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*******N Z Travel/Living the Winter...CAN YOU HELP??********
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bobbysox



Joined: 11 Jul 2005
Posts: 1
PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 4:37 pm    Post subject: *******N Z Travel/Living the Winter...CAN YOU HELP??******** Reply with quote
KIWI'S and other Travelers....can you help me? I am visting nz in about 3 weeks for an undetermined amount of time (my lady lives in Dunedin and I am applying for a work holiday visa), and I have a HOST of questions hopefully you can answer.
1. I arrive in Auckland and will make my way down to Dunedin; so whats the best way for me to get down there? Bus, and if so, why, and on what routes? Can I get a good deal on a backpackers car deal, or even try to take a rental car down to another departure point for the company for free? IN SHORT...WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT GETTING TO THE SOUTH ISLAND...what to see, where to go, how easy is travel on both islands, ect?
2. I am from the states and love to ski...but will not have any of my gear, so where to ski (w/dunedin as a home base) and how easy is it to rent gear..price wise? WHAT WILL THE WEATHER BE LIKE ON BOTH ISLANDS (what clothes to bring)...ESPECIALLY ON THE COAST AROUND DUNEDIN? (I am from Salt Lake City and just finished school in Seattle Washington so I am not afraid of bad weather and thats exactly what I expect...)
3. IN GENERAL, WHAT KNOWLEDGE CAN YOU DROP ON ME REGARDING TRAVELING/LIVING IN NEW ZEALAND??? (especially on the south island and Dunedin)

Many thanks and much peace to all peoples on this site, and good things and karma for your understanding and help....bobby
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Garry
Site Admin


Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 290
Location: New Zealander in Scotland
PostPosted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 6:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Since it sounds like you want to do some site seeing on the way I would personally hire a car, maybe put a note up on the hostel notice boards to find a few travel partners to pitch in. You could see if any of the rental car companies need a relocation when you get there. It is off season now so ring a few rental car companies when get there and see if you can haggle them down if you can't get a freebie. Just drive straight down the middle from Auckland to Wellington via Rotorua, Taupo and Tongariro National Park (if the Desert Road isn't closed because of snow).

Frow Picton (ferry terminal of the south island) you can take a few different routes. The east coast from Kaikoura - Dunedin is pretty ho hum, mostly farms. So you can either head west from Picton via Nelson or head west via Lewis Pass (just north of Christchurch) or Arthurs Pass (from Christchurch). Then down the scenic westcoast and across the haast pass to Wanaka, Queenstown (skiing). From Queenstown it is about a 4 1/2 hour drive to Dunedin via Central Otago.

Queestown and Wanaka are the ski fields closest to Dunedin and have the best skiing in NZ.

Bring lots of warm clothes, some suburbs of Dunedin get snow and it is generally icy and cold in winter.

I was born and raised in Dunedin and it is a good wee city to live in. Lots of students and parties down the north end. Fairly close to the ski fields and other nice places like the Catlins and Central Otago.
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