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Retirement beckons at end of March. Now looking at travel options for November and considering a fly drive to NZ for 3/4 week. We’ve left it too late to even think about Avios options (I’ve had a brief look and dont really have the time at the moment to fully explore).
Question is do we rely on a travel agent such as Trailfinders Propeller Travel )or any other suggestions) for flights etc or is it easier to organise flights ourselves? I’m not wedded to any alliance or stopover. If pushed would probably lean towards HK going out but coming back our preference is always just get home!
Man is our nearest airport so there’s a plenty of options going east and I’m not adverse to using a LCC to start elsewhere
Thanks for your views
If you’re not worried about who, China Southern are around £3200 pp from Heathrow, which for a flat bed for around 48hrs is a decent price without having to position to Europe first.If an OTA can beat it, by all means consider them, but it seems that unless an agent has secured a special deal with a carrier, they’ll be struggling to beat Mr. Google. Unless your aim is to avoid any work yourself, or are particularly nervous, is there much an OTA could offer to “add value”?
You can also get circa £2,400 from Oslo to Auckland on Turkish with 23hrs in Bali for good measure. That fare might not be available to the layperson – I had to book something similar (ex Sofia) using Propeller Travel.
But in general, unless you’re not comfortable doing so, searching around on Google Flights is generally your best bet.
Thanks that’s an interesting option from LHR with China Southern – I hadn’t thought about going from LHR. Something to mull over. Shanghai is somewhere I’ve fancied seeing.
If you haven’t done AU/NZ before, it is brutally a long flight. When I will do it again, I will definitely break it into 2 day stopovers.
Particularly for NZ even border check takes forever because of their ecological protection etc measures.If you haven’t done AU/NZ before, it is brutally a long flight. When I will do it again, I will definitely break it into 2 day stopovers.
Particularly for NZ even border check takes forever because of their ecological protection etc measures.Passport control is similar to anywhere else, and customs can be a breeze as long as you have nothing to declare. Just make sure you know the rules in advance (in short – no food, flora, or fauna).
Too late? We organised our NZ trip, we’ve just returned from, using the Multi partner award chart in August and made adjustments after that. See my separate post.
In process of sorting flights potentially Turkish and malaysian. Flights are easier to/from Auckland rather than into Christchurch and then out from Auckland. Next question sorry on car hire. Do we for instance fly from Auckland to South Island and hire car and then either drive back up or do 2 seperate car hires for both islands? Final question is it easy to ‘wing it’ ir get a TA to sort a pre arranged itinerary? I can see the benefits of both but worry if we wing it we may turn up a at say Doubtful Sound and find its full. Thanks
In process of sorting flights potentially Turkish and malaysian. Flights are easier to/from Auckland rather than into Christchurch and then out from Auckland. Next question sorry on car hire. Do we for instance fly from Auckland to South Island and hire car and then either drive back up or do 2 seperate car hires for both islands? Final question is it easy to ‘wing it’ ir get a TA to sort a pre arranged itinerary? I can see the benefits of both but worry if we wing it we may turn up a at say Doubtful Sound and find its full. Thanks
If travelling at the end of March, I would start at the bottom (so South Island) are drive north. We did the west coast of the South Island in 2 weeks – starting in Queenstown and ending in Blenheim. We didn’t feel rushed. You can keep driving (via the ferry at Nelson) from the South island to Auckland, very easily.
We winged it – and that was in January (I.e. peak tourist season). So you will be fine doing the same in March.
You can’t really go wrong. I would definitely advise doing the overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound. We did it on Milford Sound, and it one of the main highlights of our trip. I believe there is only one boat allowed to do it in each location.
@redlilly Thanks we’re looking at November. Who did you use for car hire?
@MGOR – we have visited NZ many times as we have friends and family who live in Wellington and so have always done our own thing. Although travelling South to North is usually the best way for deals with car hire as most travellers do the opposite, if you’re travelling in November, I would do North to South. Because of snow, last time we were there in November there were issues driving between Wanaka and Queenstown (near Cardrona?) and the Lindis Pass on the SH8 was closed.
Sometimes we’ve taken the car on the InterIslander across the Cook Straight and other times we’ve travelled as foot passengers. It can get very rough! The car hire pick up and drop off at Wellington and Picton are very close to where you board the ferry. It’s worth getting quotes from different companies and for different directions. We’ve even had ferry ticket thrown in for free travelling north, if the rental company has a lot of cars that need to be repositioned to Auckland.
We really enjoyed taking the TransAlpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth over Arthur’s Pass, so that’s another possibility. In which instance, you’d need to drop off/pick up a car at Christchurch.
We’ve done the overnight cruise a couple of times on the Milford Sound, but have left booking too late for Doubtful, so would definitely book in advance. Things may have changed, but when we last went I don’t think there were overnight sailings in winter and just before they stopped/resumed, they weren’t every day. Assume November would be ok but worth checking.
As for flying, we’re at the age now and have the time, we wouldn’t travel that distance without a flat bed and we now always break our journey somewhere. Last time we went as a family, just before covid, the kids went via China, OH went via Doha and I went via Singapore. On our most recent visits, we have used Singapore Airlines. I don’t think Qatar has resumed direct flights between Doha and Christchurch, possibly other airlines too, so it’s quite likely you’d have to change planes in Auckland. No issues travelling between Auckland and Christchurch/Queenstown with Jetstar or AirNZ. Flying into/out of Queenstown is an experience in itself!
@LD27 thanks that’s an interesting point re snow I’d not thought of that. I had planned to go south – north and the train was on the list. Lots to think about. Definitely going to be flying at the pointy end – too old now to go down the back for that distance although I’ve never had issues with the 7 hours to ME with the likes of Qatar and Emirates in economy. It looks like it’s only Singapore and Cathay flying to Christchurch at the moment.
Oh my.. never thought of snow being an issue in November as we will also be in Wanaka/Q’town area then
We are heading to South Island in November, and ‘doing our own thing’ for a 2 week road trip from Christchurch . Initially 241 to Sydney , then Qantas over to NZ . Looked at various itineraries and came up with our own. I was in danger of cramming too much into a short time so not going much further north than Arthur’s Pass and missing out SEast as have been there before.I thought TFinders were expensive and so could go better! Local independent agency were also expensive and itinerary was hardly inspiring.
Car hire from Apex as mentioned by others on HfP- half the price of Avis . Managed to book all accommodation . Some places limited availability due to popularity.
Good luck with planningYou’d be very unlucky to encounter snow on the Lindis in November. It can happen, but very rare and usually short lived. Of more interest is that you may encounter blasting season! The crews regularly drill into the cliff face and shove a bit of dynamite in to create controlled rockfalls rather than allow it to fall down as and when.
I’m with the “south to north” crowd, and whilst you can wing most of the trip you should book in advance any key touristy things you may want to take part in.
Glad to know Doubtful Sound is on your radar. It’s one of my favourite places. Do the overnight cruise, it’s amazing. Nothing quite like a dinner of Blue Cod you caught an hour earlier, crayfish you helped haul up in the nets that afternoon, and venison shot off the hills the day before.
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, check out Hydro Attack in Queenstown…
@Jill-Kinkell – it was a bit like being in the Highlands of Scotland – 4 seasons in one day! The worst weather we’ve ever had in South Island on multiple trips in October/November. But it can happen.
@Jill-Kinkell – it was a bit like being in the Highlands of Scotland – 4 seasons in one day! The worst weather we’ve ever had in South Island on multiple trips in October/November. But it can happen.
Oh joy! We’ll be used to it then!
But I must say we escaped the brunt of the recent bad snow and then floodingFlights booked for Nov. Man-Ist-KL-AKL and return. Significantly cheaper than flying to Christchurch and out from AKL. Looking forward to TK and MH J class. 25 days in NZ so need to sort out itinerary and getting round. May fly to Christchurch and then work way round South Island 1st. Lots to think about.
Flights booked for Nov. Man-Ist-KL-AKL and return. Significantly cheaper than flying to Christchurch and out from AKL. Looking forward to TK and MH J class. 25 days in NZ so need to sort out itinerary and getting round. May fly to Christchurch and then work way round South Island 1st. Lots to think about.
Enjoy, I’m back there again in Sept/Oct for my old man’s 80th.
I pulled together the below for a work colleague who was looking for ideas – hope it helps.
Queenstown, adventure capital of New Zealand
– Shotover Jet
– Hydro Attack (you have to Google this)
– Home of the original bungee jumpWanaka and Lake Hawea also very nice
Doubtful Sound
– A quieter, more serene version of Milford SoundMilford Sound
– Very touristy, but spectacularState Highway 8 is a very scenic drive, stopping at Lake Tekapo on the way to Christchurch
OR, go west coast via Fox Glacier, coming back to Chch via Arthur’s Pass and a wander around Castle Hill
Continue north to Hanmer Springs, then on to Kaikoura for whale watching.
Either get the ferry to Wellington from Picton, or continue on to Abel Tasman National Park
Wellington has plenty, lots of info on tourist sites. Te Papa is a highlight.
Taupo great for lake fishing, charter a skippered boat and they tell you what to do. Fresh rainbow trout for dinner
Rotorua for hot pools
Mt Maunganui for a beach fix
Hobbiton near Hamilton if that’s your thing
Coromandel Peninsula is great
– Hot Water Beach to dig your own hot pools
– Cathedral CoveAuckland is full of Aucklanders, but has good boat links to islands for walks (Rangitoto, Waiheke)
Further north the Bay of Islands is worth a visit if you have time. Scenic, with a lot of NZ history.
– Russell was the first capital of NZ
– Waitangi was where the British signed a treaty with the native Māori people’sAcross to the west coast to see Tane Mahuta, the oldest Kauri tree in the world (circa 2000 years old)
Just googled Hydro Attack— more like go on this and have a heart attack ! Absolutely definitely not on my itinerary!
@phantomchickenz thanks for that. Gives me a head start. Not so sure about Hydro Attack though is ‘advice’ or a warning!
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