New Zealand North Island

[Orale 1112]

Any recommendations for the north island of New Zealand. I'm headed there the first week of November for 11 days. I'm going to rent a car and explore with no itinerary planned yet.

 

I spent two weeks in NZ a few years ago but just hit up the big cities with some day trips to scenic spots like Milford Sound and Waiheke Island.

[yoladu 4172]

2 days in Auckland

3 days in the Northland

1 day Rotorua

1 day Napier

2 days Lake Taupo/ Tongariro

2 days in Wellington

 

the Coromandel Peninsula is nice if you want to knock a day off Auckland of the Northland. Of course, if you have already hit the big cities already, Auckland and Wellignton might not hold the same interest.

i know the Waitomo glowworm caves are a big attraction -  never been though.

[Spankytoes 1747]

Skip Wellington unless you are going to the LOTR (Weta) studio. You can actually tour Hobbiton in Matamata. They have several busses leaving from Auckland. Well worth it.

I would add Waitamo. The Glowworm caves are pretty badass. Bus travel is very efficient, but I was glad that I rented a car. We loved all of our hotels.

IMO, the South Island has more interesting attractions. (Lake Tekapo, Queenstown, various glaciers, Milford Sound, etc.) But if you’re married to the North, @yoladu has a decent itinerary .

Edited October 21, 2022 by Spankytoes

[Deej 77298]

I'd make a point of hitting at least one fish and chip shop at every stop. Preferably after drinking. 

Also, it's going into their Summer, so take a jacket. 

[brownboy 45]

Did the Waitomo glowworm caves right before covid hit and it was worth it.  There was some sort of hot spring not far from there too.

If you do make it to Wellington taking the ferry over to Picton across the Marlboro Sounds for a few days is relaxing.  Stayed in a house at the marina with boats right outside the front door and you could walk to a smattering of bars and restaurants.  There's a nice hike there too which gives you a great view of the town and water below.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/31389111

I flew into Wellington and rented a car one-way for almost nothing since it was a company that helps rental car fleets relocate and I took from there to Auckland instead of the other way around.

I had to come back early b/c of covid and need to get the south island trip scheduled.  Driving was pleasant enough but I'd like to take a train so I can booze.

 

[Spankytoes 1747]

24 minutes ago, brownboy said:

Did the Waitomo glowworm caves right before covid hit and it was worth it.  There was some sort of hot spring not far from there too.

If you do make it to Wellington taking the ferry over to Picton across the Marlboro Sounds for a few days is relaxing.  Stayed in a house at the marina with boats right outside the front door and you could walk to a smattering of bars and restaurants.  There's a nice hike there too which gives you a great view of the town and water below.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/31389111

I flew into Wellington and rented a car one-way for almost nothing since it was a company that helps rental car fleets relocate and I took from there to Auckland instead of the other way around.

I had to come back early b/c of covid and need to get the south island trip scheduled.  Driving was pleasant enough but I'd like to take a train so I can booze.

 

Good call. We rented from Jucy car rental too. No issues and a fair price. They do tours as well.

[Biff Tannen 45786]

Getting ready to start planning this for 2024 in January or February.  My sister lived there after she graduated high school, so I got to go for 3 weeks when I was 12, but can't wait to go back.  

Willing to pay for business class if I can find a decent deal.  Anyone have any recs for airlines?  Qantas?  Singapore?  Other?

[Spankytoes 1747]

We flew from JFK-LAX-SYD on Qantas in a double decker plane. We spent 4 nights in Sydney and then flew Jetstar from SYD-AKL. No issues beyond a long initial flight. American flies direct to Auckland out of DFW at that time.

[Ravishing Rick 1217]

I took the American flight direct from DFW to Auckland in December and it’s fantastic. I go to NZ a couple times per year for work, and it makes such a difference not to have to connect. 
 

if you’re there in summer, probably my best pro tip would be to spend the extra cash (maybe $1500 I think it was) to get a helicopter to take you around Auckland and then out to Waiheke for a day of drinking at a restaurant on the beach. Hard to top a day like that. 

[brownboy 45]

Flew there via Singapore Airlines and the service was stellar but the business class seat wasn't great.  The footwell is a little narrow if you don't get bulkhead and the seat has to be manually flipped to become the bed so it doesn't have the in-between modes.  Added a free stopover in Singapore for a few days.

Came back via AA and the business class seat was awesome and service was adequate.

The waitomo glow worm cave was really cool.  Wellington is nice town and it's a beautiful ride across the Marlboro Sounds to Picton.

There was talk of an AA flight from DFW to Christchurch.  I'll look for it if I can get back there and explore the south island.

[52-80 19287]

Qantas and ANZ both do good J. Regionally I also like TG (esp their F) but you almost cant go wrong with any flagship carriers based in the Pacific

[Wiler77 1592]

On 1/21/2023 at 6:15 PM, Biff Tannen said:

Getting ready to start planning this for 2024 in January or February.  My sister lived there after she graduated high school, so I got to go for 3 weeks when I was 12, but can't wait to go back.  

Willing to pay for business class if I can find a decent deal.  Anyone have any recs for airlines?  Qantas?  Singapore?  Other?

Have your wife ask mine about our trip.  Pretty sure we have detailed notes about everything we did.

We went February 2020 for our 15th anniversary literally as COVID was becoming a thing.  The difference in airport questioning from entering to leaving was night and day different.  I think they shut NZ down like 2 weeks after we got back.

Our long leg was ANZ from IAH-->AKL.  Then a quick trip down to Christchurch.  We were exclusively on the south island.  It was amazing.

[Biff Tannen 45786]

On 1/21/2023 at 6:15 PM, Biff Tannen said:

Getting ready to start planning this for 2024 in January or February.  My sister lived there after she graduated high school, so I got to go for 3 weeks when I was 12, but can't wait to go back.  

Willing to pay for business class if I can find a decent deal.  Anyone have any recs for airlines?  Qantas?  Singapore?  Other?

Coming back to this, I'm thinking I might be crazy.

We are planning on doing this with the in laws, who are 72 and 73 years old, and the MIL doesn't get around that well and hates anything outdoors, or at least anything that requires her to walk more than 100 yards.  The rest of us, including FIL, are big hikers and outdoor people.  We all also have constrained budgets right now, due to various life issues.

If it were up to me, I'd call this whole thing off and try again in a year or so, but wife is saying this is her dad's bucket list trip and we have to do it now.  I just feel like it's going to be a nightmare on multiple fronts.  

Only thing we have booked right now is airfare, which is refundable.  Should I be pushing to call it off?

[Deej 77298]

14 minutes ago, Biff Tannen said:

We are planning on doing this with the in laws, who are 72 and 73 years old, and the MIL doesn't get around that well and hates anything outdoors, or at least anything that requires her to walk more than 100 yards. 

You need to figure out a way to ditch them or call it off. If they like none of those things, they won't fully enjoy NZ, and it's going to keep you from experiencing it like it should be, which is outside, on your feet, exploring everything it has to offer. 

[Biff Tannen 45786]

15 minutes ago, Deej said:

You need to figure out a way to ditch them or call it off. If they like none of those things, they won't fully enjoy NZ, and it's going to keep you from experiencing it like it should be, which is outside, on your feet, exploring everything it has to offer. 

That's what I'm basically telling the wife.  I wish we could just take the FIL and not MIL.  It's his dream, but she will just drag him down and he wont' get to experience it the way it should be done.

[Orale 1112]

2 hours ago, Biff Tannen said:

Coming back to this, I'm thinking I might be crazy.

We are planning on doing this with the in laws, who are 72 and 73 years old, and the MIL doesn't get around that well and hates anything outdoors, or at least anything that requires her to walk more than 100 yards.  The rest of us, including FIL, are big hikers and outdoor people.  We all also have constrained budgets right now, due to various life issues.

If it were up to me, I'd call this whole thing off and try again in a year or so, but wife is saying this is her dad's bucket list trip and we have to do it now.  I just feel like it's going to be a nightmare on multiple fronts.  

Only thing we have booked right now is airfare, which is refundable.  Should I be pushing to call it off?

Can you just leave MIL in hotel/airbnb to watch tv when y'all are out and about enjoying nature? Or is she just miserable in general to have along? I loved my North Island trip last Fall. I hadn't planned on it, but ended up hiking the Tongariro Crossing which was amazing. 

[Biff Tannen 45786]

1 hour ago, Orale said:

Can you just leave MIL in hotel/airbnb to watch tv when y'all are out and about enjoying nature? Or is she just miserable in general to have along? I loved my North Island trip last Fall. I hadn't planned on it, but ended up hiking the Tongariro Crossing which was amazing. 

Yeah, this would be the only option, which she might be fine with, but it’s just awkward as hell. And most of the time she says she wants to go, but then can’t do what we are doing, so then FIL just stays back with her at the car or wherever while me and the wife go do the real stuff. 
 

We did Italy a couple of years ago and the MIL ended up in the ER twice from falling, just walking around the hill towns of Italy. She’s in a better place now physically (in theory), but I have major ptsd from that trip still. 
 

It’s just awkward all around.