my last trip was quite some time back.

kl -> singapore -> christchurch -> melb -> kl


i think is about 300 bucks from christchurch to melb. i forgot. but its quite a short flight, about 2-3 hours. they call it a domestic flight. errr i flew jetstar.

from sg to south island i took sia cause it was cheaper and i had to be in sg to pick up a few stuff before i head down.

thanks for sharing! Is it cheaper by a lot?

http://promos.airnz.co.nz/wenza/

Use the link above, cheaper ticket.

thanks!
but for the route & date I checked, Jetstar is still cheaper

Just select which is cheaper......

Was told Jetstar no longer fly KL-SIN-Auckland after end July or so. Might have to transit in Aussie next time if travelling with Jetstar.

Is it easy in NZ to find Motels / Hotels in their winter? We'll be renting a car and driving from North down to South , but only booked hotels for the arrival / return in Auckland and planning to stop on the way in hotels / motels.

if you have the suitable pax, lookout for these 2 which satisfied me during my stay

Auckland - St Martins Waldorf Apartments (Cost me below RM300 for a 2 bed-room apartment for 4 pax but they charge for parking on per day basis)

Christchurch - Arthur's Court Motor Lodge (Very last minute find and i book through phone in the morning, lucky me they have the last room and it went to us. Not exactly cheap a unit for 6 pax goes around NZD200. Very comfortable much better than hostel and very similar pricing.

Only me and GF going, for Auckland have already booked hotel for arrival / departure.

Plan is to drive from Auckland down to Queenstown and then fly back from there - the trip isn't planned exactly, so was just wondering how easy it is to find random Motels/Hotels on the way that don't need booking.

Guess I could just book online whilst on the road also assuming I have 3G coverage!

When u will going?
i doing the same on winter as well.

Next week

me on mid july....
lol
which company you rent your car from?

Ended up going with gorentals.co.nz

Managed to get a RELO (ie. relocation) deal , where the company needed to transport the car back to Queeenstown anyway

Car is a TOYOTA RAV4

For 7 days comes to 364 NZD including GPS, Snow chains, and extra insurance (ie 350 NZD excess rather than 2500 NZD) did this because GF has never driven in snow/ice before - and I don't even have a license

not a bad price.
why not get full insurance?

actually how excess work?
till now i still not understand.

I planning to rent from APEX.
it look cheaper and free ferry for the car.

Your GF drive alone from auckland all the way to queenstown in 7 days?

This post has been edited by angelgemini: May 27 2014, 07:43 PM

That's the plan.

Actually only Basic Insurance is included , additional NZD 20 per day for the 350 NZD excess, 35 extra per day for no excess.

Otherwise excess is 2500 NZD, no matter if you're at fault or not (according to car rental website that is)

Basically means that if you have an accident with basic insurance, you need to fork out 2500 NZD rather than 350, quite a difference. Since the car was much cheaper than standard rate (86 NZD per day standard vs. 19) thought might as well spend this on the extra insurance.

Driving time is approx 3-4 hours per day, split over 7 days

This post has been edited by rjb123: May 27 2014, 07:48 PM

if you have buy travel insurance, the excess can be cover right?
I think better buy travel insurance as it is first time drive on winter.

Travel insurance will cover you for lost luggage, long flight delays, hospital costs in case of injuries.

I doubt it will cover the cost for any excess relating to accident that happens in a rented car

Looks like I'm wrong

Looking at : http://malaysia.kurnia.com/Insurance/Kurni...me/Default.aspx

RM500 / RM1000 per person depending on policy, but I guess every insurer will be different

This post has been edited by rjb123: May 27 2014, 08:06 PM

if really can use the insurance to cover the excess, than can save on the insurance for the car.
Is not cheap for the 0 excess insurance.

need to call insurance company to ask tomorrow, for me, i can save NZD230.

This post has been edited by angelgemini: May 27 2014, 08:20 PM

Well depends on the plan, who is your insurance with?

If you use the one I found above for example, coverage is RM500 per person.

So without the extra daily NZD 20, total 2500 NZD = RM6900 - that would still leave RM5900 excess!

so expensive? i rented a toyota estima with full insurance rental 65nzd per day plus 17nzd per day for no excess. Rented from Jucy.

wow u have alot of driving to do for 7 days...somemore plus flying back. good luck man.

for personal insurance i got it from AXA...paid less than 100 per pax for 2 weeks

This post has been edited by bearbear: May 27 2014, 09:05 PM