Self drive tour of New Zealand

There is no better way to experience the beautiful unspoilt landscapes of New Zealand than in a campervan or motorhome. Doing a self drive tour of New Zealand will enable you to experience and travel around New Zealand at your own pace, and enjoy the diverse environment that New Zealand has to offer. There are so many places whereby you can stop off and visit which you can do leisurely on your own without the inconvenience of sticking to a schedule.

New Zealand has a large number of camping grounds and holiday parks across the country. You can basically park or campervan or motorhome anywhere as long as it’s not private property. Most New Zealand holiday parks offer kitchen facilities, BBQ areas, TV lounges, showers, toilets and washing machines. You have the option of seeing New Zealand in your campervan with the added benefits of these camping grounds or to get away from it all and travel into the tranquil and remote areas of New Zealand. Department of Conservation (DOC) camps can be found throughout New Zealand and provide beautiful camp settings although they offer no facilities like showers, toilets or cooking areas.

Booking Flights To New Zealand Online

Price, frequency of service, and even a carrier’s safety record are all factors to consider when booking a flight to New Zealand. Major airlines such as Air New Zealand offer the greatest number of departures. Smaller airlines - including regional and no-frills airlines - usually have a limited number of flights daily. On the other hand, so-called low-cost airlines usually are cheaper, and their fares may impose fewer restrictions, such as advance-purchase requirements.

When you book flights to New Zealand, look for nonstop flights and remember that “direct” flights stop at least once. Try to avoid connecting flights, which require a change of plane. Two airlines may jointly operate a connecting flight, so ask if your airline operates every segment - you may find that your preferred carrier flies you only part of the way. International flights on a country’s flag carrier are almost always nonstop. The most common air routes are flights to Auckland, flights to Wellington, and flights to Christchurch.

Booking Online

Most major airlines offer electronic ticketing, which eliminates all paperwork. There’s no ticket to pick up or misplace. You go directly to the gate and give the agent a confirmation number, a receipt, or just your identification. While you can generally purchase these paperless “e-tickets” over the phone or from an agent, many airlines also sell them on their Web sites, and some even offer bonus frequent-flyer miles as an inducement to buy online.

You can also book airline tickets at lower than list price at several non-carrier sites. Online booking services such as Expedia.com and Travelocity.com offer great deals on flights to most destinations and carriers including New Zealand. Australians can use the online booking service Webjet.com.au. There is also travel aggregators like Kayak which compare airfare prices with the popular online booking services.

Surfing and Windsurfing in NZ

You can pretty much go surfing and windsurfing anywhere in NZ. New Zealand is a very windy country and has a great deal of shoreline. Anywhere you go along the coast will almost certainly have plenty of places to surf nearby.

If you’re really in to surfing and like big waves then a good place to go is Wellington. If you go surfing in Cook Strait (Wellington is on it), you will certainly find waves, big time (the wind exceeds 60 km/h on over half the days of the year in Wellington and exceeds 90 km/h on one out of every six or seven days of the year - and Wellington is sheltered - Cook Strait is worse). You should only try Cook Strait if you are very resistant to motion sickness.

If you want milder surfing conditions, try Eastbourne (a Wellington suburb on the harbor that Wellington is on - it borders both Cook Strait and Wellington harbor).

According to windsurfing experts, Dunedin Harbour is awesome for windsurfing. It tends to have a steady breeze most of the time, and it’s great if you like to go fast.

There is a book written by Wayne Warwicke called “Surfriding in New Zealand” in it’s 4th edition, which lists about 327 surfing spots in the North and South islands of New Zealand. It is no longer published, but you should still be able to get a used copy.

Seeing New Zealand in 7 days

If you only have 7 days to travel around New Zealand, you’re just going to have to resign yourself to seeing a chunk of the country and bypassing the rest. I think you’d be stupid to miss the south island so here’s my suggested 7 days itinerary for the independent NZ traveller:

Day 1

Arrive in Chistchurch, drive to Greymouth. This gives you time to see something of Chistchurch then a fairly short drive through amazing scenery.

Day 2

Hokitika - Franz Josef and Fox glaciers. Another short day with time to see the West Coast of South Island. You could take a scenic flight up the glaciers.

Day 3

Visit Wanaka. You could checkout Queenstown but it’s a bit touristy - not too far to drive and has a beautiful lake.

Day 4

Arrowtown - Queenstown - Te Anau. Heaps of action here - bungy jumping, rafting, jetboating, etc. plus spectaular mountains and lakes.

Day 5

Milford - Te Anau. Milford sound. need I say more?

Day 6

Stop off at Dunedin. It’s an interesting city. You have the option to skip this destination if you want and make day 7 into two easy days.

Day 7

Drive to Christchurch via Mt Cook and Tekapo - fly out. This would be a long day but worth it to see the MacKenzie country I think.

You could opt for a completely different programme but to travel to any of these places in any less time than this would be a crime.

What would be your “must see” destinations if you were to travel around New Zealand in only 7 days?

Best way to see New Zealand

Travel in New Zealand can be a unique adventure for many travelers not accustomed to wide open spaces and seemingly endless grand open landscapes.

Overland travel, either by train, bus or renting a car, is by far the preferred way to see New Zealand among travellers. These forms of transportation take much longer than flying, but they allow the traveler to experience the majestic mountains, great plains and the natural beauty first-hand. Ferry services are available to transport you between NZ’s North Island and South Island.

Unfortunately, New Zealand’s options in bus and the train category are limited. In addition the speed and convenience of these conveyances do not begin to compare with the modern public transportation systems in places like Europe. However, they will get you from here to there.

Since most of the large commercial carriers don’t go to every destination popular among backpackers, a number of alternative backpacker style transportation companies exist. These backpacker tours will transport you to the national parks and overland to the more unique destinations.

Every once in a while some intrepid traveler asks about hitchhiking. The overwhelming popular opinion is that it’s not advised. If you’re backpacking a far better way to arrange for rides is through hostel or university bulletin boards.

Renting a Car

Renting a car is frequently an expensive proposition for the kind of long term travelling most backpackers engage in. In addition, rental companies in many countries like New Zealand charge more for young travelers.

In order to defer the high cost of renting a car, try finding other travelers in the hostel that want to share the cost of an excursion. It’s sometimes possible to arrange a group yourself by posting a note on one or more hostel bulletin boards. Once the rental is being shared between 3-4 people the cost becomes much more bearable.

Rates of New Zealand car rentals vary widely from company to company, and seemingly by the phase of the moon. Therefore, our best advice to the backpacker seeking the lowest price, is get out the telephone directory and call every company.

When you inquire, ask for the cheapest car available. It sometimes helps if you say the word “cheapest” with a certain amount of friendly grit in your voice. Otherwise, the car rental agent may not hear it. At this point, the agent will likely ask you a few questions like your age, number of drivers, where you will be picking up the car, where you will drop it off, when you want the car, how long do you want it, where you plan to take it, etc.

After answering all these questions they will quote you a price. But wait, the game is not over yet. Now it’s your turn to ask the questions. Ask if this price includes all costs to you. Specifically ask about insurance costs, taxes, mileage limitations (called mileage caps), and fueling charges. Try to give the agent as many details as possible as to what you are looking for. Then try to find out what the overall price will be for your situation. Also be sure to mention if you have any hostel, student or youth identity card.

Occasionally we hear of backpackers that have arranged a very good rate on a longer term rentals (4-8 weeks) through their travel agent at home. You may want to check this out to see if your travel agent knows of any good deals.

If you do rent a car, do all hostellers and young travelers a favor by driving safely. Perhaps, if we start showing the rental companies a lower incidence of accidents; rates and availability of cars to young travelers will improve.

Fishing in New Zealand

Where to fish

Excellent freshwater fishing is available throughout New Zealand. Three of New Zealand’s best known fishing regions include Lake Taupo, Lake Rotorua and the Southland. To help you get the most from your visit, each of these regions has an information centre which promotes fishing and offers a range of visitor services.

In the North Island you would be hard pushed to beat the Central North Island, Taupo in particular but also Rotorua. Personally I would go straight to Turangi and fish the Tongariro with Size 8 rod and heavily weighted nymphs for migrating rainbows from Lake Taupo. Numerous other rivers and lakes are also in the immediate vicinity. Also, keep in mind that the Tongariro trout average around 4-6 lb (20-26 inches) and thus will be more like fishing for North American steelhead.

The South Island is more of a problem in that although the scenery and fishing can be better than the north, you will have to travel further and local knowledge is paramount. My best suggestion for plenty of variety would be Nelson and the Nelson Lakes, Buller river system. Most of the Southern lakes are great, but don’t go past the Waitaki River in North Otago. Under the Avimore dam, there are some reed beds which produced some of the most pleasant evenings fly fishing I’ve had in years. The Waitaki is best fished in the clear side streams away from the main river. A good spot being 1-2 km downstream from the junction of the Hakataramea river on the north side. For staggering scenery and fine trout fishing check out the North Mavora lakes, or if you enjoy arid country, consider Lake Benmore.

Fishing Licences

Don’t forget to get a fishing license, and take note of what region it covers and the restrictions on lures etc. Fishing licences are available from fishing guides, lodges, visitor centres and charter boat operators. The cost is about NZ$18 per day but it depends on the time of the year. Keep in mind a different fishing licence is required to fish Lake Taupo.

Boat Fishing

Lake fishing from charter boats either trolling or fly fishing is available around the North Island lakes of Rotorua and Taupo, and the Nelson and Southern Lakes regions of the South Island.

Some areas are able to be fished year round and provide excellent sport. Boats range from 14ft runabouts to 52 ft launches catering for larger groups, incentive parties and those wishing to overnight onboard. Charter boat skippers supply all fishing gear and offer expert advice and knowledge on the area.

Guides

New Zealand is a wild trout fishery and the emphasis is very much on quality rather than quantity. We certainly have got the trophy fish - but big fish are generally smart fish. To make your visit a successful one, we strongly recommend making use of a professional guide.

Experienced guides know the moods of local rivers and the weather, often have access arrangements and will provide transport, and they can help you adjust your technique to the different conditions.

Because our resource is a precious one, professional guiding is normally on a catch and release basis.

Accommodation

A key feature of fishing in New Zealand is the warm hospitality encountered by the visiting angler. Specialist fishing lodges, often located in pristine wilderness settings, have won worldwide renown. Fresh local produce and New Zealand wines are a highlight of a New Zealand lodge experience.

Also available is a range of accommodation options from 3-4 star hotels, self-contained motel units, and bed and breakfast accommodation - all catering to the visiting angler.

Save Money Making Calls To New Zealand When You Travel

Here’s something that may be handy for travellers with a digital mobile phone. If you do business in New Zealand or planning a trip to New Zealand and will make a lot of local phone calls, save money when you are away from your home or office by using your prepaid international New Zealand phone card to make all your calls to New Zealand.

There are SIM cards available by some companies on short term rental. This allows you to use your digital mobile phone. You will be allocated a NZ mobile number and best of all there are no roaming charges, no international charges and, and no contract.

Usage costs depend on which phone company you choose. This is an example of call rates from the vendor Phone Hire New Zealand.

Outgoing call charges:

$0.49 a minute to the home network and any land line in New Zealand.
$1.39 to the other mobile network.
$0.49 to Australia, UK, Canada, Ireland & USA.
$1.39 to other countries.
$0.20 National text (SMS).
$0.30 international text.

Incoming call charges:

Free unlimited incoming calls from anywhere in the world.

If you know that you will be travelling to places in New Zealand which has coverage by one company and not the other, ask for a phone serviced by that company. For phone coverage maps use the following links: Vodafone coverage, Telecom coverage.

Renting a house – Rental Accommodation Guide

Many from overseas are choosing to migrate to New Zeland to really experience what this scenic country has to offer. If you are seriously considering the move, then renting a house for the short or long term becomes a consideration. The best way to look for rental property is to look at it yourself.

How?

1. Newspaper classifieds - In Auckland, the NZ Herald has advertisements for houses/flats to let. This is available everyday (except Sunday). and you will find more on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
2. Real Estate agents - Yes they do handle rental property as well. They advertise in the Herald. You will know who they are as all adverts are tagged with MREINZ at the end. They do not usually handle cheap units unless this is a special client of theirs.
3. Rental agents - These people collect a fee from you in exchange for a list of properties available for rent. There are a few of them in Auckland.

If you want to rent a house or apartment in New Zealand, make sure you get a copy of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. Copies of standard agreements are available from Tenancy Services, a division of the Ministry of Housing.

FYI, basic conditions are:

• No more than 2 weeks rent to be paid in advance
• increases in rent require 60 days notice
• rent receipts must be given, except when paid by automatic bank transfer, not negotiable cheque, or an exclusive rent account.

Bond can be consist of up to, but no more than 4 weeks rent. Bond money MUST be deposited with the Bond processing unit of Tenancy Services within 15 working days. It’s not compulsory for landlords to require a bond.

Landlords must:

• Keep the premises in reasonable condition.
• Allow the tenant quiet enjoyment of the premises.
• Comply with all building, health and safety stds, as they apply to the premises. Pay rates, insurance and land tax.

Tenants must:

• Pay the rent.
• Keep the premises clean, tidy, etc, and notify the Landlord of repairs needed.
• Pay electricity, gas, telephone and excess water bills.
• Not damage or permit damage to premises.
• Give notice to leave. (note: this doesn’t apply to fixed term tenancies)

The landlord must give 90 days notice unless:

• the premises are to be sold with vacant possesion
• the premises are to be occupied by the landlord, or a member of the ll’s family.
• If as provided in the agreement, the premises are required by an employee of the landlord.

In these cases, only 42 days notice need be given.

The tenant must give 21 days notice.
All notices to leave are to be in writing.

The landlord can apply to the tenancy tribunal for termination of tenancy if:

• the rent is more than 21 days in arrears.
• there has been damage or threats of damage to the premises
• there has been an assault, or threat of assault on the landlord, etc

Disputes can be dealt with by a Tenancy Tribunal mediator. (Landlords hate the Tenancy Act and hate dealing with the Tribunal)

Cheap Accommodation in New Zealand

Just about every town or suburb in New Zealand with a population of at least a few hundred people has cheap motel accommodation which you could stay at. The quality of the New Zealand motels are generally very good, but if you’re roughing it and have a smaller budget, staying at a New Zealand Backpacker accommodation would be a better option.

Travellers should note that a motel in New Zealand almost always means that you get a separate bedroom, a kitchen equipped with fridge, oven, pots, pans, dishes etc. and a living/dining room. If you want to stay in good, relatively inexpensive accommodation ($60-120/night for two people generally), I think these are your best bet. The only thing that can beat them for price are backpacker’s hostels which can be a lot of fun - in nice surroundings - and are often only $18/night/person for a twin or double room, $12-15/night/person to stay in a bunkroom. These hostels have cooking facilities and are often really comfortable common rooms, with TV/video, open fire, etc.

Motels are good value for money but for those people who don’t want to pay those sort of prices it’s really worthwhile staying at the “tourist flats” or cabins they have at camping grounds. If you take your own sleeping bag and towel then everything else you might need (pots, cutlery, dishes) are supplied in a tourist flat. For cabins - there are varying prices. If you have your own cooking & eating utensils then you can always cook in the communal kitchen (this is the major difference between camping in NZ and camping in Canada, UK or USA). Of course the same goes for tenting, but it can be a bit cold in winter for a tent. A tent site for 2 people & a car is usually about NZ$15, a cabin would be $25-$35, and a nice self contained tourist flat with private bathroom, TV, fridge, stove, etc, probably $40-$50.