Anyone been to New Zealand

[Pluto]

Hi
We are now planning a trip to New Zealand. Has anyone on here been?

We are interested in hiring a campervan for the duration of the trip and wondered whether it is cheaper to book it direct or to book the flights/campervan together through a travel agent.

Any advice would be most appreciated.

[chrizzy100]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Pluto
Hi
We are now planning a trip to New Zealand. Has anyone on here been?

We are interested in hiring a campervan for the duration of the trip and wondered whether it is cheaper to book it direct or to book the flights/campervan together through a travel agent.

Any advice would be most appreciated.
[/quote]

My best friend went last year and he loved it enough to go back..he is there right now....

[shenon]

my best friend moved there two years ago and will never come home ...she absolutly loves it over there and i do hope to visit her some time soon

[steph_goodrum]

My half sister and her husband arrived there a couple of weeks ago, they have taken a years sabbaticals from their jobs and have spent the last 6 months backpacking around Brazil, South America, etc and are spending the next few months in the Southern hemisphere.

We've only had the first installment of their trip there so far but as you can see there is certainly plenty to see and do, although I have to say they are more adventurous at 30 something than I ever was, they went ice-walking on glaciers in South America and explered volcanos etc, they've sent some fantastic pics but none so far of NZ

"Next we flew across the International dateline and managed to lose a day of our lives before landing in Auckland, New Zealand.

We spent a few days getting to know the city and planning our time here. We also managed to fit in the Auckland Coast to Coast hike (sounds long but it only took a day). We also went to see a Rugby match at the Eden Park Stadium, where the Auckland Blues wereplaying the Queensland Reds (Score 18-15 ... sorry uncle Bob but Queensland were rubbish!!!). Took a trip up the Sky Tower (Tallest single structure in southern hemisphere) and watched a really cool sunset.

Then we took a bus up to the northern most part of the North Island, stayed in the Bay of Islands which is really nice. From here we did an overnight cruise through the islands, the boat was great fun, we had a shooting competition, dusk fishing for snapper ( caught about 15 fish between us), BBQ dinner with fresh fish caught half an hour earlier. Then after dinner at about 10:00pm when it was really dark we went kayaking to see the phosphorescent algae that glowed in the water when it was disturbed. This looked amazing when the paddles pushed through the water it left a glowing trail, also all around the kayak lit up luminous blue.

The next day we snorkled to the shore of and Island, swam, kayaked and had a picnic at the top of a hill overlooking the islands.

Next day we went on a 4x4 short wheel based bus up 90 mile beach to the top of New Zealand, at the end of the beach there were some giant sand dunes and we flew down them face first on mini surf boards (boogi boards). We also saw some Giant Kauri trees which were hundreds of years old and absolutely massive (upto in 4m diameter).

We are now back in Auckland and heading off south to Rotorua tomorrow.

We are planning to do some hiking tours around the Volcanic region of the North Island and then heading over to the South Island."

[rosie]

My mum went last year, she stayed with friends who live there now and spent 3 months touring both Islands. She learnt how to sand board (she's 74), she went back packing, and of course she visited the places where LOTR was filmed.

When she came home she said she could now die happy as she had seen the most beautiful place on the planet. That was quite a statement from a lady who has travelled most of the world, both on and off the beaten track.

She's planning on going back next year for an extended visit [msnsmile]