New Zealand master thread
Jan 7, 2016, 10:09 am
#407
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,002
Jan 7, 2016, 6:27 pm
#408
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: It's hot here
Posts: 4,294
Hobbiton is a ~2-hour drive from Auckland. It's the last place we stopped before we got to Auckland, and it was phenomenal.
As for Waiheke Island, this is something I had scheduled a 'Fly and Wine' tour for - take a seaplane out to the island and then have a tour. Unfortunately the weather was rotten the last couple days in town (virtually non-stop rain), so the tour got canceled. You can take a ferry to get out there, and I am sure you can get in contact with a firm on the island to organize something for you (I was going through Enjoi Waiheke - seemed okay overall but a bit unresponsive at times). I've been told Mudbrick Vineyard is a great spot on the island.
As for beer, I am a beer person myself and frankly found the beer in NZ to be pretty disappointing. Their pale ales are very uncreative - weak English-style for the most part, with very little in terms of distinctive hops - and almost no IPAs (my favorite type of beer). Outside of stopping at a craft brewery in Wellington, my alcohol intake was highly skewed towards wine on this trip.
As for Waiheke Island, this is something I had scheduled a 'Fly and Wine' tour for - take a seaplane out to the island and then have a tour. Unfortunately the weather was rotten the last couple days in town (virtually non-stop rain), so the tour got canceled. You can take a ferry to get out there, and I am sure you can get in contact with a firm on the island to organize something for you (I was going through Enjoi Waiheke - seemed okay overall but a bit unresponsive at times). I've been told Mudbrick Vineyard is a great spot on the island.
As for beer, I am a beer person myself and frankly found the beer in NZ to be pretty disappointing. Their pale ales are very uncreative - weak English-style for the most part, with very little in terms of distinctive hops - and almost no IPAs (my favorite type of beer). Outside of stopping at a craft brewery in Wellington, my alcohol intake was highly skewed towards wine on this trip.
Yeah, so many people have suggested Waiheke that I think we'll just wing it. If the weather is good, we will hop on the ferry and just figure it out. Looks like there is a bus around the island.
I've been doing some searching for craft beer and it's nothing like home, but I'm finding a few that we will definitely check out. We are stout drinkers.
Jan 9, 2016, 5:28 pm
#409
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,423
May should be at least that warm most places (especially northern part of North Island), but will be slightly cooler in parts of the South Island and mountain areas.
Jan 10, 2016, 5:31 pm
#410
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2
HI EVERYONE!
Me and my better half are planning a week and a half snowboard trip end of July beginning of August - wanting to use some velocity points, but have never done it (NZ or use points) before - any tips? it is better to get velocity flights or call up and get airing flights? etc.
Thanks in advance!
Edit: Flying melbourne - christchurch drive to queenstown - flight from QT to Melb.
Me and my better half are planning a week and a half snowboard trip end of July beginning of August - wanting to use some velocity points, but have never done it (NZ or use points) before - any tips? it is better to get velocity flights or call up and get airing flights? etc.
Thanks in advance!
Edit: Flying melbourne - christchurch drive to queenstown - flight from QT to Melb.
Jan 11, 2016, 11:31 pm
#411
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 93
Just looking at the wiki for NZ climate, the average temperature for May is 2-3 degrees C warmer than June. The hottest month in NZ is February so obviously 3 months after is going to be a bit warmer than 4.
Also as mentioned above, somewhere like Auckland has a relatively gentle climate - rarely goes below 0 degrees (overnight) in winter or above 30 degrees in summer. Whereas in the South Island you'll see snow in Christchurch city at least once a year usually and it can get to mid 30s in summer.
Also as mentioned above, somewhere like Auckland has a relatively gentle climate - rarely goes below 0 degrees (overnight) in winter or above 30 degrees in summer. Whereas in the South Island you'll see snow in Christchurch city at least once a year usually and it can get to mid 30s in summer.
Mar 15, 2016, 12:30 pm
#412
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: It's hot here
Posts: 4,294
Any insight on the Hobbiton tour? I'm actually a big fan of the books and movie and can't wait to see it, but I also don't know how to pick a starting point for the tour. We will be driving from Auckland so Shire's Rest or Matamata would be fine. I know Shire's is closer, but Matamata looks like a cute little place. We could get there for lunch and walk around some before the tour if it's a place worth seeing. Any insight?
Any other good places to stop for lunch between Auckland and Hobbiton? Is there a particular route that is best for sight seeing?
Any other good places to stop for lunch between Auckland and Hobbiton? Is there a particular route that is best for sight seeing?
Mar 15, 2016, 9:09 pm
#413
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Boise, ID
Programs: Virtuoso
Posts: 617
Any insight on the Hobbiton tour? I'm actually a big fan of the books and movie and can't wait to see it, but I also don't know how to pick a starting point for the tour. We will be driving from Auckland so Shire's Rest or Matamata would be fine. I know Shire's is closer, but Matamata looks like a cute little place. We could get there for lunch and walk around some before the tour if it's a place worth seeing. Any insight?
Any other good places to stop for lunch between Auckland and Hobbiton? Is there a particular route that is best for sight seeing?
Any other good places to stop for lunch between Auckland and Hobbiton? Is there a particular route that is best for sight seeing?
We didn't stop at Matamata when we went. Shire's Rest is the starting point of the tour. You can't drive to the actual Hobbiton - they take you on a bus from Shire's Rest for the tour.
Mar 15, 2016, 11:49 pm
#414
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: It's hot here
Posts: 4,294
Yep, I figured out that part. Some of the reviews I read talked about being a bit rushed at the Green Dragon. How much time do we get there? It's not all that clear on the website I was looking at. That would definitely be my choice of where to eat.
Mar 17, 2016, 10:45 am
#415
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Boise, ID
Programs: Virtuoso
Posts: 617
MissJ - I did the private tour and we had plenty of time at Green Dragon. I am not sure on the public tour. I remember people on non-private tours coming through, but I wasn't paying much attention to them. I can't recommend the private tour enough. For anyone who is a huge fan, it is really worth it as it isn't a huge amount more.
Mar 17, 2016, 1:33 pm
#416
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: It's hot here
Posts: 4,294
Was it this tour?
http://www.hobbitontours.com/OurTour...4/Default.aspx
If so, $450 is a bit much for two of us compared to $79 each otherwise. That would be fine if we were with more people though. If there is a better priced one for a pair of people, I'm all over it.
http://www.hobbitontours.com/OurTour...4/Default.aspx
If so, $450 is a bit much for two of us compared to $79 each otherwise. That would be fine if we were with more people though. If there is a better priced one for a pair of people, I'm all over it.
Apr 13, 2016, 4:08 pm
#417
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: Globalist, Marriott Plat, various sundry
Posts: 984
Auckland to Hobbiton overnight options?
I am planning on visiting NZ in February 2017 for three nights. Flying into Auckland, will be visiting Hobbiton. I would prefer to stay in one hotel during the three days, and I would like to stay somewhere within 3 hours of Auckland by car.
Other than Auckland, is there a city worth staying in for three days, and do you have any suggested hotels? I am shooting for about $180 nzd a night or less. I will consider going higher if it's a nice property.
Other than Auckland, is there a city worth staying in for three days, and do you have any suggested hotels? I am shooting for about $180 nzd a night or less. I will consider going higher if it's a nice property.
Apr 14, 2016, 12:17 pm
#418
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
Felt like about half an hour or so when I was there. I had a cider, wasn't hungry so did not partake in food, but seemed there might have been enough time. However, I deliberately booked the second tour of the day (first was sold out on my day when I went to book), so as to ensure as few people as possible. Key would likely be to have a quick moving group, and going earlier if possible, in my opinion.
Apr 15, 2016, 7:28 am
#419
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Los Angeles California
Posts: 1,402
Waitomo glowworm caves ..worth it?
Is Waitomo glowworm caves really as cracked up as is mentioned by some folks? The more reviews I am reading about it the more I want to avoid the place. Basically after paying entrance fee after a 2.5 hours ride, you stand (boat) for 30 mins to enter a cave and then see the glowworms for 5 mins..On top, no photos are allowed and the staff seems to be rude...Tourist trap ? Milking a natural spot to make money?
we have seen many caves here in the U.S with stalagmites and stalactites and planning to skip this completely..
Is Waitomo glowworm caves really as cracked up as is mentioned by some folks? The more reviews I am reading about it the more I want to avoid the place. Basically after paying entrance fee after a 2.5 hours ride, you stand (boat) for 30 mins to enter a cave and then see the glowworms for 5 mins..On top, no photos are allowed and the staff seems to be rude...Tourist trap ? Milking a natural spot to make money?
we have seen many caves here in the U.S with stalagmites and stalactites and planning to skip this completely..