[SteveO]

Hi All, we are going to book ASAP for a 3 week trip this October 2 adults 1 child (8 years) we wanted advice on how best to do it. We are really interested in seeing Auckland and Wellington in detail to see if we wish to emigrate of course we would like to see whats in between but must focus on the main cities for which would suit us best for living. What is the best way of doing this am thinking of 6 days at Wellington and 6 days Auckland the rest travelling around. Are we best hiring cars in the city staying at motels or camp sites or hiring a campervan etc many thanks for advice

[jess]

Hi SteveO. I can't be of much help, because we went to Wellington only when we first visited. We rented a car, and we got a hotel with on-site parking which saved us about $20/day in parking deck fees. The time went by very quickly, so we were glad we picked a hotel that was central to everywhere we wanted to go rather than picking one further out that looked nicer. I know that's not much help for your trip, but thought I'd reply and give you a bump to the top of the list so someone with more info might come along...

By the way if you are booking a flight to save time getting between Auckland and Wellington, someone told me you can get flights a lot cheaper between Auckland and Palmerston North airports. PN is I think about 2 and a half hours north of Wellington, and the drive down the Kapiti coast is nice (as long as there isn't a wreck somewhere blocking the road). :uhoh

[sizzlingbadger]

Probably better off hiring a car then you can travel around fairly easily in the cities.

If you're staying 6 days in Wellington and Auckland you could try and get a bach, have a look at www.holidayhouses.co.nz and www.bookabach.co.nz or stay in a motel in Auckland and Wellington. In between have a look at www.top10.co.nz , from very basic to hotel standard accommodation to suit your budget. They tend to be in the touristy places that you'll probably want to stop off at. They've got great facilities for kids as well. We prefer to stay in baches a bit more comfortable than motels as we've got three noisy kids :) and feel very cooped up in a single motel room.

You can easily drive up from Wellington to Auckland in a day or take it more leisurely. Easiest way is straight up via Palmerston, Taupo, Hamilton or Auckland. Or you could go via New Plymouth or the other side Napier.

[xanctus]

We went to NZ for 2 weeks only, covered both Auck-Welli and a bit of Palmy North and Taupo.
We arrived in Akld first. As for hotel; we rented an aprtment hotel in Wakefield street, very very very close to the CBD (walk distance). I picked there cause we get an internet access (high speed one, we needed to send some resumes/CVs and need to get connected to browse). Inside the hotel itself, it has laundry machines and kitchen. That way you can feel of really living in the city rather than "on vacation" thing.
As for car, that time we didn't rent a car until the day of our departure to Welli (we went there by driving a car, so might as well taking a sneak peek over North Island or to be precise motorway 1 hahaha). Reason not getting a car because parking in the Auckland's CBD is hard and rather expensive.

If in any case you need a car, you can take a lots of broschure over the airport when u arrive and search around the cheapest one. We went with AtoZ rental car. However, we had to return the car in Lower Hutt (suburb of Welli) and we came back to the city by bus (you know Welli is popular with its public transportation). That way you can get the picture of the public transportation in Welli.
note: make sure you buy a all day parking permit, otherwise u will get ticket (as we did :@). You can get this parking permit in many gas station.
About Hotel; we rented also in CBD, again it was an apartment hotel kind of thing. The hotel was in Cuba Mall district, so walking distance around CBD.

All the hotels were found in www.wotif.co.nz

[sarahw]

We only came to Welly for a week when we came out on our first trip & hired a car (a must to travel around & see where you'd like to settle - we had a few exploring trips which were fun - up the Kapiti Coast, to the Waiarapa & just generally around the suburbs). We stayed in a B&B and the owners were very accommodating & gave us loads of advice, and explained a lot of things to us - they had emigrated out here some 20 years ago. They were also able to advise on what the companies were like that my Hubby was going for interviews at (and they knew people who worked there) - they regularly have people coming through who are looking to emigrate so we've since made some friends through them. I can't recommend staying at a B&B enough but if you do - make sure you find a friendly one that spends time early evening having a drink with you.

We had previously been to Auckland but didn't like it - you definitely need a car there too.

Some friends of ours tried travelling by car between Welly & Auckland on a recci trip & I think it was a bit much for them with all the driving and 2 kids wanting to stop everywhere!

Good luck with the trip!