vixxann
15th April 2007, 06:41 PM
well - arrived back yesterday morning after one day stop in Singapore - haven't a clue what continent my body thinks it's on now but I've been up since 3am! So plenty of time post about our reccie... warning, this will be long!
New Zealand was simply stunning. We saw a very small percentage but saw so much.
We flew with no problems (Singapore Air - fantastic - TV system greatly helps pass time!) arrived in Auckland and collected camper. Got horrendously lost in suburbs around airport/Mangere which was a stressfull first hour! but then got on lovely road over to coast and our first night stay at Orere point. Walked on beach with kids trying to keep them awake as long as possible -everyone in bed at 7pm first night then up at 4am!
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9180/20060734bu6.jpg
Drove around to Coromandel. Thames was our first main town for shopping and experience Warehouse, Pak n Save etc! (Was already completely in love with everything by this point!) Stayed at Shelley beach Top 10 site where kids experienced their first of many jumping pillows! http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9932/20060745ov2.jpg
Weather hit in a bit wet (that was when the Northland had floods) but still enjoyed the stunning views.
Had fantastic trip up to Driving Creek railway - bizarre and highly recommended - superb setting and views even on our dull wet day.http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5221/20060775kt2.jpg
We did stop at hot water beach but it was blowing a gale by this stage also tide was in so we didn't get to experience the hot water. Overall would rate Coromandel as nice holiday destination - not many sizeable towns, lots of very windy hilly roads, stunning scenery, very jurasic like hills etc.
Due to bad weather we zoomed down through Tauranga to Rotorua trying to escape rain. Rotorua seemed nice but didn't stay long. Sam and boys went zorbing which they enjoyed, all 3 of them in a zorb ball with water!
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/290/20060794ge0.jpgDrove down to Taupo and stayed near Acacia Bay (very nice area with some WOW houses!) I loved Taupo , nice town, stunning lake views etc, will definately go back for holidays there, seems like theres a lot to do in the area. We went prawn fishing at the hot water prawn farm. Sounds weird but was actually really good fun and kids loved it too! We had a tour then went fishing -all the prawns you catch they will cook for you in lovely restaurant on site! They weren't biting much as too cold when we went but Jacob enjoyed his ONE!
Road from Taupo to Hawkes bay was absolutely awesome.
Napier next. big top 10 site there with loads of facitilies, kids enjoyed riding round site on a pedal kart! National Aquarium for sons birthday. nice pebbly beach. Didn't see much of art deco napier as didn't really go into centre with camper.
Drove down to Hastings which we personally preferred to Napier. By this time had discovered New World and fantastic food counters!
went down to Kapiti coast - drove through fantastic gorge just before Palmerston North, cannot remember name of it but ... awesome!
Absolutely loved kapiti coast, stayed at Paekakariki with short stroll to beach. views of kapiti island,lovely sandy beaches. Kids stayed until sunset and were back there early next morning. We actually found some shellfish there (I think pipis?? and green lipped mussels) which we took back to camper and boiled up for lunch, fantastic!
Wellington - had 2 nights there - in 2 different sites. Would thoroughly NOT recommend the first one -Capital Gateway, unless you like paying over the top rates to park on a glorified hotel car park with two foot between vans. This was only time we really felt ripped off and quickly drove next morning to top 10 site at Hutt Park. As usual with all top 10 sites, good facilities -play area, free bbq, kitchen, dining room, games room internet access etc and plenty of green space. The bus stop is a short stroll away and takes about 30 mins into Wellington.
I loved Welly and really had not been expecting to. I didn't look at it with much of a living there head on as we have Christchurch in mind, but I would certainly visit again. We did the main shopping streets, the cable car, botanic gardens, lovely kids playground. And old graveyard. I love looking around old graveyards and what a location. They had to dig a large section of it up to put in main road through to city, a bridge takes you from one half to the other, where all bodies that were moved were in a mass grave for early settlers, Maybe sounds strange but what a lovely spot with wooden chapel and set in amongst modern buildings (Near beehive) You have to go! Also on fully recommended list is the TePapa museum, but its HUGE! we only did a very small part and will definately go back. What a fantastic place, make sure you do the bush walk outside and go on the swing bridge and dig up the dinosaur bones!
Ferry trip to South Island was excellent, bit overcast and drizzly on the day but didn't detract from the journey through the Marlborough Sounds where we actually saw dolphins! large groups inc. baby ones jumping through waves at side of ferry, I was nearly in tears at this wonderful sight and being able to show my children such things. One of my absolute highlights from the whole trip.
Drove down to Kaikoura. Ate in a fantastic restaurant (Sonic on the rocks) with where Sam had a HUGE seafood platter! Lovely atmosphere and live music. View in morning of mountains was stunning (had been cloudy when we arrived night before). Was immediately added to our list of future holiday destinations.
Driving out we saw boats in bay with swimmers in the sea and dolphins or seals jumping in water. Pulled over to edge of coast road to take a picture and as I walked along looking down on rocky beach I saw loads of fur seals, one only a few feet away on the rocks! Another stunning moment!
Arrived in Christchurch - took camper back and got our hire car. found driving around c'church very easy. Had a nice holiday rental in centre of town not the kind of area I'd choose to live but ideal for holiday - central and easy access to everywhere.
Will post more about C'ch in later messages I'm sure as still have lots of question regards living there. But in summary the city centre is very nice, lots of space, parks, green areas, river etc. Pedestrianised streets and squares which are nice for strolling, shopping. Hagley park is vast. botanic gardens nice, kids play area. We went canoeing/rowing in river.
Port hills, and surrounding suburbs are very nice. I loved Sumner, spent a very hot Good Friday on beach there, after bagel and flat white in cafe (what I'd do for a flat white right now!) Boys clambered over cave rock whilst Abigail jumped in rock pools and drew in the sand.
Also went to beach at New Brighton - watched the surfers, went in library (how fantastic right next to beach, with cafe, music, Playstations, jigsaws, comfy chairs looking out onto beach!!) Kids spent some happy hours digging pointlessly in sand and eating choc dipped cones!
Drove up to Kaiapoi where we had fish and chips next to river, and "another" playarea. NZ had loads of playareas,everywhere! anyway, several portions of fish & chips came alltogether i.e. a carrier bag of chips with portions of fish in amongst it! Very cheap too!
In kaiapoi we met up with some forum people, Stuart, Julie & their girls and Paul, Lisa & their kids (with very latest addition only 1 week old!) Many many thanks go out to them for the warm welcomes given and helpful information. Will email you soon folks. Enjoyed BBQ with Stuart and Julie and some of their friends. We think Kaiapoi was lovely, a small town with enough of everything you need (hey, its got a New World!) and a good contender for place to live. Kids went off to park for hours with their new mates and were thrilled with prospect of trips to BMX track, river or beach!
Sam had some interviews in c'ch and basically could have got work instantly. We now have loads of good contacts (thanks Paul!) and think that we will still go down route of arriving as visitors and get work permits with job and apply for PR when here. Now we have seen first hand the jobs available we are at ease to do. I will look for work as Teachers Aide once settled.
After a week in C'ch (which I so wish was longer!) we went to Auckland on a very bumpy Air NZ flight! Stunning view from plane though. Auckland is vast after rest of NZ - little too big for us small town folks! but we enjoyed a day sightseeing down on harbour and up in sky tower. Would thoroughly recomend sky tower and in particular the Observatory buffet restaurant. We thought we'd splash out as last day in NZ but actually it wasn't too expensive overall and you get trip up tower thrown in. Excellent food best we had in NZ.
In singapore, did the free 2 hr colonial city trip - would recommend if you get chance, guide was very informative. plus we got 20 min boat trip.Got back to airportland (Changi airport is huge!) and ventured to swimming pool in terminal one. Nice rooftop pool with tropical gardens, was falling asleep on lounger when a brief thunder storm came in! Transit hotels are nice, clean, reasonable price with comfy beds for catching up on sleep.
I started this hours ago , the sun has now risen, the kids woke at 4.30am and had Weet-bix bought back from NZ for their breakfast! The sun is due to shine nicely here today, which is nice to come back to, but I feel like I'm in the wrong place - cannot wait to return to NZ.
New Zealand was simply stunning. We saw a very small percentage but saw so much.
We flew with no problems (Singapore Air - fantastic - TV system greatly helps pass time!) arrived in Auckland and collected camper. Got horrendously lost in suburbs around airport/Mangere which was a stressfull first hour! but then got on lovely road over to coast and our first night stay at Orere point. Walked on beach with kids trying to keep them awake as long as possible -everyone in bed at 7pm first night then up at 4am!
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9180/20060734bu6.jpg
Drove around to Coromandel. Thames was our first main town for shopping and experience Warehouse, Pak n Save etc! (Was already completely in love with everything by this point!) Stayed at Shelley beach Top 10 site where kids experienced their first of many jumping pillows! http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/9932/20060745ov2.jpg
Weather hit in a bit wet (that was when the Northland had floods) but still enjoyed the stunning views.
Had fantastic trip up to Driving Creek railway - bizarre and highly recommended - superb setting and views even on our dull wet day.http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5221/20060775kt2.jpg
We did stop at hot water beach but it was blowing a gale by this stage also tide was in so we didn't get to experience the hot water. Overall would rate Coromandel as nice holiday destination - not many sizeable towns, lots of very windy hilly roads, stunning scenery, very jurasic like hills etc.
Due to bad weather we zoomed down through Tauranga to Rotorua trying to escape rain. Rotorua seemed nice but didn't stay long. Sam and boys went zorbing which they enjoyed, all 3 of them in a zorb ball with water!
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/290/20060794ge0.jpgDrove down to Taupo and stayed near Acacia Bay (very nice area with some WOW houses!) I loved Taupo , nice town, stunning lake views etc, will definately go back for holidays there, seems like theres a lot to do in the area. We went prawn fishing at the hot water prawn farm. Sounds weird but was actually really good fun and kids loved it too! We had a tour then went fishing -all the prawns you catch they will cook for you in lovely restaurant on site! They weren't biting much as too cold when we went but Jacob enjoyed his ONE!
Road from Taupo to Hawkes bay was absolutely awesome.
Napier next. big top 10 site there with loads of facitilies, kids enjoyed riding round site on a pedal kart! National Aquarium for sons birthday. nice pebbly beach. Didn't see much of art deco napier as didn't really go into centre with camper.
Drove down to Hastings which we personally preferred to Napier. By this time had discovered New World and fantastic food counters!
went down to Kapiti coast - drove through fantastic gorge just before Palmerston North, cannot remember name of it but ... awesome!
Absolutely loved kapiti coast, stayed at Paekakariki with short stroll to beach. views of kapiti island,lovely sandy beaches. Kids stayed until sunset and were back there early next morning. We actually found some shellfish there (I think pipis?? and green lipped mussels) which we took back to camper and boiled up for lunch, fantastic!
Wellington - had 2 nights there - in 2 different sites. Would thoroughly NOT recommend the first one -Capital Gateway, unless you like paying over the top rates to park on a glorified hotel car park with two foot between vans. This was only time we really felt ripped off and quickly drove next morning to top 10 site at Hutt Park. As usual with all top 10 sites, good facilities -play area, free bbq, kitchen, dining room, games room internet access etc and plenty of green space. The bus stop is a short stroll away and takes about 30 mins into Wellington.
I loved Welly and really had not been expecting to. I didn't look at it with much of a living there head on as we have Christchurch in mind, but I would certainly visit again. We did the main shopping streets, the cable car, botanic gardens, lovely kids playground. And old graveyard. I love looking around old graveyards and what a location. They had to dig a large section of it up to put in main road through to city, a bridge takes you from one half to the other, where all bodies that were moved were in a mass grave for early settlers, Maybe sounds strange but what a lovely spot with wooden chapel and set in amongst modern buildings (Near beehive) You have to go! Also on fully recommended list is the TePapa museum, but its HUGE! we only did a very small part and will definately go back. What a fantastic place, make sure you do the bush walk outside and go on the swing bridge and dig up the dinosaur bones!
Ferry trip to South Island was excellent, bit overcast and drizzly on the day but didn't detract from the journey through the Marlborough Sounds where we actually saw dolphins! large groups inc. baby ones jumping through waves at side of ferry, I was nearly in tears at this wonderful sight and being able to show my children such things. One of my absolute highlights from the whole trip.
Drove down to Kaikoura. Ate in a fantastic restaurant (Sonic on the rocks) with where Sam had a HUGE seafood platter! Lovely atmosphere and live music. View in morning of mountains was stunning (had been cloudy when we arrived night before). Was immediately added to our list of future holiday destinations.
Driving out we saw boats in bay with swimmers in the sea and dolphins or seals jumping in water. Pulled over to edge of coast road to take a picture and as I walked along looking down on rocky beach I saw loads of fur seals, one only a few feet away on the rocks! Another stunning moment!
Arrived in Christchurch - took camper back and got our hire car. found driving around c'church very easy. Had a nice holiday rental in centre of town not the kind of area I'd choose to live but ideal for holiday - central and easy access to everywhere.
Will post more about C'ch in later messages I'm sure as still have lots of question regards living there. But in summary the city centre is very nice, lots of space, parks, green areas, river etc. Pedestrianised streets and squares which are nice for strolling, shopping. Hagley park is vast. botanic gardens nice, kids play area. We went canoeing/rowing in river.
Port hills, and surrounding suburbs are very nice. I loved Sumner, spent a very hot Good Friday on beach there, after bagel and flat white in cafe (what I'd do for a flat white right now!) Boys clambered over cave rock whilst Abigail jumped in rock pools and drew in the sand.
Also went to beach at New Brighton - watched the surfers, went in library (how fantastic right next to beach, with cafe, music, Playstations, jigsaws, comfy chairs looking out onto beach!!) Kids spent some happy hours digging pointlessly in sand and eating choc dipped cones!
Drove up to Kaiapoi where we had fish and chips next to river, and "another" playarea. NZ had loads of playareas,everywhere! anyway, several portions of fish & chips came alltogether i.e. a carrier bag of chips with portions of fish in amongst it! Very cheap too!
In kaiapoi we met up with some forum people, Stuart, Julie & their girls and Paul, Lisa & their kids (with very latest addition only 1 week old!) Many many thanks go out to them for the warm welcomes given and helpful information. Will email you soon folks. Enjoyed BBQ with Stuart and Julie and some of their friends. We think Kaiapoi was lovely, a small town with enough of everything you need (hey, its got a New World!) and a good contender for place to live. Kids went off to park for hours with their new mates and were thrilled with prospect of trips to BMX track, river or beach!
Sam had some interviews in c'ch and basically could have got work instantly. We now have loads of good contacts (thanks Paul!) and think that we will still go down route of arriving as visitors and get work permits with job and apply for PR when here. Now we have seen first hand the jobs available we are at ease to do. I will look for work as Teachers Aide once settled.
After a week in C'ch (which I so wish was longer!) we went to Auckland on a very bumpy Air NZ flight! Stunning view from plane though. Auckland is vast after rest of NZ - little too big for us small town folks! but we enjoyed a day sightseeing down on harbour and up in sky tower. Would thoroughly recomend sky tower and in particular the Observatory buffet restaurant. We thought we'd splash out as last day in NZ but actually it wasn't too expensive overall and you get trip up tower thrown in. Excellent food best we had in NZ.
In singapore, did the free 2 hr colonial city trip - would recommend if you get chance, guide was very informative. plus we got 20 min boat trip.Got back to airportland (Changi airport is huge!) and ventured to swimming pool in terminal one. Nice rooftop pool with tropical gardens, was falling asleep on lounger when a brief thunder storm came in! Transit hotels are nice, clean, reasonable price with comfy beds for catching up on sleep.
I started this hours ago , the sun has now risen, the kids woke at 4.30am and had Weet-bix bought back from NZ for their breakfast! The sun is due to shine nicely here today, which is nice to come back to, but I feel like I'm in the wrong place - cannot wait to return to NZ.