NZ in February 03

I've been reading especially NZ in the Spring and am starting to plan my own trip. I will be going to a conference in Melbourne 2/23/03 and plan to add personal time in NZ before and just see the lower right corner of AU - Melbourne, penguins, Sydney, Tasminia, train to Alice Springs and home to SJC. I'm gong to be using an AA/Quantas award ticket and I'm having a hard time figuring out how best to use it. I can open-jaw, and have three stops. One will be the landing airport in NZ, one will be MEL. And I can either use Quantas or buy an airpass if I need to do more flying. So, ...

I want only two places to unpack/sleep in NZ - and then day trips by foot, bus, train, ferry, helicopter, .... I don't want to drive, am not much of a bar person, am I am interested in the Maori culture, NZ culture, and scenic views (or walks, not hikes). I have invitations to meet people in AKL, CHC, and Wellington and will want to accept at least one, so one of those will be one of the two bases where I'll sleep. This will likely be my only trip to either NZ or AU.

I'm looking at TranzCoastal and TranzApline trains, Picton-Wellington ferry, a bus trip to Milford Sound, Rotorua, Bay of Islands and Caitlins (mentioned here).

Everything sounds glorious, and the decisions will be based on the logistics, which schedules coordinate the best.

Where's best to fly into from the US? And out from to MEL? And how best to get from the one to the other?

I'm feeling overwhelmed with ideas and insufficient knowledge of the transportation options. I'd like some help.

Thanks,

Sylvia

AKL

Looks like you'll qualify for a "plan ahead" award. I spent six weeks traveling thru NZ in 1996 and am still living off that holiday.

Some of the information in this thread may help you.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum7/HTML/000186.html

Yes, I studied the details posted by fallinasleep and mad_atta especially. And spent much of today poking around on the web, going back on forth from the OAG to the TranzRail schedules.

The idea of immediately flying out of AKL seems good. I'm thinking to go to ROT, do what I can from there in day trips, fly to CHC (skip the Wellington Picton ferry and Picton Christchurch train)but do the TranzApline either rt by train or half-way/half-day by bus and do whatever else I can around Christchurch in day trips.

Lodging suggestions for ROT or CHC? I like to stay central, walk into town, eat street or in my room -- clean, safe, adequate, though in ROT I might also consider a spa, tubs in my room, ...

Sylvia

Sylvia

If you are after hotels you will find a Millenium and a Hertiage in the centre - i.e. at the arts centre.

There is a holiday Inn (formerly Parkroyal) which is also very nice and the Chateau on the Park which is excellent but on the other side of the park - nice locaion but difficult to get back to across the park at night, i.e. Taxi as I would not recommend walking.

If you are after something cheaper, on Papanui Road just north main area - but easy walking has lots and lots of motels at around NZD$60 per night or less.

Otherwise there are lots of great and cheap backpackers and bread and breakfast places.

Mark


Mark

Thanks Koru Flyer. I browsed travel books yesterday and checked out the accommodations you noted and others with web sites.

So far, these two seem appealing:

http://www.nzbnbhotels.com/estabpages/eaton.html

http://www.bestwestern.co.nz/hotels/..._cn_h85364.htm

I really enjoy the planning; it's exciting to be reading and choosing and preparing.

Sylvia