Travel: New Zealand

[Dnls_mum]

chenchen:

We have travelled with 2 children below 6 during the September holidays to Auckland - Rotorua - Tauranga. 6 years ago, we travelled around the South Island for our honeymoon. Both trips were self-drive. Soth Island trip, we stayed in hostels and cooked almost every night. For our recent trip, we stayed in self-contained motel units, and cooked our dinners too. Instant noodles and rice (available in small packs of 500g or 1kg, long-grained or basmati) are easy to find in supermarkets, as well soya sauce. Countdown supermarket has housebrand Asian condiments like oyster sauce. At the customs, we saw a family of Singaporeans with a rice cooker (packed/wrapped nicely in a box). They declared they have some rice in the rice cooker. The officer let them pass. Whatever you bring, just declare. They are strict but the list of consumables allowed into the country has expanded compared to years ago so it's now ok to bring in bottled chilli sauce too. Note that they don't have chilli sauce at their KFC or MacDonalds. Definite NO : dairy products and eggs.

Thx! This is very helpful! I sure need my chilli sauce n spicy noodles! Haha!

[chenchen]

Hi JR. If you have any specific question, I can help within my knowledge.

[kohbee2.06303gmail.06303com]

Thanks for your pm. Wow, very detailed report. It will take me some time to check if your itinerary is suitable for me. Actually I have more or less decided on what to do. Only a few details which I am still not decided. Hope you don’t mind answering so many questions…


Is it difficult to drive in the city area? I intend to drive up Mount Eden and maybe One Tree Hill, which one has better views?
I was thinking of having lunch at Whakarewarewa Thermal Village and hopefully see the the Pohutu Geyser. Did you happen to see that? If so, how do you compare with Lady Knox Geyser. Is Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland worth visiting? How much time is needed? How are your children’s reaction to the "smell" in Rotorua?
How long did you spend in Agrodome? So you think Rainbow Spring is not worth visiting?

[Dnls_mum]

JR:

Thanks for your pm. Wow, very detailed report. It will take me some time to check if your itinerary is suitable for me. Actually I have more or less decided on what to do. Only a few details which I am still not decided. Hope you don't mind answering so many questions...


Is it difficult to drive in the city area? I intend to drive up Mount Eden and maybe One Tree Hill, which one has better views?
I was thinking of having lunch at Whakarewarewa Thermal Village and hopefully see the the Pohutu Geyser. Did you happen to see that? If so, how do you compare with Lady Knox Geyser. Is Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland worth visiting? How much time is needed? How are your children's reaction to the \"smell\" in Rotorua?
How long did you spend in Agrodome? So you think Rainbow Spring is not worth visiting?

Chenchen, can u share your trip report with me too? I m not going NI now, just SI. So the next time, it'll be NI for me...hehe..I m just kiasu and would like to know what I can do in NI.

[Angelight]

Hi Chenchen, will you PM me your trip report to NZ too? I'm keen to visit North Island next yr, and subsequently South Island later too. Many thanks!


Btw, late jan in NZ is it very hot?

[Dnls_mum]

Angelight:

Hi Chenchen, will you PM me your trip report to NZ too? I'm keen to visit North Island next yr, and subsequently South Island later too. Many thanks!


Btw, late jan in NZ is it very hot?

I don't think NZ is ever really hot by our std even in summer.

[kohbee2.06303gmail.06303com]

Angelight:

Hi Chenchen, will you PM me your trip report to NZ too? I'm keen to visit North Island next yr, and subsequently South Island later too. Many thanks!


Btw, late jan in NZ is it very hot?

Hi Dnls Mum and Angelight,

Not sure if Chenchen has pm you but actually the report is in the Fodor website. Not sure if I should put the link here without her permission...

[chenchen]

1. Rotorua's Sulphur Smell - we didn't smell anything.

2. Rainbow Springs is undergoing Project Big Splash http://projectbigsplash.com/page/2/ which won't be ready until early 2012. When that opens, things should be different.

Fodor's Australia and Pacific Forum is great for information on NZ. Do take a look at it, I hope you find it useful.

[Dnls_mum]

chenchen:

1. Rotorua's Sulphur Smell - we didn't smell anything.

2. Rainbow Springs is undergoing Project Big Splash http://projectbigsplash.com/page/2/ which won't be ready until early 2012. When that opens, things should be different.

My trip reports are on Fodor's. Its Australia and Pacific Forum is great for information on NZ. Do take a look at it, I hope you find it useful.

South Island http://www.fodors.com/community/australia-the-pacific/south-island-18-days-report.cfm
North Island http://www.fodors.com/community/australia-the-pacific/auckland-and-central-north-island.cfm?4

Chenchen,
Thanks for the link. We are going SI for 15 days, and is quite similar to yours except the we are leaving out North of SI and have a more leisurely pace.

I have everything planned but have a few questions which I don't really have answers to. Can u advice on a few things?
1. Any specific place to stop along Arthur pass? Do you think kids including my 5 yo can do the punchbowl track?
2. Any specific place to stop at Haast pass?
3. In the crown range a difficult drive? Would u recommend it on a MPV?
4. What are the must see at Duntroon, besides the elephant rocks? We will be driving Dunedin to Mt Cook that day and may not have the time for all since we plan to stop at Moeraki as well.

Thanks a lot.

[Angelight]

Thanks, Chenchen. Will go take a look.

chenchen:

1. Rotorua's Sulphur Smell - we didn't smell anything.
2. Rainbow Springs is undergoing Project Big Splash http://projectbigsplash.com/page/2/ which won't be ready until early 2012. When that opens, things should be different.

My trip reports are on Fodor's. Its Australia and Pacific Forum is great for information on NZ. Do take a look at it, I hope you find it useful.

South Island http://www.fodors.com/community/australia-the-pacific/south-island-18-days-report.cfm
North Island http://www.fodors.com/community/australia-the-pacific/auckland-and-central-north-island.cfm?4