New Zealand

[francesca2]

My husband and I are going to New Zealand in February. We don't want to spend $500 -$1000 a night on a hotel such as Mollies or Treetops. Can anyone recommend hotels in any of the cities in New Zealand? We will be travelling all around both islands. We also would like some suggestions on golf in New Zealand.

[cruisinred]

Hi Franseca-

I see no one has replied to your post, so I thought I'd jump in.

Have you seen the LuxuryLink auction for the Azure hotel near Queenstown? The rack rate for this property is $800-1000USD per night and the LL deal is only about $400 per night, so quite a savings.

[bdsouza]

A few years ago, we built a holiday around an LL trip to Turtle Island by combining it with a trip to NZ. We found that you can get super deals on B&B at all different levels of luxury and budget. I noticed there have been a couple offered by LL. If not what you want, then surf away (sorry LL!). If you want further recommendations I could probably dig out our original itinerary which covered both islands and included a trip to Milford Sound. BDS

[AlistairT]

Hi Francesca -

A fantastic country to come and golf in - good choice. Hotels in cities of note would include:

Auckland - Hilton or Aachen House.

Wellington - Bolton Hotel

Christchurch - Staying at the Outrigger at Clearwater would be good bet as it is on PGA Championship course at Clearwater.

Queenstown - Eichardts - worth paying a little extra to stay there as it is incredible...!

Golf - World Class resort courses:

Kauri Cliffs - Bay of Islands.
Gulf Harbour - Auckland.
Pauanui Lakes Resort - Coromandel.
Wairakei International - Taupo.
The Kinloch Club - Taupo but not open until March by the great man himself Jack Nicklaus.
Cape Kidnappers - Hawkes Bay.
Clearwater - Christchurch
Terrace Downs - 45 mins from Christchurch
Millbrook - Queenstown

Also some incredible club courses including:

Titirangi - Auckland
Ngamoto - New Plymouth
Bridge Pa - HAstings
Paraparaumu - Kapiti Coast - (north of Wellington and where Tiger competed in 2000 NZ Open)
Shirley - Christchurch
Arrowtown - Queenstown
Kelvin Heights - Queenstown

...plus many many more.....

Hope this helps

Alistair

[cruisinred]

What top New Zealand properties have been featured on LL?

I see that Azure is up for auction now, and it looks lovely. I also recall seeing Mollies offered in the past.

Have any of the high end eco lodges such as Treetops been featured?

[cjradice]

hibdsouza- we are visiting ourstudent in nz and are trying to get together an itinerary. we'd love to know the places you visited and the activities you did and your opinion on each. thanks

[bdsouza]

cjradice,

I will try to dig it out and send it to you. I am not sure qhether we are allowed to do this, but if you let me have your email address, I can send it as an attachment. If I don't see your post, I shall assume that we cannot and attach it within a post.



BDS

[bdsouza]

I did not see a reply, so just in case, I shall post the itinerary below:



NorthIsland
Arrive Auckland, pick up car and stay 1 nightDrive to Dargaville and onto Kaitaia and Whangerai, stay 2 nightsDrive down the coast and circle around CoromandelContinue down to Rotorua, stay 3 nights as baseVisit Tauranga, Taupo, Tourangi, and WhakataneTake day trip to WhiteIslandDrive back to Auckland, overnight and plane trip to South Island
South Island
Pick up car in ChristchurchDrive through Arthurs Pass and onto Greymouth, stay 1 nightDrive on to Hokitika and down to Glaciers (Franz Joseph), stay 2 nightsGo through Hermitage, HaastPass, through Twizel and into Queenstown, 1 nightDrive to Milford Sound, 2 nightsDrive to Te Anau and visit surrounding area, stay 1 nightDrive back to Christchurch, stay overnight and catch flight back to London
This is just thelist of the places we visited, not an indication of what we actually did because we were able to do action stuff, relaxing stuff, go to the live volcano, take a helicopter ride to the top of the glacier,go hiking on the glacier, go kayaking, visit the caves and lots of other things.

Note, we only stayed in B&Bs other than in Milford Sound, where we were on a large boat. The B&Bs were all top-end except for the first one in Auckland that was owned by a rather eccentric lady whose room hadnt been used in years, yet the shower was lovely! The last night in Auckland, we stayed in a mid-range airport hotel for about 6 hours.

I hope this helps!

BDS

[stardap]

I appreciate reading these too. I am a female, solo traveler heading for New Zealand with a land stay of 7 nights in February 2008. I don't want to rent a car because between the jet lag and the wrong side driving, I'll be too disoriented. Can someone suggest a good itinerary for an active person who would like to experience the time not as a tourist but rather an observer? What's best to get to interesting places (meaning not just tourist locations?) Trains? Buses? Are there any interesting festivals or celebrations going on to hit? Can I do it myself? Advise and thanks!