With the Aussie dollar riding high a visit to our most well-liked overseas destination has never ever been better worth. New Zealand's close proximity, incredible skiing, spectacular scenery and usually laid back (almost comatose in some locations) way of life make it a incredible spot for a holiday or extended trip. In 2008 almost 900,000 Aussies visited New Zealand. Recent marketing pushes from the New Zealand government has kept men and women coming - it really is challenging not to get a tiny emotional just after a negative week at work when those adds come on...it honestly is a incredible spot to unwind. So what's the best way to get there and about?
Flights to New Zealand
There are a lot of incredible deals to New Zealand, with decent competition for your capital from various airlines. This has created flights as affordable as they have ever been, but beware, booking early is nevertheless important as affordable seats will be sold up well in advance, in particular for peak instances. Direct flights into Queenstown from Australia are continually full over winter.
Essential tips for booking flights to New Zealand:
New Zealand's international airports are Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown (restricted direct flights from Oz in Ski season) A really good time of year to order tickets is January. Air New Zealand will release their specials about this time and seats will be readily obtainable for later in the year (for ski season or flights up until September). Splitting your return fare among two airlines is a way to save capital - Qantas, Virgin Blue or Air New Zealand could be the least expensive on the way over to Auckland, though Emirates are frequently the least expensive on the return leg (a really good opportunity to fly a incredible airline). Check on-line for one way fares rather than returns. A bit of searching will save you capital. In common you will need to budget about $450-$500 Aussie return inc. tax for flights to New Zealand. Any less costly than this and it really is a incredible deal. Direct flights into Queenstown will almost undoubtedly be closer to $600 inc tax if you get in early Virgin Blue is the only budget carrier that flies to the three important airports from Australia Lan Chile and Aerolineus Argentina can typically have affordable seats as they stop over right here on the way by way of to South America (by way of Auckland) New Zealand is the most well-liked international destination for on-line flight bookings and there is honestly no require to use an agent if you are happy to book on-line. Save yourself the commission agents will charge by booking on the internetRound the World
On Star Alliance New Zealand is an hassle-free stop on the way to either the states or pacific Islands.
On One World Qantas or Lan Chile will get you there either on the way to the States or South America. It counts as part of the Australian region on continent based tickets.
The best time to go
Autumn (March to June) or spring (August to November) are incredible instances to visit. Fares are affordable at these instances, and there is less tourist visitors about the well-liked spots. The colours are incredible, and your holiday will undoubtedly be even more relaxed. On the South Island September - October is a incredible time with the mixture of the alter of seasons and snow capped mountains making for spectacular drives.
As in Australia and about the world attempt to steer clear of nearby school holiday instances as prices will be greater. Try to steer clear of January, the initially week of February, April and the initially couple of weeks of July.
Acquiring about
Hiring a automobile
The least expensive time to rent a automobile is over the winter months from June to October. The incredible range of option of employ providers and the robust dollar signifies it really is an hassle-free and affordable way to get about at any time of year. $40 a day will get you began. Check the massive operators such as Hertz, Painless Rent and Spending budget, along with a bunch of smaller operators.
Campervans
Renting a campervan has turn out to be one of the most well-liked techniques to see New Zealand, and with really good reason. It will give you total freedom and will work out a tiny less costly than staying in hotels over the length of your stay. There is a incredible network of camping sites to park in, or otherwise just propping for the night out in the nation is substantially less difficult than on Australia's East coast - you will hardly ever be bothered by a ranger at 6 am trying to fine you $300 for parking in a public spot. (those rangers, they'll get ya)
In common a campervan will set you back about $100.00 per day with all the bells and whistles. A really good tip is that purchasing comprehensive travel insurance coverage in Australia will save you on your automobile insurance coverage in New Zealand. A decent Australian policy will have a high rental car excess cover, allowing you to pick the least expensive insurance coverage option for the camper van. The travel insurance coverage policy will spend for itself a couple of instances over.
Check out providers such as Britz, Pacific Horizon, KEA, Apollo and Maui. There is lots of competition for your dollar.
Be sure you know the varying road circumstances in New Zealand - driving about in winter by way of narrow roads with sleet and snow can be extremely challenging and put a dampener on any trip.
For longer stays purchasing a automobile is an option - 2nd hand cars can be really affordable and the process of changing ownership is hassle-free (just a trip to the post office).
Placing your automobile/campervan/person on the interisland ferry
Acquiring among the two islands with your automobile or on your personal is hassle-free and fairly reasonable. Ferries depart 5 instances everyday among Wellington in the North and Picton in the South. Look out for deals on these sites:
-Inter Islander
-Blue Bridge
Expect to spend about $50New Zealand dollars for a single trip without having a automobile.
Backpacker Buses
New Zealand is by far one of the easiest nations to get about backpacking. A near excellent network of hostels is served by incredible public buses or, the less difficult option, backbacker buses such as the Kiwi Encounter. The later is a hop on hop off style bus that will take you about the islands at your personal pace, conveniently stopping at all the important sights and outside the door of chosen hostels. If you can put up with the odd white shoe wearing Brit spending dad's capital then this can be a incredible way to see the islands, with a lot of options for adventure activities along the way. Also check out the 'magic bus' and 'stray travel' web-sites for similar services.
Rail
There are a couple of incredible scenic train rides in New Zealand that are reasonably priced and a really good way to ditch the employ automobile for a couple of days. In the North Island you can travel among Auckland and Wellington, or on the South Island the train from Christchurch-Picton is continually well-liked. The later takes in the Kaikoura ranges on one side and the Pacific coast on the other side. The trip takes about five hours, takes in 22 tunnels and is extremely suggested.
Domestic flights
At present Zuji or Air New Zealand are two sites that will permit you to book and spend for New Zealand domestic flights on-line. Costs are pretty affordable budget about $90 inc tax one way from Auckland to Wellington as an example.
Accomodation
As with flights booking well in advance is the important to finding a reasonable price tag for accommodation. If you are winging it and booking just a night and employ automobile be conscious in Ski season and New Zealand school holidays accommodation choices thin out quite immediately. Moreover, there can be a massive difference in price tag by way of agents and various web-sites. Be sure to take the time to check out at least a couple of choices prior to you book.
Skiing?
Cheap fares and packages, along with decent snow make a ski trip to New Zealand an hassle-free option rather than the overpriced and inconstant trips inside Australia. A week in New Zealand honestly can be less costly than staying at household.
The important difference among Australia and a great many other destinations is that you can't stay ideal at the snow (with the exception of Cardona, above Wanaka, and these apartments are booked months in advance). You will be staying in towns close order, but this is no drama as transfers to the mountains are affordable and becoming in Queenstown any night throughout ski season is not a negative thing.
Booking early is the important, in particular for massive groups. Try and book any flights and packages in January - there is continually a multitude of deals obtainable. Look into booking late season - August by way of to October. The snow is pretty dependable and you will steer clear of peak prices.
Principal regions
Queenstown
The capital in New Zealand for both Skiing and adventure activities, Queenstown has never ever lost its appeal. You can ski up to 5 locations, including nearby Wanaka. There is accommodation from the plushest digs by way of to a bunch of backpacker style choices that we usually lack in resorts in Oz. Queenstown is also incredible in summer, with a lot to preserve you busy off the mountains.
Wanaka
Some 70 km's from Queenstown, Wanaka is a massive resort though less crowded and hedonistic than Queenstown. It's a less costly option than Queenstown, but has less scenic worth and comes with tiny of the village style atmposphere that you get from its flashier neighbour.
Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt enjoys the longest ski season in the South Island due to its status as one of the highest ski fields in the Southern Hemisphere. It's located just 1.5 hours drive from Christchurch. Accommodation options are either Methvan or Mt Hutt, and range from affordable and simple motels to luxury resort style.
Mt Ruapehu
Situated on the North Island, Mt Ruapehu is tiny known to men and women outside New Zealand. To locals, this region represents consistent snow and the country's most developed ski locations. Tour operators practically ignore this region, though it really is a great many New Zealand locals initially option over winter. Heli skiing is better served in the South Island, along with other adventure activities.
Heli Skiing
For heli skiing trips or scenic flights over parts of both islands a multitude of option abounds. Just be sure to check the safety record of the operator you pick.
Some other beneficial tips
Stay longer than the common five days most Aussies do - a month of travel right here will need to leave you wondering what the rush is back household
Do not bother purchasing road maps - the Value Tours brochure, from any agent in Aus, has a comprehensive rundown of accommodation choices, and a 100 % free and decent map. A thing like an NRMA guide book. Failing that 100 % free tourist maps when you arrive are just as really good.
Often check for deals in January for the Ski season
Also look into skiing in the North Island for something various
Cheap Travel Flights to Japan
