Hello Lewis 😊

I moved this thread to the Oceania because this is where those with information about New Zealand will likely be looking.

Mel Reply to this

Hello Lewis,

depends on how fast you want to travel, fly is best for speed but I'd suggest trying flying to Wellington, spend time there, boat to south island, worth the trip for the entry to south island, spend a few days in Picton chilling out ( walking is awesome there) sample the wine ( take a small bus tour - highly recommended - ours was brilliant ) make sure you drink every local beer you can find ( only Belgium rivals NZ for beer) take the train down the coast to Christchurch, have another rest, go trans alpine to wherever? Greymouth and get a bus to Franz Joseph glacier, have a helicopter ride to the snow and bus on to Queenstown and you can reach everything from there anyway.

The buses are great , the trains are what they are and i kind of like trains for the relaxed ride they provide no matter how old fashioned they may be and some of the flights over the mountains will take your breath away.

And eat - NZ is next to France in my book for the freshness of food and just how good some of the local tucker is. I perhaps shouldn't mention the giant muffins full of blueberries and my favourite - pies with bacon and whole boiled eggs in them ! just don't get back on the bus after one.
Reply to this

Lewis,

stayed mostly in YHA places - varying quality but never less than good, kitchens usually excellent, laundries take a bit of a pounding and don't stay in the dorms if you can't stand snoring farting people. Franz Joseph, Queenstown and Christchurch YHAs really excellent - for something different try the Villa Backpackers lodge in Picton - a cute old house ( renovated) with free guitar to play and a friendly somewhat eccentric staff.

Don't try to take sleeping bags or any such stuff as bed bug paranoia is widespread and the bugs do seem to like NZ - who wouldn't?

gravox Reply to this

hey lewis,

i'm doing someting quite similar. All i can suggets is get to queenstown and as soon as possible if your looking for work. its a very popular place and i've heard can be hard getting a job mid season and the lifts open, weather pending, start of june. if you want to see the south island while ur here though, take ur time travelling down it, kiwi bus, stray bus or naked bus are three organisations that all offer different things in the way of travelling around. safe travells.

ian Reply to this