Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Any Tips for My Trip?

I leave Monday for a long anticipated 2 week vacation to NZL! :D I've researched alot on FT and other sites and have probably way too much information and now can't even remember everything I read. So, I thought I'd throw out my itinerary here to see if anyone knows of any "watch out for this..." type of information or any other recommendations.

We get in to AKL on a NZ flight from SYD around 2:30 pm, next Wednesday. We have a rental car that we pick up at the airport and we have a hotel for that night ... The Langham at 83 Symonds Street. By the time we pick up the car and head into the city is it going to be horrid traffic? Any airport or road issues to be aware of?

Taking the ferry to south island with a vehicle. We don't have definite plans as to when we'll leave the north. Are reservations absolutely needed for the ferry, and if so, how far in advance?

Returning, we fly from CHC back to AKL at 5:30pm the day before our return international flight. I've heard CHC is undergoing construction - any probs with getting on domestic flight? I am *G, but can I access the NZ lounge in CHC or would I need to be on an international flight?

Next day we take off for SYD at 9:00am on NZ, then back to US. We'll leave plenty of time to check in, but should be able to use premium check in. Anything going on at the AKL airport to be aware of? I think I read that the departure tax is already included in flight fares from AKL,... true?

Any other recommendations would be welcomed!

I would check whether you can take the rental car to the south island. When I have rented from Hertz, they require that you drop the car off before getting the ferry and then collect a new car on the other side

Dave

All the major car rental companies prohibit taking their cars on the ferry (too much chance of damage). They are well-stocked with cars at each side (you drop off one car and pick up another after the ferry crossing). This is to your advantage, cars cost a lot (hundreds) and sometimes car ferry space is sold out for several days in a row. It was a week wait when I inquired. Presumably you have booked a 1-way rental AKL-CHC and it will actually be a change of vehicle. For the ferry you check your baggage just like for an airplane, so you have to be packed up.

Yes you will hit traffic on the way to the central city - the most commonly used route goes near several schools and traffic is heavy from 3pm onwards. There are currently roadworks around the Langham hotel, so you may need to enter via City Road instead of the front entrance on Symonds Street.

A booking for the ferry is a good idea, particularly in the weekend or school holidays. School holidays start late September (see NZ key dates thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-new-zealand-air-points/320780-nz-key-dates-thread.html)). At the least you should book a few days before you intend to use it to get better fare and ensure you get a choice of sailings. The ferry terminal is a horrid place to wait for hours because the next ferry is full.

The construction at CHC should have minimal impact on you - there is a very minor inconvenience in that cannot drop off right in front of the terminal any more. As *G you have access to domestic koru club in CHC, and also access to space plus seating in the forward rows (extra legroom).

AKL departure fee is paid at time of ticketing. Yes *G can use the premium check in lobby.

Thank you all! Just the type of information I was looking for! ^

Presumably you have booked a 1-way rental AKL-CHC and it will actually be a change of vehicle. For the ferry you check your baggage just like for an airplane, so you have to be packed up.

I have booked a one-way rental from Omega ("free one-way drop off!"). Nowhere on their website do they indicate that we pick up a new vehicle on the south island. Like you said, it's a benefit to us, but it seems like they would tell us that (I assume when we pick up our car at least? :confused:)

I did not know about checking bags on the ferry. Thanks for that!


A booking for the ferry is a good idea, particularly in the weekend or school holidays. School holidays start late September (see NZ key dates thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-new-zealand-air-points/320780-nz-key-dates-thread.html)).
We will be getting out of there right before the school holidays. Something I learned on FT -- checked before decided on dates. Would have preferred October but couldn't go due to work. So in Sept, went a little earlier to avoid the holiday.

As *G you have access to domestic koru club in CHC, and also access to space plus seating in the forward rows (extra legroom).

Excellent. I have heard great things about the international club, how is the domestic? The Space+ seating for *G I also learned about on FT! The trip is on one United itinerary (except for domestic flight) and after I had the UA reservation, I called NZ and they happily put me and my friend in Space+ on all flights.

A last Q: any restaurant tips for dinner at AKL - good food or great atmosphere? Just curious to compare with other recommendations I've gotten. We don't want to spend a fortune on a meal, but money isn't really an issue.

Thanks again for responses. I am so excited about seeing a place I've wanted to go to forever! :D

Omega has an office in Picton. I've never seen any rental car agency that had an office there which did not require switching cars instead of taking it on the ferry -- best to check with them to clarify this. Highly advantageous to you not to take the car across (except for the hassle of having to vacate the car).

Omega has an office in Picton.

Do you know how people get to the car rentals in Picton? Do they have shuttles? Walkable from ferry? Taxi? Or do I just need to check with Omega specifically?

Car rental is on the end of the pier. The ENTIRE town of Picton is walkable (in about 2 min). You need to check with Omega if they expect you to ferry the car across; perhaps for a repositioning rental they really do want to move the car between islands and this is a very cheap way for them to do it. You might get sticker shock when you discover that the ferry cost for the car is higher than your multi-week car rental (some discounts apply if booked far in advance).

Update: I just checked and the price varies a lot, but is in the NZD 150-200 range for the car, so much more reasonable than it used to be. I remembered a NZD500 price, which is wrong. It actually is pretty cheap for that length of crossing, ferries in the US cost more.

Update: I just checked and the price varies a lot, but is in the NZD 150-200 range for the car, so much more reasonable than it used to be. I remembered a NZD500 price, which is wrong. It actually is pretty cheap for that length of crossing, ferries in the US cost more.

I am verifying with Omega whether we take it across or not. If so, we need to decide on scheduling instead of be more "care free" on the north island.

I didn't think the price was that bad either. Only $100-$150 USD and I split that with my friend. Still, reservations could be a pain and may as well save some money if we can.

Thanks,

Just an update for y'all who gave me advice ....

I had a FANTASTIC trip to New Zealand. I have to say I'm still in awe about how beautiful it was!

Regarding my car rental, from Omega, they actually did intend for me to take it on the ferry to the south island. I asked, when we got there, if we could switch cars in Picton. They said because they had "spare cars" there, they would do it. So we dropped off in Wellington and they had another one waiting in the Picton ferry parking lot for us.

Good thing too, because the subaru they gave us for the north island was in much worse shape than the one we got on the south island. Plus, of course, no ferry fee for a vehicle.

We bought ferry tickets a few hours before the departure. Wasn't bad at all.

The Kuru clubs were awesome. NZ flights pleasant. Went thru SYD to return home the day before the sand storms hit. Good luck on a great vacation!

I didn't post here with advice (I think the others covered it well enough), but always nice to see someone post a follow-up as to how their trip went. NZ is, as you say, a spectacularly beautiful country and I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. FT rocks!