My daughter has the opportunity of 4 months at the University of Auckland next year (she is currently in Edinburgh).
She will have a week off in the middle of April, so we are going to visit her for that time (via Sydney for a few days). Given such a short time there, should we stay in the north of North Island, fly straight to the South Island or something completely different.
Difficult to plan when one has never been, not helped by browsing (online) brochures and doesn’t really have a clue, so grateful for any thoughts the informed may have!
It really depends what you want to do, if relaxation is at the top of your list I would recommend a few days in Pihia in the North of the North Island, it’s a bit like the Mediterranean in the summer months and crystal clear oceans make it one of my favourite places in NZ.
On the other hand the South Island is stunning and you’ll have tremendous weather down there probably in April, not too hot. The Wineries are fantastic and there’s always plenty going on, especially around Queenstown.
If you opted to fly into Auckland and stay there, there are fantastic beaches on both coasts, I especially Omaha on the east Coast about 90 min drive north, great food and plenty of decent accommodation.
April is autumn time in NZ, so beaches are probably not the best option. To get the full scale autumn leaves experience fly to Queenstown, stay at a hotel on the lake, hire a car and drive out to Arrowtown, an old gold-mining township which is quite beautiful at that time of year. There’s plenty to do in Queenstown and if your budget permits you can helicopter or fixed wing plane over the mountains and glaciers to Milford Sound. You can do all of that and still have a couple of days in Auckland.
One of the best in terms of appreciating the magnificent unspoiled vistas of the South Island (pisses all over the North) is the train trip from Christchurch to Greymouth. Crosses the Alps, sculpts the Canty Plain and arrives, in no time, in Greymouth, a quaint step back in time. Only takes a day and not very expensive.
http://www.kiwirailscenic.co.nz/tranzalpine/
I started this a short piece but I got carried away.
As you have a shortish time over here, I think a night or two in Queenstown is a must. A daytime flight on a clear day from Auckland gives you views that you’re not going to forget. Rent a car, drive to Wanaka (1 hour) or Dunedin (3 hours) and enjoy the scenery. There’s nowhere else in the world like it.
As you’re based in Auckland, I would find a bit of time enjoy the city. The Classic Comedy on Queen St club gives you an excellent taste of NZ humour. A meal in the revolving restaurant at the Sky Tower at sunset is hard to beat. Also, the food court at Elliot Stables on Albert St is very enjoyable. Ferries from Auckland are good value – short hop to Devonport or longer trips to Waiheke or Rangitoto.
I agree that the beaches mentioned are great – but April is at the very end of Summer, so it might be risky weather-wise if you want to go the full hammock.
Finally, if you fancy a road trip from Auckland, three hours away is Rotorua. The city itself is unremarkable apart from the fact that every now and then you see a thermal pool bubbling, shooting bright white steam into the sky.
I would go to one of the many geothermal parks, where you will see gushing geysers and boiling mud pools that make amusing noises.
Unless you really want to, I would avoid the organised Maori experience tours to Rotorua. It’s really, really touristy and the prices reflect that. You’ll be in a big bus and shepherded from place to place. Honestly, rent a car and stop at places that look interesting. The Department of Conservation (“Doc”) maintains a lot of the land. Their walking tracks are well looked after, full of information, staffed by knowledgeable people and they’re free.
The All Blacks?
The GLW and I made a trip to NZ back in January, and I can underline pretty much everything @black-celebration has to say above. My brother in law (an Auckland resident) organised a wine tasting trip to Waiheke – having lunch at the Man O’War vineyard was one of the best things I’ve done. Ever. I also went to Devonport and bought a tea-towel which had a picture of Robert Smith with the strap line “Big Boys Don’t Dry”.
We also spent time in Queenstown, where I did a wine tasting tour on a motorised trike. The more places we stopped at, the faster I hoped he would go. I was concerned before we went that it Queenstown would be a bit too Magaluf, and whilst there are more pubs and thrill seeking experiences than you can shake a stick at there was plenty for an old fart like me to do – and some great beer and restaurants. We flew to Milford Sound from Queenstown – not at all cheap, but quicker and some stunning views from the air, followed by a boat trip along the Sound itself. As someone who generally has no time for the outdoors, I was taken aback at the views.
We also went to Rotorua – fantastic lakes, and the occasional whiff of sulfur. We were recommended a Maori dinner there which turned out to be the only bum steer we were given in the whole trip. We did a trip to a park with hot lakes which turned out to be more fun than it sounds.
When we were planning the trip – which also included time in Sydney and Melbourne – I wasn’t bothered about going to NZ, but I have to say it was turned out to be the bit that left the biggest impression on me, and we are already planning a return.
Best thing we did was Kaikora in the South Island. We swam with dolphins, watched sperm whales and albatrosses. Awesome.
Just come back from 3 weeks in the South Island: if scenery is your thing then this is the place to go. The usual names (Milford Sound, Queenstown, Mt Cook) will all impress but hire a car and go independently; there is so much beauty to drink in, the horror of being in a coach and not able to stop where you like would have driven me mad. Akoroa, near Christchurch, is a pretty little French enclave on a flooded volcanic caldera with wildlife and views aplenty, worth a look. In the north island Napier Hastings is a town flattened in the 20s and rebuilt very attractively in the Art Deco style with lots of top-drawer wineries on its doorstep.
As your daughter will be living in Auckland, she will probably welcome a trip to South Island.
You could try this to start the week
Fly to Christchurch, have the rest of the day to look around , stay overnight
Transalpine train to Greymouth as recommended by @garyjohn, hire a car & drive to Franz Josef or Fox Glacier in the afternoon, stay overnight
Walk the glacier. If it’s a full day walk, there’s a spa in Franz Josef that you can unwind in afterwards. Not sure if there’s one at Fox. Stay a second night.
Drive to Milford Sound – it’s 8 hours, but you’re on a time budget. Stay on the overnight Milford Sound trip – you’ll need to book in advance but I can’t recommend this highly enough.
Drive to Queenstown. Base yourself there for the rest of the time and do some of the things suggested above
Fly back to Auckland making sure you get a window seat – @black-celebration is right about the views.
And if you do decide to stay in Auckland, and fancy a cheap evening out, check out the Stardome. The sessions on the night sky are great fun, and you get to see the constellations upside-down. And at $15 (£6-7) it’s a bargain.
Many thanks, one and (nearly) all.
GLW is now getting involved in planning too…
Not that much availability on flights already!
It seems that some kind of Hobbit/LotR tour is also required – though guess that is acceptable if we get to do plenty of what is recommended above.