New Zealand Travel Guide

New Zealand Travel Guide questions and answers

Thinking of traveling to Wellington New Zealand? Check out the Wellington New Zealand vacation website and Travel Journal.

Question: I want to go to New Zealand. Are there local guides that travel with you to show you around? How do I contact?
There are two people in my party. We want a more interactive experience so we thought a local guide would be better. We aren't sure we want to drive ourselves, so we are looking for a guide that travels with you on your journeys. Someone who can show the whole of the country, while avoiding the big "tourist trap" group tour feel. The culture and history are important to our experience but overall we are looking for a more intimate fun trip. Any names and/or contact information would be appreciated.

Answer: If you can arrange this, it will certainly be a wonderful way of seeing New Zealand.

To consider a personalised holiday such as this, you will obviously be in the 'high end' tourist bracket and I can't imagine that catching buses, hitchhiking or going by any low budget means would be appropriate. With all due respect to others here, engaging the services of an 'amateur' guide would also be quite 'risky'. Ensuring that guests, who are not close friends, have their expectations met and make the most of their time here, is a lot harder than most people imagine. I, like many locals, have seen all the best parts of New Zealand many times over, and regularly contemplate using this knowledge to act as a personal tour guide for overseas visitors. Like them, I have been a 'tour guide' many times - but always for friends or family. Beyond that, I think it is something best left to a professional who has experience of dealing with tourists who quite rightly demand the best and may not be so forgiving of the inevitable hiccoughs that will be seen by friends and family as 'all part of the fun'. :-)

I have only come across one company offering personalised tours down to a minimum of two travellers. Their website is below, but I make no representation as to their quality :-) Have a look at the site; at the very least you will get to see the sort of thing that such companies offer and the relative prices.

 

Question: What is the best travel guide ?
Im going to study abroad for a semester in Australia and will visit Tasmania, New Zealand and Fiji while I am there. Can anyone tell me which series of travel guides is the best? Any opinions on Fromer's or Eyewitness Travel Guides? Thanks a bunch!

Answer: DK is in my est. the best any book store but you know google now has a pretty cool TG on there web site hope this helps and enjoy if you see any Hobbits in New Zealand tell them ther longbottom leaf is the best. Hee-Hee

 

Question: Is it definitely possible to hire a car in New Zealand if you're under 21?
When I travel to New Zealand, I will be 18 and my friend will be 19. We're both planning to drive, and in guide books and on the net it says that being under 21, we can't hire a car - but several NZ car hire companies have assured me they will let us - I was wondering if anyone actually has hired a car in NZ while our sort of age? Thanks in advance.

Answer: As long as you have a full licence
Insurance excess will be higher because you are younger
try thi link http://www.yourwaycarrental.co.nz
And remember which side of the road we drive on lol

 

Question: Does anybody know anything about New Zealand?
I have an English paper to do and I chose to do it on New Zealand. My teacher says that I have to have a minimum of five Internet sources, and I can only find one: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand.

Every time I search for info, all I get is travel guides and other stuff. Can anybody help?

Answer: There are many sources.

There is the encyclopaedia of New Zealand - a bit out of date, but plenty of good information http://www.teara.govt.nz/

The website of Travel New Zealand http://www.newzealand.com/

New Zealand Government web portal http://newzealand.govt.nz/

News and media sites. http://www.stuff.co.nz http://tvnz.co.nz/ http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/

City sites http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/ http://www.hamilton.co.nz/ http://www.wellington.govt.nz http://www.ccc.govt.nz/ http://www.cityofdunedin.com

Several of these sites have links to other place.

 

Question: Travel Guides- Lonely Planet?
I am visiting Australia and New Zealand in a few months time and I am contemplating buying a Lonely Planet travel guide. Thing is, should I get the Australia and New Zealand On A Shoestring book? Or a separate Australia book and New Zealand book?

Answer: Australia is a huge place! Depends on how long you are staying really. If you are travelling extensively....buy individual. If you are going on like a month holiday, buy the shoestring. Or with the places you want to visit in mind, look at both books to see what information they have on them.
Also post questions about specific places you want to visit and specific things you want to do. Then write them down in a notebook and take it with you!