Queenstown is cold when I was there, around 8c at night time. But once you get used to it, you can walk around in shorts but need a sweater haha.

1 day trip to Milford Sound is a must, either by tour or self drive. Gorgeous drive but it can also be tiring for the winding roads, approx 3-4h for 1 way:P.

Drive to Glenorchy too, just 1/2h drive. 1 of the LOTR sites.

Arrowtown is also very near, another LOTR sites.

Errm, if around Queenstown, i guess most will try Fergburger. Go up Skyline Gondola + luge.

Can't think of anymore at the moment.

hi keng
may i know the exact location for LOTR in Glenorchy and arrowtown?
or just in the town area for both places?

glenorchy - http://www.newzealandtravelinsider.com/sce...new-zealand.htm

arrowtown - http://www.arrowtown.info/activities/lord-of-the-rings/

Thanks for ur info bro!

I just came back from NZ yesterday, 10 days trip. It's a very beautiful place, especially the countryside.

I wish to express my gratitude to the forumers of this thread, for giving some great info.

About my trip: KL to Auckland RM2000 all in return fare MAS. I booked it last November. Domestic Auc to CC about NZD110, Queenstown to Auc about NZD 120.

Big contrast of weather between 2 islands. South really cold especially at night.

Must bring insect repellent if go to Milford Sound. The sandflies are annoying.

For Lord of the Rings movie fans, must visit the Hobbiton, Matamata (near Rotorua).

Me too will travel to South Island fr 27th April, on 11D9N trips, after getting reroute from AAX due to flight cancellation after June 2012. Ours group will consist 10 person, haft of it are uncle and aunty.

Hey youngman28, me and a group travelling to Christchurch on 27th too!! The same flight AAX flight with you! Also with aunties uncles

"Nice to meet you" in advance

Nice to meet u too

Then I will one day later than u lolz..... I will be going on 28apr by emirate airline for all in fare only at rm2424 per person with 30kg luggage check in......

Any recommendation on the car rental company to go with? Is Budget or Apex good? Looking to rent two car for my trip, perhaps a Previa (Estima) and a sedan.

Me take same flight as you, after check out shall be 12am, wonder you spent the night in airport or get a taxi to hotel in CHC?, and also known that the Youth Hotel in CHC was close due to e/q, any reliable and budget hotel to share?

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Added on March 30, 2012, 9:53 amMy one booking during zero fare (AAX) haft year ago, RM820+ included meal and 20 kg luggage/person, but the timing was too bad, arrival on 11:00pm, departure fr CHC 12:10am.

This post has been edited by youngman28: Mar 30 2012, 09:53 AM

I also same situation with you haha.

Now i'm looking for lodge which can let me take a nap and bath, then early morning 8am will walk around CHC and 2.45PM take Jetstar to Queenstown.

Need sifus recommendation, which lodge do provide us such short period of stay with cheapest rate. I have asked few motel, they provide full day rate which is NZD150-200

I spent the night at the airport sharing the floor with like another 20-30s other LOL. Bus don't serve after midnight & taxi is hell expensive. Yup, YHA is closed liao. I stayed at Dorset Backpacker, great location, clean & reasonably priced but the sound insulation between rooms is horrible.

If I can do it again, I would fly into Auckland, then make my way down south before fly out from Christchurch.

How the temperature inside the airport? i thought shall be quite cool, rite?. But my group have some olders and kids. Do the airport have the Mc D or Subway nearby?

After 11 hrs lengthy flight, the better ideal would be get a place for rest/sleep. I heard some car rental co allow u take the car even arrive at 12:00am, it that possible?

This post has been edited by youngman28: Mar 30 2012, 02:36 PM

For my case, I drove straight to Lake Tekapo after collecting my rental car when they opened at 8am. I went with my wife only, and both of us don't really mind to spend 1 night at the airport. No more than 1 night lar . There's a lot of restaurants at the departure hall, you'll have to walk outside & into the terminal building beside but you'll have to check if they're open at midnight or not.

Yes, you can collect it outside their operation hour at the fee of about nzd30, price varies according to rental company. Not a lot but its dangerous to drive in the night & you'll be too tired to drive anyway after the long flight.

temperature is ok... not very cool... but the place wher u can stay overnight can be quite cool cos near the entrance. if got ppl enter the doors open den the cold wind will come in.

u can overnight at a certain area at international arrival hall there. got signboard warning cant lie on floor but still many ppl ignored the signboard and sleep on the sleeping bed or etc.

shops all closed after 12am i think.
there got burger king only for fast food if i not remeber wrong...open ard 7 or 8 am morning at domestic departure hall. other than that is their food court or "local" subway.

the toilet can provide u shower also. but pls dun leave ur bag unattended... if not u wil be in big trouble....

Hi, how r u?

Do u able to get the ticket to CHC before AAX halve the operation end of May 2012.

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Added on April 8, 2012, 6:12 pmSorry dip back old post.

Currently busy to finalise my hotel booking and prepare some Itinerary for SI 10D8N tour end of April 12.

Plan to stay at YHA, but found that they do charge almost 90% amount of the adult fees for kid >5 year old, and some even charge a fee for kid> 2 year old. Any advise how to overcome it? Shall i look for others choice instead of YHA only?

Have search through the Groupon.co.nz, counter a offer from Heritage Height Holiday Apartment (In QT). It a packages offer to 4 person for a 2 bed apartment for 2 nite(NZ295), and can do own cooking, but the cons is you need fully paid when you place yrs booking.

Any NZ traveller have stay over this hotel ?, it that realiable and worth for stay?, btw, they do charge extra for kid >2 year old, NZ10, kid >5 year old, extra charge NZ40.

My Itinerary,

Chc-l/tekapo(1N)-Mt Cook-QT(3N)-MS -T Anau(1N) -Wanaka(1N) -Hasst Pass -F/Glaciar -FJ/Glaciar-Greymouth(1N)- A/Pass- Springfield(1N)-Akoira

Initially was plan to cover Dunedin, but hear that nothing much to see. Any comment of my travel plan?

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Added on April 8, 2012, 6:49 pmHi,

How r u? me same as yrs family will travel SI on 27th-7th May. Have you doing yrs accomodation already?, any reccomendation for hostel/hotel which allow kid stay in without extra charge?

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Added on April 8, 2012, 7:54 pmMy group will be stay @QT for 3 nite from 30/4-2nd May, hope will meet u they?. If you lack of kaki, can joint my group too, but all uncles and aunties might not suit you, we more on nice scenery and not into any extreme sport, btw our group fr KL.

This post has been edited by youngman28: Apr 9 2012, 07:45 AM

I will be staying at QT around 6-8May/ 4-6May.... My group also is uncles and aunties... Haha... Can I have yr itinerary for the NZ trip since I also wanted to see scenery but I dont know much thing? U will travel where other than QT

My Itinery like below:-

1 day - lake tekapo

1 day - mt cook, do hooker valley track or kea point track. if u dun wanna do trekking, can just stop by, take photo of mt cook and go for next destination.

2 days - Queenstown , gondola, arrowtown,

1 day milford sound. stay at Te Anau , drive and enjoy natural scenery, take cruse to tour MS.

1 day - wanaka (puzzling world, hike at mt iron/mt roy/ rocky mountain or walk at lake front)

1 day -Glaciar region, stay at Greymouth

1 day-Greymouth to CHC , drive through AP, stay at Springfield

is the tranzalpine good? thinking of driving or taking transalpine...