New Zealand Honeymoon on a budget - doable?

nearlyrich

We went for 3 weeks in 2006 when I had a more generous holiday allowance at a previous company. We hired a car that was quite old, they don't rot due to salt like they do here. We just stopped where we liked and for as long as we fancied using motels which are amazing good value. We will be going back at some point it is a beautiful place.

JMFD

Sorry for bumping after so long. After a change in circumstances, we are now able to so 3 week over Easter!

Looking at trying to sort this out asap now, as I know its relatively late. I do want to try and get as much stuff booked before we go, as not having planned will make me crazy!

Any more thoughts?

redpete

Lots of help on Tripadvisor NZ forums - check other people's suggested itineries and comments / advice they have received.

JMFD

Brill, will do so, thanks

BringMeSunshine

We've been twice. (Husband was there on business and we did a deal with his employer)

Each time we went for 2 weeks. It was fine, though longer would have been lovely. I would definitely not turn down the chance to go for 2 weeks again.

We stuck to the North Island and rented a people carrier (3 kids). We stayed at a mix of places. Campsites/holiday parks often have cabins for hire. Airbnb?

Places I wouldn't miss are:

The Skyline luge/thermal park in Rotorua
Te Papa in Wellington and the Botanical Gardens
White Island boat trip (we saw orca, dolphins and walked on an active volcano - what's not to like )

The Hobbiton film set in Matamata is amazing

Good places we stayed:
Blue Lake Top 10 holiday park
Pacific Rendezvous in Tutukaka
Taupo DeBretts Spa resort
(Can't do links as a newbie sorry)

BringMeSunshine

Just seen your last post. If it helps, we found it easy to book in September/October for Christmas - even though that is their summer holiday season so you have plenty of time as it'll be their autumn so not too busy.

knightstyle

First I agree two weeks is far too short. Next, fly down to Christchurch and hire a car from a local place, plus buy a tent and equipment. The campsites are great with kitchens, fridges and washing facilities.
Don't forget to have some relaxing time on the beach or up a mountain as these leave the best lasting memories.

dawyldthing

I've used this as a guide and have booked a fair bit as the exchange rate is soo good at the moment

http://issuu.com/cube38/docs/kiwi_ex_coach_mag_lr

Page 130 shows the prices. I've also booked a look and leap package for aucklands skytower but it's not going to be for everyone

blindman

JMFD wrote: »

Sorry for bumping after so long. After a change in circumstances, we are now able to so 3 week over Easter!

Looking at trying to sort this out asap now, as I know its relatively late. I do want to try and get as much stuff booked before we go, as not having planned will make me crazy!

Any more thoughts?

Ok still too short but what the heck :cool:

Look at open Jaw-Fly into (say Christchurch) then out of Aukland?

We did this a while back and hired the car in Christchurch for our South Island trip then we caught the ferry to Wellington.

Drove all the way to North Cape and then back to Aukland.

Did that in 3 weeks IIRC but just skimmed the surface of South Island and the North.

Booked accomodation on the fly, only got caught out once when there was some National basketball tournamant in the area we were hoping to stay and everything was booked up for 50 miles + :eek:
Luckily it was early evening so we drove for an hour or so and tried again.

This was Xmas period.

On the return trip we stopped over in Sydney for 23 hrs 30 minutes

On 31st Dec

:D:D

dondo

We got back end of last months from 3 weeks in NZ and absolutely loved it.

Flew with Singapore airlines who were excellent and we stopped off for 1 night on way out and 2 nights on way back- lovely place to break the journey (primarily as we were travelling with a 6 and 8 year old). Can highly recommend them as an airline.

We flew into Christchurch and picked up a higher car from Apex who were excellent. Got a really good deal on what they call their road trip special i.e. an older model. It was fine- had a lot of miles on the clock and struggled with the hills at times when laden with our luggage and 4 people and it wasn't the most fuel efficient but for $26 a day it was good value. We dropped it off at Auckland airport

Highlights of our trip were:
-Dunedin to The Taieri Gorge Railway trip: https://www.dunedinrailways.co.nz/
-Milford sound cruise: we stayed in Te Anau and got bus from there to the boat which was best way to do it as you get chance to see scenery rather than concentrate on windy roads! We went with https://www.jucycruize.co.nz/ and they were great
-Helicopter flight to Franz Josef and Fox glacier: expensive but well worth it. Go for a flight that covers both glaciers. We did it with https://www.glacierhelicopters.co.nz/ but got a discount voucher from here http://www.aatravel.co.nz/main/listing.php?listingId=22349#voucherInfoContainer
-Jet boating in Queenstown: we used Thunderjet but there are others
- Glow worm caves: we did it in north island as friends of our family do tours there- quite a small set up compared to others but very good http://nikaucave.co.nz/
-Tepui in Rotorua: geo thermal things like mud pools etc. as well as Maori meeting house and show, there are other thermal attractions in the area too.
-Sky tower in Auckland- go up towards end of day and you'll see the skyline change from day to night. maritime museum in Auckland good too
-Wellington: great to wander around, the Botanical Gardens and do the cable car. Great museum at Te Papa
-Waitangi Treaty grounds: right at the top of the North Island and where the Maori treaty was signed

One of the motel owners recommended bookme.co.nz as a good site for booking discounted trips etc. We didn't use it as already had booked a good few things.

Hope this helps- give us a shout if you want any more info.