Hello everyone

To cut a long story short, i recently split with the girlfriend and once everything is sorted i.e. house sold and all that stuff ! then ive decided to indulge myself and do something "we" always put off - go to New Zealand

I was wondering if anyone has any general advice for travelling round new zealand? im looking at going for around a month in Feb nxt year, possibly travelling over to Oz to as my sister will be living there at the time.

Ive been looking into the "magic bus" and this seems a good option for hostels and travel as i can do everything in my own time, and the prices seem fairly reasonable. has anyone used their packages? or know of any better ones?

Suppose the other thing i should mention really is that although ive stayed in hostels etc on lads holidays and stag weekends, this will be the 1st time ive actually looked at going away on my own and moved around different places in that country. Ive not owned a backpack since i was about 12 !
Im pretty shy and usually find it difficult to just strike up conversation with a stranger, so im kind of hoping doing this solo trip is what i need to change the way i am. Am i being realistic there? has anyone else found the same thing?

Im sure ill be back with hundreds of questions when i look into all the details but for now, any general advice etc is much appreciated

Cheers

Welcome aboard.

I traveled New Zealand alone - only for a week - but it was great. In fact, I do the majority of my traveling alone, and I'm actually a pretty shy person overall. However, traveling makes me come out of my shell - it's sort of a necessity, I guess. So don't worry about that at all! You'll run into plenty of other solo travelers and many hostels seem to be made for strangers to meet up and become traveling buddies.

Magic Bus came most recommended by the travelers and hostel owners I talked to. Kiwi Experience is probably the most popular of the hop-on/hop-off options, but everyone told me Magic Bus had a more "up close" and intimate feel with the country, whereas the Experience buses tend to be more of a big drunk bus... Check out reviews around the web to form your own opinion :) Of course, New Zealand's a pretty easy place to get around on your own, whether it's by buses, planes, or cars, so if you decide to really go full-on and DIY, it's not too difficult.

Hey.

Funny really, cos I was pretty shy before I got into this travelling business. I didn't realise there would be hundreds of other people doing the exact same thing as me, and on their own.

I haven't been to NZ, but I'm just posting here as I'm headin' out there in SEP time. My plan at the mo is to fly into Auckland...and that's about it so far. So like JonnyBloo, would appreciate any pointers.

Thanks guys...

Welcome to the boards! :cheers:

You'll find lots of help here, and we've got a lot of TPunks from the Oz/NZ area.

Thanks for the welcome people

Im glad im not the only one whos shy then ! Im hoping that when your in a different country on your own then theres no choice of being shy otherwise itl be a pretty lonely month, part of the reason i want to do it i suppose - kick up the backside that i need

Omisan - thanks for the tip with magic bus / kiwi experience, ill look at them closer. i do like the sound of a "big drunk bus" :thumbup: but i suppose both have their pro's and cons.

although my plans have got about as far as buying a guide book and finding this forum im really looking forward to it - in a sh!t scared kind of way !!!! so again, any pointers for NZ are much appreciated, especially the things that must be seen when in NZ???

Cheers again everyone

Hey there all!

Haven't logged in in quite a while but I've been lurking and toting a huge case of trip envy for all of you backpackers able to gad about.

Well I finally get mine and I'm off to New Zealand as well, South Island mostly. When are you two headed down? I'm not able to go til February '07 but I'm planning the bejezus out of it.

One of the places that I MUST GO TO is the Waitomo Caves for a float before I head for Dunedin which is where a friend is living. Then we're off to Stewart island and Queenstown and all in between. can't wait!!!

Hey there,

NZ is a very safe place to travel and im sure you wont have any problems at all traveling by yourself!!

If you need any help on where in NZ to go i may be able to assist (North island only though :()

I anticipate that I'm going to have a rocking good time, I've been wanting to go since I was a kid. My friend Rachel is going to join me for as much as she can but I anticipate a lot of solo travel.

We're changing the itinerary a bit, I'll land in Wellington Rachel will meet me and we'll go to the glow worm caves there (I've got this thing for glow worms I guess) then take the ferry to the south island and drive down the east coast to Dunedin where I'll be turned loose. there will be winery trips involved, oh yes, as wel l as hiking and crawling around the coast. As much as I can cram into 3 weeks. And not to forget Stewart Island for a couple days.

Counting the days til I take off...

Welcome! If you need any advice about Oz let us know!!!! :cheers:

Thanks!

Doubt I'll be able to fly over to Oz but that's another trip i plan to make in the next few years. I've several friends from there as well as my ex-husband (but I won't hold that against you guys!)

Time and money my friend. I need a sugar daddy...

hey if your into hiking there are some beautiful tracks through the malborough sounds (you'll pass through here as you come into picton on the ferry). You should defeinatly spend some time in Rotorua as you head up to Waitomo (which really only has the caves and horse treks), Rotoruas got a whole lot of geo thermal attraction type stuff, hot pools , a mean luge and if you havent tried Zorbing you should look this up! Also landing in wellington make sure you bus it into the city if you can from the airport, taxi's add an airport surcharge and you could be looking at around $30 NZ for about a ten minute drive