Guide to New Zealand... pls?
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Hey all, IÂ’m trying to plan a trip to New Zealand with my mumÂ…. Probably going to do a guided tour and then extend a few days to F&EÂ….
Can give some suggestions on where itÂ’s a must go, and where itÂ’s a can missÂ…
For those who have been to New Zealand on a tour… can recommend me a good tour agency? ( I know different agencies ‘specialize’ in different regions, but which one has good New Zealand package/contacts?)
Yeah so any information is appreciatedÂ… the internet has a lot of information and IÂ’m still trying to sieve through themÂ… but I would like some real live testimonials and stuffÂ…
Thanks in advance for your helpÂ… -
PM me, i was just there for 10 days in December. mine wasn't guided tour.. i self-drove.Originally posted by smudgey:Hey all, IÂ’m trying to plan a trip to New Zealand with my mumÂ…. Probably going to do a guided tour and then extend a few days to F&EÂ….
Can give some suggestions on where itÂ’s a must go, and where itÂ’s a can missÂ…
For those who have been to New Zealand on a tour… can recommend me a good tour agency? ( I know different agencies ‘specialize’ in different regions, but which one has good New Zealand package/contacts?)
Yeah so any information is appreciatedÂ… the internet has a lot of information and IÂ’m still trying to sieve through themÂ… but I would like some real live testimonials and stuffÂ…
Thanks in advance for your helpÂ… -
ask lexie
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Trip to NZ .. nice ... been there wt my bro few months ago
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One place that i wont forget .. ROTORUA and its Maui's nite tour ... Is amazing ... last time we joined Auckland's local tour .. not too expensive and great trip ...
So... HAVE FUN THERE
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try the fish n chips (the fish is soft and fresh not hard like the ones in sg)the humble bakeries are better than breadtalk in my opinion, try the meat pies as well.
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Hi,
I found the hotsprings to be really memorable. I really enjoyed that. My favourite place had to be Rotorua, the hangi makan was really solid. -
which island?Originally posted by smudgey:Hey all, IÂ’m trying to plan a trip to New Zealand with my mumÂ…. Probably going to do a guided tour and then extend a few days to F&EÂ….
Can give some suggestions on where itÂ’s a must go, and where itÂ’s a can missÂ…
For those who have been to New Zealand on a tour… can recommend me a good tour agency? ( I know different agencies ‘specialize’ in different regions, but which one has good New Zealand package/contacts?)
Yeah so any information is appreciatedÂ… the internet has a lot of information and IÂ’m still trying to sieve through themÂ… but I would like some real live testimonials and stuffÂ…
Thanks in advance for your helpÂ…
How long do u plan to stay over there?
i been to both island over 2 yrs...can give ya advice -
ooh.... I was thinking of maybe the south island first.... but not confirmed yet cos have to find a good tour agency with good itinary first....Originally posted by ceecookie:which island?
How long do u plan to stay over there?
i been to both island over 2 yrs...can give ya advice
want to extend stay to F&E a bit... any ideas on where is a good place to F&E? -
Rotorua.... * take note*
Fish and chips.... *take note*
ok anymore tips? -
no....just like us who toured south first...tour north island first as south is better so if u go south after that to north u feel bored...Originally posted by smudgey:ooh.... I was thinking of maybe the south island first.... but not confirmed yet cos have to find a good tour agency with good itinary first....
want to extend stay to F&E a bit... any ideas on where is a good place to F&E?
wanna try campervanning? No need to book ex hotel and just park anywhere or at campervan park and best of all no speed limiter...how fast u can go depend on the engine's horsepower.. -
that sounds nice.... but I'm going with my mum... and prob my aunt... and I don't think they'll like thatOriginally posted by ceecookie:no....just like us who toured south first...tour north island first as south is better so if u go south after that to north u feel bored...
wanna try campervanning? No need to book ex hotel and just park anywhere or at campervan park and best of all no speed limiter...how fast u can go depend on the engine's horsepower.. -
oh yea, buy fish n chips from those shops only selling fish n chips, specialised fish n chips stall.Not from those stalls selling western chinese food, fish n chips....
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ok lets seeOriginally posted by smudgey:that sounds nice.... but I'm going with my mum... and prob my aunt... and I don't think they'll like that
u wan to plan to drive around the island?
2 week is enough with average 1 day per stop...
if you're planning to drive too choose 4WD as there's some nice road that require 4WD... -
I think if go with Aunt and Mom... can forget about 4WD liao. haha. they will keep nagging "please drive carefully", "slow down", "arrive hotel by sundown".Originally posted by ceecookie:ok lets see
u wan to plan to drive around the island?
2 week is enough with average 1 day per stop...
if you're planning to drive too choose 4WD as there's some nice road that require 4WD...
Plus i don't think rental 4WD is allowed on "unsealed" roads. -
Originally posted by ceecookie:ok lets see
u wan to plan to drive around the island?
2 week is enough with average 1 day per stop...
if you're planning to drive too choose 4WD as there's some nice road that require 4WD...
hahhaa I agree....Originally posted by Ponders:I think if go with Aunt and Mom... can forget about 4WD liao. haha. they will keep nagging "please drive carefully", "slow down", "arrive hotel by sundown".
Plus i don't think rental 4WD is allowed on "unsealed" roads.
but alas... I can't drive....
that's why i intend to go with a tour gp and then extend 1-2 days and explore a bit on my own.... -
Singaporeans who can't drive usually go NZ on 2 options.
F & E, so they will travel at their own pace, using inter-city buses to travel.
BUt you travel with mom and aunt... advise against this.
They will bring tons of luggage
fully guided tour... but at this time of the year i think you will just go with a small 10-15 ppl group, which is good.
Bad part is they will bring you to "touristy" places which tend to be more pricey. Don't be surprised if you have lots of souvenir shop stops. -
If you wish to drive, best hire a manual family type saloon car. Good for going up mountains, etc.
But I would advise against it since the mountain roads can be treacherous for you. Dont be surprise if you see people going past at speeds above 100km/hr or going through corners and bends at 90km/hr where the 'recommended speed' is 45km/hr.
what do you want to do in Nz? what sights do you want to see? when are you going? Right now, motels are fully booked till April. -
jus curious....
whats F&E?
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Artillery term... there's FFE and F&E.Originally posted by alexkusu:jus curious....
whats F&E?
FFE is Fire for effect...
F&E... hmm
actually F&E is Free and Easy. -
orh... i thought its food & entertainmentOriginally posted by Ponders:Artillery term... there's FFE and F&E.
FFE is Fire for effect...
F&E... hmm
actually F&E is Free and Easy. -
yea...we speeded too...heh on a converted Mitsubishi Canter...going past 120km/h on a lorry.....Originally posted by alexkusu:If you wish to drive, best hire a manual family type saloon car. Good for going up mountains, etc.
But I would advise against it since the mountain roads can be treacherous for you. Dont be surprise if you see people going past at speeds above 100km/hr or going through corners and bends at 90km/hr where the 'recommended speed' is 45km/hr.
what do you want to do in Nz? what sights do you want to see? when are you going? Right now, motels are fully booked till April.
yea mountain road are quite hard to go up since the car need to have power to go up and to maintain speed(so u no need to crawl at 20km/h up the slope)
we even have to go past redline on a gear to keep at 80km/h on the slope
There's speed cam there however..i spotted quite a few...Originally posted by Ponders:
Yea even our rented Campervan was not allowed to go to the unsealed road eg the Ninety Mile Beach....oh be sure to go there and the cap at the top too...got buses that go there....
I think if go with Aunt and Mom... can forget about 4WD liao. haha. they will keep nagging "please drive carefully", "slow down", "arrive hotel by sundown".
Plus i don't think rental 4WD is allowed on "unsealed" roads.
One Note for those people driving Campervan,the rental companies just require u to have a class 3 driving license which is for car..so for those ppl who havent handled a lorry must be careful during city driving...we ended up with several minor accidents which thank goodness the Bull Bars absorb the dmg...so opt for bull bars,they can save u...
BTW does driving a lorry in sg requre class 4 license? -
i havent been to NZ before.. but wasnt LOTR shot there? must go see the mtns
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Probably the 9782872384th thread on NZ.Originally posted by smudgey:Hey all, IÂ’m trying to plan a trip to New Zealand with my mumÂ…. Probably going to do a guided tour and then extend a few days to F&EÂ….
Can give some suggestions on where itÂ’s a must go, and where itÂ’s a can missÂ…
For those who have been to New Zealand on a tour… can recommend me a good tour agency? ( I know different agencies ‘specialize’ in different regions, but which one has good New Zealand package/contacts?)
Yeah so any information is appreciatedÂ… the internet has a lot of information and IÂ’m still trying to sieve through themÂ… but I would like some real live testimonials and stuffÂ…
Thanks in advance for your helpÂ…
Recommended tips:
1. Do NOT take a guided tour.
You'll have little or no time to really enjoy each location you stop at.
2. If your trip is 10 or less days, focus on South Island. More things to see.
Now the fun stuff:
1. Rent a campervan and drive around the island. There are plenty of nice spots and campervan parks dotted on both islands so make use of them. That will help reduce your costs.
2. Plenty of places to visit. NZ is a nature's paradise. If you enjoy tranquility and splendour, NZ is the place to go. Fiordland National Park is a MUST GO. Hike the fjord routes for a senic view of the valleys and for paranoramic camera shots.
Mitre Peak:
Milford Sound:
(downside: reports of recent tourism indicate a massive influx of Chinese tourists; dirty filthy buggers who litter and defile the landscape so the place may not be as attractive as it used to be)
3. Extreme sports such as whitewater rafting, shotover jets and tandem-skydiving are available, include cave-diving where you rappel down into the canvernous interiors.
4. NZealanders are generally very friendly and courteous. Even the supermarket cashier greets you! Be sure to extend the same courtesy while visiting their country.
If you consider the North Island, 90-mile beach and Rotorua National park are worth visiting for the coastline and mudpools respectively.
Visit Cape Reinga Below:
Rotorua National Park:
Christchurch is a more pleasant city compared to Auckland and i'd usually choose christchurch as a base to start a NZ journey. -
YEs, if you buy the maps there, they will show you where they film what scene.Originally posted by coffeeortea:i havent been to NZ before.. but wasnt LOTR shot there? must go see the mtns
but somehow get ready to be disappointed.
Because LOTR got CG in it, so some places look nothing like it. -
Originally posted by BillyBong:
yea the South is very full with nature and u will enjoy the scenery.....
Probably the 9782872384th thread on NZ.
Recommended tips:
1. Do NOT take a guided tour.
You'll have little or no time to really enjoy each location you stop at.
2. If your trip is 10 or less days, focus on South Island. More things to see.
Now the fun stuff:
1. Rent a campervan and drive around the island. There are plenty of nice spots and campervan parks dotted on both islands so make use of them. That will help reduce your costs.
2. Plenty of places to visit. NZ is a nature's paradise. If you enjoy tranquility and splendour, NZ is the place to go. [b]Fiordland National Park is a MUST GO. Hike the fjord routes for a senic view of the valleys and for paranoramic camera shots.
[/b]
be careful if u are at those geyser infested area....the smell is almost unbearable...rotton eggs....
if u wanna see the movie location i advice ya to book the tour as most of it is offroad and require a 4WD..
pity some area have been infested with rude PRC prostitutes littering the place
edit: here's a pic of christchurch if u wanna know how is it(you can opt to have a sampan like boat ride in the river from the pic)