3) The concept of "standby" rates and how to find them.
Item "3" is something of an unknown concept to visitors from North America.
Over the last 10 years of travel around NZ, my take has been that except for a few special places or dates (e.g. Queenstown over New Years) booking accomodation ahead of time is more likely to cost you money rather than save it. And even if/when you do book ahead of time, the cancellation policies at many properties are so generous that you can easily cancel if you find a better deal.
We will be renting a car in AKL on a weekly basis and making our way south to Wellington over several days next month. We want to end up in Christchurch for a flight to Sydney but will only be able to spend a day or two in CCH. We won't really need a car after Wellington (after 5 days of the week) and originally planned to just turn the car in at Wellington. But unless there is a less expensive way to get from Wellington to CCH without a car we would probably make sure instead that when we rent the car it can be left in Wellington and we can pick up another car for the last two days of the same weekly fee after we cross on the ferry. (Thanks, KIWIFLYER and others for letting us know of this money-saving strategy.) It looks like it would be cheaper to switch cars than trying to find alternative transportation to CCH. Are we correct that staying with the switching of rental cars makes the most sense financially? If so, is there a ferry web site so we can see our choice of routes. landings and times, including the high speed ferry? Are we limited in the ferry we choose by having to go to a particular landing where rental cars would be available? Or does that, as I would assume, vary by rental car company?
I Accidentally "Smuggled" an Apple into NZ and never paid the fine - am I a fugitive?
Seriously folks,
I went to NZ a few years ago and forgot that I had an apple in my bag. The Customs officers saw it and fined me on the spot 200 NZ$, about $140 then. There was no talking them out of it. I was told I could pay it now or later. I chose later and 2 years later have not paid it. This turned out to be more expensive than Japanese Fuji Apples or Apples from Harry & David!
What happens to me if I go back to NZ? Will I be arrested? Will I be expelled? Will I need to pay the fine with interest or be turned away. Wasn't too concerned, but now might need to go to the South Pacific for business and NZ/Australia and the islands around there could be on my list.
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 9,804
The normal process is that you will be admitted into NZ and held in custody until you pay the fine. It may be several thousand dollars now, instead of NZD 200, and payment used to be cash only (no credit cards). Given that it was in the past few years, it is almost guaranteed to be in their computer system correctly and you won't be overlooked. Most countries take a dim view on customs fines remaining unpaid and won't forgive them (unlike traffic tickets which are often forgiven or overlooked). And they increase dramatically after a few months of being unpaid.
Check out the Department of Conservation (I think I included a link in post #3). With very few exceptions all huts on public land are owned/managed by DoC, who also maintain the many fine tracks.
What kind are you interested in? Day (or half day), 2 days, week, longer? Near beaches or mountains, or valleys, or ...
Is there quarantine etc when one goes into Queenstown?
Over dinner last week, friends were saying that they would be flying into Queenstown this way, Singapore-Sydney-Queenstown. They would only be transitting in Queenstown. Having read how stringent the New zealanders are about bringing food into their country, I wonder what happens when one travels like my friends, transitting in Sydney? Now, it would seem that is no need to declare food in Sydney airport since one is only transitting. Then if I remember correctly, there is hardly any immigration in Queenstown, and no quarantine measures. How do they stamp passports of people flying in from Singapore that way?
