coming to new zealand
Every now and then we get an email saying "hi, I'm finally coming to New Zealand! What is there to do and what shall I bring?"
We're over the moon to receive friends and family who we haven't seen in ages and we count the days until we see them. However, it is quite difficult to explain to them exactly what a New Zealand experience is going to be like and how to go about things because its just soo completely different. So, I try my best to put myself in their shoes and think back to what I knew about New Zealand before our first trip - and it wasn't much at all.
One thing I do remember is the realisation that we were about to visit an entire country, not just a single city. This was a bit hard to get our heads around as this made it different to any other holiday we'd been on. All our other trips had been set out like this:
1) Fly to country
2) Taxi to hotel
3) Excursions on foot/bus/hire car
4) Return to hotel each night
5) Dine nearby. Repeat.
6) Finish holiday.
The standard form of staying at a base point from where you set off from and returned to each night was all we knew. The tricky part with a NZ trip was that we would be travelling, spending a few nights somewhere then moving on, so that meant transport and accomodation on the fly - a concept totally new to us. As we were people who liked to have everything organised before arriving, this made us a little uncomfortable. As it happened, there was really no need to fret.
New Zealand is a nation with a high and constant flow of travelling tourists. Consequently, things are designed around them.
We made a travel itinerary skeleton, picking where we'd like to go and plotting a route. We kept it flexible so if plans changed there would be no hassles. The only things we did set in stone were to book a place to stay on the first night and also to book a hire car that would be delivered to us at our lodgings the next day. For everything else, we were busking it!
A Rough Guide or a Lonely Planet is an essential first step for an NZ trip, its packed with everything you need to know. Places to stay, things to do, where to eat, how to get there, glossary of slang terms, things to avoid, how much things cost, maps of both islands and each of the towns and cities.
The other thing is to keep in mind that you have many options to travel this fine country. Its as big as the UK so some options may work better than other if time is an issue. Flying for example, means you can quickly and fairly reasonably access high spots at opposing ends of the country without hours on the road. AirNewZealand and Qantas do internal flights that depart every hour to every place on the map.
Hire Cars are also good to experience the road trip vibe and see the country unfold before your eyes. You can pick up the car in one place and drop it off in another, so no hassles there. Also, you can get a camper van and tour around - no need to book accomodation. However, part of the experience of NZ is meeting fellow travellers in backpackers and hostels, making friends, sharing lifts etc. The camper van might detach you from this experience, somewhat.
Coaches in New Zealand are excellent value and are always punctual. You even get a little local history from the bus driver as you pass through various towns. It's interesting to learn little factoids and its just enough to be eductational rather than annoying.
There are also specialist buses (as opposed to public transport) like the Kiwi Experience and the Magic Bus which are full of young, wide-eyed travellers (read Gap year students) and have a bit reputation for being party buses rampant with hormones, alcohol, music and good times. Nonetheless they provide an excellent service for 20-30 year olds with off-the-beaten track stop overs and specific routes to all the major destinations.
Whether you enjoy adrenalin adventures or the more subdued activities, there is something for everything here and nearly all of it involves being out in the great kiwi outdoors.
Adrenalin
1) Skydiving
2) Bungie jumping
3) Fly by Wire
4) Zorbing
5) Jetboating
6) Surfing
Moderate
1) Horse riding
2) Kayaking
3) Lugeing
4) Tramping (walking scenic tracks)
5) Swimming with Dolphins
6) Paragliding
Relaxed
1) Fishing
2) Swimming
3) Wine tours
4) Overnight boat trips
5) Camping
As for what to bring: pack light. You'll only 7 days clothes (you can wash and dry stuff everywhere) but bring a range from beachwear to fleeces. The song "Four Seasons in One Day" by kiwi songsters Crowded House is a testament to the changeable kiwi weather. Generally, its like a warmer version of the UK but our seasons are more defined.
Lastly, don't, whatever you do, under-estimate the ferocity of the sun in this country.
We're over the moon to receive friends and family who we haven't seen in ages and we count the days until we see them. However, it is quite difficult to explain to them exactly what a New Zealand experience is going to be like and how to go about things because its just soo completely different. So, I try my best to put myself in their shoes and think back to what I knew about New Zealand before our first trip - and it wasn't much at all.
One thing I do remember is the realisation that we were about to visit an entire country, not just a single city. This was a bit hard to get our heads around as this made it different to any other holiday we'd been on. All our other trips had been set out like this:
1) Fly to country
2) Taxi to hotel
3) Excursions on foot/bus/hire car
4) Return to hotel each night
5) Dine nearby. Repeat.
6) Finish holiday.
The standard form of staying at a base point from where you set off from and returned to each night was all we knew. The tricky part with a NZ trip was that we would be travelling, spending a few nights somewhere then moving on, so that meant transport and accomodation on the fly - a concept totally new to us. As we were people who liked to have everything organised before arriving, this made us a little uncomfortable. As it happened, there was really no need to fret.
New Zealand is a nation with a high and constant flow of travelling tourists. Consequently, things are designed around them.
We made a travel itinerary skeleton, picking where we'd like to go and plotting a route. We kept it flexible so if plans changed there would be no hassles. The only things we did set in stone were to book a place to stay on the first night and also to book a hire car that would be delivered to us at our lodgings the next day. For everything else, we were busking it!
A Rough Guide or a Lonely Planet is an essential first step for an NZ trip, its packed with everything you need to know. Places to stay, things to do, where to eat, how to get there, glossary of slang terms, things to avoid, how much things cost, maps of both islands and each of the towns and cities.
The other thing is to keep in mind that you have many options to travel this fine country. Its as big as the UK so some options may work better than other if time is an issue. Flying for example, means you can quickly and fairly reasonably access high spots at opposing ends of the country without hours on the road. AirNewZealand and Qantas do internal flights that depart every hour to every place on the map.
Hire Cars are also good to experience the road trip vibe and see the country unfold before your eyes. You can pick up the car in one place and drop it off in another, so no hassles there. Also, you can get a camper van and tour around - no need to book accomodation. However, part of the experience of NZ is meeting fellow travellers in backpackers and hostels, making friends, sharing lifts etc. The camper van might detach you from this experience, somewhat.
Coaches in New Zealand are excellent value and are always punctual. You even get a little local history from the bus driver as you pass through various towns. It's interesting to learn little factoids and its just enough to be eductational rather than annoying.
There are also specialist buses (as opposed to public transport) like the Kiwi Experience and the Magic Bus which are full of young, wide-eyed travellers (read Gap year students) and have a bit reputation for being party buses rampant with hormones, alcohol, music and good times. Nonetheless they provide an excellent service for 20-30 year olds with off-the-beaten track stop overs and specific routes to all the major destinations.
Whether you enjoy adrenalin adventures or the more subdued activities, there is something for everything here and nearly all of it involves being out in the great kiwi outdoors.
Adrenalin
1) Skydiving
2) Bungie jumping
3) Fly by Wire
4) Zorbing
5) Jetboating
6) Surfing
Moderate
1) Horse riding
2) Kayaking
3) Lugeing
4) Tramping (walking scenic tracks)
5) Swimming with Dolphins
6) Paragliding
Relaxed
1) Fishing
2) Swimming
3) Wine tours
4) Overnight boat trips
5) Camping
As for what to bring: pack light. You'll only 7 days clothes (you can wash and dry stuff everywhere) but bring a range from beachwear to fleeces. The song "Four Seasons in One Day" by kiwi songsters Crowded House is a testament to the changeable kiwi weather. Generally, its like a warmer version of the UK but our seasons are more defined.
Lastly, don't, whatever you do, under-estimate the ferocity of the sun in this country.
posted by Phil at 2:24 pm
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