[nd293]

Hi,

We will be coming to NZ for a visit in July to activate our Residence Visas, and I really need some advise, particularly from parents, to make our visit a success (or at least not a complete disaster!). I posted some questions about campervans before, and got great replies, but now that we are firming up our plans we are having to reconsider whether this is the best way to go. We are in NZ from last day of June to 15th July ... IF we manage to get a birth certificate and emergency passport for our baby by then (2.5 months and counting since we applied for the South African birth certificate from Oman where we live).


Here are some of the factors affecting our trip:

* We will only have 2 weeks

* We are travelling with 2 children - 6 yr old girl and then 5 month old boy.

* The baby HATES car travel. If we can structure a short trip around his nap, he will sleep, otherwise he will scream non-stop. Longest trip we have risked is 30 minutes, and he screamed for 25 minutes of that.

* We are coming from the Middle East, 45+ degree weather, 5 days rain a year, so we expect the weather to be a major shock. Even though we are all looking forward to the rain, we worry about the implications for travel!

* We don't know where we might settle, as we won't move permanently for another 1-2 yrs, and will have to follow the jobs (dh is a telecommuncations/radio engineer). We know we would rather stay on N. Island, or no further south than Christchurch. The implication of this is that we'll probably focus our travel on N. Island.


Some things we are thinking about:

* Our initial plan was to hire a camper van, but we are concerned a) about the weather and driving conditions in winter and b) the car-hating baby.

* We thought of arriving without pre-booking accomodation, and staying in Top 10 holiday parks - we're assuming not many people travel in winter, although we will be there in NZ school holidays - are we correct? Do you think we will be able to find accomodation as needed?

* After 3 years in Oman, we have almost NO winter clothes. How expensive are clothes in NZ? Because of the time limits, I don't want to shop around, I just want to go to one place and kit out the family for the visit - any recommendations in Auckland? And would it be feasible to get "real" winter clothes for seeing some snow (my dd has her heart set on that) or would that be very expensive (bearing in mind the children would have outgrown everything by our next visit). Are there charity shops etc in NZ which sell good-quality used clothes for these items?

* Because the situation with the car-hating baby doesn't seem to be getting any better, I am wondering whether it might not be best just to find one place to stay for the 2 weeks. Perhaps a small town or village within an hour's drive of a number of attractions (and within walking distance of a vineyard?). Any recommendations?

ANY comments or advise would be most welcome. As adults, we obviously have our own agenda for the trip, but the reality is that if the 6 yr old is bored, and the baby is screaming, we're going to have a miserable time, no matter what we see, so it is better to plan around their needs as much as possible.


Thanks....

Nikki

[nippa&pippa]

I can't help all other questions but someone will...

But I can answer about car-hating baby in campervan....
My daughter was 9 weeks old when we arrived in New Zealand, and she was normally very easy going baby in the car, after a week in campervan, she grew hate campervan on the move. Basically I think she got fed up of putting in and out of car seat, then struck in the car seat for a while, even we stop every two hours for feeds and then relax lying flat playing for next half hour before we move on during the long journey. When we return back to UK, she become happier baby in the car again :uhoh
Maybe your baby might be opposite or worse, who know?
If he is like my niece that she used to screaming the place down in the car straight away as car engine started, there is light at end of tunnel, that she did become happier child by switched from rear facing to front facing seat at 8months old. Maybe look into how old is your son will be by time you arrive in NZ? if he is over 9kg at 9months old, try front facing seat? Check with your Health Visitor about car seat.

[speckythecky]

We went to NZ with an 8 week old but fortunately he slept through the whole experience so driving round was a doddle.
You are probably better off doing a 2 centre trip than trying to see everything from 1 place. Maybe if you did somewhere central in the north island and somewhere central in the south, particularly if you want to see snow.
2 of our fav places were Lake Taupo (central for north Island and close to lots of place) and Arrowtown (maybe a bit too far south but close enough to queenstown, wanaka and milford sound)

I must say, I don't envy you a trip with a screaming baby and you are very brave, is there anything you can give him to help him relax?

[Andy-Dee]

You could fly into Auckland, spend a week there and then fly to Wellington for a week and fly back to wherever from there. You would miss out on some spectacular scenery but it might be a better practical option for you this time around.

For our 6 year old we invested in an in car entertainment system, she can watch DVD's in the car on the longer journeys, its been worth every penny.

Clothes wise - if you fly via Singapore - I'd pick up some things there. We had the oposite problem as we had left a cool UK and landed in Singapore to a much hotter climate. OH kitted himself out in shorts and t-shirt for less than £5.

[StevieD]

Clothes can be expensive here, but it depends on what you want and how much you have. There are lots of outdoor shops catering for the colder weather.
A warning though, temperatures do drop of a night obviously, and a campervan, like a tent (and NZ houses :laugh) do get cold - don't know if it would be wise to take such a young child on a trip like this in what is the middle of the NZ winter, especially coming from Oman.

Good luck

Steve