[veronica]

Just a note to everyone who may be arriving in NZ during the 6 weeks of the Lions tour.
Accommodation during this time is going to be a bun fight.
The tour info is http://www.newzealand.com/travel/sights-activities/events-calendar/lions-tour-feature/lions-tour_home.cfm
and it would definately be wise to avoid arriving in one of the towns the same weekend as the tour passes through. There are already predictions of massive bed shortages during this time and the hotel and accommodation rates for the 6 weeks from the start of June have gone through the roof.
If you already have flights booked during this time make sure you have accommodation booked well in advance.

[adamsat]

Thanks for pointing this out Veronica. Our arrival (all things being equal :hopeso ) could fall right in the middle of the tour, We haven't booked the flights yet so may delay until the end to be sure.

[sarahw]

Good point Veronica - we were speaking to someone last week who told us that a lot of places in Welly are already completely booked up at this time so people who are arriving then might want to think about staying in a suburb a little out of the city until the Lions crowds have passed...

[veronica]

I think that even the suburbs are going to be full. I've forgotten the actual numbers but there is a sizeable shortfall of beds to lions tour visitors. They are even importing a cruise ship to act as a floating hotel.