New Zealand

[little_a]

Revised itinerary..

New Zealand Honeymoon - Itinerary (2 – 20 Dec 05)

Day 0 (02 Dec 05 – Fri) : Departs from Singapore to New Zealand on SQ at 9.05pm.

Day 1 (03 Dec 05 – Sat) : Arrival in Christchurch

*Activities : Collect car and check-in to hotel.
Cathedral Square, Christchurch Cathedral, The Art Centre, Canterbury Museum, Botanic Gardens, Christchurch Casino

Day 2 (04 Dec 05 – Sun) : Christchurch – Ashburton via Geraldine – Lake Tekapo – Mount Cook - Twizel

* Activities : Lake Tekapo, Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Pukaki – Mount Cook Village - Hooker Valley

Day 3 (05 Dec 05 – Mon) : Twizel via Omarama – Oamaru – Dunedin

* Activities : Yellow-eyed Penguins (Bushy Beach), Little Blue Penguins (Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony) NZ$15
(http://www.penguins.co.nz/), Moeraki Boulders

Day 4 (06 Dec 05 – Tues) : Dunedin – Invercargill via Lumsden – Te Anau

* Activities : Otago Peninsula (Larnarch Castle, The Chasm/Lovers track), Baldwin Street (Dunedin), Dunedin City, Catlins Coastal, Nugget Point

Day 5 (07 Dec 05 – Wed) : Te Anau – Milford Sound – Te Anau

* Activities : Scenic Cruise NZ$50 (From Te Anau - 9.00am-10.40am), Te Anau Glowworm Caves NZ$47 (http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/Main/GlowwormCaves/),

Day 6 (08 Dec 05 – Thu) : Te Anau – Queenstown

* Activities : The Remarkables, Shotover High Five™ NZ$195 (Total : 4 hrs)
(http://www.combos.co.nz/shotover.html#highfive)
(Shotover Jet, Scenic Helicopter Flight, Visit the Skyline Complex, Visit the Kiwi Magic Movie,
Ride the Skyline Luge, Ride the Gondola Cableway)

Day 7 (09 Dec 05 – Fri) : Queenstown

* Activities : Deer Park Heights NZ$20 per car (http:// www.thedeerpark.co.nz), Kiwi and Birdlife Park NZ$23
(http://www.kiwibird.co.nz/); Lake Wakatipu; Sky Alpine Casino; Wharf Casino

Day 8 (10 Dec 05 – Sat) : Queenstown via Arrowtown – Wanaka via Haast Pass – Fox Glacier

* Activities : Lake Wanaka, Puzzling World NZ$10 (http://www.puzzlingworld.com), Lake Hawae;
Knight’s Point View Point (Haast), Lake Matheson (Reflection Lake – 90 mins walk)

Day 9 (11 Dec 05 – Sun) : Fox Glacier – Franz Josef Glacier - Hokitika

* Activities : Half-day Fox Glacier Walk NZ$65 (9.15am and 1.45pm) (http://www.foxguides.co.nz/trips.asp);
Hokitika River; Hokitika Heritage Walk (Centennial Swimming Pool; Custom House); St Mary

Day 10 (12 Dec 05 – Mon) : Hokitika – Greymouth – Punakaiki – West Port

* Activities : Shantytown, Pancake Rocks, Blowholes, Coaltown Museum NZ$7, Cape Foulwind, Seal Colony

Day 11 (13 Dec 05 – Tues) : West Port – Murchison via Motueka – Takaka – Motueka

* Activities : Buller Gorge Swingbridge (http://www.bullergorge.co.nz/), Hawkes Lookout, Takaka Hill,
Ngarua Caves NZ$12, Te Waikoropupu Springs, Farewell Spit, Cape Farewell, Whararika Beach

Day 12 (14 Dec 05 – Wed) : Motueka – Nelson – Picton – Blenheim

* Activities : Gardens of the World NZ$5 (http://www.gardensoftheworld.co.nz), Isel Park Gardens, Isel House,
Fairfield Park, Christ Church Cathedral, South St (Historic Houses), Nelson Markets,
Queen’s Garden, Miyazu Japanese Gardens, Founders Brewery
Höglund Art Glass – International Glass Centre NZ$15 (http://www.nelson.hoglund.co.nz/),
Picton Harbour

Day 13 (15 Dec 05 – Thu) : Blenheim – Kaikoura

* Activities : Wine Tours - Cloudy Bay (http://www.cloudybay.co.nz) and Grove Mill (http://www.grovemill.co.nz),
Seal Colony, Fyffe House NZ$5, Little Garden of Memories, Maori Leap Cave NZ$8.50
(Visitor Centre)

Day 14 (16 Dec 05 – Fri) : Kaikoura - Hanmer Springs

* Activities : Waipapa Valley, Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve NZ$17 (http://www.hotfun.co.nz),
Molesworth Station NZ$10 per car (Visitor Centre)

Day 15 (17 Dec 05 – Sat) : Hanmer Springs – Christchurch via State Highway 75– Akaroa

* Activities : Lyttelton Harbour, Governors Bay, Diamond Harbour, Little River, Okuti Valley,
Barry’s Bay Cheese Factory, Heaton Rutland’s Garden NZ$4 (http://www.geocities.com/heatonrutland/tourstart.html), The Takamatua Valley Lavender Farm (http://www.lavender-nz.com/index.html), Garden of Tane, Main Wharf, Dolphins, French Settlers Landing Place, Gaiety Hall, French Bay, Daly’s Wharf, Custom House, St Peter’s Anglican Church, Church of St Patrick, Waeckerle Cottage, War Memorial

Day 16 (18 Dec 05 – Sun) : Akaroa via State Highway 75 – Christchurch – Methven – Christchurch

* Activities : Free Day, Canterbury Plains (Edoras), Mount Hutt

Day 17 (19 Dec 05 – Mon) : Christchurch

*Activities : Free Day

Day 18 (20 Dec 05 – Mon) : Christchurch - Singapore

*Activities : Free Day, Departs from Christchurch to Singapore (2.30pm flight)

 

[kite~]

hi jovialger,

yup Hanmer springs is nice but if u really want to go there, its better for u to stay overnite at greymouth instead of Hokitika. Also, leave greymouth early and drive straight to hanmer springs for a hot spring. u can book ur private thermal pool w ur loved one.

After that drive straight to CHC via Lewis pass if i remember. Remember this day drive is going to be very long.

cos i remember driving from Punkaki cakes (same distance as from greymouth) to Hanmer springs really take a long time.

Therefore if u really go hanmer springs, u might reach CHC in the evening. For us, we reached CHC in e afternoon n did some last minute shopping there.

The decision is still yours.

 

[jessp]

Hi kite

Thanks for suggestions. Is Lewis pass as scenic as Arthurs Pass? From the map, Hanmer springs is north of CHC, and the Lewis pass route back to CHC really looks quite long...

 

[little_a]

Jovia|ger,
when will you be leaving for new zealand? have u bought ur tickets? It is cheaper to buy direct from the airline..
i bought my tickets from GBC and cos of the service charge ... we paid an additional $60... otherwise it is the same as price shown on the website.. I am travelling by SQ straight to christchurch.

 

[jessp]

Hi littleger,

I'm leaving on 14 Oct, back 23 Oct. Booked thru Air NZ from their website.

So are you planning to pre-book any of the activities, or settle them when you reach NZ? Do you have the "Canyon Skippers" 4WD adventure planned for your Queenstown activity?

 

[little_a]

Jovia|ger,
not sure yet.... i din pre-book any of the activities as yet.. what does 4WD means??

 

[kite~]

Hi Jovialger,

I didnt drive through Arthur Pass. To me, Hasst Pass and Lewis Pass is just a Pass, not very scenic to me. But if u want me to compare between Hasst & Lewis, Hasst would be nicer. Abit side track, actually i passby a Pass while driving along Inland Scenic route 72, very nice. i highly recommend this route 72, very scenic n beautiful.

From Greymouth to Hanmer springs via Lewis Pass, u can use Greymouth - Stillwater - Reefton - Springs junction - Hanmer Springs. This route is quite boring.

Then from Hanmer Spring to CHC, the road is very straight and direct and we reached CHC quite fast.

Hi Littleger,

Canyon Skippers is very adventurous. No cars or vehicles are allowed there as this route is considered 1 of the most dangerous in the world. Only professional guides are allowed.

 

[chelsea]

Hi little ger,

thanks.. i am still thinkin of going switzerland in Dec. but i may postpone it to june next yr due to work. i guess it will be a better time. so far that is the general advice i get from ppl. New zealand is one of my choices as well. but unlike u, i will go switzerland before going to NZ. both are nonetheless very beautiful places. I heard from my friend to go south island. was told that N island is a little polluted.

 

[little_a]

chel,
yah.. i think south island is very scenic... north island kind of boring....
i'm going in late autumn to catch switzerland when she is about to snow... June is a good time to go as it is spring/summer?? There's another place that I would like to go... Tasmania... Maybe two years down the road..

 

[little_a]

Kite~/Jovia|ger,
can you explain what canyon skippers is about? how long is the activity?

Jovia|ger,
you are going much earlier than me.... remember to take many pics yah... then share the pics..

Kite~,
Did you use digital camera? how many SD cards did you bring? I intend to buy 1GB SD card and additional camera battery.. I already have 256 mb and 64 mb SD cards... Do you think it is necessary to buy the card?

 

[kite~]

Hi Littleger,

Yes i brought along a digital camera, 1 extra battery, a 256MB card and a short tripod. And we managed to take more than 1000+ shots! What we did was b4 e trip, we actually purchase a external multicard reader casing n an external harddisk (20GB) to slot into the casing. Thus every nite at NZ, we will download our photos into the harddisk. No need laptop and no need extra cards. Just the casing n e harddisk is good enough to transfer our photos.

 

[jessp]

Hi kite

HOw much does the multicard reader casing cost? Or can we like borrow a computer at the various places, then use the usb port to upload/transfer the pictures to our mobile harddisk?

 

[kite~]

The mulitcard reader casing need a hard disk to fix on it then can work. It doesnt need any PC or laptop to download at all.

Its very simple. All i did is to insert my CF card to the mutlicard card casing n press "ok" and it will do the job n download to the hard disk. No need any cables at all.

When i reached Spore, then i use the USB cable n download all 1000+ photos to my laptop.

 

[kite~]

The casing costs abt $100+. For the hard disk, u can buy any size, be it 20 or 30GB. i bot a 20GB hard disk abt $100+ which is more than enough for photos.

Total $200+

 

[jessp]

HI Kite

THanks for info. JUst went to take a look at yur NZ pics again... u know what? I will be staying at the Hairy Lemon Backpackers in Greymouth..hehe.. looks kinda decent from the outside from yur pics.. they are a hotel previously... hope they are good! ;p

 

[kite~]

Hi Jovialger,

In addition, the gaget is really easy n fast. The downloading time is just less than 5mins, could be even 2 to 3 mins even if u hv 100 photos per nite.

hehe Hairy lemon is just opposite the transalpine train at Greymouth station. Do keep me update. Remember to snap more pics n share w me

 

[little_a]

Jovia|ger, seems like very few going to new zealand heehee

 

[jessp]

Hi littleger..

hm... not sure leh.. but i m sure looking forward to it! Has just bought a videocam too... wanna capture the nice memories while we are there

 

[little_a]

wah.. that's great.. I will be getting the gadget kite recommended... going to diy an album..

 

[kite~]

Hi JovialGer,

Its good to bring along a video camera. We brought our video camera and digital cam as well. However, be aware during video taking, there will be alot of wind sound, so might hv to lower the volume.

 

[kite~]

Hi Littleger,

Remember to snap alot of photos and share w me

 

[little_a]

Kite, sure.. will take lot of photos and share it with u ...

 

[jessp]

Hi Kite

Just to check, what photo editing and video editing softwares are you using now? Any recommended ones?

So if the wind is strong, we lower the volume of the videocam .. so can only enjoy the scenery.. but cant really talk or comment on it lar..?

 

[kite~]

Hi Jovialger,

I m using Photoshop for my photos. as for video, i didnt use any software but i burned into DVD disk.

actually during video taking, we were too engrossed at the scenaries, dun really take note abt wind sound until when we reached bk SG n play the video.

 

[little_a]

Jovia|ger, will u be going for the Natas Fair?

 

[greenisfresh]

hi,

i will be going to NZ for honeymoon early oct'05.

Thanks to all of you, especially kite.. i managed to create my itinerary. i will post when its ready.

btw, does anyone know which glowworm is better, Te anau or hokitika?

 

[kite~]

Hi Kwan,

Actually i went to Hokitia glowworm in the evening where the sky is still bright n the place looks very errie to me though it FOC. My hubby thought of going back when the sky is dark but that place made my hair stands so we didnt manage to catch the glowworm at nite.

 

[jessp]

Hi kwan

I'll be in NZ in mid Oct 05! Great to be able to see your itinerary when it's ready! How long will your trip be?

Hi littleger

When is the NATAS fair?? at where?

 

[little_a]

Hi Jovia|ger,
I think Natas fair will be from 9 - 11 Sep ...

Wat kind of clothings do u intend to bring there? Is there a need to wear boots?

 

[little_a]

Think at singapore expo..

 

[greenisfresh]

hi..

this itenerary driving me nuts.. i can't concentrate at my work. kekeke.. i keep thinking of doing it. Too excited maybe..

btw, natas will be on 9-11 September.
But i won't wait until that time. too near to my wedding date (1st oct)

Just wondering how you all go buy the ticket? is it in the package? through agency? or buy online directly from the airline? which one is cheaper?
is ala carte cheaper then the package?

 

[kite~]

Hi Littleger,

If u intending to do alot of nature walks in NZ, esp. at Hooker Valley, Mount John, Lake Matherson n etc, its better to wear a hardy, comfortable boots. Both me and my hubby wore boots. I got my boots for $100+.

Hi kwan,

Hehe i was like u too, preparing NZ itinerary n wedding at e same time, i know ur stress but do enjoy the prep. as time really flies fast

I DIY everything from air tix, accommodations, car rentals. Though its alot of work but its e satisfaction u get.

Of coz ala carte is cheaper!!!

 

[kite~]

Hi Kwan,

Have u settled ur air tix? most important is air tix, from there, u can start to book ur accommodations.

 

[jessp]

Hi kite

So you brought along a pair of boots, while also wearing sports shoes for other days when not doing the walks?

 

[little_a]

Haiz,
i am changing my accommodation for Dunedin.. the hotel I have booked had -ve feedback..

 

[kite~]

Hi JovialGer,

I wore my boots from Spore to NZ cos its heavy tp put inside our luggage. Then when other days not doing long walks, we will wear our sandals.

 

[greenisfresh]

Hi Kite,

Yupe i can't get enuf sleep lately.
I must pull myself together and relax when preparing the whole things. Lucky, my husband-to-be is helpful and supportive..

no, not yet booked the tix. we are still comparing the price. How did you book the tix? direct from airline or through tour agency?

Hi little_ger, so.. may i know all your accomodation that you've booked?
I'm thinking to stay overnight at greymouth instead of hokitika as i will see the glowworm in te anau. no nothing much i can do if i stay overnight in hokitika..

 

[little_a]

hi kwan,
i will post them tonight.. there isnt many choices of accommodations at greymouth that's why i decided to stay overnight at hokitika instead..

 

[little_a]

kwan,
it is definitely cheaper to book direct from the airline and not thru agency..

 

[jessp]

Hi kwan

We are staying overnight at Greymouth.. then next day will be nearer to our drive back to CHC. We are staying at Hairy Lemon.

 

[greenisfresh]

Hi little,

thanks for the reply..

hi jovial,
how much is the rate for Hairy Lemon? is it in the city area?

 

[jessp]

Hi Kwan

It's NZ64 for double ensuite. very near to the train station..

 

[kite~]

hi Kwan,

i booked online from air NZ directly

 

[kite~]

Hi Kwan,

Hairy Lemon is just opposite Greymouth Transalpine station. I passed by that area before. Very good location. Cos behind the train station is a very big supermarket if i m not wrong. Can stock up and buy thing. Then u can also walk up n there r alot of shops if u love shopping.

 

[greenisfresh]

Hi Jovial and kite.

Thanks. i'll consider The hairy lemon. i saw their website already and check the supermarket location that u mentioned. Very near and very big

 

[sputnik]

Hi,

What do you gals think is the best time to go New Zealand? Went South Island for my honeymoon in Nov 2002, which makes it spring. Thinking of going North Island around Mar next year, which is probably the start of autumn. Anyone went there around that time before?

Actually think it should be quite nice in summer, but can't make it for summer this year, and don't want to wait till next summer....

 

[little_a]

Hi Kwan,

My accommodations in New Zealand

Christchurch - Tuscana Motor Lodge NZ$120 (www.tuscana.co.nz)
Twizel – Mountain Chalet Motels NZ$100 (http://www.mountainchalets.co.nz/)
Dunedin – Hulmes Court Bed & Breakfast NZ$130 (http://www.hulmes.co.nz/)
Te Anau – Antler Lodge Bed and Breakfast NZ$120 (http://www.antlerlodgeteanau.co.nz/)
Queenstown – Blue Peak Lodge NZ$130 (http://www.bluepeaks.co.nz)
Fox Glacier – Lake Matheson Motel NZ$105 (http://www.lakematheson.co.nz/lake-matheson-motels.html)
Hokitika – Heritage Highway Motel NZ$105 (http://www.heritagemotel.co.nz)
Westport – Chelsea Gateway Motor Lodge NZ$120 (http://www.chelseagateway.co.nz/)
Motueka – Equestrian Lodge Motel NZ$110 (http://www.equestrianlodge.co.nz/)
Blenheim – Lugano Motor Lodge NZ$115 (http://www.lugano.co.nz/)
Kaikoura – Panorama Motel NZ$130 (http://www.panoramamotel.co.nz/)
Hanmer Springs – Albergo Hanmer Lodge & Alpine Villa NZ$220 (http://www.albergohanmer.com)
Akaroa – Country Living - Akaroa Boutique Accommodation NZ$180 (http://www.akaroa5.co.nz/welcome.cfm)

 

[kite~]

Hi Littleger,

Seems like u really did your homework very well. most of your accommodations are of good locations with nice views. U prefer to the guidebooks for accommodations?

 

[little_a]

kite~,
thanks yes.. i did check out the location of the accommodations by looking at the map .. we din wanna travel too far.. if possible near to the city/ main town.

heehee.. i refer to lonely planets and surfed the net for info.

 

[kite~]

Littlerger,

thats good to hear that

When exactly will you be departing?