Trip to New Zealand

[Cookee]

I'm off to New Zealand for a chunk of March and going to take this out for the day http://www.boiboatcharter.co.nz/ with my girlfriend and her family around the Bay of Islands and we'll be in Kerikeri for a few days, back to Auckland and then down to Queenstown and a night on Doubtful sound -http://www.doubtfulsound.com/ - has anyone got anything else they would recommend - thinking about the heli trip to the glaciers and of course a jet boat ride up the river!

Thanks in advance!

[Mollers]

Heli from Fox Glacier, smaller and less commercial.

[John Kennett]

I'm going to New Zealand too! We'll probably be arriving just as you are leaving

Unless things have changed a lot in the last few years, it's almost impossible to go wrong. I've not been to North Island, which is busier, but on South Island even the touristy stuff is great.

* Whale watching in Kaikoura is good (plus swimming with dolphins and/or seals)
* Dart river jet boat from Glenorchy is a good alternative to the Shotover thrill rides
* Heli onto a glacier is cool. We'll probably take a fixed wing flight this time, and land high up on the glacier.
* The gold rush towns on the west coast are interesting, and the drive over Arthur's Pass is worthwhile.
* If you want to bungy jump then The Ledge and Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown can both be done without taking a whole day (unlike some of the bigger ones).

. . . and that's just a few highlights off the top of my head. Can't wait!

John

[The Garfish]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

I'm going to New Zealand too!

wen arr yew gonner tel de ribnobburs dat iym inn charj wile yorr swonnin orf

garF

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by The Garfish

wen arr yew gonner tel de ribnobburs dat iym inn charj wile yorr swonnin orf

garF

Great Garf - when the cats away the mice(or fish) will play!!!

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by The Garfish

wen arr yew gonner tel de ribnobburs dat iym inn charj wile yorr swonnin orf

It was meant to be a surprise . . .

John

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

I'm going to New Zealand too! We'll probably be arriving just as you are leaving

John

Thanks John - We fly to Sydney on 24 March Can't wait either!

[ALANT]

This is fantastic http://www.whiteisland.co.nz/ Bit expensive $160 NZ but a great day out. Whakatane is quite a nice little place about 2 hr drive from Rotorua.
Oh and they serve excellent chilled beer

[SeaSkills]

Already mentioned, but whale watching at Kaikoura is good. If you get down south to Fiordland, try Doubtful Sound rather than the more popular Milford Sound. If you're a rugby fan, the Grail in Christchurch is the place to go - especially after a Crusaders game. And the "French" colony at Akaroa is worth a boat trip too.

Deeply jealous. Hope you post some good pics. Enjoy.

[mark-f]

Originally Posted by Cookee

I'm off to New Zealand for a chunk of March and going to take this out for the day http://www.boiboatcharter.co.nz/ with my girlfriend and her family around the Bay of Islands and we'll be in Kerikeri for a few days, back to Auckland and then down to Queenstown and a night on Doubtful sound -http://www.doubtfulsound.com/ - has anyone got anything else they would recommend - thinking about the heli trip to the glaciers and of course a jet boat ride up the river!

Thanks in advance!

HI Cookee, I've just got back and if you are up at the bay of islands a ride out to the hole in the wall on Mac attack out of pahaia is good for a laugh http://www.mackattack.co.nz/ , the jet boat at huka falls inbetween Taupo and rotarua is worth a visit http://www.hukafallsjet.com and also to the Prawn farm next door ( yum) and I would second the recomendation to go out to white island http://www.whiteisland.co.nz/

and if you get to the south end of hawkes bay near napier there are loads of good vinyards if you like red wine, a couple of my favorites are Kim crawford and clearview www.clearviewestate.co.nz , bring me back a couple of bottles of enigma


enjoy Mark