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Zackback
Joined: 05 Nov 2010
Location: Kyungbuk
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 Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 4:21 pm Post subject: Travel tips for New Zealand |
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When is a good time to go there in terms of the climate?
Any crime ridden places to avoid?
What are some good beaches I can check out?
How's the pizza there?
What will it cost me to stay in a place (hotels etc)? |
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JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
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| Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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| It's in the southern hemisphere so October to March is the best time to visit. There are two large islands so lots of places are worth visiting. The pizza is great, hotels/hostels are on a par with Europe. I toured the south island for 2 weeks in January; I wanted to see both but there's just too much to see if you're not going for months. |
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Brooks
Joined: 08 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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I went in August one year and that was fine.
Everyday was 15 degrees C.
I heard that the South Island or Wellington is more interesting.
I was in Auckland and Hamilton. |
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oni
Joined: 15 Jun 2004
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 5:24 am Post subject: |
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in the North Island I'd recommend beaches around the Coromandel Peninsula, Raglan (near Hamilton), West Auckland beaches like Piha, and in Northland Tutukaka coast and Bay of islands and also Bayleys beach near Dargaville.
Hot water beach in the Coromandel area is really cool because during low tide you can dig a hole and make your own little spa pool thanks to an underground hot water flow:)
http://www.thecoromandel.com/new-zealand/hot-water-beach/
Abel Tasman at the top of the south Island is also really scenic and good for kayaking, hiking, swimming etc.....
February/March would be a good time to go as weather is more settled then but still nice and warm! |
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KiwiRob
Joined: 05 Feb 2013
Location: Wellington, New Zealand.
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| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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I live in wellington (the capital). Really good culture, the best night life in nz and some interesting things to do although it isn't a 'massive' city. Auckland is more of your metropolis type looking city, really spread out. South Island will be some of the most beautiful shit you have seen (nature, waterfalls e.t.c.) but north island also has lots of that stuff.
PM me if you have any questions mate. |
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JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
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| Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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There's great pizza. Yeah that's good but - Oh. My. God. - the beef and lamb is out of this world. Incredibly cheap, tasty, succulent, tender ... did I say cheap? If you go to a convenience store a great steak is under NZ$4. The supermarket shelves are creaking with more fantastic food than you can shake a stick at. If you like fish and chips you can get a tasty dish for $5.
In the south Island see Dunedin (the Octagon), Queenstown (adventure and clubbing), Lake Wanaka (sport), Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier (the only glaciers in the sub-tropics), Hokitika (great fish), Nelson (classic holidaying city), Golden Bay (beautiful beaches), Kaikoura (take a walk on the cliff top), and Christchurch (Garden City).
If you can, drive. The mountain roads are completely ridiculous. So much fun and you start out by an Aussie beach then an hour later you're in the mountains in Canada, an hour later you're in the Lake District. Incredible scenery. |
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Kiwigoddess
Joined: 07 Feb 2013
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| Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 6:15 pm Post subject: Re: Travel tips for New Zealand |
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| Zackback wrote: |
When is a good time to go there in terms of the climate?
Any crime ridden places to avoid?
What are some good beaches I can check out?
How's the pizza there?
What will it cost me to stay in a place (hotels etc)? |
It totally depends on what you want to see or do as to when you come to NZ. For example, if skiing is your thing, then July/August is best and we get many tourists come over specifically for the experience of skiing the slopes over here. If you are looking to have a summer holiday, then February through April is better because the weather is much more settled than in the earlier summer months.
Some of the best sunsets and sunrises on the beach are in Gisborne (first place in the world to see the new day). 90 mile beach in Cape Reinga is a huge tourist destination. Most east coast beaches are beautiful, particularly in Northland. I note someone mentioned Tutukaka Coast in Whangarei and this happens to be my backyard pretty much. The Poor Knights Islands (marine reserve) at Tutukaka has been rated one of the top 10 dive spots in the world by Jacques Cousteau.
My recommendation for pizza would be Hell Pizza - gourmet pizzas which are divine.
If you are largely sticking to the tourist spots, you will be fine with regards to crime ridden areas. One thing I will mention for a laugh though is that we do have a native bird called a Kea which is somewhat of a thief lol. If you are visiting national parks, make sure you keep your wallet in your pocket or put away because this cheeky bird will kindly relieve you of your money/cellphone etc if it is left in the open. Here is a link of a tourist who was robbed by a Kea in early February
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8255617/Kea-steals-tourists-wallet
As for accommodation, check out virtualtourist.com. Its a fantastic website for information on travelling anywhere in the world. I have posted some stuff on it about NZ from my city and many other locals and tourists alike have also posted things to do and see etc. |
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