New Zealand Honeymoon on a budget - doable?

dawyldthing

You can get bus tours for £1000 for 10 days,but I think it's for the under 35s. If you google Peter pan tours it's probably the cheaper way of doing it as they quote you in Australian dollars so it's cheaper than paying topdeck direct

JMFD

I think we'll definitely go fly-drive, I'm happy driving normally, just fairly sure I'd be panicking with a van. While I'd love a long stay, not sure we'd manage it with my FH's restrictive holidays

ampersand

Plunder the excellent NZ AA country, island, provincial maps and guides by the Info. desk at Mangere.
They're 1st class, up to date, free.
Remember that signs for speed limits and distances are metric now - drive on the left, too.
#
Check out http://www.trademe.co.nz/ for vehicle/stopovers if a longer visit becomes possible in future years.

I wouldn't remotely worry about July/August as 'winter'.

Home city is Napier, rebuilt in what is now recognised as art deco style after the Great 'Quake of 1931. This has made it a unique world draw, to the astonishment of long-departed local denizens.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napier,_New_Zealand

bylromarha

Another one here saying that 2 weeks is far too short for both islands.

Maybe just restrict the touring to North or South Island. We found South more scenic.

The country is very very geared up for tourists - we toured in a camper van, but as you've ruled that out, there are motels galore all around the place if you hire a car.

I didn't think I'd get on driving a camper van, but it was dead simple, and as the country is expecting them to be everywhere, you really can get most places.

And :wave: Ampersand - its been a while!

blindman

bylromarha wrote: »

Another one here saying that 2 weeks is far too short for both islands.

Maybe just restrict the touring to North or South Island. We found South more scenic.

The country is very very geared up for tourists - we toured in a camper van, but as you've ruled that out, there are motels galore all around the place if you hire a car.

I didn't think I'd get on driving a camper van, but it was dead simple, and as the country is expecting them to be everywhere, you really can get most places.

And :wave: Ampersand - its been a while!

2 weeks is far too short for such a vast country and a long distance to travel.

IMHO I'd put it off until you can do it justice as not only is NZ a trip so are the stop offs on the way there\back.

Camper van-I looked into this as a couple when we did a 4 week Xmas New Year tour.
(Covered South and North Island though still a whirlwind tour. :cool:)

More expensive, gas guzzler and harder to drive than a standard rental.
Hotels\motels were easy and cheap to find so opted for the car.

Also easy for one way drop offs.

zagfles

As above 2 weeks is far too short, but if you do, don't try to see the whole country, I'd stick to just one island or even part of an island.

We went in August, north island only, and it was fine, mostly sunny and not too cold. Not lying on beach weather, but then you're not going to go all that way to lie on a beach (having said that - we did go to one of the "hot water" beaches where you can dig a little and sit in water heated by volcanic activity!)

Bit like spring here. Some friends went over new year and had non stop rain!

You'd get to see all the things you mention above on the north island, and you could even go ski-ing as well!

£5k should be easily enough for 2 weeks, flights will be the main expense. Accomodation is quite cheap and car hire is reasonable, most things are cheaper than here although as I remember the price for the LOTR set was ridiculous! Driving is easy, they drive on the left and roads are generally empty.

JMFD

Thanks for the continued input; I think we'll try for the last 3 weeks of August rather than cramming it into Easter.

pandora205

JMFD wrote: »

Thanks for the continued input; I think we'll try for the last 3 weeks of August rather than cramming it into Easter.

Remember August is in the middle of winter so expect snow then if you go into the mountains.... A different experience but equally interesting in its way.

dondo

We are off to NZ in the summer (bound by school holidays too) and were looking at booking a camper van to save on costs of accommodation but doing the maths it didn't really seem to add up- especially as now they add an environmental tax at the end of camper van rentals based on mileage. So we opted for a car from apex car rentals- they do ones called road trip specials which are older models. We have booked motels when not staying with relatives and they are plentiful and whilst we have opted not for budget all the time there ceratinly seemed like good priced ones about.

zagfles

dondo wrote: »

We are off to NZ in the summer (bound by school holidays too) and were looking at booking a camper van to save on costs of accommodation but doing the maths it didn't really seem to add up- especially as now they add an environmental tax at the end of camper van rentals based on mileage. So we opted for a car from apex car rentals- they do ones called road trip specials which are older models. We have booked motels when not staying with relatives and they are plentiful and whilst we have opted not for budget all the time there ceratinly seemed like good priced ones about.

Motels are quite cheap - we paid around $80-120 typically (£40-60) a night for 2-bed motels. They seemed to be cheaper booking later rather than in advance, we only booked max a few nights before, sometimes didn't book just turned up. No problem with availability in August, it's very off-peak.