Planet Rugby Forum

koroke hangareka wrote:Spend a night at the "Not the Hilton" in Blackball, then walk the Croesus track to Barrytown.

Davedj77 wrote:This thread from not so long ago might help

http://forum.planetrugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=82940

Kiwias wrote:Spend a night at the Okoroire Pub just off SH1 past Cambridge but ask for a room in the main wing, then soak in the hot springs in the bush.

Caley_Red wrote:

Davedj77 wrote:This thread from not so long ago might help

http://forum.planetrugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=82940

Some good stuff in there, thanks.

maxbox wrote:Are you Australian?

Davedj77 wrote:

Caley_Red wrote:

Davedj77 wrote:This thread from not so long ago might help

http://forum.planetrugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=82940

Some good stuff in there, thanks.

I'm from Rotorua so some tips for here specifically. The best Thermal areas are Waimangu Valley And Waiotapu. You could do both in a day, one in the morning, one in the afternoon. They are about $35 a person but it's worth it. Very unique places. There is also Te Puia where Pohutu geyser is in town which is impressive but other than the geyser the other stuff isn't all that amazing (especially for $50+ per person). But it's nice and easily accessible so if you don't have much time and money isn't too much of an issue it is worth doing. There are also a couple of places you can see thermal stuff for free...Kuirau Park and there is a huge mudpool on the way south to Taupo near Waiotapu. Both free so no reason not to see either.
The Gondalas are a pretty good visit, great views and a ride on the luge is fun, pretty pricey though (most touristy stuff is in Rotorua these days unfortunately). If you are into Mountain biking there is a shedload of tracks around and places to hire bikes.
There are a few places that do Maori cultural performances but I don't know much about them. If you are keen on that I'd imagine Rotorua would be the best place to see that.
As far as off the beaten path stuff, Tarawera Falls is pretty spectacular but is a bit of a pain to get to. Lake Tarawera isn't far from town and is pretty beautiful.
Any questions though, happy to answer.

Caley_Red wrote:

Davedj77 wrote:

Caley_Red wrote:

Davedj77 wrote:This thread from not so long ago might help

http://forum.planetrugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=82940

Some good stuff in there, thanks.

I'm from Rotorua so some tips for here specifically. The best Thermal areas are Waimangu Valley And Waiotapu. You could do both in a day, one in the morning, one in the afternoon. They are about $35 a person but it's worth it. Very unique places. There is also Te Puia where Pohutu geyser is in town which is impressive but other than the geyser the other stuff isn't all that amazing (especially for $50+ per person). But it's nice and easily accessible so if you don't have much time and money isn't too much of an issue it is worth doing. There are also a couple of places you can see thermal stuff for free...Kuirau Park and there is a huge mudpool on the way south to Taupo near Waiotapu. Both free so no reason not to see either.
The Gondalas are a pretty good visit, great views and a ride on the luge is fun, pretty pricey though (most touristy stuff is in Rotorua these days unfortunately). If you are into Mountain biking there is a shedload of tracks around and places to hire bikes.
There are a few places that do Maori cultural performances but I don't know much about them. If you are keen on that I'd imagine Rotorua would be the best place to see that.
As far as off the beaten path stuff, Tarawera Falls is pretty spectacular but is a bit of a pain to get to. Lake Tarawera isn't far from town and is pretty beautiful.
Any questions though, happy to answer.

Firstly, thanks so much for the above.

Are there any forest walks (or can I walk on the mountain biking path)?

Is there water sports on Lake Tarawera? I am keen to do some whilst in NZ and I suspect Queenstown prices would gauge your eyeballs out for watersports but there must be equivalently good jet skiing etc for much less elsewhere. Open to any other suggestions you may have on that.

Caley_Red wrote:

maxbox wrote:Are you Australian?

No, from the original Perth (originally) but currently living in Sydney for work purposes.

Is that likely to affect my NZ experience?

RuggaBugga wrote:There are several threads floating around in addition to the one quoted. Try searching a few keywords and you should be able to find them.

Do Coromandel and Bay if Islands for sure in the North Island.

sonic_attack wrote:Don't leave anything of value in your campervan when you're parked and off for a stroll or whatever.
Stay in campgrounds - That freedom camping is all well and good, until you're robbed.

Keep in mind you're driving around in a billboard advertising you're a tourist ripe for the pickings. Every thieving plum here knows you have an expensive camera or a backpack full of loot in the back. Sad but true unfortunately.

If you can, find a few days to go north of Auckland. It seems like the wrong way to go but it's an overlooked 1/4 of the country and has some great spots. If it's an option, Sydney to Queenstown? and have a camper organised to pickup there, then head north and fly home from Auckland. That would be the less circuitous route and minimal backtracking.

maxbox wrote:

Caley_Red wrote:

maxbox wrote:Are you Australian?

No, from the original Perth (originally) but currently living in Sydney for work purposes.

Is that likely to affect my NZ experience?

Not in the slightest mate pop up to Waipu in Northland if you can, little Scottish enclave with a fantastic beach. Best caber tossing from here to Dunners too

jdogscoop wrote:Pretty good timing rugby-wise, too, as the Mitre 10 Cup and Heartland Championship will both be in full swing. Sample a varied diet that mixes up provincial heavyweights like Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington with the delights of lesser known teams such as West Coast, Wairarapa-Bush and Thames Valley.

You'll get a great insight into why New Zealand rugby is so freakin' strong. From grass roots to the All Blacks.

guy smiley wrote:

Caley_Red wrote:I am currently thinking of driving the North Island and picking van up in the South as I've hear that the ferry cost is exorbitant for taking vehicles over? At this stage, very little nailed down.

Yeah, that's why I asked. I've not done the ferry for years but it always was expensive to get a large vehicle across.
That other thread is a pearler, there's a lot of good info in there.

Ted. wrote:

guy smiley wrote:

Caley_Red wrote:I am currently thinking of driving the North Island and picking van up in the South as I've hear that the ferry cost is exorbitant for taking vehicles over? At this stage, very little nailed down.

Yeah, that's why I asked. I've not done the ferry for years but it always was expensive to get a large vehicle across.
That other thread is a pearler, there's a lot of good info in there.

If you join a caravan club I'm pretty sure they do specials. I have a mate who owns a camper van and does the crossing reasonably regularly, I'll check with him.

jdogscoop wrote:Pretty good timing rugby-wise, too, as the Mitre 10 Cup and Heartland Championship will both be in full swing. Sample a varied diet that mixes up provincial heavyweights like Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington with the delights of lesser known teams such as West Coast, Wairarapa-Bush and Thames Valley.

You'll get a great insight into why New Zealand rugby is so freakin' strong. From grass roots to the All Blacks.

Ted. wrote:

guy smiley wrote:

Caley_Red wrote:I am currently thinking of driving the North Island and picking van up in the South as I've hear that the ferry cost is exorbitant for taking vehicles over? At this stage, very little nailed down.

Yeah, that's why I asked. I've not done the ferry for years but it always was expensive to get a large vehicle across.
That other thread is a pearler, there's a lot of good info in there.

If you join a caravan club I'm pretty sure they do specials. I have a mate who owns a camper van and does the crossing reasonably regularly, I'll check with him.

Caley_Red wrote:

maxbox wrote:Are you Australian?

No, from the original Perth (originally) but currently living in Sydney for work purposes.

Is that likely to affect my NZ experience?

Caley_Red wrote:

maxbox wrote:Are you Australian?

No, from the original Perth (originally) but currently living in Sydney for work purposes.

Is that likely to affect my NZ experience?

Caley_Red wrote:

maxbox wrote:Are you Australian?

No, from the original Perth (originally) but currently living in Sydney for work purposes.

Is that likely to affect my NZ experience?

guy smiley wrote:

Ted. wrote:Abel Tasman National Park.

If you do one thing in NZ it should be this.

.

UncleFB wrote:

Caley_Red wrote:

maxbox wrote:Are you Australian?

No, from the original Perth (originally) but currently living in Sydney for work purposes.

Is that likely to affect my NZ experience?

I have no advice to offer but since you're a Sydneysider I'd like to put in an order, can you bring back lots of Whittakers Hazelnut chocolate and Marmite (the NZ kind, not that vomiting inducing stuff from the UK).

Oh, I suppose I can give some advice if you do make it to Hawkes Bay (Napier).

If you like Ice Cream you have to go to Rush Munros, the only ice cream I'll eat. https://www.rushmunro.co.nz/
If you like wine tours this company is great: https://www.odysseynz.com/ (They're also in Queenstown).
If you want to do something cultural, this company does great tours of an old Pa site and visiting Te Mata Peak (a famous hill in HB): http://www.waimaramamaori.co.nz/

Slight disclaimer, a mate of mine owns the wine tours company, and the Maori tours are mostly my relations. I have no association with Rush Munros other than eating lots of it when growing up and then way too much of it on weekend trips home.

Also, when you drive down to Wellington, avoid Palmerston North unless you want to go to the rugby museum, which is decent.

guy smiley wrote:

Ted. wrote:Abel Tasman National Park.

If you do one thing in NZ it should be this.

We used to go there when I was a kid and I've been hanging out to get back there ever since. You drive from Nelson, through Motueka and over the Takaka Hill into Golden Bay. From there, follow the road into the park and get yourself to Totaranui, the park hq. A mile long beach (maybe, I was young and my legs were short) of golden sand with the native bush down to the water's edge at both ends. There's a 2hr walk from there up the coast to... Seperation point? which was always gorgeous.

Golden Bay has become popular and settled a lot since I was there in the 70s. There's a good reason for that. Some of the highest sunshine hours in the country and a good local climate.

ahhhh... we've been over these things a few times over the years. I used to say to people one day I'd go back to NZ and take a camper van around the joint. The South Island's layout and road network means you can end up almost back tracking as you crisscross... it's worth it. the roads are ok although you'll be driving every km, and the scenery is simply amazing.

SO let's say you cross the strait, pick up a van in Picton... I would take the coast road to Havelock, it used to be called the Grove Track. On to Nelson, into Abel Tasman as mentioned, then down the road to Westport through the Buller Gorge. Down the West Coast catching Punakaiki, the glaciers at Fox and Franz Joseph.
(It might be worth a side trip up the Arthur's Pass road if you want, into the Alpine parkland and some walks if that's your thing. You could even cross right over and drop down to Christchurch and Canterbury.)

If you're lucky the sun will be out and the mountains rise straight out of the bush. On down the coast and over the Haast Pass to Wanaka. Gorgeous and less dickheads per sq mt than Queenstown... as well as cheaper. You may as well go through Queenstwon though while you're there, just to say you did it. A drive up to Glenorchy at the top of the lake would be good... the surrounding area is pretty scenic. From there you can head down past the lake and into Southland. Drop over to Te Anau, Manapouri and if the road's open up to Milford Sound. Hareaway country... he'll probably have a beer with you at the Manapouri pub.

From there I'd head over to Dunedin, perhaps getting down to Invercargill if you're into bleak, soul searing wind driven misery on the way. Dunedin's gorgeous... ( Dùn Èideann ) and I believe you may find it somewhat comfortable on a cultural background basis As mentioned by others, get yourself into the Caitlins for a day or two on the way. There's a lot to take in around Dunedin, really. From there it's a nice drive up the coast through my hometown, Timaru... no need to stop there, you'll miss nothing of note! and on to Christchurch. If you do end up going that way, take the 'inland route' through Geraldine and Mt Somers instead of Highway 1. Less traffic, nice drive.

an alternative to going up the coast is to head over the Lindis Pass from Central Otago, near Wanaka and drive through the McKenzie Country... a high plateau / bowl under the Southern Alps and some jaw dropping scenery. I'd do that myself and head on into the Mt Cook village at the head of Lake Pukaki. A couple of days in there walking around the Hooker Valley would be cool. From there you can drop down through Burke's Pass and at Fairlie divert off the main road and come down through Geraldine, linking up with the inland route to Christchurch.

That would be a pretty good look at the South Island.

True Blue wrote:

Caley_Red wrote:

maxbox wrote:Are you Australian?

No, from the original Perth (originally) but currently living in Sydney for work purposes.

Is that likely to affect my NZ experience?

We don't like people from Perth, Scotland around here.

We like Scots, just not the ones from Perth.

UncleFB wrote:

Caley_Red wrote:

maxbox wrote:Are you Australian?

No, from the original Perth (originally) but currently living in Sydney for work purposes.

Is that likely to affect my NZ experience?

I have no advice to offer but since you're a Sydneysider I'd like to put in an order, can you bring back lots of Whittakers Hazelnut chocolate and Marmite (the NZ kind, not that vomiting inducing stuff from the UK).

Oh, I suppose I can give some advice if you do make it to Hawkes Bay (Napier).

If you like Ice Cream you have to go to Rush Munros, the only ice cream I'll eat. https://www.rushmunro.co.nz/
If you like wine tours this company is great: https://www.odysseynz.com/ (They're also in Queenstown).
If you want to do something cultural, this company does great tours of an old Pa site and visiting Te Mata Peak (a famous hill in HB): http://www.waimaramamaori.co.nz/

Slight disclaimer, a mate of mine owns the wine tours company, and the Maori tours are mostly my relations. I have no association with Rush Munros other than eating lots of it when growing up and then way too much of it on weekend trips home.

Also, when you drive down to Wellington, avoid Palmerston North unless you want to go to the rugby museum, which is decent.

Caley_Red wrote:
That sounds grand, if you have any mates that own pubs as well? those tips would also be gladly received

SFBB wrote:BYO women. Allegedly

mr bungle wrote:

SFBB wrote:BYO women. Allegedly

Be easier for you to pay cause mingers attract mingers.

mr bungle wrote:

SFBB wrote:BYO women. Allegedly

Be easier for you to pay cause mingers attract mingers.

Ghost-Of-Nepia wrote:

mr bungle wrote:

SFBB wrote:BYO women. Allegedly

Be easier for you to pay cause mingers attract mingers.

Mr B,

Down in your neck of the woods on Friday afternoon (you'll know why), and leaving Sunday morning. Will try and catch up.

mr bungle wrote:

Ghost-Of-Nepia wrote:

mr bungle wrote:

SFBB wrote:BYO women. Allegedly

Be easier for you to pay cause mingers attract mingers.

Mr B,

Down in your neck of the woods on Friday afternoon (you'll know why), and leaving Sunday morning. Will try and catch up.

Ah, goodly. Other half asked if I wanted to attend... might have to now.