Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Last-minute NZ holiday this weekend; North & South Island 4 days each - suggestions?

Hi,
The plan was to be in the south Pacific but since the terribly sad events of last week's earthquakes/tsunamis, we've now booked alternative flights that give us 4 + 4 days respectively from AKL and then from CHC to ZQN on the 'mainland'.
THIS WEEKEND. :eek::rolleyes:

As usual, we love to include excellent wineries and regions in our trips, so I'm seeking your ideas/experiences:

North Island accommodation that is suited to our wine touring plans
Suggestions for North Island 'what to dos' THIS WEEKEND :eek:
Is is worth hiring a car and driving to Wellington?
Any NZ-based accommodation booking sites you'd try for last minute specials? I'd normally book much further ahead, but figure we might need to try the lastminute/zuji sites.

Similarly for South Island - as we arrive into CHC but leave from ZQN, with only four days, what's good use of our time?
I'm thinking we might drive north to Marlborough and spend 2 days before getting the TranzScenic train across to the west, then spend the remaining 1-2 days around the scenic touristy lands NZ is famous for.

At this time of the year, how difficult will we find booking low-mid range accommodation suitable for a youngish couple on a road trip?

Any must-see recommendations?

On another note, is anyone else interested in meeting in a wine area, if you have the time and interest? :) Please PM and if we find a time, I'll post a CBuzz invite and see how we go (I need to get some kind of plan in place first, I guess!).

Thanks - and of course we'll be back to spend a couple of weeks on the 'mainland' another time, so we don't need to see everything this trip, just get an idea for the next one. :)

BiziBB

There was a big snow storm in NZ last weekend. The main road between Auckland and Wellington was closed due to snow. While it should be open this weekend, and it'd make a good drive as I suspect there'll still be some snow at the top of the mountains, I'm not sure you'll have enough time. Driving from Auckland to Wellington will take you a whole day.

For the NI, I'd suggest:
- Go to Waiheke Island - nice place with good wineries (this will be a day trip)
- Maybe drive to Rotorua to smell the rotten eggs :) (stay overnight there)
- Go to Waitomo Caves on the way back from the rotten eggs
- Spend a little time in Auckland

For the SI, your thinking will work, but you'll see very little else. Perhaps going straight to Queenstown? There're lots to do and plenty of wineries to keep you occupied. Alternatively, you can drive from CHC to ZQN. It's a good scenic drive, but that will take you a day as well.

I'm not sure about availability of accommodation. Just check for school holidays (which I think may be about now). Wotif.co.nz will be your best bet for last minute availability.

Thanks, Leumas, that's exactly the kind of info that's very helpful.

At this point, with Hilton Premium Club (thanks, itsalongwaydown!) I could book a night or two at the Hilton in Auckland, enjoy some nearby wineries and then go to one other place.

Last time, we toured the Bay of Islands, Rotorua and Waitomo and the lakes, so we could choose one or do something else.

For the south island, I figure we could hire a car and drive up toward the Marlborough region, overnight it, spend the morning at wineries, then get back to Christchurch the second night, then get the TransScenic to the west coast.

Is there a Hilton worth trying in Queenstown - or do you recommend any deals on hotels there?

Thanks!

If there's one thing you recommend trying on N. or S. Island, what would it be?

Cheers,
the BiziBBs

Snow is again forecast for the high roads in the North Island this Saturday. :eek:

School holidays are on which means accommodation will be tight in the usual places, and main roads near the cities will be busy Friday night, Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon/evening. Getting decent internal flights or ferry fares may be difficult. Try wotif for the accommodation.

Plenty of good wineries near Auckland. Spend one day in the northern ones and another on Waiheke Island.

In the South Island I wouldn't head to Marlborough. It is in the wrong direction. You could do spend a day around Christchurch (Waipara wineries to the north + Hanmer Springs, or Akaroa on the peninsula), then spend a day driving to Queenstown, with the remainder at Queenstown.

Driving in NZ always takes much longer than you'd expect. Motorways are non-existant once outside the cities and most roads are single lane in each direction, plus you have hills to contend with.

The sticky NZ Master Thread has ideas on what each area has to offer.

Is there a Hilton worth trying in Queenstown - or do you recommend any deals on hotels there?

No. The only Hilton is in Auckland. There are not a lot of chain hotels in NZ, although that is slowly changing. Crowne Plaza and Sofitel in Queenstown if they are any use.

In the South Island I wouldn't head to Marlborough. It is in the wrong direction. You could do spend a day around Christchurch (Waipara wineries to the north + Hanmer Springs, or Akaroa on the peninsula), then spend a day driving to Queenstown, with the remainder at Queenstown.


Absolutely agree with Kiwi Flyer. Marlborough would work if you were to fly AKL-WGN and catch the ferry across to Picton. However, most, if not all, of the kids return to school next Monday so travel this weekend is going to be busy to say the least.

If you are looking for NZ Sauvignon Blanc, many of the wineries outside Marlborough use the grapes from that region anyway. Mud House winery in Waipara does a very nice one. If you are looking for an excellent food experience, then Pegasus Bay Winery in Waipara is highly rated, but very expensive.

In Queenstown the Gibbston Valley Winery does good Pinot Noir. Haven't been, but heard that Amisfield Winery puts on a great lunch. Both within 20 minutes or so of town.

I'll send you a PM with my contact numbers in case you wish to call.

Enjoy your trip!

Absolutely agree with Kiwi Flyer. Marlborough would work if you were to fly AKL-WGN and catch the ferry across to Picton. However, most, if not all, of the kids return to school next Monday so travel this weekend is going to be busy to say the least.

If you are looking for NZ Sauvignon Blanc, many of the wineries outside Marlborough use the grapes from that region anyway. Mud House winery in Waipara does a very nice one. If you are looking for an excellent food experience, then Pegasus Bay Winery in Waipara is highly rated, but very expensive.

In Queenstown the Gibbston Valley Winery does good Pinot Noir. Haven't been, but heard that Amisfield Winery puts on a great lunch. Both within 20 minutes or so of town.

I'll send you a PM with my contact numbers in case you wish to call.

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks!
Mrs BB loves SB and doesn't like pinot so much, so it's about trying to enjoy what we can, in the time available.

I am just hoping that we can find a way to avoid the traffic jams on our way OUT southeast, from Auckland airport and on our way south, as follows.

The plan was to do a one-way rental, AKL-ZQN and drive as follows, if practical (cancelling the AKL-CHC ticket and just driving):

North I:
AKL or Auckland-Rotorua or Tauranga area; stay o/nite
Tauranga coast road (via Napier?) and around to Hawkes Bay;
South along the eastcoastand then inland to Martinborough;
Either Cape Paliser (?) or Wellington, then the Wellington-Picton ferry.

Perhaps Fri-Sun nights? the Sun night into Wellingto night be the biggest hassle, from Martinborough.

South I:
Picton -Marlborough (1 nt)
Kaikora
Christchurch - hopefully meeting CHCHkiwi :) (1 nt?)
Lewis Pass, west to Westport and the pubs
Along the west coast spectacular scenery and into Queenstown (doable from CHC in one day?)
Remaining 1-?? days/nights in and around the sights of Queenstown.

Where am I overly ambitiious with driving?
I remember the notoriously winding, single lane roads and hope to work something out to avoid the peak holiday traffic traps.

Thanks again!

North I:
AKL or Auckland-Rotorua or Tauranga area; stay o/nite
Tauranga coast road (via Napier?) and around to Hawkes Bay;
South along the eastcoastand then inland to Martinborough;
Either Cape Paliser (?) or Wellington, then the Wellington-Picton ferry.

Perhaps Fri-Sun nights? the Sun night into Wellingto night be the biggest hassle, from Martinborough.

I'd go Auckland-Rotorua (o/n), then down to Taupo to get to Napier (o/n).

Then Napier down to Martinborough (investigate the Swan Hotel ;) ), o/n.

Martinborough to Wellington, then catch the last ferry out to the SI. That may solve your Sunday night problem.

South I:
Picton -Marlborough (1 nt)
Kaikora
Christchurch - hopefully meeting CHCHkiwi :) (1 nt?)
Lewis Pass, west to Westport and the pubs
Along the west coast spectacular scenery and into Queenstown (doable from CHC in one day?)
Remaining 1-?? days/nights in and around the sights of Queenstown.

Where am I overly ambitiious with driving?

The NI is OK, but too much for the SI. You can't really drive from CHC to the West Coast then down to Queenstown in one day, I don't think.

If you're set to visit the Marlborough region, then I'd consider fly from there to CHC. From CHC, you can catch the TranzAlpine to the West Coast and o/n there. You can even catch the return train on the same day. Also from CHC, get a rental to drive to ZQN through the lakes and the McKenzie Country.

Even with this, there'll be a fair bit of driving. The trip will be quite busy.

An itinerary like that means you spend all your time driving and no time to see or do stuff.

South I:
Picton -Marlborough (1 nt)
Kaikora
Christchurch - hopefully meeting CHCHkiwi :) (1 nt?)
Lewis Pass, west to Westport and the pubs
Along the west coast spectacular scenery and into Queenstown (doable from CHC in one day?)
Remaining 1-?? days/nights in and around the sights of Queenstown.

Where am I overly ambitiious with driving?

Thanks again!

Christchurch to Queenstown via Westport and West Coast is simply not doable in one day (well, maybe it is for a challenge but not one i would undertake or enjoy).

I would suggest forget the West Coast (save it for next time) and travel the direct inland route CHC-ZQN. Even this is a good 6 hour plus drive, but it has its sights. Mt Cook stands majestic at the other end of Lake Pukaki, and you could also detour a bit and go via Wanaka, and over the mountains from there to ZQN (don't know about snow etc. though).

You could take in Mt Cook on the way (a 90 minute round trip detour from the main road without sightseeing time). And as I posted in another thread in this forum, a plane trip from Mt Cook Aiport incorporating a glacier landing is a fantastic, if somewhat expensive experience (weather dependent of course).

Christchurch to Queenstown via Westport and West Coast is simply not doable in one day (well, maybe it is for a challenge but not one i would undertake or enjoy).

I would suggest forget the West Coast (save it for next time) and travel the direct inland route CHC-ZQN. Even this is a good 6 hour plus drive, but it has its sights. Mt Cook stands majestic at the other end of Lake Pukaki, and you could also detour a bit and go via Wanaka, and over the mountains from there to ZQN (don't know about snow etc. though).

You could take in Mt Cook on the way (a 90 minute round trip detour from the main road without sightseeing time). And as I posted in another thread in this forum, a plane trip from Mt Cook Aiport incorporating a glacier landing is a fantastic, if somewhat expensive experience (weather dependent of course).

Thanks; this is very helpful and is the kind of advice I needed.

I was given the above itinerary but feared it would take way too long to drive, on this trip. :)

What's the NZ equivalent of the Aussie bom.gov.au weather forecast site?

If we need to be prepared for 10C days I'd like to be prepared. It will likely be very :cool:.

I'm about to enter a tunnel. Will be offline then. :(

http://www.metservice.co.nz/

Thanks, Leumas; the severe weather/snow warning could hamper our NI journey; do you think we should head out ASAP from AKL and on to Rotorua or nearby for our first (the Friday) night, or just stay in Auckland and head out Saturday?

Hopefully we could get out and not be too affected by traffic, to head south.

Warning excerpt from your link:
SEVERE WEATHER WARNING (http://www.metservice.co.nz/public/weatherWarnings/severe-weather-warnings.html).
ISSUED BY MetService AT 10:42 am 08-Oct-2009
MEDIA
HEAVY SNOW FOR MARLBOROUGH AND CANTERBURY ON FRIDAY.
SNOWFALLS SPREAD TO THE CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND AND HAWKES BAY RANGES
FRIDAY NIGHT.

A deepening low over the Tasman Sea is expected to move towards the North Island
on Friday. A band of rain extending from this low should extend across the
northern half of the South Island during Thursday night. This rain is likely to
rapidly turn to snow to low levels over much of Canterbury and Marlborough
during the early hours of Friday morning. Snowfalls in these areas are expected
to continue throughout Friday before clearing Saturday morning. Snowfalls of 20
to 30cm are expected down to about 400 metres during Friday, with lesser falls
to 200 or 300 metres, especially in inland valleys and basins.

During Friday night snow is expected to lower to about 600 metres in the central
North Island and the ranges of Hawkes Bay. Snowfalls of 10 to 15cm may
accumulate above 700 metres during Saturday morning.Note these anticipated
snowfalls are much less, and not as low as those experienced earlier this week.
However snowfalls are likely to affect all higher raods in the central North
Island including the Desert Road and the Napier Taupo road.

Hard to say... How much stuff have you booked already? More importantly, how much of it can be changed? How brave are you?

If you've already been to Rotorua and surrounds, perhaps stay in Auckland and head to Waiheke the next day. Hopefully, the storm won't hit Auckland/Waiheke until Saturday night.

If, on Saturday, you decide to head south, I'll go straight to Napier (if the road is still open), cutting Rotorua out/short (since you've been).

If the Desert Road (it's State Highway 1, south of Taupo, and the main trunk road) is closed, there is a fair chance the Napier-Taupo Road (SH5) is closed too.

There's an alternate route if the road is closed and you have to head to Wellington. At Huntly (between Hamilton and Auckland), take SH39 towards Te Kuiti and Ohakune or Wanganui. You should miss the highland areas and therefore the snow. However, if you take this route, you'll come down the island on the opposite side of Napier.

You can still do this route in one day. When you get to Wellington, go to Martinborough the next day. Hopefully, the Rimutaka (the mountain range separating Wellington and the Martinborough region) range will be open.

If you head straight to Rotorua when you land in Auckland, you can decide on Saturday which way you go. However, as I said, if the Desert Road is closed, the Napier-Taupo Road is likely to be affected and you won't have much choice but to back-track or take a giant detour through the Bay of Plenty.

Ring me if you want to discuss.

thanks, Leumas.
I've booked the first night in Rotorua, so as long as we can head straight out there, I'll take advice on good options from there.

THANKS for taking the time to think and recommend an itinerary. :)
We're open to any option, but unfortunately I'd booked the flights AKL-CHC along with ZQN-SYD, so I think we will have to drive around and come back to AKL in time for the flight AHL-CHC.

I've booked a night for when we arrive in CHC (Holiday Inn) and have booked the CP, Queenstown, but aside from that we're open to suggestions on places to go.

It's unfortunate that I'd booked before working out that it was possible to get a car ferry across to the south island, otherwise I'd not have bothered with the AKL-CHC flight.

Thanks for the offer, too.

We have the car from Friday night until Tuesday morning; we fly south at 11AM.
Between Saturday and Monday evening, how far south do you think is practical for a visit?

I figure we say in Napier on Saturday and probably Sunday (or maybe Gisbourne / Whakatane areas, then stay either Taupo/Hamilton/Auckland Mondaty night.

Is Napier-Wellington just a waste of time considering the distance? I figure we should enjoy Hawkes Bay and then return to Auckland or nearby.

Thanks everyone; one last silly question: would you know if I can use a vodafone au 3G plan in NZ, or my vodafone mobile, without having to pay for roaming?

Thanks!

In that case, here's my suggestion...

Friday - SYD - AKL - Rotorua
Saturday - Rotorua - Taupo - Napier (weather and road dependent)
Sunday - Napier / Hastings / Havelock North
Monday - Napier to Taupo to Auckland (take your time)
Tuesday - AKL - CHC

You can also do the Napier-Taupo later on Sunday and spend Sunday night in Taupo, so you can spend a bit of time there Monday and ease your way back to Auckland

I wouldn't bother with Gisborne, Whakatane or Wellington - too far.

If your phone isn't locked, I'd just get a pre-paid Vodafone NZ card when you land. You can use your Vodafone AU card, but as you said, you'll roam.

In that case, here's my suggestion...

Friday - SYD - AKL - Rotorua
Saturday - Rotorua - Taupo - Napier (weather and road dependent)
Sunday - Napier / Hastings / Havelock North
Monday - Napier to Taupo to Auckland (take your time)
Tuesday - AKL - CHC

You can also do the Napier-Taupo later on Sunday and spend Sunday night in Taupo, so you can spend a bit of time there Monday and ease your way back to Auckland

I wouldn't bother with Gisborne, Whakatane or Wellington - too far.

If your phone isn't locked, I'd just get a pre-paid Vodafone NZ card when you land. You can use your Vodafone AU card, but as you said, you'll roam.

Thanks again. ^ We didn't spend much time in Taupo last time, just visited a pub and stayed at a B&B before going to the glowworm tunnels the next day, before driving back to AKL.

So we will kind of be retracing most of our last trip, except our focus will the the wineries.

I'm very tempted to hop in some Rotorua mud; anyone here have favourite places they recommend? We visited the big touristy ones last time; I just want to go somewherein the mud, without the whole show...

Thanks mate! :)

If you've already been to Rotorua and surrounds, perhaps stay in Auckland and head to Waiheke the next day. Hopefully, the storm won't hit Auckland/Waiheke until Saturday night.

Auckland unlikely to be affected other than a little bit of rain, and probably colder than normal on Sunday.

If, on Saturday, you decide to head south, I'll go straight to Napier (if the road is still open), cutting Rotorua out/short (since you've been).

I would not do this. Dozens of people tried last weekend and got stranded. Spending hours stuck in a snow storm in the middle of nowhere is not fun.

If the Desert Road (it's State Highway 1, south of Taupo, and the main trunk road) is closed, there is a fair chance the Napier-Taupo Road (SH5) is closed too.

There's an alternate route if the road is closed and you have to head to Wellington. At Huntly (between Hamilton and Auckland), take SH39 towards Te Kuiti and Ohakune or Wanganui. You should miss the highland areas and therefore the snow. However, if you take this route, you'll come down the island on the opposite side of Napier.

That doesn't necessarily help. Last weekend snow fell lower than Taihape thus avoiding the desert road doesn't necessarily avoid the problem.

You can still do this route in one day. When you get to Wellington, go to Martinborough the next day. Hopefully, the Rimutaka (the mountain range separating Wellington and the Martinborough region) range will be open.

If you head straight to Rotorua when you land in Auckland, you can decide on Saturday which way you go. However, as I said, if the Desert Road is closed, the Napier-Taupo Road is likely to be affected and you won't have much choice but to back-track or take a giant detour through the Bay of Plenty.

If it were me, rather than trying to set out on an ambitious itinerary that potentially will come unstuck due to bad weather, I'd plan on spending a few days in Auckland and then fly down early next week (when the weather and roads will be clear, and less traffic since school holidays are over).

Oh, and if relying on public transport in Auckland be aware half the buses are not running at the moment (certain routes have no buses at all). The airport bus is not affected.

As you would appreciate, when you deal with the weather, everything is flexible. How you detour, where you go will be subject to conditions at the time. Just play it by ear, especially on Saturday.

Thanks again fellas. I'm at a Millenium hotel in Rotorua, had a good night.
We're in a top floor, freshly renovated, nice and large room with wifi and the drive down was wet but idyllic. 100kmh most of the way and nary a holdup from AKL to the 1 South and then the roads to Hamilton and beyond.

I have to eat my whiny words on FT from past years about the lack of signage.
Taking the main, official roads, everything's signposted perfectly and it was possible to navigate from the motorway to Rotorua without the use of anything other than the signs on the roads. :)

The roads were patrolled by police, most speed freaks calmed down and drove sanely and there is not a bad word I can say. :)

I've booked another night here in the 'rua because the Mrs loves the smells and the mudbaths. A fellow bar guest kindly checked the reports on the roads tonight and said the Taupo road is currently OK.

We were very well looked after on NZ102 to AKL and I think the cabin crew were fantastic ambassadors for NZ the airlne and the country. We were even enthusiastically given a bottle of premium wine of our choice to try at ground altitude.

This makes us look even more forward to the next NZ biz flight. :)

Glad to hear your trip is going well.

Christchurch is very cold and rainy but it's supposed to clear by Sunday. There is quite a bit of snow at low levels but hopefully it won't hang around too long.

Glad you made it OK. Hope you can get to Napier OK too. Drive safe.

I saw a rugby game last night on TV - 'Naki vs the Jafas, the weather looked horrible. I think a couple of players came off the field with hypothermia...!

There are travel warnings out this morning and there's a possibility the Napier/Taupo road may be affected. Advising motorists to carry warm clothing, blankets, etc. Last weekend 700+ motorists were stuck in up to a metre of snow!

I'm sure you've checked before heading out, but be safe and enjoy your travels. Hope to see you in a couple of days.