Wellington New Zealand Travel

Wellington New Zealand Travel questions and answers

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Question: Has anybody lived in Wellington in New Zealand who could tell me what the lifestyle there is like?
I'm supposed to be writing an article on Wellington lifestyle, and haven't actually ever been there myself... So if anybody who has lived there wouldn't mind me quoting them (it will be published in a newspaper called Emigrate New Zealand and on www.emigrate2.co.uk) then I'd be very grateful! If you travelled to Wellington and stayed for long enough to experience a bit of the lifetyle, then that's great too.

Answer: Wellington is the capital so a lot of what goes on in Wellington has to do with the governing of the country.
Public services and all the ministries etc.
I haven't lived there for years so I am out of touch.
The attached website is informative which you could use for some background.
Good Luck.http://www.wellingtonnz.com/

 

Question: We are emigrating to Wellington New Zealand and wondering which is the best town to live in?
We will be working in Lower Hutt, but willing to travel up to 1hour to comute. We were looking at paraparaumu which looks nice, but it hard when you are just looking on the internet, also which are the best schools in the area. My son will be 8 years old when we get there. Please can anyone advise us. Many thanks

Answer: Paraparamu is a beautiful area but if you are looking for a great spot by the water I would suggest Days Bay. This is alovely area. If you want to live in Town then again I suggest Karori as the schools are the best in this area and again its a lovely safe place. Most areas in Wellington are indeed safe, however many people suggest that you avoid living in certain areas such as Porirua, and Naenae. These tend to be lower socio economic areas. Certain parts of the city itself are more student areas such as Newtown and Brooklands.

My top areas which aer affordable and have good services and are safe would be Karori, Kandallah, Kelburn, Wadestown or possibly Island Bay.

Try the website below for piccies of houses for sale to give you an idea of the standadrs and prices.
www.realenz.co.nz

 

Question: Cheapest way to travel from the United States to New Zealand in Dec/Jan.?
I'm looking to go to Wellington, New Zealand, leaving Dec. 30th, and returning somewhere between Jan. 8-10. I've noticed that I pretty much have to leave out of LAX to get there. When would be the cheapest time to purchase tickets and what is the best airline to go through?

The best prices I've found by looking now are about $1600-1800.

Answer: Try Webjet.com.au they compare flights & prices all in Aus dollars though. Dec/Jan is peak time for the southern hemisphere so like the others have said book now other wise they'll jump

 

Question: Which place in wellington new zealand is the best place to live. i work in lower hutt?
i am willing to travel up to an hour to get to work. long for some where to rent that is not to dear in a nice safe part of wellington, with a good school for my 8 year old son.
please help guys

Answer: Tawa is actually pretty good. It is away from the hutt, but still commutable (i lived in Tawa and worked in Lower Hutt). Schools are good (Redwood, Greenacres, Tawa in particular) and it is *very* safe. Very safe. Also the Intermediate is very well regarded, as is the college. Because the area has such a good mix it has some more expensive homes but also some less expensive ones but still in a nicer area.

The commute isn't too bad either. I used to go along Willowbank Road/Middleton Road then take the churton park turn off, head along the motorway then down the gorge and back along State Highway 2. Apart from a brief hold up just before the Ngauranga Gorge, it was pretty clear sailing. Used to get to Lower HUtt in less than 30 minutes in peak times.

At the weekends it is quicker.

Also, it is only about 15 mins on train into Wellington City.

 

Question: Where can I find flint in the Wellington region (New Zealand)?
Has to be somewhere in the Wellington region. Preferably within 30-40 Km of the city centre. Not collectors conventions, because I don't want to pay for it. And I don't want prime specimens, just decent-size pieces.

Answer: Any camping retail stores.
Check out yellowpages.co.nz and see if there is any close to you.

 

Question: Have questions about how to best spend 16 days on the south island of new zealand?
Planning a 16 day vacation touring the south island in April of 2008. Is this a good time to travel to New Zealand? Starting with 7 days in Queenstown, what would be the best day trips to make around Queenstown? Any special tours. Then planning a car tour up north. Maybe over to Haast for 1 night. Up to the Greymouth area. Eventually up to the Nelson area. Abel Tasmen is a must for us. 2 or 3 days there? Open to suggestions. Thinking of either flying back home out of Christchurch or Wellington? Possible wine country drive. Marborough sound trip? So many possibilities but would like to narrow it down to the best highlights, but have it be a relaxing pace and not extremely pricey. Open to a day or night here or there along the way. Not sure when we will be back so just want to make the most of our time there.

Answer: From Queenstown, visit Glenorchy and do the Dart River Safari trip, plus definitely include Wanaka. Mt Cook is a must if you like mountains, plus make time for a stop at one of the glaciers on the west coast. If you fly out of Christchurch, try and fit in Kaikoura, but otherwise the Marlborough Sounds are beautiful, so a boat trip and possibly a walk on part of the Queen Charlotte Track would be a good option.

 

Question: What does WOF mean when it comes to buying a car in New Zealand and do i need to get insurance to drive in NZ?
ME and ma mate are backpackers and we want to buy a dirt cheap car for no more than $500 but we want to know what WOF means and also what is the story with insurance

Answer: WOF means Warrant Of Fitness. Every car must have it renewed every 6 months. It's the equivalent to an "MOT" in the UK.
$500? Oh boy, I hope you'll get something that starts for that kind of money. Triple it, and you may find a car.
Try http://www.trademe.co.nz

 

Question: Travel to new zealand, my itinerary as below:?
after reseach from the website and forum discussions, i hv my itinerary as below:
day 1 Auckand
day 2 Roturua
day 3 Roturua
day 4 Taupo
day 5-6 Wellington
day 7 Picton -> bleheim
day 8 bleheim
day 9-10 christchurch
day 11 Mount Cook
day 12-13 Dunedin
day 14-16 Queensland
day 17 Franz Josef
day 18 nelson
day 19 from nelson back to auckland

is the above workable, i am planning to book the coach passes, but i noticed there is several types, flexi passes which is limited by hrs (not sure how this work), hop on hop off bus by route. 20 days is a very limited time, is there any place i should skip or stay longer, Any suggestion?
Thanks in advance for your comments and advise. Much appreciated.
In end june will i see snow in dunedin? cheers

Answer: It depends on what you want to see really.
I guess Auckland has a bit to offer, but for scenery you have got some good places to visit.

As I live in the South Island I can only comment on these places with more knowlede (as I have not been to Rotorua or, Taupo and visited Auckland a few times).

The ferry ride from Wellington to Picton takes around 3 and a half hours....the ride thru the Marlborough Sounds is lovely (although I will point out the middle hour in the Cook strait can be rough, so I recommend you buying some travel sickness tablets just in case!!! (I will also point out too it can also be perfectly nice too).
From Picton to Blenheim is about 30mins....I assume you will be doing the wine stuff in Blenheim (I live here), of which there are many wineries to chose from....if you want somewhere else to go too there is the new Aviation Museum thats just opened up (with help from Peter Jackson and the Weta workshops who helped with the displays) and is supposed to be very good...I have not yet been myself tho.

Blen to Chch...I would recommend the train, you can get a discount seat called a backpackers fare which gives you an older carriage (with smaller windows) and if oyu get a seat on the seaside of the train (which is left travelling south) you will have great views of the sea.
Kaikoura has whale watching which is supposed to be first class and could be an option.

I lived in Christchurch for years and love it there....things to see are the gondola, the Antarctic centre (near the airport), the Arts Centre (centre of town) museum and botanic gardens, the latter 3 all being free entry.
Mount Cook is lovely, but the town itself is tiny...you can do some walks to the ends of the glaciers...I know the Tasman and 2 other glaciers end there...I think they are called the Muller and I forget the otherone which has a reasonbly easy walk to a glacial lake and great views of Mount Cook.
Dunedin has a few things to offer I guess like the beachs (lovely white sand and in places stunningly blue water which look amazing), Larnach Castle and the Albatross colony on the Otago Peninsular.

QueensTOWN has lots to offer, even tho it is very touristy there is amazing things to do like the adrenaline things like bungy jumping, Shotover Jets (or you can go from the Lake (Wakatipu) itself, paragliding etc. THe views around the area are also stunning, with the lake and mountains....there is skiiing too and you can cross the lake on the old boat (grrr I have forgotton its name!!) or go up on the gondola...I suggest doing gondola rides in the late afternoon to see it in light and when it gets darker and the lights come on....its really lovely.

I worked in Franz Josef for a while and I love this area, its stunning....the glacier you can either fly over, fly onto or walk on (the half day trip is easy and fun), there are lots of little bush walks around the village too (i recommend centennial walk to see the glacier from the carpark and peters pool a little reflective walk and you can see glow worms at night on another walk close to town....forgot name!!). I know there is an ice climbing wall just opened up recently which is supposed to be excellent. I also saw the Imax movie there too which is quite cool for a change of pace.
THe drive to Nelson will be lovely and the whole area is just stunning. If you get the chance you should see Lake Matheson, the most photographed lake in NZ with stunning relfective views (on good days) of Mt Cook and Tasman...

Nelson...well you probalby won;t have time to see the Abel Tasman area (already discussed by someone else) which are lovely.
If you wanted to change anything, maybe when you arrive in Blenheim, (try to arrive as early as you can) do the wine trail that day and the next morn. The train to Kaikoura (and Christhcurch there is only 1 per day) leaves Blenheim about midday and you can maybe do some whale watching there and then catch the train the next day to Christchuch which gets there mid/late afternoon...I am not putting Blenheim down as there are some great things to do here (especially the wine, but also mainly scenic views away mainly from Blenhiem itself and can take a while to get there)...you will also see the Marlborough Sounds (or at least part of them) when you sail in on the ferry.

 

Question: Tips for New Zealand trip on a budget?
My friend and I are planning to go to New Zealand for the first time ever in October 2009. As it's our first international trip, we have a lot of questions. We hope to spend three weeks, maybe four, and will fly into Auckland, and from there go to Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, and Fiordland. To save on money, we plan to stay in backpackers. Any general advice on traveling the cheap way, and any pre-trip preparation tips would be greatly appreciated. I'm curious as to how one would go about doing a farmstay, as we are very interested in mingling with the locals as much as possible, as opposed to the "tourist" experience.

Answer: Have you thought about joining couch surfers. It is a great way to meet local people and if you are comfortable staying with them in their house. They also organise regular meet ups for parties, events, festivals, trips to the beach. Great people and great fun. Its all about locals showing people the greatest experience possible in their country.
Here is NZ group link:
http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=368

If you want to actually stay with someone my advice would be to put as much info about yourself into your profile. Couch surfing is an exchange. People volunteer their homes because they want to meet interesting people. When you go an stay offer to help out. If they work, cook them dinner or invite them out for dinner and pay for it etc.
Check peoples references before committing to stay. Stay only where you feel comfortable and if you commit to stay make sure you turn up.

You can arrange lifts with people from place to place. Take the normal safety precautions. You can check peoples references. Meet up with them in a group situation etc.

 

Question: Christmas vacation in New Zealand/Aotearoa. Suggestions?
My partner and I are going to NZ/Aotearoa for 18 days in December. We'll be there for X-Mas. While we're a bit relieved to be skipping the usual guilt-fest with the family this year, that doesn't mean we want to miss out on X-Mas altogether. Does anyone there have any suggestions of things to do over the 24, 25 and 26 so that we aren't stuck in an hostel with a bunch of homesick travellers?

Also, we're arriving in Auckland, spending two days there then heading out to see the rest of the north island. Two stops we have already planned are Hamilton and Wellington.

Any suggestions that aren't usually mentioned in travel guides? And please tell me why you're suggesting a place. We've heard that renting a camper van is a good idea. What do you suggest?

Answer: just to help you out - the 24,25 and 26th - are really family days in NZ. If at all possible try to book yourselves into hotel as often the hotel will have a "feast" for the 25th ( Xmas day) and make sure it is in a town where you can do some things I.e swimming, walking whatever you are into, as most of the 'shopping' is closed until the 26th where the boxing day sales kick in.

I reccomend a boking into a hotel, because the roads are usually full up from last minute urban workers trying to get home for Xmas therefore unless you want to be travelling on these days, for which the scenery is great BUT the best thing to do is be somewhere where you base yourself for these days and then travel again after that.

The roads here aren't like bumper to bumper delays, but it can be stressful trying to get home to family with delays.I.e getting out of the CBD's. Also don't forget the people that think they can drive after drinking.( after work drinkies)

SO choose a place in NZ that you can base yourself during this period, as there will many a pub or entertainment place I,.e rock climbing, swimming etc close by that will allow you to enjoy NZ's culture pera! (Pera = maori for 'Like that')

And the pub or gig for entertainment for the night life.

For the north island (where Hamilton and Wgtn are) May I reccomend, Rotorua, Taupo, Hamilton or Wellington itself,

For the South Island, Hamner springs or Christchurch or Queenstown.

Also don't forget that New Years is either that same week or th following afterwards, it is best to apply the same rules.

OH one last thing, don't forget it will be summer over here, so in the upper north island towns it will be HOTTER than HOT, and in the South Island towns it will be just hot. as after new years the sun really hits down there