new zealand

R

ritz

Guest
am considering doing new zealand july/august 2009 and wondering is it a good time to go with regard to weather/accommodation/facilities etc. any suggestions re itineraries, best places to stay? i'm not too keen on hostels and slumming it like the backpackers! also, is cardrona ski fields the best for beginners?
 
Make Google your friend - there is a very good national website on NZ tourism.
The exchange rate should be ok but the best bit is that at the moment the weather is like ours with the south Island being under snow so it is great for skiing and snowboarding.
I camped and slummed it so am no good to you but as i say once you start surfing the net you will find so much info as they really invest in their tourism.
 
It will be pretty nippy at that time of year. But if you are going for skiing you won't care about that.

If you want to cover the two islands you will need about six weeks. I covered both islands comfortably from top to bottom in eight.
Highlights are Queenstown, Arrowtown, Christchurch, Tasman National park and of course the glaciers.
 
I was there in March I Drove around the South Island in a week- We were lucky with the weather this is a good website

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Also this was the cheapest place to rent a car by a long way got a 99 Corolla for €155 for a week - car was fine and big enough
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My favourite places were in Order
Queenstown - brillant town really loved it - got everything lots of ski resorts, vineyards etc - did the Nevis Bungee jump 440ft!! Stayed here you get a $1000 view for about $155 a night plus it is right in the centre of the town. If booking get a waterfront view. Hotel itself is average but view and location are brillant.

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Next Favourite was Wanaka which is an hour north of Queenstown- this is also surrounded by ski fields - this seemed like a place that Kiwis came to do their ski ing on a lake and really nice and would say very livelly in the winter season.

Franz Josef was great too- a mixture of backpackers and holiday makers.

Punaki (I think) which is an hour north of Greymouth was excellent we were not going here only for someone recommended it - very similar to the Great Ocean road in OZ

Milford Sound was good but a very long day and hard drive from Queenstown 5 hrs each way probally best breaking it up if you have time.

Arthurs pass was good for a drive but no reason to stay there long.

Christchurch reminded me of a big town rather then bustling city.

Can't comment on the north island. I think it could be coldish then if you want to see how cold watch the ALl black match tomorrow morning as it is in Dunedin!!

Hope this helps.
 
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