Hello!! Friends. Need some help with my trip to NZ March 2013 with my hubby. So many things to do but so little time. Kindly help me with my itinerary. Below are my initial itinerary:

Day 01
Depart from KLIA to Auckland by MAS

Day 02
Arrive Auckland at midnite and overnite at the hotel nearby Auckland airport. Early morning depart from Auckland to CHC. Sightseeing in CHC. What to see and recommended to see??

Day 03
CHC/Tekapo/Mt Cook

Day 04
Mt Cook/Omaru with stop at Twizel

Day 05
Omaru to Dunedin

Day 06
In Dunedin

Day 07
Dunedin to Te Anau

Day 08
Te Anau/Miford Sound/Te Anau

Day 09
Te Anau Queenstown

Day 10
In Queenstown

Day 11
Queenstown/Wanaka/CHC

Day 12
CHC/Auckland by plane. Rest and free and easy in Auckland

Day 13
Auckland/Rotorua with stop at Matamata

Day 14
Rotorua to Auckland

Day 15
Auckland back to KUL (our flight depart from CHC at 0135am. We will book 1 nite stay in CHC until our departure to the airport)

I wanted to go Fox Glacier/Franz Josef but it looks very far from where we want to go. How do I turn around my itinerary?? We will rent a car throughout our trip in NZ.

Just want to chk if any farm stay in NZ?? I mean I want to stay in the farm experience fruits picking/plucking and sheep herding.

I think I want to fly from Queenstown to Auckland instead of return to CHC.

BTW,any animals to see along the way on our journey?? My husband love animals. Penguin, seal or others?

OK, I change my plan and redo my itinerary as below:

Day 01
Arrive Auckland and take the rental car straigh to Rotorua

Day 02
Rotorua/Matamata/Rotorua

Day 03
Rotorua/CHC

Day 04
CHC/Lake Tekapo/Mt Cook

Day 05
Mt Cook/Oamaru

Day 06
Oamaru/Dunedin

Day 07
In Dunedin

Day 08
Dunedin/Te Anau

Day 09
Te Anau/Milford Sound

Day 10
Milford Sound/Queenstown

Day 11
In Queenstown

Day 12
Late afternoon Queenstown/Auckland

Day 13
In Auckland

Day 14
Depart Auckland to KL

BTW, do you thing better to rent GPS along with the car or map is enough?? I rent a car in Australia before but without GPS and it was ok. But not sure in NZ.

I won't skp Mt Cook because my husband wants to try the Glacier Explorer. Quite expensive though. NZ140 but hey!! it's not everyday we can experience this

Yeah, I thought that too. Can you imagine, we never lost our way driving around in Western Australia. But I couldn't find my way in Shah Alam because the signboard so confusing

What is AA and YHA?? Sorry for the noob question

Yeah, for their currency is normal but for me is expensive

OK, noted on the map from AA and YHA. Tks a lot.

Another question, is it ok to bring canned food (like chicken curry canned food) from Malaysia to NZ? They won't consfiscate upon arrival??

Halal is one thing but want to save cost by cooking ourselves

What do you mean by flavour pack??

I was abt to say the same thing

I don't plan to cook like we cook at home. Just simple nasi goreng or spaghetti will do. That's why I was thinking to bring canned food. Easy and simple. Just heat it up and can eat already. I don't plan to cook everyday though. We will eat out for sure.

I survived with canned food in Korea for 8 days

If not things to do, can go to bed at 8-9pm

MAS fly to Auckland only & AA discontinue the route to Christchurch.

The grass always look greener on the other side

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Added on June 8, 2012, 10:57 am
Minimum income to get a work visa?
Cause if you're talking about getting a PR by investing in the country, it's no where near thousands of dollar.

Do also know that rental and taxes are higher there. Food cheaper and better quality, of course better benefits than what you are getting in our home country.
But places like government hospitals also have to make appointment in advance and wait few weeks to see doctor. Also it will be good if you're a handyman yourself, or else you'll be paying thru your nose for services like plumbing, electrician, painter and all that.

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My sister studied in UK and decided to accept the job offfer in one of the university. After 6 years, ack came back for good last year. As you said, for retirement maybe but living there?? Big No.

End of October already approaching summer. March already autumn. June start winter. Follow by spring by Sept. So take your pick. Australia and NZ 4 season not same like in Europe, US and other 4 season countries. Their season 'terbalik"

No worrylah even if you have to go alone. You will met others single travellers like what my sister did. I'll be going to NZ with my hubby but we are going in March 2013. 7/3/13-21/3/13. Don't worry, NZ is safe country. Safer than Malaysia.

Yeah, we will be renting a car from Auckland drive to Rotorua & Matamata & return it at Auckland airport and fly to Christchurch and from CC drive around South Island until Queenstown. Stay Queenstown for 3 nites and drop the car at QT airport and fly to Auckland. Stay another 2 nites in Auckland before heading back to KL.

I pick MAS. Straight to NZ without wasting my time transit here n there. Transit means you lost your days & shorten yr trip. I'll be in NZ from 7/3/13-23/3/13.

MAS RM3700 and no transit in SIN. If use SQ, need to transit in SIN for a while.

I am already in New Zealand. In Rotorua to be exact.Yesterday we drove from Auckland to Matamat@Hobbiton movie set. It was awesome

From Matamata we drove to Rotorua. They journey takes about 2 hours from Auckland to Matamata & 1 hour from Matamata to Rotorua. I never expect to see rude driver in NZ but we encountered 4 of them. They honk & show middle finger at us for being slow when we actually drive according to the speed limit. We even see a police patrol car but they were so brazen & just speed

Hog the road?? Is funny isn't it?? I follow the speed limit & get scolded for that. They can see from behind my car is CAR RENTAL meaning I am a tourist. Sometimes we drive slow & seems lost because we are tourist not local. It was totally different experience for me while driving in Australia. They are more lenient & give away to tourists renting a car.

Yeah, it was. The best part was, the guy gave us middle finger sign after overtaking us & glared at us.

I was in NZ for 16 days mid March 2013 still not enough

I must visit NZ again. I should include Wellington next time.