake whilst you're there, we had one towards the end of our trip and it was very scary, just have it in your mind that it can happen, especially in the South Island

It's awesome, you'll love it.

Cheers. How long did u go for?

 

[multi power]

I wouldn't bother wasting time going to Millford sounds. The best bit was the Holmer tunnel on the way there

 

[AMB]

It was four weeks in total, it sounds like a long time but it really isn't long enough. We didn't go any further south than Dunedin which I really regret now, would love to have seen southland. Ours was booked through trail finders, the places they had us staying in were excellent, mostly motel type things. It's a lot of driving to be honest but the roads are superb.

 

[hubbahubba]

It was four weeks in total, it sounds like a long time but it really isn't long enough. We didn't go any further south than Dunedin which I really regret now, would love to have seen southland. Ours was booked through trail finders, the places they had us staying in were excellent, mostly motel type things. It's a lot of driving to be honest but the roads are superb.

Yeh we have used trailfinders twice now and there very good. Not fussed about seeing everything but if we get a motor home then providing we get the the departure airport in time we can just go with the flow. I'd rather stay in nz but when we are that close would be bad not to go and see her sisters in oz and we can relax there before heading home.

 

[hilux]

Don't bother booking places to stay,unless you fancy a nice hotel or farm stay. Plenty of motels out there and not overly priced. If you go to Rotorua take a gas mask, the place stinks.......of sulphur! When we were out there we flew Los Angeles ,Auckland ( did a figure 8 of NZ) and Hong Kong . Worked out the cheapest for us. I really enjoyed travelling in NZ (we did it in 3weeks) BUT remember you are on your honeymoon and it is definitely worth staying a couple of nights on your travels in a nice hotel (and she'll love you for it)

 

[Samcowman]

With you being into livestock maybe try to catch a deer sale which is happening in January for something totally different.
I wouldn't worry about Auckland too much apart from maybe the sky tower if you are there for a night. We have done waitomo caves which I would say would be worth doing and rotorua in the north island. Also while you are in Wellington go to Te Papa which is the big museum but be prepared to spend a day there.
I would spend most of your time in the South Island. You can camp up heaps of places you can just park up on the side of the road. Wife and I were driving round in my old beaten up Subaru Legacy when we did it. Most of the things to do have been mentioned. There is also the albatross colony to go see near Dunedin. I wouldn't worry about Stewart island too much. When you go to the west coast probably go from Christchurch across Arthur's pass which has the best scenery.
We are heading back there again at the end of March so can't wait.