Planning a vist to New Zealand

[Sirius Glass]

We are planning several weeks in New Zealand and we would like advice on how much time in North Island and in South Island. Also is May or end of September and October better? We are interested in architecture, national parks and landmarks, and of course your amazing wildlife.

We may tie this trip to your close neighbor Australia which is just a 4200 km away.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Hmm, doesn't sound too correct.

We have neighbours who have their relatives fly from Christchurch to Melbourne to go shopping. When we fly to Christchurch the flight is around 3½ hours and as far as I recollect, is around 2,400 kilometres; give or take.

If you fly between Hobart (Tasmania) and Christchurch, it is even closer.

Nice place NZ.

Mick.

 

[dario]

Hi Sirius - Are you still looking for information?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yes, I put in a request for September October 2019 timeshare for Sydney, Melbourne and new Zealand. I am looking for information on car or train through the Outback, since I am not keen on tours.

 

[wiltw]

South Island, along the western shore (Tasman Sea) is a world heritage area. Stunningly beautiful drive south along the coast from Greymouth to the glacier areas (Franz Josef glacier and Fox glacier. Of course the Milford Sound area is not to be missed. We were there before the great earthquake of 2011, when so much of the period architecture was destroyed. Over 1200 buildings were ultimately declared so damaged as to need demolition. So unfortunate.

 

[Vaughn]

Oz -- might be better off to fly to different Aussie areas and rent a car for a couple days, then fly off to the next. For example, Sept is still a go for Northern Australia (before the Wet arrives, maybe). Landing in Darwin, there are heaps of places to see and photograph within a few hour's drive. My experience is limited to NSW and a little in the NT. Have fun!

Never enough time for either country! My two photo big trips to NZ (3 and 6 months) I had planned on 1/3 my time on the North Island and 2/3 on the South Island. Both times it ended up 50/50. The South Island is amazing, but the North Island offered up some great stuff. Lake Waikaremoana was a great hike, the East Cape beautiful, the volcanic region wonderful to wander around in. But if I had a limited time, I would probably go with the South Island. Dunedin is a nice little city -- good for arcutectural visits.

Three trips to NZ for a total of about 20 months in country -- have not made it to Milford Sound. Got to leave something for my old age!

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

The North Island is New Zealand's indigenous cultural heart, and it's the best place to see and understand the history of the country. Like most Pacific/Polynesian nations, New Zealand has no written history: it's recited orally in song and story, The trouble with the North Island is how utterly fabulously popular it is with tour companies, buses, helicopters, groups large and small and just about every nation on earth walking around!

South Island wins every time for scenery, but loses (badly!) for the often atrocious weather, particularly Tiri o te Moana (Southern Alps), and the spectacularly beautiful (if moody and always changeable) MIlford Sound area. The further down the south you go, the worse the weather can be. In The Catlins on the SE coast in April 2015, our camper was battered by 160km/h winds and rain coming directly off the shore 6 metres away. Likewise, we were stuck in the campervan at Milford Sound for a full 2 days with cabin fever as a vicious southerly outbreak made its way through (part of camper's front roof cowling was torn off here, creating a leak). On the third day... brilliant sunshine! Just pack all your wet weather gear and be prepared for four seasons in one day in whatever time of year you visit!

If you like wine, the Marlborough region of the South Isleexports its wares to every corner of the world (including Russia and Antarctica).

 

[Pentode]

There’s a train that runs from Christchurch right across the South island. It’s a sightseeing train from, I’m estimating, the 1950s. It’s not all that heavily touristed these days and it’s a beautiful, scenic ride. Driving from there down the West coast is incredible (+1 on the Franz Josef Glacier!).

Christchurch is a great college town and a really nice place to settle in for a few days in between excursions.

1/3 of your time on the North island sounds about right to me. Check out some of the small fishing towns in the Northeast; a beautiful area.

Personally, I wouldn’t try to add Oz if you’re only going for a couple of weeks. I was only in NZ for two weeks and I really felt it wasn’t quite enough time.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

Personally, I wouldn’t try to add Oz if you’re only going for a couple of weeks. I was only in NZ for two weeks and I really felt it wasn’t quite enough time.

Four weeks minimum.
And that's just for the South Island (!)

 

[Svenedin]

Don't miss Rotorua (National Park, volcanic mud pools, geysers etc) and Wellington in the North Island. I worked at a hospital in Gisborne, North Island (not that there is anything very interesting about Gisborne). Napier (architecture) is interesting if you like Art Deco. Although slow, travelling by train is fun and the Interislander Ferry is a must. I combined working in NZ with a holiday in Australia. The usual places: Melbourne, Sydney, Ayres Rock. Melbourne was my favourite; a very European feel. If you decide you want to fly between centres in NZ be prepared for very small commuter planes for which you need a strong stomach. You may find that there is a deal on the flight that can include an Australian city at little extra cost or you can just circumnavigate the globe by flying either East or West and keep on going until you come back on yourself. I would not recommend trying to fly in one go. It is absolutely exhausting and much better to stay at least a night somewhere en-route or you may never want to fly again. It is much cheaper to break the journey and even splash out on a posh hotel than considering upgrading cabin on the flight.

 

[mooseontheloose]

Four weeks minimum.
And that's just for the South Island (!)

+1
That's exactly what I did and I wish I had had more time! And I haven't even seen any part of the North Island (which will definitely be on the itinerary the next time I head down there).

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I would not recommend trying to fly in one go. It is absolutely exhausting and much better to stay at least a night somewhere en-route or you may never want to fly again. It is much cheaper to break the journey and even splash out on a posh hotel than considering upgrading cabin on the flight.

The northern hemisphere is and will always remain a far and distant place. I've heard of people making a 36 hour combined flight from Australia to Iceland and "feeling absolutely knackered...".
Meanwhile, Qantas starts a 17-hour non-stop flight from Perth to Heathrow on 24th of this month, flying their new Dreamliner. The flight was booked out 9 months ago. The plane alone would make the long-haul a bit more bearable than the horrid 747s or A380s. We'll consider this flight for our trip to Greece later in the year.
My understanding (as a Qantas shareholder) is the keen interest shown by UK residents wishing to fly without stops direct to/from Australia. The significance of the flight originating and terminating in Perth remains to be seen; connecting flights to the east coast are around an extra another $400 (if not combined into the booking) and 3-4 hours' flying. A valid option though is to hang around Perth for a few days before a connecting flight. A lovely, busy city with spotless transport (no graffiti covering trains and building like Melbourne!).

 

[Vaughn]

I saw Rotarua in '75...gave it a miss on my next two trips. A bit touristy for the way I like to travel. I also had a great experience in '75 -- I spent some time with some Maori about my age (early 20s, mostly from the city) on the East Cape. They were marching up the coast and invited me to join. We spent several days at a village known for its traditional roots and the elders there welcomed us in and taught of us a lot. I wish I had been less shy and had gotten even more from the experience.

Bicycling in NZ for 5 months one does notice the weather...it was a lot like home. Weather was one of the reasons, but not the biggest one, that I only exposed 75 sheets of 4x5 film in 5 months. I spent a week at Franz Josef Glacier to get in 3 days of photographing (and still dodging rain)...but I had the time...kicking back at the youth hostel, visiting the pub! I like longer trips because one can then spend a week tramping here or there and really get to know an area and its sand fly/mossie population. I was wondering about the cables at each corner of the little 4-bunk backcountry huts I stayed at in the mountains of Able Tasman National Park -- at night I found out why, as the wind tried to remove the huts from the mountains!

Not satisfied with the interesting weather towards the south tip of the South Island, I have tramped a couple of times on Stewart Island -- another 22 miles south of the South Island. A week amongst the mud, sandflies, wild abalone...and bird songs that just made you sit down and listen. Oh, and rain. Totally worth it, but I don't have any 4x5 images worth printing from the time on the island...so it goes...I still remember the taste of the abalone!

You'll have a siriusly good time!

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

A week amongst the mud, sandflies, wild abalone

Abalone! Yumm-o!

 

[Vaughn]

Abalone! Yumm-o!

I swear -- at low tide I just went out knee deep and tipped over rocks and the abalone (Silver) would fall off. Late October of '75 and during Christmas 1981: at Christmas Village Hut, Stewart Island. Were they of legal size? I had nothing to measure with, I did not know what size was legal, and my stomach said eat. It was hard to carry enough to eat back in those days. Lightly pounded with a beer bottle, cubed and fried in butter and dried garlic...served with minute rice and mix of freeze-dried veges. Pans full of clams and pipis had to do on the rest of my coastal hiking. Tramping along Lake Waikaremoana on the North Island (without fishing gear), I had to look hungrly at the 5 to 10 pound brown trout and an occasional equally sized rainbows swimming along with me as I hiked! (these two introduced species have 'gone native'). But most of the time I was out of the bush and had fish and chips and a jug of beer.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

cubed and fried in butter and dried garlic...served with minute rice and mix of freeze-dried veges

Stop it!

 

[dario]

You seem to be getting some ideas. It's probably too late to say it now, but normally March-May is the best time. September-October is often windy. Actually, a lot of people think it's windy all the time and just worse in the spring. That said, the weather this year has been very different - very long summer, several degrees above normal temperatures, big storms (floods, etc) in some areas, etc. Difficult for LF. No one knows if the weather we've been having is exceptional or the new normal. Whenever you come, be prepared to find the place overrun with tourists. If you have any specific questions, send me a pm.

 

[Sean]

Ping me if you find yourself in Dunedin

 

[Theo Sulphate]

If you will be spending any time at a dark location, you may want to try to photograph the Megallanic galaxies - which are never visible at our northern latitudes.

 

[Helios 1984]

Driving Creek Railway in Coromandel

Years ago, I've seen it in a documentary, and it has been on my "to visit" list ever since.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Ping me if you find yourself in Dunedin

Will do!!

 

[MattKing]

Ping me if you find yourself in Dunedin

I can't resist:
Will you be discussing any of Sirius' posts when you meet ?