Visiting - June to July 09

[Emmsy Poo]

Hi All

Rob and I are planning to come out for a look around at the end of June (yes I know its your winter, but hey).

We have found some reasonable flight costs but not sure if the airlines are any good.

Could someone advise - the choices are Royal Brunei, Malaysian & Singapore airlines.

Cheers

PS anyone want to put us up? - cheeky I know but if you dont ask you dont get!

[warewolf]

End of June is getting pretty chilly, but needs must I spose.

Singapore airlines used to be very highly rated by a friend of mine who travelled Australia/UK each year. She used to fly only British Airways and Qantas, but was forced by convenience to try Singapore and it subsequently became number one: same safety record, better service, cheaper price.

[clintnz]

Flew Malaysian a while back & it was OK.

Keep us posted on here on your travels, I may have a bed installed in the shed here (near Rotorua) by then.

Cheers
Clint

[Oscar]

I flew to Europe and back on Singapore last year and I'd highly recommend them.

[Emmsy Poo]

Cheers guys, it looks like its Singapore Airlines then, going to be flying over either 29th or 30th June by the looks of it. I think we are going to do the true brit thing of hiring a motor home, just because we want to see as much as we can, plus have a meeting in Wellington and dont want to be tied to hotels and time schedules. So if you have any recommendations, that would be cool too!

Thanks again for your help!

Ems

[Padmei]

Please see thread regarding adv bikers travelling in camervans

[Sarah Teach]

Hi Ems, I used to fly with Singapore if flying to NZ via the East and always had a good flight- the service is second to none. If flying West, it would be Air New Zealand every time. See you soon at the MMR and I'll talk to you about some awesome awesome awesome places to visit!!
Sarah Teach. x

[Emmsy Poo]

Well the flights are booked with singapore airlines for 25th June to 13th July, now we just need to organise ourselves an itinerary!

[jafar]

Originally Posted by Emmsy Poo

Well the flights are booked with singapore airlines for 25th June to 13th July, now we just need to organise ourselves an itinerary!

How are you getting on with the itinerary ???

[PJay]

I echo the ups for Singapore.

Please PM me about places to kip in Auckland and the Bay of Islands.

Cheers

[Emmsy Poo]

Well the itinerary isnt going yet, we fly into Aukland and I have to meet and old school friend (dont know where he lives exactly, yet), and got meet someone in Wellington.

If we are staying with some of you chaps (thanks to those who have offered), I guess I will need to know where you live and work an itinerary around that - so if you want to pm me the locations where you reside, that will help me start something.

Cheers guys - really looking forward to meeting some of you and finding out what all the fuss is about!

[Emmsy Poo]

Slight change of plan tho - going to hire a car instead of motorhome, we've had a ocuple of offers of beds for the night it didnt seem worth it, and Im a bit of a creature comforts type of lass!

[jafar]

Well if you tell us what you want to see & do then we may be able to help with your travels

[Kamo]

The wife and I live in Whangarei (2hrs north of Auckland, and short hop to the Bay of Islands and further north). We have a spare room with an air bed, but will also a one year old future adventure rider to chew your ankles. At a stretch (and family members permitting) I could scrounge around to find you a bike or two for the day too ...

[Emmsy Poo]

Hey guys

Well the itinerary is starting to take shape, and with the fantastic offers of places to stay its all coming together nicely - THANKS GUYS.

So we fly into Auckland around the 26th June, we have offers of places to stay in

Auckland/Bay of islands
Rotorua - hopefully
Whangarei
Okato - old school friend
Christchurch

Places I want to see (in addition to above) and have to be are

Wellington - have to be to meet someone
Napier
Nelson
Dunedin
Queenstown
Wanganui

then try to work our way back up the west coast, but time will be the issue, as we fly back on the 13th July from Auckland.

The other question is what are the touristy things to do, or places to see (and are they worth it, or just tourist hype).

The plan really is to get a good feel for the place, get to see the real NZ and work out if its the place for us to emigrate to (I have a feeling it is, but we have to be sure), so we want to see the warts n' all or at least hear about that from you guys during our visits with you.

The offer of some trail riding is fantastic too, top banana Kamo!

So do we go to Auckland for a couple of days, travel north to Whangarei, then south to Rotorua, napier, Wellington, Nelson, christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, back north to Nelson, Wanganui, Okato then back up to Auckland via Hamilton (if its nice).

Not knowing the distances but guaging from your posts that if Whangarei is 2 hours from Auckland, travelling shouldnt be too much of a bind and we can stay a couple of days in each place exploring around?

Also if you know of any reasonably priced B&B's in the places we havent managed to secure a bed that info would be useful too (or point us to some tourist info site we can explore).

Im getting mildly excited WEYHEY and cant wait to get over there and meet you all!

We really appreciate all your help and beds!!!