Discussion
I am thinking of visiting Australia at some point next year, most likely April/May.
I was thinking of spending four weeks in Australia, I then thought maybe spend 2 weeks in Australia and 2 weeks in New Zealand in New zealand I was basically thinking of Driving to Christchurch from Auckland.
Re Australia, will I be able to get at flavour of the place in two weeks, I am not opposed to flying longer distances to save travel time (although I guess you also cut some stuff out by flying).
Anyone able to offer an experienced insight?
I was thinking of spending four weeks in Australia, I then thought maybe spend 2 weeks in Australia and 2 weeks in New Zealand in New zealand I was basically thinking of Driving to Christchurch from Auckland.
Re Australia, will I be able to get at flavour of the place in two weeks, I am not opposed to flying longer distances to save travel time (although I guess you also cut some stuff out by flying).
Anyone able to offer an experienced insight?
With regards to your last question, you will not be able to see much of the place in that time but you will certainly get a flavour. I was there for 2 months over Christmas and barely scratched the surface, the place is vast!
If you want to pack a lot of things in then I think the east coast is your best bet. Also look on VirginBlue for their happy hour for cheap flights between citys.
Enjoy, I am jealous!
If you want to pack a lot of things in then I think the east coast is your best bet. Also look on VirginBlue for their happy hour for cheap flights between citys.
Enjoy, I am jealous!
just come back from NZ (school rugby tour) 2 weeks would be about as short as you would wan to do that trip, give yourself plenty of time to have a good look around, loads of stuff to see/do enroute
have a look at the intinerary we created
cant think of anything i would want to leave out if i did it again, more likely to add a couple of bits in
give me a shout if you need any more info
www.coopersrugby.info
have look in the tour section and then in downloads for our itinerary
have a look at the intinerary we created
cant think of anything i would want to leave out if i did it again, more likely to add a couple of bits in
give me a shout if you need any more info
www.coopersrugby.info
have look in the tour section and then in downloads for our itinerary
You might have more fun flying to Christchurch from Auckland and hiring a car from there, unless you really want to do the Interislander ferry (which is quite expensive). The scenery is much nicer in the south, less traffic too, but watch your speed wherever you go!
Two weeks would be enough for a good long drive around most of the south if driving/hotels is your aim.
Two weeks would be enough for a good long drive around most of the south if driving/hotels is your aim.
I can only answer on NZ as I've never been to Australia.
My first visit was with two mates, we flew into Auckland then straight down to Queenstown, rented a car and worked our way back up to Bay of Islands (for a wedding) in 2 1/2 weeks.
It was fun, but very rushed. We saw and did a lot of great stuff, but had to pass on so many other things including some "must do" ones like Milford/Doubtful Sound (went back on a later trip!). Only stayed more than one night in a handful of places, usually we'd spend half the day driving, half the day doing or seeing something. Sometimes a full day activity (like kayaking in Abel Tasman NP) would get balanced by a longer drive later. We pretty much skipped over the southern half of the North Island to free up some more time in Taupo / Rotorua.
Driving anywhere takes longer - smaller, twistier roads, very little dual carriageway, good chance of getting stuck behind campervans or trucks. The ferry between Picton and Wellington is over 3 hours which takes out a good chunk of a day.
What are wanting to get out of the holiday? Scenery, active stuff, exciting things (you probably have more ways to hurl yourself off things in NZ than anywhere else), cities, wineries, food, relaxation? I'd probably be inclined to just spend a fortnight on the South Island which would give a good amount of time to do the highlights without being quite so rushed.
My first visit was with two mates, we flew into Auckland then straight down to Queenstown, rented a car and worked our way back up to Bay of Islands (for a wedding) in 2 1/2 weeks.
It was fun, but very rushed. We saw and did a lot of great stuff, but had to pass on so many other things including some "must do" ones like Milford/Doubtful Sound (went back on a later trip!). Only stayed more than one night in a handful of places, usually we'd spend half the day driving, half the day doing or seeing something. Sometimes a full day activity (like kayaking in Abel Tasman NP) would get balanced by a longer drive later. We pretty much skipped over the southern half of the North Island to free up some more time in Taupo / Rotorua.
Driving anywhere takes longer - smaller, twistier roads, very little dual carriageway, good chance of getting stuck behind campervans or trucks. The ferry between Picton and Wellington is over 3 hours which takes out a good chunk of a day.
What are wanting to get out of the holiday? Scenery, active stuff, exciting things (you probably have more ways to hurl yourself off things in NZ than anywhere else), cities, wineries, food, relaxation? I'd probably be inclined to just spend a fortnight on the South Island which would give a good amount of time to do the highlights without being quite so rushed.
Have recently got back from travelling the world for a year and can honestly say NZ was the best place I visited! I spent 4 weeks travelling both islands with 2 mates in a campervan and some of the roads were amazing!
Id say that it would be a bit of a rush to see everything in 2 weeks, i thought that the south island was much better than the north, Abel Tasman, Westport, Fox Glacier, Queenstown / Wannaka, Milford Sound, Christchurch was our route and would prob be perfect for 2 weeks. Highway 6 down the west coast and especially over the Haast Pass from the glaciers to Queenstown was probably one of THE best roads ive ever driven, seriously!
As for Oz, thats a hell of a lot to see in 2 weeks, you could prob do the highlights of the East Coast, but even that took me the best part of 3 months in my van - amazing times again tho.......
Id say that it would be a bit of a rush to see everything in 2 weeks, i thought that the south island was much better than the north, Abel Tasman, Westport, Fox Glacier, Queenstown / Wannaka, Milford Sound, Christchurch was our route and would prob be perfect for 2 weeks. Highway 6 down the west coast and especially over the Haast Pass from the glaciers to Queenstown was probably one of THE best roads ive ever driven, seriously!
As for Oz, thats a hell of a lot to see in 2 weeks, you could prob do the highlights of the East Coast, but even that took me the best part of 3 months in my van - amazing times again tho.......
If I had two weeks in Oz I'd do Sydney for a week and somewhere up on the barrier reef for another week. You can either stay somewhere int the Whitsunday Islands or on the mainland somewhere near Cairns (not in Cairns itself as it's a s
thole). If you do the latter there are plenty of other things you can do like see the rain forest, go white water rafting as well as seeing the reef.
If you do go and see the reef you HAVE to take a helicopter trip as part of it and see it from the air.....it's mindblowing.
thole). If you do the latter there are plenty of other things you can do like see the rain forest, go white water rafting as well as seeing the reef. If you do go and see the reef you HAVE to take a helicopter trip as part of it and see it from the air.....it's mindblowing.
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