Guide to New Zealand... pls?

last SG · 2006-02-25T12:36:53+00:00

ok lets see u wan to plan to drive around the island? 2 week is enough with average 1 day per stop... if you're planning to drive too choose 4WD as there's s...

ceecookie SG

yea...we speeded too...heh on a converted Mitsubishi Canter...going past 120km/h on a lorry.....

yea mountain road are quite hard to go up since the car need to have power to go up and to maintain speed(so u no need to crawl at 20km/h up the slope)
we even have to go past redline on a gear to keep at 80km/h on the slope

There's speed cam there however..i spotted quite a few...

Originally posted by Ponders:

I think if go with Aunt and Mom... can forget about 4WD liao. haha. they will keep nagging "please drive carefully", "slow down", "arrive hotel by sundown".

Plus i don't think rental 4WD is allowed on "unsealed" roads.

Yea even our rented Campervan was not allowed to go to the unsealed road eg the Ninety Mile Beach....oh be sure to go there and the cap at the top too...got buses that go there....

One Note for those people driving Campervan,the rental companies just require u to have a class 3 driving license which is for car..so for those ppl who havent handled a lorry must be careful during city driving...we ended up with several minor accidents which thank goodness the Bull Bars absorb the dmg...so opt for bull bars,they can save u...

BTW does driving a lorry in sg requre class 4 license?

coffeeortea SG

i havent been to NZ before.. but wasnt LOTR shot there? must go see the mtns

BillyBong SG

Probably the 9782872384th thread on NZ.

Recommended tips:

1. Do NOT take a guided tour.

You'll have little or no time to really enjoy each location you stop at.

2. If your trip is 10 or less days, focus on South Island. More things to see.

Now the fun stuff:

1. Rent a campervan and drive around the island. There are plenty of nice spots and campervan parks dotted on both islands so make use of them. That will help reduce your costs.

2. Plenty of places to visit. NZ is a nature's paradise. If you enjoy tranquility and splendour, NZ is the place to go. Fiordland National Park is a MUST GO. Hike the fjord routes for a senic view of the valleys and for paranoramic camera shots.

Mitre Peak:

Milford Sound:

(downside: reports of recent tourism indicate a massive influx of Chinese tourists; dirty filthy buggers who litter and defile the landscape so the place may not be as attractive as it used to be)

3. Extreme sports such as whitewater rafting, shotover jets and tandem-skydiving are available, include cave-diving where you rappel down into the canvernous interiors.

4. NZealanders are generally very friendly and courteous. Even the supermarket cashier greets you! Be sure to extend the same courtesy while visiting their country.

If you consider the North Island, 90-mile beach and Rotorua National park are worth visiting for the coastline and mudpools respectively.

Visit Cape Reinga Below:

Rotorua National Park:

Christchurch is a more pleasant city compared to Auckland and i'd usually choose christchurch as a base to start a NZ journey.

Ponders SG

YEs, if you buy the maps there, they will show you where they film what scene.

but somehow get ready to be disappointed.

Because LOTR got CG in it, so some places look nothing like it.

ceecookie SG

Originally posted by BillyBong:

Probably the 9782872384th thread on NZ.

Recommended tips:

1. Do NOT take a guided tour.

You'll have little or no time to really enjoy each location you stop at.

2. If your trip is 10 or less days, focus on South Island. More things to see.

Now the fun stuff:

1. Rent a campervan and drive around the island. There are plenty of nice spots and campervan parks dotted on both islands so make use of them. That will help reduce your costs.

2. Plenty of places to visit. NZ is a nature's paradise. If you enjoy tranquility and splendour, NZ is the place to go. [b]Fiordland National Park is a MUST GO. Hike the fjord routes for a senic view of the valleys and for paranoramic camera shots.

[/b]

yea the South is very full with nature and u will enjoy the scenery.....

be careful if u are at those geyser infested area....the smell is almost unbearable...rotton eggs....

if u wanna see the movie location i advice ya to book the tour as most of it is offroad and require a 4WD..

pity some area have been infested with rude PRC prostitutes littering the place Laughing

edit: here's a pic of christchurch if u wanna know how is it(you can opt to have a sampan like boat ride in the river from the pic)

smudgey SG

ok...

hmm...

anymore advices guys?

think I'll focus on one island first.... still trying to decide between the two islands...

but in both island, where are good places to visit that the tour groups don't bring you?

alexkusu SG

took sum pics last nite...feel lazy post now

oh yeah, start in SI... NI is boring n crappy..u wont find like ur on a holiday at all Laughing The purpose of u goin on a holiday is to 'relax' Wink

BillyBong SG

Pick up a book on NZ by Let's Go, Lonely Planet or Eyewitness: Top Ten.

They give you a breakdown of the places to go, their various costs involved, and food to eat. Eyewitness guides give you an excellent historical breakdown of each place you visit, saving you the trouble of a tour guide's explanation.

For good pictures, try National Geographic. Lonely Planet has some decent colour pictures as well. There are also budget travels under some books that offer you camping on a shoestring, hiking or cycling tours. NZ is perfect for all of them.

The coastline of North Island is fantastic, especially from 90-mile beach around Cape Reinga and beyond. But it is highly recommended to start in the South.

Simon Dean SG

visit the geysers althought they smell like beef fart smell.

ceecookie SG

Yea thats right altho rotton egg suit it better..when i was there i ended up having a stomachache and slighly nauseous as the pang sai came out ealier coz of the smell Embarassed

i beg to differ...yes NI is less exciting than SI thats why take NI first then SI so as not to spoil the fun when u go SI and then NI then u feel bored...its better feeling bored first then getting excited right?

alexkusu SG

*ahem*

the wonderful aroma is hydrogen sulphide H2S from the anaerobic bacteria present. But u dont need to travel half the world away to experience it, you could have the same ambience right in the comfort of your own toilets Wink

alexkusu SG

Took this over the weekend.Pls excuse the poor quality, was from my cellphone cam Embarassed

Chinese Lantern Festival @ Victoria Sq

Akaroa, a sleepy french town about 97km from Christchurch

A french shop named Fire & Ice Mr. Green

A frenchman?

Akaroa @sunset?

alexkusu SG

Hill Country view..somewhere

A nice isolated beach off the beaten path

Green Lipped Mussels - A Nz local specialty

Random shot of a hotel Mr. Green

alexkusu SG

New Brighton Pier

Botannical Gardens

there u go, thats Nz in a nutshell for u Mr. Green

ceecookie SG

eh i tot that was in europe?another poster said so...anyway which place is the pic?

Ponders SG

WHat's the pier used for?

I doesn't look touristy and doesn't look like one that ship uses it..

looks more like its for very big ships.

smudgey SG

wow....

hehehe
thanks all for your input...

BillyBong: I'll be sure to check out the books.... thanks

Alexkusu: thanks for all the pics...

Simon Dean: I think I visited some place in Taiwan that smells the same too.... it's sulphur.... hahaha it was so smelly... even the tap water has the smell... I ended up using mineral water to brush my teeth!!!

Ceecookie: I think I might try north island first.... but then again I must go to the agencies to see what sort of packages they have first...

Dear all: Thanks for all your comments and advices... really appreciate it...

I realise that the cool seasons are in april and oct... sigh unfortunately in these few months I have a lot of project comittments on my plate.... might have to postpone to next year... sigh!!!! so disappointing...

However, I'll definitely visit NZ.... so if anyone have any more cool ideas/suggestions/tips/etc. feel free to PM me or post them here....

once again Thanks!!!

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