New Zealand is our first stopping off point after the 2014 cruise from Vancouver, Canada across the Pacific Ocean. It is simple, easy, friendly, and encourages visitors! We got off the cruise ship in Auckland and stayed in the city for a few days to get our land legs back. Then we rented a car – see photo below – for the next 30 days and drove to the northern tip of the north island and slowly ambled down to Queenstown at the southern end of the south island. We logged 2,059 miles in those 25 days.
We wandered aimlessly and enjoyed driving on the left side of the road across one lane bridges and numerous round-a-bouts. The following map indicates where we went by ship in GREEN. The RED indicates the route by car. We stayed most places just a few days. It is a small country (about the size of California) and very few major roads.
The following maps indicate the distance between Australia and New Zealand and the vast resources. Tropical beaches in the north (similar to Florida) and glaciers in the south (similar to Alaska).
New Zealand is modern and simple. Sports are the primary focus! All Blacks is their national Rugby team. Walking and fitness is very important. Their focus to travelers is adventure travel. There is an i-Site (visitor center) in nearly every town we drive through. Tons of free maps and brochures and very helpful staff. They will make reservations without extra fee too. The Maori are original settlers of this country. They are well respected and hold government positions.
Different – not foreign different – wonderfully different!
I was walking through a shopping area and noticed people seemed to be looking at me like they could tell I was a tourist. Then I realized I’m the only one wearing bright colored clothing. Almost everyone wears grey or black. They just don’t wear bright colors even though you see brights in the store window displays. I finally asked a young woman about that as she was wearing brights. She said it is a conscious effort on her part as most people don’t want to “draw attention to themselves”. I said I sure get a lot of head turns with my bright colors and I’m 64 years old. Ha! This quiet attitude seemed to be prevalent in everything they are about. They don’t show off with fancy cars or homes. But they do smile and you feel comfortable around them. They are quick to ask how you are doing and offer help rather than ignore. I could go on and on about how cool and different everything is here. Not foreign different – but different.
When you visit, don’t do a bus tour. You will miss the little towns, the alternate routes and the charm that is real NZ. Food is expensive eating out. Subway (sandwich shop) is almost everywhere and very portable. We focused mostly on grocery store deli items and had picnics along the way as we toured around. Most motels have efficiency kitchens.
Driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road – NOT wrong, not right, but left.
Driving on the left side of the road is always a challenge but I had done it before and had no problems. We picked up our rental car in Auckland and driving on a 6 lane freeway was just weird on the ‘wrong’ side. Most roads are narrow two lane though. The only challenge was the “Backwards” Round-a-bouts with double lanes and exits that point to towns like Whitianga or Waipukurau or Whakatane – truly a foreign language. English is their primary language but most of the town names are in Maori. Know your nearest through town before getting on the road. The signs will indicate the nearest next town, not YOUR final destination.
North Island – Exploring New Zealand by Auto from North to South
Auckland is the most populated area in New Zealand at 1.5 million people, 32% of the entire country. Auckland is a rather expensive city so we only stayed 2 nights in a tiny old hotel room, without elevator. The Albion Hotel is above a bar and cost $150 per night/US. Great location though within walking distance of the ship and the Sky Tower.
We toured around the city on the Hop-on-off-Bus and went to the top of the famous Sky Tower. The 2nd day we took the people ferry across the bay to Waiheke Island. Rode the local bus around that island and had lunch at Charlie’s restaurant on Onetangi Beach. The Prawn twizzlers were the best! Met an interesting lady from China who wants to go to America. Her English was rough but she is living in New Zealand on a study permit-to learn English. She had been in the country for 7 years on this study permit. I later learned the country is a little to lax on these permits. Back in main town of Oneroa we had ice cream and then walked about 1.5 km to ferry back to Auckland.
North to Paihia – Nov 9-11 – 400 Islands in this Tropical Region
From Auckland, this is a five hour drive to Bay of Islands, town of Paihia (pronounced Pie-hee-a. Discovered by Capt Cook forever ago. Founded by Moari people originally. 400 islands in this region and just beautiful. Our hotel in Auckland was “rugged and scrawny” and cost nearly $150 a night. We stopped at a big supermarket “Pack and Save” – just like home. Warehouse style. Spent $100 on stuff so we can eat “IN”. We are so tired of eating out! Ship food was very repetitious. I bought a bag of frozen shrimp and veges to make stir-fry which should be good for couple days and as salad too. Big box of cheerios and grapes from USA but cheaper than home. We asked a store clerk where they keep the ‘ice chests’. He looked at us kinda weird and said the ‘chilly-bins’ are in the back. I love this language! Also, the rolling trash containers are called ‘wheely-bins’.
Photos of our apartment in Paihia – Sea Spray Suites $94/night:
We took passenger ferry over to Russell which is a high end resort town just across the bay and saw Paul and Janice, passengers from our cruise ship. Small World! We then walked over the hill for a view of the other side. Nicely landscaped everywhere. We had lunch in a fish market that makes take out sandwiches or fish/chips quite affordable-$12 for a fish burger and Bob a cheeseburger.
South to Coromandel Peninsula, Mercury Bay Holiday Park-$90/night – Nov 12-13
Long drive! We arrived about 5pm, 7 hour drive. Our new digs are simple but nice. We are in Mercury Bay Holiday Park in Whiatanga. Kitchen again. The weather is cold/rainy/windy. About 55 degrees is the high. We turned on the heater and used the electric blankets.
Rotorua and thermal hot pools – about half way down the North Island – Nov 14-15
Driving from Coromandel to Rotorua took us through some beautiful coastal towns and rather populated areas. Tauranga in particular was nicely developed and home to one of the couples we met on our cruise. Not tourist type homes but suburban style with traffic typical of American suburbs. We stayed in Rotorua for 2 nights at the Accolade Motel for $81/night. Very nice and across the street from a mini-mall. We bought an inexpensive electric skillet ($35) for the rest of our trip. The kitchenettes seldom have an actual stove, just a microwave so we can now cook some real meals. We left the skillet at the Goodwill type store at the end of our trip.
Milford Sound – South Island – Fjordland December 1, 2014
Our last stop in New Zealand was Queenstown and the Fiordland region. Fiordland is so remote the one road to the edge is 4 hrs drive so we took a bus tour. We were very lucky to have clear weather. It is one of the rainiest places on earth. We grabbed an opportunity to fly back part way on the return. This park is huge – check out http://www.fiordland.org.nz/about-fiordland/
NEVER STOP MOVING 