Traveling to New Zealand in April, Auckland then South Island. On a budget.?

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John P

South island is so much nicer than the north. Queenstown, Dunedin, Christchurch, just to name a few nice places to visit.

http://travelcompass.org/country.php?countryID=NZ

JitterBug

On a budget? It depends on whether you're after cheap backpackers hostel or a place to stay that's big enough for a family.

If you're backpacking I recommend the YHA chain of hostels. The kitchens etc. are communal, but many of them offer family units and there are set times for a breakfast/dinner that is quite cheap too.

Also, you could try wotif.com for cheap accommodation and if you're lucky, it could be at quite a good hotel! It's a sort of "last chance" booking site, with hotels filling up empty rooms that they may not otherwise book out.

Recommendations for Auckland:
- Sky Tower (kind of a given but a must do for tourists!)
- Auckland Zoo
- don't go to Rainbow's End... you'll just be disappointed.

Auckland isn't the best tourist city in New Zealand, it's more of a gateway than anything.

I'm guessing by the way you worded your question that you're flying to the South Island rather than driving seeing as you didn't include the rest of the North Island. I'll give you some North Island suggestions just in case:

Rotorua:
- the luge - great family destination, entertainment for all ages
- Rotorua museum, has information about the history of Rotorua, very interesting place! I recommend it
- AgroDome, has live shows, a lot of audience involvement. A fun place to go if you have kids/or an interest in farming. Also has the world famous Zorb, bungyjumping and a new activity, the Shweeb

Wellington
- Check out Te Papa, New Zealand's National Museum
- Cuba St - has an interesting mix of people, and fun, eclectic shopping

Now to the South Island:

Christchurch
- Antarctic Centre - short drive from the airport, gives you the "Antarctic experience"
- a drive to Akaroa, New Zealand's "French settlement". Cute little harbour town

Queenstown
- NZ's "extreme sports capital", has the major bungy jumping spots, speed jet rides and so on. If you're into extreme stuff, this is the spot.

That's most of the main tourist attractions here. I've gone very lightly over it, just from my own experience of touring my home country so it's an honest perspective. However, a lot of the "extreme sports" type attractions (ie the Zorb, bungy jumping etc.) can get very expensive, so do some research if you plan on doing any of this and weed out what you think you'd be interested in doing.

mareeclara

For general info try
www.newzealand.com
www.aatravel.co.nz ( also look in the 101 things kiwis love..or called something like this for spots that kiwis love seeing themselves)

Dangerous

Forget all about Auckland and get off at Christchurch. For one it's expensive.

PLATYPUSSY

Crowne Plaza Auckland, Tauranga area, Rotura area, kiwi habitat and DEFINETELY Cadbury Manufacturing plant. Maybe go to the steepest road in Dunedin.

David W

Hi there i live in New Zealand and i think you should visit, Tauranga, Rotoura (there is alot to see and do there), Nelson is suppose to be very nice. If u come here u need to visit Queenstown there is alot to do and its very beautiful, Wanaka and u will love a trip to Milford Sound. Accommodation wise it depends on your budget really Top 10 holiday parks are throughout the country and provide nice, clean and tidy accommodation at a reasonable price. www.top10.co.nz is there web address.

Another address you may find very useful is
www.jasons.co.nz

It has, Accomdation, Things to do while in New Zealand, its a holiday planing site.

hope this helps

David

travel_stories

There is plenty you can do that is free or very cheap to visit. You can also use vouchers to get discounts. You don't say how you plan to travel. There are bus passes that work out to be very reasonable.

You don't say how long you are here, so a bit hard to answer. Have a look here for lots to see and do, cheap buses, hostel accommodation, freebies etc.

Some free activities in Auckland -

Auckland you can do lots of walks .........Waitakeres have lovely bush walks....if you have transport to get there. Milford to Takapuna on the North Shore, North Head in Devonport......catch the ferry over.See the views from the top, then walk around the base for fabulous close sea views. Auckland's Museum is quite cheap to visit and there are the Wintergardens below the museum. Then walk to Parnell to see the Cathedral and historic St Marys church - it is all wood, then wander down through the Parnell shops - many are in old houses, so lovely village atmosphere.

See http://www.holidays-in-newzealand.com/auckland.html

Rotorua you can see the thermal activity at Kuriau Park free. Wellington is a great city to walk around.all quite close.Te Papa - our national museum, go around Oriental parade. The waterfront area has plenty to enjoy.

Nelson, Christchurch, Queenstown , West Coast etc are all easy to enjoy on a budget.

Many cities and towns are just nice to walk around.You can stop into churches, galleries,parks, gardens, bush and forest walks , walk on beaches all for free. There are many small museums, etc that will not be expensive to visit.It is mainly the adventure activities that are expensive. Accommodation could be in a hostel or backpackers or cabins in camping grounds.

Have a nice holiday.

Sonu

Go to sky tower in NZ

and don't forget to eat burger fuel burger in Auckland there fries r

best in world they told that on tv in news that there fries best so

don't miss them

u can go to free market which is on sat and Sunday on most

places there u can buy cheap things ever

once in mangere town center

and another one is in otahuhu

in Auckland

well it depends when u come here if in summers u love to go

to beaches as everyone love and i don't think that missing to

go there is better idea i suppose every touriest go to

beaches or u can climb on the mountain like mount the

famous mountain

and also there is beach which is famous in new zealand

thanks

better that u find some place to live of ur relatives because

there is too much rent for live i reckon u can come through

some travle and tourist company they arrange everything for

tour but must be not fit in budget and u can also miss ur

interested things where u want to go because they just go

only

few places what they chose not which we recommended

the other thing school trip (But those option must be for students and teachers only i think )

i had seen sometimes that school or colleges arrange trips

that's what i remember right now

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