Where in NZ?

[autoholic]

Hi Guys

The other half and I are planning a bit of a special trip soon. Well as soon as we can sell the house! We are taking 4 months off and doing some travelling. I've got 3 of the 4 stages taken care of, Thailand, Oz - driving the East Coast in an RV, and the final stage the US.

What I was hoping for was some advice of what to see or not to bother with etc. Any help would be great. We have about 10/16 days to spend there. Obviously not enough time to do the place justice but hopefully enough to get the highlights.

Cheers

Autoholic (Steve)

[roger A]

hi Steve! Some considerations before you come: What time of year? are you here for the driving experience (in which case spend most time away from the north of the north (I mean Auckland) and preferably in the South Island. Most reliable weather is probably jan-april (though there is no reliable weather) If you have limited time, I'd personally avoid the drive from Ak to Wellington and get in some time on the Coromandel peninsula (expect unsurfaced roads in the north of the CP) and get to the Bay of Islands (touristy, but worth a look)You'll get good advice on what to do in the South Island from those on this forum who live there!

[roger A]

BTW, you'll see Dodge lookalikes here and in Aus (though they're getting thin on the ground now) You can still see the proud owners of the shiny Chrysler Valiant 770 or the Pacer (very similar body shape to yours and available in similarly frightening colours)that they bought in 1971 -especially in rural areas although I still see them in Ak. There seem to be a few restored (Chrysler Valiant) Chargers around too.

[Mustang-man]

If you want an area with not many people then the South Island is by far your best bet - and it holds some of the best sights in the country (Southern Alps, Tekapo, Central Otago, Queenstown, Milford Sound etc).

[GravelBen]

Has been a covered a bit here:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=275017&f=123&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=238028&f=123&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=202970&f=123&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=131881&f=123&h=0


Go to Mt Cook

[autoholic]

Thanks Guys.

If all goes well we will be in Thailand for Christmas and then onwards from there returning back to the UK in late March/early April. Then we are relocating to Scotland for a new less stressed life!! Well that's the plan anyway.

Cheers for the assist again, what a dramatic country you have. I can't wait to get there.

Steve

[roger A]

Where in Scotland are you relocating? My wife's sister lives in the south-west, near Dalbeattie (great montainbike park there!) and I was amazed at how unpopulated it is compared with other parts of the UK.(bloody cold though!)

[autoholic]

My other half is from Aberdeenshire and has family still there so that's where we are off to. It's Royal Deeside but not many people know where that is. We are hoping to buy a B&B on our return.