Vacation in New Zealand!

[MrsRose]

So.... my husband and I are planning our first visit to New Zealand!

Being the adventurous type, we were planning on our moving day being the first time we set foot in NZ. But, we've decided to go ahead and visit first.

We're aiming for around February, and hoping to spend at least a week or more there.
We'll most likely be flying into Auckland, then our goal is to travel to a few areas (Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, etc) to see where we want to try to plant ourselves when we first move there.

We're trying to think of ways to make the lodging and traveling portion of the trip as inexpensive as possible. Any ideas?
Should we rent a campervan/caravan? holiday parks and motels?

[topcat83]

Originally Posted by MrsRose

So.... my husband and I are planning our first visit to New Zealand!

Being the adventurous type, we were planning on our moving day being the first time we set foot in NZ. But, we've decided to go ahead and visit first.

We're aiming for around February, and hoping to spend at least a week or more there.
We'll most likely be flying into Auckland, then our goal is to travel to a few areas (Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, etc) to see where we want to try to plant ourselves when we first move there.

We're trying to think of ways to make the lodging and traveling portion of the trip as inexpensive as possible. Any ideas?
Should we rent a campervan/caravan? holiday parks and motels?

Hi MrsRose
I know a lot of people will recommend campervan. But I'd try the following:

Rent a car that is as big as you need for your family - it doesn't need to be from one of the big boys. There are a number of smaller car rental places such as 'Ace', 'AtoB' etc. Look at this website for comparisons too - we used it when we went to Melbourne for a week Car Rental Auckland, Cheap Car Hire Auckland and New Zealand with Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Thrifty.

Then look for holiday parks - they will have a variety of accommodation from tent sites to fully serviced motel units. If you really want to cut the price of a 'roof over your head' go for cabins. Some will be en-suite, some you'll have to put the dressing gown on and walk to the shower block. Some will have a kitchen in them, some will have a kitchen block. You'll have to supply your own linen (call into a Briscoes or Warehouse and get some cheap sheets & towels, or most big supermarkets will do some too) or pay a small price more to rent it at the park.

We toured South Island like this. It makes for easier driving than taking a cumbersome campervan around. Plus the kids (generally) have more space when you stop. There ain't a lot of floorspace in a campervan!

[MrsRose]

Thanks so much!

We'll look into that.

[Song_Si]

if you're focused on Waikato and Bay f Plenty areas, suggest you try staying - at least some of the time - away from the main cities; some great smaller towns - Cambridge, Te Aroha etc to base yourselves at, easy travel to Taupo, Rotorua etc as well.
You may even get to meet some people who have time to talk to you in more than just a business sense. For years I traveled with a swim club for events around the country and we'd generally stay away from the cities to save $, instead some little place an hour or so from the venue, great fun.

[escapedtonz]

Originally Posted by MrsRose

So.... my husband and I are planning our first visit to New Zealand!

Being the adventurous type, we were planning on our moving day being the first time we set foot in NZ. But, we've decided to go ahead and visit first.

We're aiming for around February, and hoping to spend at least a week or more there.
We'll most likely be flying into Auckland, then our goal is to travel to a few areas (Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, etc) to see where we want to try to plant ourselves when we first move there.

We're trying to think of ways to make the lodging and traveling portion of the trip as inexpensive as possible. Any ideas?
Should we rent a campervan/caravan? holiday parks and motels?

I agree with the advice.
Forget the campervan if your not venturing far and only here for a short while. Rent the minimum size car for your needs & stay in motels or holiday park lodges etc on your tour round and steer clear of the bigger towns and city's where accommodation is relatively more expensive. The smaller towns like Cambridge are much better than staying in Hamilton for example and within easy reach of the Bay Of Plenty, Rotorua, Lake Taupo etc.
If you go to Tauranga don't miss a visit to Mnt Maunganui beach resort for a spot of good cafe and restaurants culture in the sun, a great beach and a walk round the mount. It's beautiful.

[topcat83]

Meant to add a couple of useful links for finding accommodation.

New Zealand Accommodation, Activities and Travel Guides ? Jasons Travel Media
AA New Zealand Travel Guide - New Zealand Accommodation, Travel Information
Holiday homes and baches | Holiday accommodation | Bookabach
Wotif.com: New Zealand accommodation, hotels, motels, apartments - NZ online hotel bookings with instant confirmation

[MrsRose]

I'm just gonna take a wild guess here... is cafe the same thing as coffee?

I like this forum so much. So many friendly and helpful people to chat with from all around the world.

[topcat83]

Originally Posted by MrsRose

I'm just gonna take a wild guess here... is cafe the same thing as coffee?

I like this forum so much. So many friendly and helpful people to chat with from all around the world.

Yip - it's the French for coffee - so a cafe is a coffee shop. In the UK you'll hear people talking about a 'caff' - same thing but a colloquilalism.

You'll find some different coffees over here too - the one that always throws newcomers is a 'Flat White'.
It's a type of 'Latte' or coffee made with an espresso shot and topped up with hot milk.
I can never tell the difference - but I'm told there is

Oh - instead of ordering a 'skinny' or 'slim XXX' for a coffee made with low fat milk you order a 'Trim xxx'.

[escapedtonz]

Originally Posted by topcat83

Yip - it's the French for coffee - so a cafe is a coffee shop. In the UK you'll hear people talking about a 'caff' - same thing but a colloquilalism.

You'll find some different coffees over here too - the one that always throws newcomers is a 'Flat White'.
It's a type of 'Latte' or coffee made with an espresso shot and topped up with hot milk.
I can never tell the difference - but I'm told there is

Oh - instead of ordering a 'skinny' or 'slim XXX' for a coffee made with low fat milk you order a 'Trim xxx'.

Yeah the Flat White still has me stumped. Thought it was the same as an Americano back in the UK but after having a few Flat White's I'm not so sure anymore. They're more like a Latte than a Latte :-)
Think I'll stick with the Trim Latte's and I really need to stop asking for a Skinny and getting that look......you know the one I mean.......when they think you've just landed from another planet lol :-)

[MrsRose]

Just booked our flight to New Zealand last night!

We'll be there for just over a week in the beginning of March. Hope it's lovely weather that time of year...

We're so excited!

New Zealand, here we come!