New Zealand Honeymoon on a budget - doable?

Beenie

We had four weeks in NZ earlier this year (Feb/March) covering both islands and it was just enough to see and do most things. I really wouldn't have wanted a shorter time - it would have ben too much of a rush. We also hired the cheaper Apex car, an older car with plenty miles on the clock, but it was very good and got us around in comfort and hassle-free.

We stayed in B&Bs most of the time, plus a couple of hotels. The standard of accommodation was great at each place. Count on $100NZ per night for this. Everything else seemed on a par with the UK except clothing, which was quite expensive we thought.

If you do get over there, do visit Napier - it's a totally unique place. We loved it.

PeteDoff

JMFD wrote: »

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

NZ roads are very empty (usually) and lots of things are VERY big in NZ (trees, mountains, etc)

JMFD

The guys over at trip Advisor have been helping me with an itinerary, which unfortunately misses Napier as everything else is on the west coast on SI which we want to do. (Mount Cook, Glaciers, Milford/Doubtful Sound)

Thanks for all the voucher tips! Looking at the itinerary, other than accommodation, the "Big ticket" expenses will be:

• Glacier Helicopter ride (or maybe heli-hike, thanks for the voucher link, that's awesome)
• Milford tour/hike and/or Doubtful Sound
• Hobbiton
• Internal Flight
• Waitimo/Ruakuri Caves

Any more thoughts on discounts for those places?

Shame to hear about clothing being more expensive over there, as I usually get a clothing memento or 3 from hols.

dondo

I actually got dome not bad deals on clothes out there, as had forgotten to get a warm jacket so bought one out there in a sale and with a favourable exchange rate came out very reasonable.

If you see a shop called Global Culture, they do some very nice t-shirts

One thing I did find expensive was groceries and toiletries

danandjens_worldtravels

The roads in NZ are pretty empty but journey times will be longer than even google advises. You will inevitably stop to take a few pics and it is a surprisingly big country.

Flights between cities can be pretty cheap look at air New Zealand's Grab a Seat site and Jetstar, there is also a third starting called Kiwi Regional Airlines. It can certainly save you time so you see more of this 'awesome' place!

Transfercar.net has relocation vehicles for around $1 a day, if you take a flight a relocation can get you between cities cheaper than car hire, although they may be limited on time, ie have two days. There are often cars between Queenstown and Christchurch.

Queenstown is fantastic, there is stuff to do and it's stunningly beautiful. The bookme.co.nz website is great for here. Personally Rata is a lovely restaurant, the owner and chef is a masterchef judge and you can get 3 courses for around $50, the wine is not so cheap though!!

The Milford track or Routeburn need booking. You can do it direct with DOC's (dept of conservation) but then you take all your own food and sleeping bag, pans, plates. Which you can hire or pick up from charity shop. Or use the company that operates the guided walks, there is only one and I can't remember their name, they are expensive! Also if you're bringing any outside gear eg walking boots make sure that are spotless when you arrive, no mud or soil is allowed.

Easter is late March, so hopefully you'll get some nice weather. Arrowtown (close to queenstown) is beautiful in the autumn, famous for its colour changes, nice walks and restaurants also. If you stay take an evening trip to Dorothy Browns cinema and have the cheese and wine at the interval.

If you're into food Moeraki has a world famous fish restaurant called Fleurs Place. And some penguins and boulders!!

I've found hostels to be of good quality, around $40 dollars for a double, shared bathroom, motels are good if not a little souless and B and B's have been really good - around $120 a night for a double is the upper end and the ones I've stayed in have been fantastic value.

Auckland airport is easy to navigate, but a way out if the city, if you have an early flight or late arrival, I often stay at the Ibis budget, I walk with my airport trolley as the nearest cheapest hotel. If you've not yet booked your flights consider flying into and out of different airports, queenstown and Christchurch in the south are international.

Sadly there isn't enough time to do it all, but by planning you should be able to make the best of your time.

danandjens_worldtravels

Oh yes, clothes are expensive. A warm jacket is a good idea for this time of year depending how lucky or unlucky you are the wind can come and when it comes from the Antarctic there is nothing to block the cold chill!!

You will also be able to travel fairly light, no need for lots of different clothes, everyone wears the same stuff week in week out!! Jeans, t shirt, comfy shoes and a hat.

pandora205

I've been twice as my daughter lives (and works) in NZ. Two weeks is just about doable for one island, three is better, especially for both. I went at Easter last year and the weather was quite mild and mainly dry. I wouldn't choose to go in August unless you're visiting for the skiing.
Like others, I used Tripadvisor forums for lots of help, plus read reviews of accommodation on TA.

If I was visiting North Island for two weeks I would include:
Auckland, Northland 90 mile beach and kauri forest, Waitangi, Coromandel (we spent two nights here and it was amazing: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g652406-d1390038-Reviews-Driving_Creek_Villas-Coromandel_Coromandel_Peninsula_Waikato_Region_North_Island.html
also Bay of Plenty, Taupo or Rotarua (volcano land) and Wellington (then fly back to Auckland). You could add Hobbiton to the itinerary too.

South Island itinerary:
I'd do the bits we missed (Marlborough wine area, Abel Tasman and glaciers) or the bits we did: Lake Tekapo, Wanaka, Queenstown and Milford Sound. We also went to Akaroa which was lovely but a bit of a detour..........
Our best SI accommodation discovery was properties through bookabach. We stayed here just outside Queenstown and it was fab value:http://www.bookabach.co.nz/baches-and-holiday-homes/view/22422

It's fun to plan it all, though it seems a bit daunting at first. Lonely Planet and Rough Guide books are well worth the read when planning, and if you are very keen, Scott Cook's NZ Frenzy book or download is worth taking to discover hidden gems.
http://www.nzfrenzy.com/

PS £5k is fine for a two week trip: hire an older vehicle (most are like tanks and fine) and do some self catering some of the time and you'll be fine. And although driving is easy in NZ (quiet roads and driving on the left) the roads are not fast - there are very few dual carriageways or wide roads, and some routes are pretty twisty and steep (such as the Crown Range route to Queenstown).

JMFD

Thanks for your continued tips!

Our tripadvisor-approved itinerary visits:

NI:
Rotorua
Hobbiton
Waitomo Caves
AKL


SI:
Christchurch
Hokitika
Franz Josef
Wanaka
Te Anau - Milford Cruise and Hike, possibly doubtful too (have 2 1/2 days here, might reduce to 1 1/2 and spend longer in Queenstown)
Queenstown
Mount Cook

We'll be arriving in Christchurch and leaving from Auckland

Thanks for the continued tips!

pandora205

That looks rather too much for two weeks if you are trying to do it all. as you'll spend most time travelling and be exhausted.

Try and plan it out by days and post on Trip Advisor. There are some destination experts there (ie locals or those who know the country well) who will suggest alternative orders and point out things you may not have considered.

JMFD

Three weeks now Pandora My other half managed to get a bonus week off!

The Tripadvisor thread I have going is full of driving routes already