Going to Newzealand over the Xmas period

Rudolph Claus

Hello there. Im off college from Dec22nd to Jan22nd on the christmas break. Myself and a few mates are thinking of going on a holiday to NZ for 2/3 weeks. Ive never been abroad and am looking for some advice. When would i need to have this booked by? As Dec-Feb is summer in NZ and the busy tourist period does that mean it`ll be the most expensive time to go. Would we be best to go on 1 of them pre-planned holidays which has you spend a day or 2 in each place and follow a schedule or just land there and make our own way to various places. We want to see the wildlife and spend some days soely at the beaches and diving and other water stuff aswell as see some towns. Bit of everything type hol.

We dont want to stay in top class hotels but not manky hostels either. Maybe Lodges or B+b`s are the best options??

Whats the financial scene like over there, how far will the euro go. Is stuff cheap in comparison. How much spending money would we need? How much would it cost to go for 3weeks without spending money, cost of flights and stuff. Would a E1000 cover a 3week holiday and maybe E5/600 then for spending money? What ae the best travel agents for dealing with NZ hols or are they all the same?

Anyone got any suggestions/reccommendations regards this, places to see, things to do whilst there, etc. Cheers!

Rudolph Claus

Ps: Are there any student discounts/offers we could avail of for any of this?

bucks73

Book your flights asap. You will be lucky to get anything under two grand at this stage. Flights going down to Oz/NZ for Xmas are extremely busy. Im going out Dec 18th and fare is about 1800.

Rudolph Claus

Im going out Dec 18th and fare is about 1800.

Jeeze, didnt think they`d be that expensive, think we`ll wail till easter or next summer maybe. I thought a grand would get the flights. Goodluck with your trip btw.

breadmonkey

Would we be best to go on 1 of them pre-planned holidays which has you spend a day or 2 in each place and follow a schedule

It depends on the type of person you are but I would never ever ever ever recommend anyone to do it like this. As the song says, "go your own way..." (but have some rough plan in your head).

Benedict XVI

Nuttzy wrote:

Would we be best to go on 1 of them pre-planned holidays which has you spend a day or 2 in each place and follow a schedule or just land there and make our own way to various places.

Try the Magic Bus or Kiwi Experience; they are ‘hop on hop off’ type services that go around the country with a variety of routes and packages. You could also get the Lonely Planet. They have suggested itineraries of various lengths; it’s also a good idea to read it before you go to get ideas of places you might want to see.

Nuttzy wrote:

We dont want to stay in top class hotels but not manky hostels either. Maybe Lodges or B+b`s are the best options??

The hostels are of a fairly high quality actually. But there are also loads of motels and reasonably prices hotels. If you have nothing booked go to the tourist office in each town you arrive at and see what is on offer, the tourists offices are very good. Again the Lonely Planet is a good guide to accommodation of every level.

Nuttzy wrote:

Whats the financial scene like over there, how far will the euro go. Is stuff cheap in comparison.

When I was there in March there was good value for your Euro, prices are expensive relative to $NZ but good value as I said for the Euro.

Nuttzy wrote:

Anyone got any suggestions/reccommendations regards this, places to see, things to do whilst there, etc. Cheers!

Far too many to even start.

Sheera

Hey

I was in NZ last year - spent 2 weeks there - we hired a car when we arrived in Auckland and would recommend doing that if you drive, as there's a few of you going it would work out quite cheap and its so handy - you can just take things at your own pace and you're not lugging back packs around everywhere! Having said that one of the bus tours (magic bus, etc.) would be a good way of meeting other travellers. We dropped the car off in Wellington, got the ferry to the South Island and bussed/trained it around there. We stayed in hostels every night and they were grand and again as there are a few of you, you could book out whole dorms for yourselves. They're very cheap as well. I found NZ cheap in general but I'd say €500/600 would be cutting it a bit fine...

Off the top of my head, places I would recommend are:
Rotorua
Wai-O-Tapu
Queenstown (Absolutely stunning place - do as many adventure sports as you can!)
Milford Sound
Franz Josef

eta: I found this site to be very useful when planning my trip - loads of recommendations and hostel reviews
http://www.bug.co.uk/

gline

i booked flights to brisbane about 1 month ago, i fly out 1st january for 3 weeks and it was €980 return with korean air,
try www.go4less.ie they have ok prices

you should book asap if you want to go dec/jan time