Trips in New Zealand - Part 4: Transport

After many searches, many quotes, many things, we decided how we are going to travel.

The 3 options were:

1) By Bus

There are many companies that you could by a bus pass, and travel around New Zealand, following your own itinerary.

2) By Motorhome

This one seems a good choice. But as we are in 3 people, the options were quite expensive.


3) By Car

Yesss!! The option chosen was by car!! A Toyota Previa is gonna be our transport. A little bit more expensive than the cheapest car option, but more confortable, though.

We thought that if we travel by motorhome, it would be nice as well we could pull it over anywhere and sleep. But at the same time, we woudn't meet many people, as it happens when we stay at the Backpackers (Hostel).

So, it is gonna be more excited meeting people everywhere, and reaching faster to our destiny.

Trips in New Zealand - Part 3: Itinerary

Finally I have finished the itinerary for our trip.

Its funny cuz Fabricio and Thiago, my friends who are coming from Brazil to travel with me, don't know any place, anyone, anything about New Zealand. So whatever I plan, they will be happy. Hehehe...

As they will have only 20 days in New Zealand, I planned the trip to start over the South Island, known the best part of NZ. Just before it, they will stay 2 days in Auckland, where we can enjoy the nightlife!!!

Follow bellow the complete Itinerary:

November
15 - Christchurch
16 - Christchurch - Geraldine, Lake Takapo, Mt Cook - Queenstown
17 - Queenstown
18 - Queenstown
19 - Milford Sound - Queenstown
20 - Queenstown - Fraz Josef
21 - Franz Josef
22 - F. Josef - Greymouth
23 - Greymouth - Christchurch
24 - Hammer Springs - Christchurch
25 - Christchurch - Kaikoura
26 - Kaikoura - Blenhein - Nelson
27 - Nelson (Abel Tasman National Park)
28 - Nelson - Picton - Wellington
29 - Wellington
30 - Wellington - Taupo
December
01 - Taupo
02 - Rotorua
*03 - Auckland / Rotorua
04 - Waitomo
05 - Bay of plenty
06 - Bay of plenty
07 - Raglan
08 - Coromandel
09 - Coromandel
10 - Bay of island
11 - Bay of island / Cape reinga
12 - Auckland

* At this day, my friends will be going back to Brazil and I will keep travelling for a few more days.

Today, Vini is coming back from a 15 days trip over the South Island and will be responsible to give me tips and advices to improve our trip.

Internet in NZ

OH MY GOD!!! I hate the internet here in NZ!!! It is so slow!!!

I'm taking ages to do my searches. I stop seaching when I give up, not when I finish.

Things that i could solve in a couple hours are taking me days ... Oh GOSHHH!!!

Once I heard from a Brazilian saying that Internet in NZ is the same as IG* Dial-up in raining days!!!

*IG (Internet Gratis) was a free internet connection in Brazil. It was so bad to connect!!

I hope i can finish it before start travelling ... 9 days left!!!

Trips in New Zealand - Part 2: Places to go

Ten days left to start travelling, it was time to make the itinerary. However its not done yet, due to 2 reasons:

1. I'm waiting for the dates which Fabricio and Thiago Camelo (friends from Brazil) will be here.

2. I don't know from where i will start it. If it will be from the North to South Island, or the opposite. At the moment, i`m planning to start from Christchurch (south Island).

Anyway, the places to go were decided already:

South Island

Christchurch
Geraldine
Lake Tekapo
Mt. Cook
Queenstown
Milford Sound
Franz Josef
Greymouth
Hammer Springs
Kaikoura
Nelson (Abel Tasman National Park)

North Island

Wellington
Tongariro
Rotorua
Taupo
Waitomo
Bay of Plenty (Tauranga, Mt. Maungani, White Island)
Raglan
Coromandel Peninsula
Whangarei
Bay of Islands
Cape reinga

A lot of places for 28 days, huh?

However, part of them will be just for a little stay (less than a day), as they are on the way to somewhere better to stay and enjoy, or because it is worth just for a day tour.

Unfortunately, i think my friends won`t be able for the whole travel. Most of, though.

Well, the places are now decided. Next step? The exactly sequence and duration in each place.

Long Bay Regional Park & Beach

Since last week, the weather is becoming warmer. We are having sunny days everyday, which means, the time for beach is now on.

After 3 weeks, working 7 days a week, I had 3 days off at the Wildfire. Last Wednesday, after the cleaning job, I went to the Long Bay Regional Park.

From takapuna the bus takes around 40 min. From the city, more than an hour.

The Park is quite big, where is a really nice place to relax, for sunbaths, picnics, to play with kids, BBQ and etc.

Besides the park, just next to it, there is a beach. Really quiet! Almost none! It might be, because it was Wednesday.. or just because it is quiet anyway.

I spent around 4 hours there ... walking around the park, the beach, relaxing, taking pictures ...

Little Dunga, of course, attended!!