Can anyone advise whether it is cheaper to pay for tourist
attractions prior to leaving home - or purchase once you
arrive at your destination? I'm going to NZ for a few
weeks soon and don't know whether to pre-pay things such as
Milford Sound Cruise and/or some of those 5-in-1 package
deal thingy watsits etc etc.
Also anyone know whether it is worthwhile travelling from
Wellington to Napier, then across to New Plymouth before
heading to Auckland? I won't have wheels so will be doing
it by bus and will have only 3 - 4 days to get from
Wellington to Auckland (I will be going to Rotorua, Taupo &
the Waitomo Caves after meeting up with friends in
Auckland, so I want to travel a different way on the trip
north).
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... put the rate you've been quoted, to do what, and people could maybe say what the paid in NZ to do it. I am a great believer that its always cheaper to book locally, because there are always more than one company who do the things, and it gives the opportunity to compare value for money (cheaper face value is sometimes not cheaper deal). Yes, its worth you're while going up through Napier - but consider heading up on the coast (Gisborne, Tauranga etc). New Plymouth is also great (especially hiking) but I think personally I'd prefer the East Coast
I found that prices quoted in Ireland and the UK for any NZ
excursions/accommodation/attractions were invariably much
more than I was actually charged when there (July 98).
Fropm what I remember, the day trip by bus to Milford Sound
from Queenstown with Kiwi Experience, visiting the
underwater observatory and including a boat trip out on to
the Sound cost NZ$99 in Queenstown. I thought this was very
good value, mind you, I found New Zealand prices to be a
lot less than what I am used to paying in Europe.
I loved Napier, but it was my main reason for going to the
North Island, so I might be biased.
Tell me what you would pay there and i'll call up the
travel info. centre to find out what you will pay here.
...your responses Jo, Trish and Michelle. I have to admit
though I am no closer to making my decision!
~
An example of some of the rates IÆve been quoted are:
~
NOTE: IÆve converted the AUD to NZD, calculated at todayÆs
exchange rate and rounded up or down to nearest dollar.
~
FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER WALK ($37AUD) $45 NZD
MILFORD SOUND DAY TRIP (EX QÆTOWN) ($149 AUD) $180 NZD
CRUISE ON MILFORD SOUND ($44 AUD) $53 NZD
AKAROA DAY TRIP (EX CHR) ($106 AUD) $128 NZD
WHAKAREWEREWA THERMAL RESERVE, ROTORUA ($20 AUD) $24 NZD
EXPLORE AUCKLAND CITY+SKYTOWER ($17 AUD) $21 NZD
~
Michelle, if it is not too much trouble, could I take up
your kind offer? I would greatly appreciate it.
~
Thanks again all
Three or four days is a pretty big ask to get from Wellington to Auckland by bus, if you really want to go to New Plymouth and Napier. This is basically as they are on opposite coasts, and the bus/ train routes run more or less North / South.
Public transport in NZ isn't really flash, in so much as you will spend the better part of your time travelling on the bus, rather than seeing stuff! I'd reccomend Napier over New Plymouth if it comes to a choice, but I may be slightly bias as Napier is my home town... Most people who go to NZ miss Hawkes Bay, as it is a little out of the way. It's a shame really. If you're into wine/ food at all, Napier is worth a day just doing the vineyards etc. The information centre on Marine Parade in Napier has quite a good handle on that sort of thing.
As for busses and trains, book early, over the 'phone even. This will save you heaps on your fares, earlier the better. You shouldn't have to pay upfront either. I can't say this is gospel, but I would be very surprised if you didn't get a better deal buying locally rather than from abroad.
Have a great time.
I am not from Napier, but I can safely say you will regret
it if you don't go there. It is an art deco town,
completely rebuilt after an earthquake in the 1920s - total
kitsch glory. The vineyards are also great, the coast is
pretty cool, and in the right season there is a superb
gannet walk. (very pretty birds who nest there)
*
Remember how long the country is too, it takes a full day
travel to get to Auckland from Wellington, with no stops -
so you do not have many days to play with. You could focus
on Napier alone.
*
That said... your route up North from Napier to Auckland
will most likely be on the Napier-Taupo road, and then onto
Auckland, unless you follow the East Coast route suggested
by Jo.
*
The East Cape is quite different from the rest of New
Zealand if you can get to some of the remoter bits - quite
isolated indeed in parts. If you could somehow get the
'highway' from Wairoa to Rotorua you would see what I
mean!! It's not even sealed and many people going about on
horses.
*
The other thing to think about is that the more usual route
from Wellington to Taupo is along the Desert Road. To
locals this is a barren dangerous stretch of road they
can't wait to have end. But if you have never seen an
alpine desert it is very interesting with all the hills in
the background.
*
Or you could stop off at National Park en route and do some
hiking and enjoying the mountains.
*
Now I bet this hasn't helped at all.....
At risk of boring you, I have previously traveled "up the
middle" - plus been to Rotorua (which I absolutely loved).
My plan was to see something different, but I am still in a
dilemma. I'm not particularly into wine tasting although
the art deco in Napier could be interesting. We also have
some great marine parks near here so I don't feel the need
to go to one there - would rather spend the $ on new
experiences. Oh woe is me, what will I do?
~
I do thank you for the time you took to respond and I shall
take some time to ponder yet a little longer.
HI matey
don't bother paying overseas, buy when you get here, you can't haggle with the prices , but they are definitely cheaper to buy in NZ...for example
Akaroa day tour, you can do for NZ$55
Milford tour including cruise NZ$119
Milford cruise NZ$45
dont go into the Official Information Centres...with their
green 'i' sign, they just try to get you to buy the most expensive even though they are supposed to offer the full range of available products.....and more often than not, the staff are so anally retentive you can see their heads sticking out of their asses, very condescending too.....hated using them....alway better to use the private information/ travel centres....alot of them have blue 'i's
good ones i've use in New Zealand's South Island are
Queenstown.....The BackPacker specialists on Shotover street
near camp street
Christchurch...New Zealand Independent Travel on Chancery lane Cathedral Square
Nelson....Then Centre of New Zealand Backpackers
hope i've been of some help to you...I"m heading to the north island next week , so when i get there i'll back to you with more info