Visiting NZ and Oz
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Just got back from a month in NZ with a weekend in Sydney in the middle - holiday of a lifetime type thing.
In Sydney, I wouldn't do the actual walk over the top of the harbour bridge. It's very costly and takes most of the day out. Better to walk the pedestrian path next to the roadway and go up into the little museum located in the Western tower which has viewing platforms 360 degrees. Captain Cook harbour tour was good value. Had a nice lunch at the Waterside restaurant overlooking the bay and an old-fashioned sailing ship.
In NZ, you have got to go 'zorbing' at Rotorua if your family are near there. Mrs Monty and I were loaded into a giant plastic ball, several gallons of warm water were added and we were rolled 100 metres down a slope. It's called 'the wash cycle' and I haven't laughed so much in ages. Internal flights aren't too expensive, so if you can get to Queenstown, do. The Shotover River Jet boat ride was a must - really skilled drivers whizz you inches past the canyon walls and do neat little 360 degree turns. Don't bother with the Lake boat ride - tame by comparison. Wish we'd done the white water rafting. Novotel in Queenstown is position A - next to lake and town. Snow was the best they've had in a while so the skiing was great
The Kiwis are really nice, laid back folk. Except for that Scottish copper who did me for 75kph in a 60kph, no other traffic about. He had some sort of fiendish forward-looking radar on his car to catch oncoming traffic. Watch for that.
I know I had holiday goggles on, but it looked like a great place to live. Will definitely go back during their summer one day.
Enjoy!
In Sydney, I wouldn't do the actual walk over the top of the harbour bridge. It's very costly and takes most of the day out. Better to walk the pedestrian path next to the roadway and go up into the little museum located in the Western tower which has viewing platforms 360 degrees. Captain Cook harbour tour was good value. Had a nice lunch at the Waterside restaurant overlooking the bay and an old-fashioned sailing ship.
In NZ, you have got to go 'zorbing' at Rotorua if your family are near there. Mrs Monty and I were loaded into a giant plastic ball, several gallons of warm water were added and we were rolled 100 metres down a slope. It's called 'the wash cycle' and I haven't laughed so much in ages. Internal flights aren't too expensive, so if you can get to Queenstown, do. The Shotover River Jet boat ride was a must - really skilled drivers whizz you inches past the canyon walls and do neat little 360 degree turns. Don't bother with the Lake boat ride - tame by comparison. Wish we'd done the white water rafting. Novotel in Queenstown is position A - next to lake and town. Snow was the best they've had in a while so the skiing was great
The Kiwis are really nice, laid back folk. Except for that Scottish copper who did me for 75kph in a 60kph, no other traffic about. He had some sort of fiendish forward-looking radar on his car to catch oncoming traffic. Watch for that.
I know I had holiday goggles on, but it looked like a great place to live. Will definitely go back during their summer one day.
Enjoy!
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Join Date: Aug 2006
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) with a pissup already by an e-friend from a Canadian aviation forum who is Sydney based. See if we can roll those into one...or not 
But I agree: great excuse (I can't believe you Sydney ppruners haven't had a bash yet!).
P.S.: Though I am a newish ppruner if you're going by my membership date, I have been reading it for years. (Hate to be thought of as some newbie instigator!
)
Last edited by cdnfssgal; 4th Sep 2006 at 21:19. Reason: P.S.
Join Date: Aug 2006
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I realise that you said that you wouldn't be doing any of the flying personally but i found this one day and thought it was a great way for visiting pilots to see the south island Flyinn NZ. South Island is a must!
Aviation Ideas for holiday and weekends
If you are visiting New Zealand and planning on flying here is a free site built by a couple of aviation nuts for the enjoyment of fellow pilots.
http://www.flythisweekend.co.nz/
Cheers
http://www.flythisweekend.co.nz/
Cheers
Join Date: Apr 2002
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That hukajet package looks good. I was like a kid in a sweetshop - so much to do, so little time. Personally, I shied away from bungy jumps. Not because I'm scared - obviously. I just don't like heights...er no, detached retinas.
I used tripadvisor.com as a very informative source on which you could get tips from backpackers ranging to millionaires on what to see and do based on your budget.
I had intended to splurge on a flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound, do the boat trip with lunch and fly back. Highly decadent, but when will you do it again? Sadly for me, it didn't work out.....one day.
One trap to avoid: do not attempt to 'do' NZ in a car and see all the sights. It can't be done. If you want to spend 10 hours a day in a car save yourself the money and set off round the M25 London orbital on a Friday afternoon.
Pick a few places and spend 3-4 days there. Use internal flights - it beats 7 hour drives.
Some folk also try to save money by camper-vanning it. Others contend it is better to get a hire car and stay at the motels where you can get a good shower and bed, without the restriction of driving a bus. Apparently it works out the same. Again, tripadvisor has many viewpoints.
NZ has a lot going for it.
I used tripadvisor.com as a very informative source on which you could get tips from backpackers ranging to millionaires on what to see and do based on your budget.
I had intended to splurge on a flight from Queenstown to Milford Sound, do the boat trip with lunch and fly back. Highly decadent, but when will you do it again? Sadly for me, it didn't work out.....one day.
One trap to avoid: do not attempt to 'do' NZ in a car and see all the sights. It can't be done. If you want to spend 10 hours a day in a car save yourself the money and set off round the M25 London orbital on a Friday afternoon.
Pick a few places and spend 3-4 days there. Use internal flights - it beats 7 hour drives.
Some folk also try to save money by camper-vanning it. Others contend it is better to get a hire car and stay at the motels where you can get a good shower and bed, without the restriction of driving a bus. Apparently it works out the same. Again, tripadvisor has many viewpoints.
NZ has a lot going for it.
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c100driver, sir.pratt, and Monty (again), some great ideas and tips.
The flyinn looks interesting, but I talk on the radio from the other end of the conversation (Air Traffic Services), and still unsure if my "private" pilot will be able to join me on the trip. (DO they have twins? I'm 90% sure he will NOT fly anything with one engine? Disregard-just dug further into the website and see it's 172's and 206)
Some of those hukajet packages look great! Will do some more research on that for sure, as the North Island is my prime destination in NZ.
Hadn't checked tripadvisor yet, Monty. I usually do check out hotels on there before booking , but have a month or three before I was going to do that. Didn't realise they also had "what to do/see" advice as well. Thanks for the tip!
The flyinn looks interesting, but I talk on the radio from the other end of the conversation (Air Traffic Services), and still unsure if my "private" pilot will be able to join me on the trip. (DO they have twins? I'm 90% sure he will NOT fly anything with one engine? Disregard-just dug further into the website and see it's 172's and 206)
Some of those hukajet packages look great! Will do some more research on that for sure, as the North Island is my prime destination in NZ.
Hadn't checked tripadvisor yet, Monty. I usually do check out hotels on there before booking , but have a month or three before I was going to do that. Didn't realise they also had "what to do/see" advice as well. Thanks for the tip!
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My NZ tour was 6 years ago but the natural beauty of the place is the BIG attraction. A flight to one of the glaciers (via fixed or rotary wing) will be unforgettable. Milford Sound is just plain awesome, and Queenstown is full of many activities (jet boats, hang gliding...) to enjoy.
Also got a huge kick from a farm show near Rotorua - the sheepdogs are really remarkable!
...and I got the T-shirt:
Also got a huge kick from a farm show near Rotorua - the sheepdogs are really remarkable!
...and I got the T-shirt:
Last edited by barit1; 7th Sep 2006 at 01:47.
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OK...I finally found said t-shirt...WAY too much profanity for a lady like me to scan and post (true tho the wx references may be).
So, I am still looking for more great hints on what to see and do in NZ and western Australia.
to scan and post (true tho the wx references may be).So, I am still looking for more great hints on what to see and do in NZ and western Australia.
