Lessons learnt along the way in NZ

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Anyway, here is lessons we have learnt during our trip.

Lesson 1:

Buy a good A5 Road Atlas of the country you are visiting before you go touring and always go over the next day’s leg of the trip the previous night. This helps you plan where to stop and what to look for.


Lesson 2

For driving in NZ even if you get only a little motion sickness then ginger tablets like travel Calm Ginger by Blackmores (these work a treat). I (Len) don’t get car sick, but even I needed one tablet, once or twice.


Lesson 3

There are a lot of rail crossings without boom gates. Be aware of this and have a look before you cross.


Lesson 4

Aussies allow for extra time to travel the same distance as you would normally and there are very few straight roads here and lots of curvy and mountainous roads. Adding to that March seems to be the month when all and I do mean ALL the councils spend their road repair allocation. We saw shed loads of road works.


Lesson 5

I don’t know why we have let this one till so late in our list of lessons learnt, but here we muat say, the seafood here is second to none! Any where, for a caravan vendor at a festival to a World class restaurant over looking the foreshore it’s all good here.


Lesson 6

Adding to Lesson 4, beware people here don’t mind tail-gating anywhere. Be patient with this and if you don’t want to go any faster, pullover (without slowing down) when it is safe for you to do it and they will pass you at their risk. Also you will see a lot of hitch hikers here. That up to you whether you pick then up.


Lesson 7

On the west coast to the south island the a lots of sand flies. These bite hard and the sores remain quite itchy. There is some local anti-insect spray in the local chemist or pharmacy to ward them off. Also avoid leaving your car doors open if your are driving and then stop briefly. They will swamp into your open car and it takes a while to get them out afterwards.


Lesson 8

While most of NZ’s roads are single lane dual carriage way there are passing lanes a plenty. These usually appear when you are going uphill on your side of the road.


Lesson 9

If you have booked stuff before you leave always ring the booked company the day before to confirm the booking and time to departure or starting. This helps you relax and things go much more smoothly.


Lesson 10

Most of the tourist attraction don’t have sign posted leading up to where you need to turn off. Be aware of this and look out for the attraction sign right where you need to turn


Lesson 11

A lot of Caltex Fuel Service Stations especially in the country areas are only truck stops and you need a fuel card to get any fuel. So maybe avoid these if you are planning to drive and then are running low on fuel.

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Comments

[Anon]

Sand flies
Not telling who this is but haemorrhoid (had to look up that spelling) cream is great treatment for sandfly bites! If you can bring yourself to ask for it in the chemist!

[Anon]

Sand flies part two
By the way, food sounds great!

[Wendy]

To Anon
Thanks for the tip. And yes the food was fantastic. Sorry but our seafood has nothing on theirs! I've just read over this entire blog, it does sound like we approached the trip as a major food fest doesn't it!