Way OT - New Zealand

[surferb]

Anybody been to New Zealand recently? I'll be there on vacation for 10 days in April (YES!!!!). My plan is to rent a car and drive many of the themed scenic highways. Any "must see's" while I'm there? I here bungee jumping is big! Can you tell I'm excited :nodi:!?!?

 

[Peter Nachtwey]

The NZ40

I like sailing. For $85NZ you get to sail on an Americas cup sytle racing boat for two hours. Lots of fun. At least I liked it and would do it again.

I had dinner at the top of the tower.

There was a paddle boat that went out on lake rotorua and they server dinner while it steams around the lake.

I didn't make it to southern island. I was told that is a lot more like home with the green and the mountains.

 

[Gil47]

My plan is to rent a car and drive many of the themed scenic highways. Any "must see's" while I'm there?
!?!?

You must see that you drive on the left hand side of the road :nodi:

 

[surferb]

Great idea - Thanks Pete! Where is that? I'm going to start at Christ Church, drive around the Southern Island, then make my way toward Auckland.

I like sailing. For $85NZ you get to sail on an Americas cup sytle racing boat for two hours. Lots of fun. At least I liked it and would do it again.

I had dinner at the top of the tower.

There was a paddle boat that went out on lake rotorua and they server dinner while it steams around the lake.

I didn't make it to southern island. I was told that is a lot more like home with the green and the mountains.

Thanks Gil - I noticed that my US drivers license is good for 12 months there. Hope I'm not too much of a menace on the roads. What are fuel (petrol?) prices like?

You must see that you drive on the left hand side of the road :nodi:

 

[Gil47]

Petrol prices are about $1.80 a litre, with the NZ $ running around 80 cents US

 

[surferb]

My urinal math puts that just under $5.50 US/gallon - yikes! Guess I'll go with a sub-compact. I'm planning on doing a lot of driving.

Petrol prices are about $1.80 a litre, with the NZ $ running around 80 cents US

 

[Gil47]

The Tourism NZ website
http://www.newzealand.com/travel/USA/

If you are plannimg to be near Queenstown let me know as I live about 2hrs drive away and would try to make the effort to give you a local area tour

 

[surferb]

I'd greatly appreciate that - I'll send you a PM with contact information.

The Tourism NZ website
http://www.newzealand.com/travel/USA/

If you are plannimg to be near Queenstown let me know as I live about 2hrs drive away and would try to make the effort to give you a local area tour

 

[Peter Nachtwey]

There was only the 40 when I was there

http://www.bestofauckland.co.nz/sailnz.html

 

[Gil47]

http://www.bestofauckland.co.nz/sailnz.html

They also have NZL14 on lake Wakatipu at Queenstown
http://www.sailqueenstown.co.nz/thecup.htm

 

[LadderLogic]

My urinal math puts that just under $5.50 US/gallon - yikes!

Not that much more than it is stateside these days...

 

[TConnolly]

Nathan, I fully expect to see pictures on your blog.

Since I spent my latter teens in Seoul its been interesting to see your pictures of it as it is now - never been to NZ, but the pics will still be interesting.

 

[504bloke]

Nevis Highwire Bungy

 

[surferb]

Absolutely! I'll post a link when I get back.

Nathan, I fully expect to see pictures on your blog.

Since I spent my latter teens in Seoul its been interesting to see your pictures of it as it is now - never been to NZ, but the pics will still be interesting.

 

[Binaural]

I did a 10 day trip around the south island just before a long OS stint for work, and you are in for an awesome time! Some places I went FYI:

Nelson - beautiful little town. Walked 4 hours on the Abel Tasman national palk walk, and the path was gorgeous. Seal colony is worth seeing, as some of the other temperate rainforest around that area. Lots of cottage industries around here as well.

Franz Josef Glacier - one of two places in the world where a glacier runs through a rainforest, as I understand it. Pretty spectactular! There is some great lake kayaking around there as well. The coastline from Greymouth down to there is beautiful.

Wanaka/Queenstown - great skiing towns and nightlife is pretty lively.

Plus lots of great little towns on the way. Stay in hostels rather than hotels, they are much more pleasant and you meet more people.

I didn't get to Milford sound, but everyone I met raved about it... definitely go there if you plan on staying around the south of the south island rather than the north.

Have fun!