Suggestion for New Zealand trip

R0ssei · #1 August 3, 2017, 09:38 AM

So, my millionaire bro-in-law lives in Brisbane and for his effort of uniting his whole family at his place during holidays, we're planning to visit AUS-NZ this Dec-Jan (4-5 weeks). My wife visited both countries before and I only went to AUS once. It will be first time for our 2.5 year old daughter.

We haven't booked the air-tickets yet, but these are the choices:
Option 1 (cheaper): Toronto - Auckland - Queenstown - Brisbane - Toronto
Option 2: Toronto - Brisbane - Toronto, Brisbane - Auckland - Queenstown - Brisbane

I've planned to stay for a week (perhaps in Dec 11 -18) in NZ covering little of both islands. Here's the plan for NZ:

After we reach Auckland, I will rent a car for 3 days and visit the following (spending nights at hotels in respective places):
Road Trip-1: Auckland (city) - Waimoto (cave) - Rotorua (hot springs) - Matamata (Hobitton) - Thames (Falls) - Auckland [BTW, is Hobbiton worth of $80 pp?]

Then we will fly from Auckland to Queenstown and rent a car for 3-4 days to visit:
Road Trip-2: Queenstown (sightseeing/water sports) - Te Anau (cave) - Milford Sound (cruise) - Queenstown/Arrowtown (sightseeing)

As we have a 2.5 year old with us, we cannot really hike/bike/climb or even walk for miles. Not sure in that case, how much we will be able to do (i.e. cave tour). Our whole trip may start from Dec 9 to Jan 13. We have to stay in AUS from Dec 25 - Jan 5. So, we either do the NZ trip before or after that.

Now since many of you live in AUS and perhaps visited NZ lot of times, I would ask for your suggestions re: timeline vs cost, weather (Dec vs Jan), crowd gathering etc. Also, jet-lag is a concern if we do the NZ road trips right after we reach Oceania zone. I will be the only driver as my wife wouldn't be able to drive on left side of the road. Not a problem for me.

Open to any suggestion...

bujhee kom · #2 August 3, 2017, 11:00 AM

Enjoy your visit to New Zealand and time with your family.

We have BC members from Auckland and Christchurch. Maybe they will see your post and inject some excellent ideas.

bujhee kom · #3 August 3, 2017, 12:56 PM

Also ROssei bhaiya,

You can visit those brothers in NZ and stay at their place and eat rich food/Dawath!
And send us the photos of the food/dishes -Pulau/Kurma/Khasi/Mutton Curry/Burhani etc.

bujhee kom · #4 August 3, 2017, 01:14 PM

Also, are you looking for Halal restaurants for you, apa and your baby?
No problem, I am searching EatNZHalal.com for you and will give you a full list of halal eateries in and around Christchurch and Auckland.

R0ssei · #5 August 9, 2017, 11:28 AM

thanks for your enthu @B_K
(when I typed B_K, I just remember that we had same nick name for one of our school teachers in Dhaka, BK for "Battu Karim"

)

Anyone else has any input?

Jadukor · #6 August 21, 2017, 07:33 PM

I am also planning to go to NZ for about two weeks late November. My plan is to start from Christchurch and drive down to Queenstown and then to Wanaka

DinRaat. · #7 August 21, 2017, 08:00 PM

If you want to expierience real Oceania, hire a 4WD from Hertz/Thrifty/NoBirds

Go to National Park in NZ and you will see what true beauty is.

DinRaat. · #8 August 21, 2017, 08:02 PM

Since your in a car, it will be beneficial for both your 2.5 Year Old and your family as you can drive and they can enjoy the luxuries of a 4wd

R0ssei · #9 August 22, 2017, 01:18 PM

Here's the sad story:

I got approved for 5 weeks vacation. I almost bought the air-ticket from Air Canada (pretty good flight with 787).

And then my wife happened (for whom I set this trip for). She got a new job and she isn't allowed for more than 2 weeks vacation for the first 6 months.

So, trip cancelled/postponed for now. Instead, we will perhaps go for a SoCal trip for a week.

Jadukor · #10 September 20, 2017, 03:34 AM

Too bad your trip got cancelled but there is alway next year to do it. Meanwhile my plan is moving ahead for November. Will fly to Auckland and then take domestic to Queenstown and then rent a car.

Queentown-Milfordsound-Wanaka-Glenorchy-Mount Cook-Tekapo-Queenstown

Accomodation is costing me about 130 usd per night on average. Total cost for the trip (10 days) roughly 4500 usd including flights car rental etc.

R0ssei · #11 January 5, 2018, 02:56 PM

^

I envy you Jadukor. I so wanted to go to Queenstown & Milford Sound, even with a 2 year old. How was your trip?

My short trip to Malibu-LA-Disney-Palm Springs was better than I expected. And we're still going to Australia for the weddings, but no NZ this time.

Shingara · #12 January 5, 2018, 04:53 PM

Apner bro-in-law millionaire - edia amader janaiya boroi upokar korsen.
Bangali jei deshei thakey, oikhanei chapabaji kortey ustad!

Yankees · #13 January 5, 2018, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shingara
Apner bro-in-law millionaire - edia amader janaiya boroi upokar korsen.
Bangali jei deshei thakey, oikhanei chapabaji kortey ustad!

absolutely hilarious.

Eta pore onek funny laglo. Amar bhai ke dekhai te hobe. Uni kuti kuti takar malik, pore onek moja pabe.

Roy_1 · #14 January 5, 2018, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shingara
Apner bro-in-law millionaire - edia amader janaiya boroi upokar korsen.
Bangali jei deshei thakey, oikhanei chapabaji kortey ustad!

R0ssei · #15 January 12, 2018, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shingara
Apner bro-in-law millionaire - edia amader janaiya boroi upokar korsen.
Bangali jei deshei thakey, oikhanei chapabaji kortey ustad!

So, my bro-in-law is probably a millionaire, how does it help me gain anything either in real life or in this forum?

Besides, as far I remember, I wrote it as a fun-fact, not to offend anyone.

If that was a bad intro, he is a specialist/surgeon + asst. prof. He has been awarded best teaching prof few times in QLD. He probably deserves that money. It doesn't matter if he is my BIL or non-relative.

iDumb · #16 January 13, 2018, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R0ssei
So, my bro-in-law is probably a millionaire, how does it help me gain anything either in real life or in this forum?

Besides, as far I remember, I wrote it as a fun-fact, not to offend anyone.

.

ignore that guy. while the fact probably wasn't necessary there is no reason for him to write such a thing. shows his insecurity.

why only your brother, you can also say you are a millionaire and he has no right to question you without any facts. It's just maybe hard for him to fathom there are hundreds of thousands of Bangaldeshi millionaires all over the world. There are few undisclosed political billionaires too...

shingara with his dishwashing job aint one of them. so he thinks the whole world is like him ..