Travel: New Zealand

[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

[verykiasu2010]

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.

Crown Range is beautiful, cooling, easy to drive, many bends, up and down hill, some stretches are single-lane each way, so beware of oncoming traffic

there are photo stops and fruit store stops

should spend at least a day in Wanaka, very beautiful

last time we stationed in Queenstown, drove up in the morning via Crown Range to Wanaka and back in the evening

[chenchen]

For NZ walking tracks, http://www.doc.govt.nz provides reliable information on length, time and difficulty.


Arthurs' Pass: You can stop wherever you please. There are picnic areas, the Arthur's Village and its surrounding walks.

You shall probably need about 3-4hr to traverse the Haast Pass with stopping at the following: Thunder Creek Falls (10min track), Gates of Hasst, Fantail Falls (roadside), Blue Pools Walk (30min return).

Duntroon is just a small farming town which houses the Vanished World Museum. Frankly, the stretch from Oamaru to Mt Cook is quite dull, except for some lakes.

[Dnls_mum]

Thanks Chenchen and Verykiasu2010.

We'll be staying one nite in CHC, one nite, Punakaiki, 2 nite FJ, one nite Wanaka, 4 nites QT (doing coach cruise fly day trip to Milford), 2 nites each at Dunedin and Mt cook and final nite CHC. So definitely going to Wanaka. We are still considering crown range or Cromwell. Thinking of stopping at Cromwell to pick fruits, but the lure of crown range is quite strong after reading your comments.

[verykiasu2010]

Dnls_mum:

Thanks Chenchen and Verykiasu2010.

We'll be staying one nite in CHC, one nite, Punakaiki, 2 nite FJ, one nite Wanaka, 4 nites QT (doing coach cruise fly day trip to Milford), 2 nites each at Dunedin and Mt cook and final nite CHC. So definitely going to Wanaka. We are still considering crown range or Cromwell. Thinking of stopping at Cromwell to pick fruits, but the lure of crown range is quite strong after reading your comments.

Cromwell can be just end of the day / end of Crown Range drive, depending on your travel direction

[princesskaris]

Hi there

I am thinking of Planning a trip to NZ with my 2+ year old daughter next year… Is NI safer than SI in terms of possibility of experiencing earthquake? when is the best time to visit NZ? Is May- June a good time? Or year-end? Tia!