Help me structure a 3 week trip to the South Pacific and NZ
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 153
Help me structure a 3 week trip to the South Pacific and NZ
I will be going to bora bora, Cook Islands, New Zealand, and Fiji next summer. We will be spending a week in Fiji so as of right now I have 5 days/4 nights in bora bora, 6 days/5 nights in the Cook Islands, and 5 days/4 nights in New Zealand. I have heard the Cook Islands get boring after a few days so I was thinking of going to aitutaki for 2 of the 6 days. However, my husband suggested we might be able to use it in New Zealand too (we are going to rotorua).
Would it be better to have that extra day in NZ or to split up the Cook Islands? In NZ we want to do the hobbiton excursion waitomo and some Maori activity. We don't have anything planned for the Cook Islands.
Would it be better to have that extra day in NZ or to split up the Cook Islands? In NZ we want to do the hobbiton excursion waitomo and some Maori activity. We don't have anything planned for the Cook Islands.
#2
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: MEL
Programs: QF GA NZ WN. Accor+ Bonvoy IHC
Posts: 250
Spend more time in NZ for sure. Rotorua can be seen in a day, two max. You'll be flying into AKL and you can do heaps from there. Try a day trip to Waiheke Is and enjoy the food and wine or if you're the outdoorsy type, a day to Rangitoto Island and climb to the peak which isn't actually that hard. If you really like nature go to Tiri Tiri Maitangi island from AKL by day on the boat. It's a stunning protected island with more birds than you can imagine. Cook Is is just more of Tahiti, same same. NZ is very different from the others, you'll love it
#3
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Boise, ID
Programs: Virtuoso
Posts: 617
I agree, I would move the time to New Zealand. Not nearly enough time there, especially if it is your first visit. I would add in a second location, not necessarily Auckland, although it would be the most effective time wise. Bay of Islands is amazing, Coromandel, or I even really like Wellington.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,411
We're are you planning to base you're selfies for these Island hops? e.g you can't fly between most Pacific Islands Nations, most you'll need to head via AKL.
For example there is an twice weekly PPT-RAR service on an ATR, which is pretty pricey. There is no service between between NAN-RAR and NAN-PPT.
For example there is an twice weekly PPT-RAR service on an ATR, which is pretty pricey. There is no service between between NAN-RAR and NAN-PPT.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 153
We're are you planning to base you're selfies for these Island hops? e.g you can't fly between most Pacific Islands Nations, most you'll need to head via AKL.
For example there is an twice weekly PPT-RAR service on an ATR, which is pretty pricey. There is no service between between NAN-RAR and NAN-PPT.
For example there is an twice weekly PPT-RAR service on an ATR, which is pretty pricey. There is no service between between NAN-RAR and NAN-PPT.
I think the ppt-rar leg just under 300 one way which certainly isn't cheap but isn't terrible.
#8
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SYD, Australia
Programs: VA Silver, QF FF, Priority Club
Posts: 920