New Zealand Honeymoon on a budget - doable?

JMFD

My husband-to-be and I have both always dreamed of holidaying in new Zealand; walking in the different sceneries, visiting dolphins, visiting the glow worms, and more recently visiting the LOTRO sets. We're getting married in March this year, which is apparently a good time to visit NZ. Perhaps it's fate?

Planning the wedding is giving me enough of a headache without planning a 2 week holiday itinerary, so we're toying with getting a pre-packaged bundle, although with only a few providers I can find, haggling might not get too far for that. Not fussed about staying in luxury accommodation, but camping is a little too far the other way. Happy to (and prefer to!) drive us around, rather than a coach.

Any thoughts?

PasturesNew

My friend, who won a round the world ticket, hired a camper van in NZ.

JMFD

Driving very large cars terrifies me, I doubt I'd get on well with a camper van, but thanks for your suggestion.

missbiggles1

What sort of budget?

JMFD

~£5k, can adjust if we really need to by dropping our mortgage overpayments for a few months

Goldiegirl

Better check your lender is agreeable to that before making any other arrangements

JMFD

We're not on fixed overpayments, just discipline for an end of the month transfer via a phone call, so not a problem if we do need to.

Stevie_Palimo

Looking on the site below the budget is doable for a 2 week trip easy enough, May need a bit additional for extra spends though.


http://www.discovernewzealand.com/index.cfm/search/

ampersand

op - assume you mean 2016.
'We're getting married in March this year, '

Well-travelled OAP Kiwi lady of no great means here. Rtnd to NZ last year for blvd Uncle's 90th[so, of course, rang for Happy 91st 2 days ago:-)]
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2 weeks is too little, not just for your declared wishlist, but to come out of jetlag, swollen ankles etc. despite use of any special foot/sockwear and in-flight exercises recommended to counter this.

£5k budget is VERY decent, allows for treats.
I stick with AirNZ after a bad alternative experience, receive ems for special short-term deal periods.
http://www.airnewzealandpromotions.com/uk/uksubscribe/?utm_source=airnz%20uk%20consumer%20site&utm_medium=tile&utm_campaign=uk%20sign%20up

UK freephone no:0800 028 4149 (customer)

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I hired a Nissan March [ too small for 2, I know] for 6wks - from NZDCR, who were wonderful. My hire qualified for their 40day+ special daily rate of NZ £9.95
Remarkable rate.

I slept in this little marvel, loaded it, did carboots from it, drove forever and back, up mountains, Desert Road, initially to my family province, Hawkes Bay, but all over the North Island. Excellent fuel consumption.

http://nzdcr.co.nz/hot-deals/
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- note this last section:
Earlier model cars

From $9.95 a day as available
40 day plus term applies for $9.95 rate (not available during some periods)
Check our other rates here.

Have no fears about older vehicles in NZ.

National Vegemite-builds-a-nation, can-do philosophy= there's little that can't be fixed with Bonnington's Irish Moss, Lanes Emulsion[both disgusting], bailer twine and/or no.8 fencing wire.

[&loathes vegemite, loathed BIM - no doubt reason for departing to cultured yurpine shores 40+ yrs ago:-)]

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If you can't cope with this, Naked Bus are superb:
https://nakedbus.com/home
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Use YHA - Life Membership is available @£47 p.a. and is invaluable worldwide. You know that you can always be safe somewhere, even if it's a matter of parking safely o/n.

https://www.yha.org.uk/membership

Look here for those in aotearoa -
https://www.yha.co.nz/

Freedom and safety together.
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Watch rugby. Understand what it means in the country and how it develops from primary school. There'll always be some on somewhere. High school/college matches are televised.
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Go fishing - anywhere. Ask locals about anything, especially check for any alerts in swimming places- coastal, river, lake, thermal.
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Look out for this wonderful musician/artist Luke Hurley, whose haunting, accomplished sound made me follow until I found him, down the harbour end of Queen Street:
http://www.lukehurley.co.nz/
Caught up with him here in UK, just before heading to NZ last year.
He has a worldwide following.

https://www.facebook.com/lukehurleymusic

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Haven't been in the Waitomo Caves for years, much changed and touristed by now, but they are what they are and NZ touristy factor is less exploitative than most.
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Kaitaia for dolphins, but they pop up everywhere and, sadly, do beach themselves in pods.
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http://www.goldenshears.co.nz/
Takes place in March, perhaps too early for you?
Unbelievably exciting to watch. Incredible skill.

Visit any provincial show you can catch hold of.
http://www.dol.govt.nz/er/holidaysandleave/publicholidays/publicholidaydates/future-dates.asp

Might be Taranaki, or Otago and Southland[South Island] for you. There will be things on.
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Attend a proper hangi on a marae, humbly.
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Now, listen to The Bads
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfzgMDRyBFU

This accompanies the glorious Hunger for the Wild series. Youtube is yoiur friend.
http://fisheyefilms.co.nz/hungerforthewild1.htm
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Don't miss/avoid Te Papa in Wellington.
http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/pages/home.aspx

[and if you like to head to Petone foreshore, find &'s family on the First European Settler's stone.]

Art, crafts, maoritanga, little theatre/high standard, flourish in the smallest towns
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Good promo/competitive supermarkets. inc. fuel, everywhere:

Countdown, New World, Pak'n'Save.
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We find good and bad in people and places everywhere, but I think you'll love NZ and do well there, just never in a fortnight....please!

Bearing in mind earlier advice re: lender ts and cs, any chance of arranging short-term let that covers your mortgage?
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Just do it, rather than spend time/energy on potential stumbling block thinking,

Do less for wedding, more for lune de miel and let wedding guests know that travel fund contributions are what you'll appreciate.

I wish you both well - Haere pai atu, hoki pai mai

JMFD

Thanks for your suggestions.

The two week restriction is alas due to using a school holiday; my husband to be's job is restricted to virtually no term-time off(he's trying!), and we'll be using the 2 week Easter break (we get married on the first Saturday). He knows he'll be wrecked for this first few days back at work! Our option for a longer break would be July-August, but that's winter in NZ

PompeyPete

Ampersand - reply #9

That's one heck of a posting.:T

JMFD - We did a month in NZ, covering both Islands. The best way to see the county is at ground level, so we hired [privately] a converted transit van.

We didn't have any travel weariness, as we had a few days in Sydney beforehand.

Four weeks simply wan't long enough to do justice to such a beautiful and diverse country.

The only place we didn't go much on was Auckland. Far too cosmopolitan.