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Rent /Buy Car, Bus, Hitch

Looking for info from people about transportation around New Zealand

18 years ago, December 28th 2005 No: 1 Msg: #3538 Delete Edit

AlanZ
Alan Zapolsky

B Posts: 23

Hey all...I am currently in NZ traveling around. Got here yesterday and I have an open ticket to leave anytime. Will probably spend 2 months checking out the country. I was looking for some advise from people how they travelled around NZ. Should we rent a car/camper, buy a car/camper, use the bus, hitchhike. There are four of us, but we are not sure if we all have the same ideas of what to do. Any advise is greatly appreciated, thanks...alan Reply to this

18 years ago, December 30th 2005 No: 2 Msg: #3560 Delete Edit

Ali
Ali Watters

B Posts: 5,200

I'd suggest buying a car - if there are four of you, two or less hitching is great in New Zealand. I did both, had a car for the North Island - which blew up, and then hitched and bused the south island. It was really easy to hitch in NZ.

The other options are the Kiwi Experience/Magic Bus - or even cycling... Reply to this

18 years ago, December 31st 2005 No: 3 Msg: #3568 Delete Edit

AlanZ
Alan Zapolsky

B Posts: 23

thanks Ali for the info...we actually bought a van 2 days ago. You can check it out on my buddy's blog...he's TravelGoon. Hopefully our van doesn't blow up, and we're able to cover both the north and the south islands. Do you have any places that we shouldn't miss in NZ. We have 2+ months here, so pretty much anything goes....later, alan Reply to this

18 years ago, March 11th 2006 No: 4 Msg: #4443 Delete Edit

dano_nz
Daniel Paton

B Posts: 4

hey alan, first of all good on ya for going to nz and buying a van...the cheapest and best way to see the country. if you take a bus you dont get to stop anywhere you want, same with hitching. a van is perfect, and its free accomidation to if you have some camping gear, just camp it out in the mountains 😊

i suggest obviously going to queenstown, a great city in the south, beautiful mountains and lots o stuff to do. also check out wanaka, a hidden gem just north of queenstown, a nice little city again in the mountains. pretty much anywhere in the south your going to love, you cant not.

cheers, enjoy your stay, and see if you can stay more then 2 months 😉 the countries majestic, and i wish i never left a week ago, now im back home washing up in my hometown lol.

take care, stay safe. Reply to this

18 years ago, March 25th 2006 No: 5 Msg: #4666 Delete Edit

AlanZ
Alan Zapolsky

B Posts: 23

hey dan...thanks for the info. I'm actually sitting here in haste reading your post. Just got done with a hike on the copeland track, amazing, my next blog will have pics of all the nat'l parks on the west coast. The funny thing is tomorrow night we're gonna hit Wanaka. Just thought it was funny that I checked this forum the nioght before we were heading there. Sorry tho hear you had to end your travels, but now the scheming can begin for yor next trek.
later...alan Reply to this

17 years ago, August 27th 2006 No: 6 Msg: #7218 Delete Edit

CheekyKiwi
kate Watson

N Posts: 16

Hey there!!! Buying a van was the best option!! I am a Kiwi and im glad your enjoying my country!! When you head up to the north Island I recommend making sure you go to the Bay Of Islands. Its north of the north..about 4-5hours North of Auckland City. Its beautiful up there. Just like to name suggests!!!! While there try and go on the Hole in the Rock experience (its on a speed boat out the a plave called the Poor Knights-a reserve)
Make sure you take your swimming gear..and if any of you Surf then checking out Raglan in the Waikato (45min west of Hamilton) is an AWESOME surf beach. Plus its just beautiful.

If you enjoy just lounging around and seeing some beautiful sights then you can't go past Corromandal (east of auckalnd) it is beautiful. it used to be gold mining country and they have tours of the gold mines etc.

On your way back up to the north stop at the top of the South and checkout Marlborogh Sounds and Queen Charlotte sounds. Hire a Mountainbike each and get a water taxi out to teh Queen Charlotte track and RIDE IT!! I did this last year! IT was great...might be a bit chilly this time of the year though!!

If you can stretch your time here I would totally recommend it..otherwise you'll just end up coming back HAHA!!!!

HAVE FUN!!!!

Kate Reply to this

17 years ago, October 30th 2006 No: 7 Msg: #8232 Delete Edit

Busfairy
Busus Fairius

N Posts: 1

Free tickets to bus yourself all the way around the South Island of New Zealand.

These tickets are for a Kiwi Experience hop-on-and-off bus ride that lasts for a full year, once the journey has begun. (See www.kiwiexperience.com for more information). The general, round trip of the South Island ticket has to be started before January 2007, and the special scenic route of the Milford Sound Overland pass has to be started before December 2006. The tickets have a combined value of 1,000 kiwi dollars. All clear? Ok

Now, as you may know, nothing comes for free. You have to earn my trust that you will have a wild time, brightening minds and truly absorbing the beauty around you.

Here is what you have to do:

1) write me a haiku (Poem of 3 lines, with the following syllable structure: 5,7,5) with reflections on travelling

2)Write a short story that includes a natural phenomena, or something phenomenal happening

3)Send me your favourite image from the internet, and tell me why

4)Pledge something that you will do at some point in your life to better humanity/the world.

And that is not all. When you have finished your travels, you must bring to me or send me 5 things that made your trip worthwhile.

I’m going to Australia in early November, which is why I am not able to make this trip. I myself won these tickets by dressing up in a Kilt, with a Persian shirt on, an Indian waistcoat, and an Afghan Hat on top, so you too will have to do something pretty extraordinary to get these tickets.

Send your entries to: Jouseman24.at.hotmail.com

All entries must be in by November 9th. I’ll let you know shortly afterwards.

I will be the omnipotent, omniscient judge, so what floats my boat is what goes. For the sake of justice, I’ll probably involve my flatmates, and other-minded individuals in the decision process.

So good luck, god speed, may you travel freely and for free. Reply to this

17 years ago, December 21st 2006 No: 8 Msg: #9335 Delete Edit

deleted_23007
deleted_23007

d Posts: 4

I know this is an old post, but people might still be reading it. We have travelled in NZ for the last couple months and we went on the Flexi-pass. We both got 60 hours and it was perfect for all NZ. The Flexi-pass uses Intercity & Newman's buses to go from one major place to another. It does go to some smaller places too, and it can be arranged to be picked up along the route. In all, I was very impressed with the service and ease of booking, stops, etc. especially in the South Island where the drivers are knowledgeable and talk to the passengers.

I think if I was to do it again I would get a car w/ tent or a campervan. I think it would be much cheaper this way and just a little more freedom. Our trip worked out very well though! Reply to this