Travel to New Zealand on business - any advice?

[djc206]

Johnniem said:

You have to really love the great outdoors when visiting NZ. If it's culture and nightlife you want then you may only have Auckland, which will be short on cultural history and ancient buildings (for obvious reasons). If you love the outdoor life then NZ will never disappoint but (in my opinion) that's about it!

Food. I’m not a massive outdoorsy person although we did a lot of the activities that NZ has to offer like rafting and zip lining etc. But my biggest thing there was eating, everywhere we went I said I wasn’t that hungry and I’d only have one course and then the menu would appear and I’d have three, washed down with at least a bottle of wine.

Queenstown has quite a good night life if you’re young.

I absolutely loved NZ. It helps that the roads are spectacular.

[Johnniem]

djc206 said:

Johnniem said:

You have to really love the great outdoors when visiting NZ. If it's culture and nightlife you want then you may only have Auckland, which will be short on cultural history and ancient buildings (for obvious reasons). If you love the outdoor life then NZ will never disappoint but (in my opinion) that's about it!

Food. I’m not a massive outdoorsy person although we did a lot of the activities that NZ has to offer like rafting and zip lining etc. But my biggest thing there was eating, everywhere we went I said I wasn’t that hungry and I’d only have one course and then the menu would appear and I’d have three, washed down with at least a bottle of wine.

Queenstown has quite a good night life if you’re young.

I absolutely loved NZ. It helps that the roads are spectacular.

I agree that the quality of the food is excellent (not forgetting the wines) and there is a growing amount of choice. Bluff oysters are the best I have ever tasted and properly morish! Have you, however, tried to get a decent curry out there? Chinese is brilliant and thai is good but curry hasn't really arrived quite yet. That is obviously not a reason to not go though! I would encourage everyone to visit NZ but just not to expect European levels of history, culture or entertainment that we enjoy in every city in Europe. It just isn't there and because of distance I don't think it will ever compare to what we have.

[djc206]

Johnniem said:

I agree that the quality of the food is excellent (not forgetting the wines) and there is a growing amount of choice. Bluff oysters are the best I have ever tasted and properly morish! Have you, however, tried to get a decent curry out there? Chinese is brilliant and thai is good but curry hasn't really arrived quite yet. That is obviously not a reason to not go though! I would encourage everyone to visit NZ but just not to expect European levels of history, culture or entertainment that we enjoy in every city in Europe. It just isn't there and because of distance I don't think it will ever compare to what we have.

Ha no to be honest I didn’t look for a curry. I was just happy with the excellent seafood. I don’t eat oysters but my now wife consumed her own body weight of them every day. Cost me a bloody fortune!

[sjg]

Johnniem said:

I agree that the quality of the food is excellent (not forgetting the wines) and there is a growing amount of choice. Bluff oysters are the best I have ever tasted and properly morish! Have you, however, tried to get a decent curry out there? Chinese is brilliant and thai is good but curry hasn't really arrived quite yet. That is obviously not a reason to not go though! I would encourage everyone to visit NZ but just not to expect European levels of history, culture or entertainment that we enjoy in every city in Europe. It just isn't there and because of distance I don't think it will ever compare to what we have.

had the worst curry of my life in Wellington on my first visit. My indian relatives (wife's side) ran an excellent one in Christchurch until the 2011 earthquake.

UK "indian" restaurants are largely run by Bangladeshis, and there's hardly any of them in NZ.

[TheGuru]

sjg said:

UK "indian" restaurants are largely run by Bangladeshis, and there's hardly any of them in NZ.

And that seems to be very much what they are, UK 'Indian'. Far different, and inferior, than the Indians I've had in Singapore, Malaysia etc.

NZ has had a lot of immigation from India in the last few years, would expect that there are some good ones.

I now live in NZ and unfortunately I have far too much experience in economy class, 120 flights a year and about 30 of them long haul.

Emirates - Seats can be a bit narrow and hard, probably the best IFE and food. 1 stop option but that includes one of the longest, if not longest, flights in the world from Dubai to Auckland. Other options are 2 stops via Dubai & Bali, or 2 stops via Dubai and Syd/Mel/Brisbane

Qatar also flies there, no experience but similar to Emirates they have one of the longest flights with their 1 stop options

Singapore Airlines - possibly the best, between them and Thai. Good economy seats, wider than many others, IFE 2nd only to Emirates, food can be very so-so, best in-flight service. Changi Airport very good, 1 stop option and code-share with Air NZ

Qantas - very mixed, IFE is reasonable, food is usually good and service highly variable, can be miserable or very friendly. Only a 2 stop option via Singapore and an Australian City, they dropped Dubai as a hub. I quite like their A330's, the 2 seats at the sides feel a little less cramped.

Thai - possibly the best seats, except their 787 (all airlines have ruined this plane with narrow seats). Some of the best legroom and seat width. Usually very good food, service can be a bit variable. IFE is a bit limited. Their A350 is very nice to fly economy in. 1 stop option in BKK.

Air NZ - pretty good overall, crews are usually very friendly, it is the quickest way to NZ I think with the 1 stop in LAX. IFE is usually pretty good, similar to Qantas, but not as good as Emirates or Singapore Airlines. Seats are a bit narrow as they've moved to 10 abreast in the 777's like Emirates and others have. They also have the 787's. Also many code-share partners that would have one stop options, like ANA

Other airlines with one stop options are Cathay Pacific, Korean Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Philippine Airlines (flights meant to be ok, but Manila a nightmare airport), China Southern, Air China, Hainan Airlines, China Eastern, United, American Airlines. Many of these have ok reputations, the Chinese carriers seem to have a habit of having long stopover times though

[jamoor]

TheGuru said:

And that seems to be very much what they are, UK 'Indian'. Far different, and inferior, than the Indians I've had in Singapore, Malaysia etc.

In those countries you would have been eating south indian cuisine, which is totally different to north indian cuisine which is the most similar to stuff you get here.

[Kenty]

Been to OZ and NZ quite a few times and always go Emirates Business, the Auckland direct is good although quite long but the timings are quite good.
Had the fortune to upgrade to first once and it is good but not worth the money imo.
Misfortune to have to do Qantas on one sector, no where close to Emirates - avoid!
I like the stop offs at Dubai and Oz when we have done NZ, a break and freshen up is always welcome. We are never in a huge rush to get there/back so the 3-4 hr breaks are perfect for us.

[TheGuru]

jamoor said:

In those countries you would have been eating south indian cuisine, which is totally different to north indian cuisine which is the most similar to stuff you get here.

No, plenty of North Indian and that is my preference, but as with many cuisines (e.g. Thai), in the West it is generally richer, sweeter and not as authentic. Even small differences like the type and amount of meat used.

[schmalex]

Kenty said:

Been to OZ and NZ quite a few times and always go Emirates Business, the Auckland direct is good although quite long but the timings are quite good.
Had the fortune to upgrade to first once and it is good but not worth the money imo.
Misfortune to have to do Qantas on one sector, no where close to Emirates - avoid!
I like the stop offs at Dubai and Oz when we have done NZ, a break and freshen up is always welcome. We are never in a huge rush to get there/back so the 3-4 hr breaks are perfect for us.

I agree. I use miles to upgrade from Emirates Business to First a fair bit. It’s fine if it’s a free upgrade, but there is no way I’d spend my, or my employer’s, money on it.

Qantas business is terrible in comparison to the ME3. It’s better than the grey wasteland that is BA Club but is a long way away from where it should be (although their A380’s are very quiet compared to Emirates and Qatar