Society & Culture Things that Shit me part X- The Tenth edition!

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DrVanNostrand

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I'm in a place called Kaikora at the moment. It's on the South island about 200km North of Christchurch. Really recommend coming through here for a few mid week nights when you come over. Probably wouldn't stay for a weekend, but given you're here for 10 weeks you have enough time to sacrifice a weekend or two in a quite town along the journey. In saying that, it wouldn't surprise me at all if this place got quite lively on a weekend during January and February. There is about 7 backpacker hostels within about a square kilometre so I imagine there is enough demand in summer to cater for them.

Tiny town but there are a handful of bars which I plan on frequenting one or two tonight. But there's loads of stuff like walks, kayaking, whale watching, dolphin swims to do. Unfortunately my budget has been blown to shreds so my wholesome activities need to revolve around cheap or free things so I'll just be doing a hike today.

My biggest piece of advice for you, delay getting to Queenstown as long as you can. So many travellers I know have come to NZ for 2-3 months, get to Queenstown straight away and don't leave the place and don't do anything else they wanted too. Not even half an hour ago was chatting with an English lass who stayed in Queenstown for ten months of her twelve month visa and hardly saw anything else of NZ. It's a seriously awesome town, but so addicting. Definitely go to Queenstown, but get everything else out of the way first.

Wellington (south of the North island) is a great city for nightlife and gigs. I'm giving high consideration to moving there for a few months in January. One of my favourite cities on the planet. In Picton, Nelson and Abel Tasman (north of the South island) there is a big national park with loads of stuff to do. There is a four-five day hike through Malborough Sound (Picton) which looks really cool.

Not a fan of Auckland and I've only met a few people who like it. Don't ditch it completely on my advice but don't expect much of it. I don't know anything between Auckland and Wellington. Lake Taupo is supposed to be real nice, and same with Rotorua but the latter is more of a coupley thing.

Would give consideration buying a car for about $1000 and selling it when you leave.

It's such a good country. I'm so dumb taking till 25 (2009) before making my first trip across the ditch. Been back half a dozen times since.
I agree, it's fantastic. I've been before and it just wasn't enough. I'm hitting all the places you listed, except Kaikora actually, which I've never heard of until just now funnily enough. Queenstown is penciled in for the second last week so I shouldn't get too carried away. Others I'm hitting are Dunedin, Hamilton, Napier, New Plymouth, Westport, Greymouth, Franz Josef, Fox Glacier, Invercargill. Deliberately left some places off just so I'd have heaps more to see when I return again.

I find the cost of travelling over there to be pretty reasonable. Most essentials (I found) tend to be cheaper in $NZ before even taking into consideration the conversion rate. People from Europe and North America find it expensive, but I guess anywhere is cheap compared to living in Australia. Agree with you about Auckland, the city is dead quiet most nights. And you're right, Wellington is awesome. Similar to Melbourne, except better because there's only 300,000 people there.
 
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I agree, it's fantastic. I've been before and it just wasn't enough. I'm hitting all the places you listed, except Kaikora actually, which I've never heard of until just now funnily enough. Queenstown is penciled in for the second last week so I shouldn't get too carried away. Others I'm hitting are Dunedin, Hamilton, Napier, New Plymouth, Westport, Greymouth, Franz Josef, Fox Glacier, Invercargill. Deliberately left some places off just so I'd have heaps more to see when I return again.

I find the cost of travelling over there to be pretty reasonable. Most essentials (I found) tend to be cheaper in $NZ before even taking into consideration the conversion rate. People from Europe and North America find it expensive, but I guess anywhere is cheap compared to living in Australia. Agree with you about Auckland, the city is dead quiet most nights.
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Lets face it, the only reason most Aussies go overseas is to get drunk. That's always bound to ruffle the native's feathers.
Fair call. Noticed when i was in Europe that the culture is way different over there. They all love a drink, but they do it in a far classier way than the standard Aussie bogan.
 

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The Passenger

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I find the cost of travelling over there to be pretty reasonable. Most essentials (I found) tend to be cheaper in $NZ before even taking into consideration the conversion rate.
Our $$ has been smashed. When over this time last year it was 1.30, now it is about 1.09

Still much cheaper than Oz though
 
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