Cheapest way to get to Christchurch from Auckland

robothamma

Hi All
Hubby is flying out for a few weeks next Sunday, the trouble is by taking a flight to Auckland instead of Christchurch we have saved £300 Clapping

trouble is interviews are on the South Island Hmmm

Does anybody know the cost of a flight between the two and is there a cheaper way of purchasing tickets?
He is hiring a campervan (yes we know they are at the end of their winter! Nutcase

) but because he has to make the most of his trip ie; see as much as possible but on a budget we thought this would be the best option fingers crossed

)
An update on the house - it sold subject to contract last weekend and they are commited on their house sale so fingers crossed

EOI did not submit as I didn't expect it to fall so much Embarassed

how annoyed with myself was I? fingers crossed

it will be out next time!
Then NZ here we come! Clapping

veronica · Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 7:17 am Post subject:

Air New Zealand offer cheap flights down but give a nz phone no. when you book. The more in advance you can book the cheaper. If you are getting the campervan you could come down and cross on the ferry but that is quite expensive, may be worth parking up in Wellington and going across as foot passengers and hiring a car at Picton. Worth getting on the net to check out prices. Travel takes longer here as most of the roads are single carriage way and the Police are keen on speeding fines.
If you have an unlocked mobile get yourself a NZ vodaphone sim card ($30) and use that, will be virtually necessary if you are doing the job interview thing.

robothamma · Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 7:20 am Post subject:

Hi
Thanks for that where can I get a Sim card from? I never though about going across as a foot passenger Embarassed

Is it not possible to get a flight when I arrive or do they work out alot more expensive?

Moorf · Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 7:22 am Post subject:

We booked flights for 23 Sept from Auckland to Chch with Air NZ... we got a Supersaver flight - there were very few left when we booked 3 weeks ago but you never know....

Total cost for 2 one-way adults to Chch was NZ$212 including all taxes etc.

michelle · Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 9:22 am Post subject:

Hi

The sooner you book the flights the cheaper it will be, only a limited number are available at Moorf's supersaver fare.

As Veronica pointed out its cheaper if you book via the NZ AIR NZ web site rather than the UK one. Might be worth the cost of a phone call to NZ to book it although they will require a NZ phone number if you have anyones you can use.

Michelle

veronica · Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 1:49 pm Post subject:

you can buy the sim card as soon as you get here from any of the phone shops in the malls etc. Do you know anyone here who will buy it for you in advance. we were lucky that our daughter was over here so she bought us one, told us the number so we could give it out in advance and then we picked it up from her when we arrived.
Perhaps we can start a mail order for 'sim cards in advance' Nice One

kiwi · Valued Member Joined: 02 Apr 2004 Posts: 126

You can use my phone number..it is on the web site. If you need my land line one (that is my cell) just email me.

Nicky

wilson182 · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 5:40 am Post subject:

Im getting my phone unlocked so I can take it with me and buy a sim card, but does anyone know if I will be able to keep my UK number?

veronica · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:11 am Post subject:

yep, if you keep paying the uk bills. (but you wont have the same no for the nz one if that is what you mean as the no. pattern is totally different.) you just can't use the two sim cards at the same time. your phone no will be whatever sim card is in the phone at that time. probably practical to use the NZ one in daytime here (NZ) and the UK one at night.

wilson182 · Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 6:06 am Post subject:

Thanks Veronica Razz

bennington1 · Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 6:13 am Post subject:

if your phone contract is over 12 months old you can normally convert to pay as you go for free.

You can keep the same number with the service provider or "port" your number using a "PAC" number

This will allow you to keep your current mobile number in the uk.

You may have to look into if you need to a chargable call or not every 6 or 12 months.

wilson182 · Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 6:17 am Post subject: