New Zealand 2004

On Mon, 30 Jun 2003 10:21:36 +0100, "davey watts"
wrote:

 >Hi All,
 >
 >I ( or should i say we ) am currently looking into our holiday for next year
 >( 2004 ). W are thinking about going to New Zealand for a month around
 >September time. Could anybody tell what the weather would be like at that
 >time of year, i don't mind the occasional rain shower but don't partically
 >want it to be raining all day ever day.
 >
 >Also where would be the best the place to fly into, i am planning on hiring
 >a car and driving around and would prefer to see the countryside etc rather
 >than cities, so which island would be best ??. I have heard that the South
 >Island is more Scenery rather than cities is this true ??
 >
 >Are hotels easy to come by once you are out of the big city areas and would
 >it be better to plan a route and book hotels in advance, i don't really want
 >to do this, would rather just see were the car takes us...
 >
 >Thanks for any help
 >Dave.
 >
 >
Unless you are going for winter sports, I would recommend that you
concentrate your activities to North Island and the north end of South
Island (Nelson-Abel Tasman Park). Actually it takes two months to
adequately visit all areas of New Zealand, so save the balance of
South Island for another time when you can visit in March. Get a copy
of the latest edition of the Lonely Planet New Zealand guidebook. Your
local bookstore should have it, but you could order direct via their
website. I have found it the most complete and accurate of the
guidebooks that are generally available. Advance booking of
accommodations is, for the most part, probably not necessary at the
time you are planning. You might consider a campervan and staying in
camper parks, which are located everywhere, but outside of the central
business areas of the larger cities.
Enjoy,

Charles
nzvideos.org
 >> Stay informed about: New Zealand 2004 

I prefer the South Island over the North Island, much more to see including

Marlborough Sounds / Picton
Across to Abel Tasman National park
Across to the West Coast via Nelson Lakes area
Down the West Coast via Greymouth, Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier (lake
Matheson reflection)
Down through the Haast gap onto Wanaka and Queenstown
Have a look at Fjordland
Then back up via the East coast via Dunedin and Christchurch.

That would keep you busy for a while and in the North Island I would
recommend

Rotorua, Bay of Islands, Auckland, Wellington.

Anyway have a great time, I presume September will be spring in NZ, we went
this year in April which Autumn in NZ and we were very lucky with the
weather in the South Island. We have also been to Queenstown in August which
was nice and sunny but chilly.

Colin

"davey watts" wrote in message

 > Hi All,
 >
 > I ( or should i say we ) am currently looking into our holiday for next
year
 > ( 2004 ). W are thinking about going to New Zealand for a month around
 > September time. Could anybody tell what the weather would be like at that
 > time of year, i don't mind the occasional rain shower but don't partically
 > want it to be raining all day ever day.
 >
 > Also where would be the best the place to fly into, i am planning on
hiring
 > a car and driving around and would prefer to see the countryside etc
rather
 > than cities, so which island would be best ??. I have heard that the South
 > Island is more Scenery rather than cities is this true ??
 >
 > Are hotels easy to come by once you are out of the big city areas and
would
 > it be better to plan a route and book hotels in advance, i don't really
want
 > to do this, would rather just see were the car takes us...
 >
 > Thanks for any help
 > Dave.
 >
 >
 >> Stay informed about: New Zealand 2004 

Hi Dave, yes you are correct the south island is more scenery than cities (a
lot lower population than the north island). September is beginning of
spring, the south island will be cold (depending on where you are coming
from), but it is common to have cold clear nights, frosty mornings, with
beautiful days, you would be unlucky to have rain the whole time.

Do some reading on the two islands and if the south island sounds like your
thing, then fly into Christchurch, hire a car from the airport and drop it
off again before you depart. Accomodation should be readily available in
most locations unless there are school holidays, check out
<a rel="nofollow" style='text-decoration: none;' href="http://www.minedu.govt.nz/index.cfm?layout=document&documentid=3767&CFID=296" target="_blank">http://www.minedu.govt.nz/index.cfm?layout=document&documentid=3767&CFID=296</a>
381&CFTOKEN=23053201 for term dates. Motels in NZ can be to a very high
standard, reasonably priced and usually have fully contained kitchens. Its a
great idea to drive where you feel like...

Kath

"davey watts" wrote in message

 > Hi All,
 >
 > I ( or should i say we ) am currently looking into our holiday for next
year
 > ( 2004 ). W are thinking about going to New Zealand for a month around
 > September time. Could anybody tell what the weather would be like at that
 > time of year, i don't mind the occasional rain shower but don't partically
 > want it to be raining all day ever day.
 >
 > Also where would be the best the place to fly into, i am planning on
hiring
 > a car and driving around and would prefer to see the countryside etc
rather
 > than cities, so which island would be best ??. I have heard that the South
 > Island is more Scenery rather than cities is this true ??
 >
 > Are hotels easy to come by once you are out of the big city areas and
would
 > it be better to plan a route and book hotels in advance, i don't really
want
 > to do this, would rather just see were the car takes us...
 >
 > Thanks for any help
 > Dave.
 >
 >
 >> Stay informed about: New Zealand 2004 

in article bdovj0$j1s$1@ngspool-d02.news.aol.com, davey watts at
wrote on 30/6/03 9:21 PM:

 > Hi All,
 >
 > I ( or should i say we ) am currently looking into our holiday for next year
 > ( 2004 ). W are thinking about going to New Zealand for a month around
 > September time. Could anybody tell what the weather would be like at that
 > time of year, i don't mind the occasional rain shower but don't partically
 > want it to be raining all day ever day.

Definitely recommend the South Island, although with a month it would be
quite possible to spend say 2-3 weeks in the SI, returning your rental car
to Christchurch & then flying or train/ferry to Wellington for another week
-10 days (or perhaps vv would give you better weather in the South. There
are spring holidays around the last week of September, other than that you
probably don't need to make advance bookings, except for Queenstown & Wanaka
where the ski season will still be going.

Vicki
 >> Stay informed about: New Zealand 2004 

Great scenery but rather cold in September, and passes could be closed by
snow.

 > I prefer the South Island over the North Island, much more to see
including
 >
 > Marlborough Sounds / Picton
 > Across to Abel Tasman National park
 > Across to the West Coast via Nelson Lakes area
 > Down the West Coast via Greymouth, Franz Josef Glacier, Fox Glacier (lake
 > Matheson reflection)
 > Down through the Haast gap onto Wanaka and Queenstown
 > Have a look at Fjordland
 > Then back up via the East coast via Dunedin and Christchurch.
 >
 > That would keep you busy for a while and in the North Island I would
 > recommend
 >
 > Rotorua, Bay of Islands, Auckland, Wellington.
 >
 > Anyway have a great time, I presume September will be spring in NZ, we
went
 > this year in April which Autumn in NZ and we were very lucky with the
 > weather in the South Island. We have also been to Queenstown in August
which
 > was nice and sunny but chilly.
 >
 > Colin
 >


  > > Hi All,
  > >
  > > I ( or should i say we ) am currently looking into our holiday for next
 > year
  > > ( 2004 ). W are thinking about going to New Zealand for a month around
  > > September time. Could anybody tell what the weather would be like at
that
  > > time of year, i don't mind the occasional rain shower but don't
partically
  > > want it to be raining all day ever day.
  > >
  > > Also where would be the best the place to fly into, i am planning on
 > hiring
  > > a car and driving around and would prefer to see the countryside etc
 > rather
  > > than cities, so which island would be best ??. I have heard that the
South
  > > Island is more Scenery rather than cities is this true ??
  > >
  > > Are hotels easy to come by once you are out of the big city areas and
 > would
  > > it be better to plan a route and book hotels in advance, i don't really
 > want
  > > to do this, would rather just see were the car takes us...
  > >
  > > Thanks for any help
  > > Dave.
  > >
  > >
 >
 >
 >> Stay informed about: New Zealand 2004 

Neil Raines wrote:
 > Great scenery but rather cold in September, and passes could be closed by
 > snow.

Oh FFS, will you stop posting this "passes closed by snow" misinformation?

If theres a particularly bad storm, one or possibly two of the alpine passes
might close for a few hours. That's not going to stop anyone's holiday.
 >> Stay informed about: New Zealand 2004 

Already before I saw the "passes closed by snow" reply I was going to
add the following:



It is likely that the Milford Road may be closed still in September.
They have periods of extreme avalanche risk, and spring is when this
is greatest. Milford Sound and the road to it is probably the single
most amazing bit of scenery in NZ, and is the highlight of many
people's visit - especially if you get a clear day and the snow is
still on the tops.



It can be cold throughout the South Island in September, but if you want
to see the mountains and lakes I would still go there if I was you.
Maybe keep an eye on the forecast, and if it doesn't look to good be
flexible and spend more time in the cities (ChCh and Dunein) and in
Nelson and Marlborough areas, which are quite a lot milder than say
central Otago. Or maybe your'e into winter sports, in which case spend
plenty of time in Queenstown and Wanaka.


--
Posted via http://britishexpats.com
 >> Stay informed about: New Zealand 2004 

It will you you have to catch an overseas flight!

 > Oh FFS, will you stop posting this "passes closed by snow" misinformation?
 >
 > If theres a particularly bad storm, one or possibly two of the alpine
passes
 > might close for a few hours. That's not going to stop anyone's holiday.
 >
 >> Stay informed about: New Zealand 2004