New Zealand Master Thread

[Dan]

What do people do for food in NZ these days?

[Yehoshua]

What do people do for food in NZ these days?

There are things to just buy there, like smoked salmon and produce, your kosher list is quite extensive, and nearly all bread is kosher.

[Ploni3]

You can check with the Rav in Auckland about the standard they use to approve commercial breads for local consumption. There is a bagel shop in Auckland that the Rav supervises at US kosher standard levels but it is only open a few hours a day and has a very limited menu. They also supply the airlines with food so you can get the frozen airline food from them and if you are lucky you can find them on a day that they are cooking those meals fresh. There are a lot of products that are listed in the Kosher Australia app that you can get in grocery stores.

[lansky]

Ok here is my South Island of New Zealand trip report. Sorry for the delay just took a while to get back to myself. In introduction we went in the nz winter because of scheduling and also I have read that is is the nicest when there is snow. Also much less tourists giving you a real kiwi experience. Prices are lower as well. I am a big skiier but had no time to ski. We brought meat from Australia as they only let in Australian meat. Make sure it says from Au they checked every package!
   
        We landed in Christchurch on a Sunday afternoon on a jetstar flight for about 220 for each of us (myself and wife) from Sydney. We rented a car from Shoestring car rental which was about 120usd from sunday till friday. We were planning on shopping in the city and than driving across nz from the west coast to east coast via the magnificent Arthurs Pass, and then down to the Frans josef glacier(5hr drive), but when we landed we heard a blizzard was expected in the pass so we left right away. We were told "leave now and drive fast"!! Snow started falling but we made it. We stayed at a small motel called 58 on cron motel for 100usd, was simple but nice and clean.
   
          Monday: we drove to the franz josef and fox glacier and then to the tasman sea. Gorgeous beaches surrounded by white capped mountains. Then we headed to Wanaka which is on the way to Quenstown. You drive through the Haast Pass. There were signs saying Chains Essential due to the snow which was brewing in the mountains but having no choice we went anyways. Roads were covered in snow but drive was amazing. We passed lake Hawea and lake wanaka which were stunning. Arrived in wanaka and stayed at the bella vista hotel which was nice.
   
       Tuesday: most roads were closed due to the snow from last two days so we bought snow chains for fifty bucks and luckily we got to Quenstown. We took a gondola to the top of the city and was worth every penny. Town is surrounded by lakes and snowy mountains. Against the advice of locals due to the weather forecast we then drove to Te Anu which is on the bottom of NZ and had a stunning drive through the most remote part of nz. Just lakes mountain and snow. Overnight in Fiordland Lakeview Motel & Apartments in Te anu which is gateway to Milford sound.
   
        Wednesday: we had clear blue skies and drove to Milfrod sound. The drive down is supposed to be the nicest anywhere. We took a cruise of the sound with Mitre Peaks Cruise  and saw the nicest scenery of our lives. Kicks Switzerland canaidian rockies new foundland Alaska or anywhere else I have been to. Mile high mountains with sheer cliffs into the water. Seals penguins you name it. We then drove up the west coast all the was to Mt cook. Seven hour drive. Arrived at midnight and stayed in The Hermitage which overlooks mt cook.
   
       Thursday: Due to avalanche warnings all hiking trails were closed so we took a chopper over Mt cook the highest mtn on the continent. We told company we can only afford 150 a person but in end they had two seats extra on a 400usd tour so we rode for less than half the other passengers. Was coolest flight ever better than than mt mckinley one we did in Alaska. Worth it to splurge on you will not regret what you see from the chopper. We landed on a glacier and got to get out on top of the clouds, though the snow was four feet deep!!! We then drove to Christchurch via lake pukaki and stayed in Aalton motel for 80usd. Nice no frills. Next morning we flew back to Sydney.
   
   Whole NZ cost under 1500 for both of us and was worth every penny. Would definitely go back!!

clearly you never left the airport in anc

[Something Fishy]

3 people, end of June (winter!), absolutely no hiking due to a back issue.

Option 1:
Mon: Arrive ZQN middle of the day. Gondola, settle in, etc.
Tue: Drive to Milford Sound, cruise, fly back (this way we're not driving for 10+ hours (a good portion of which in the dark), and have a backup drive back in case weather cancels the return flight).
Wed: Te Anau glowworm cave, flight to AKL and home. NO PICTURES ALLOWED in the cave.

Option 2:
Mon: Arrive ZQN middle of the day. Gondola, settle in, etc.
Tue: Drive to Wanaka and back, exploring the sights. 5:30p flight to AKL and overnight.
Wed: Private Waitomo glowworm cave tour, pictures more than welcome. Fly home.

Am I insane to even consider option 2? Basically trading Milford Sound by land, sea, and air for Wanaka and pictures of glowworms.

[Something Fishy]

I'm trying to arrange a private Te Anau tour in which I will be able to take pictures. I don't have high hopes but it's worth a shot.


I also maaaay be able to add a day. In that case I'd do
Mon: Arrive ZQN middle of the day. Gondola, settle in, etc.
Tue: Milford Sound
Wed: Wanaka and fly to AKL
Thu: Waitomo glowworms and fly home

I can also get an RV from Queenstown to Christchurch for $1 a night, and do that drive on Wed. Thoughts on that? We won't have a ton of time for stops, the drive is 6h and there's 9h of daylight, and is there even a point in doing part of that drive at night?

[AJK]

Do absolutely whatever you can to add a day (month is better).

Makes no sense to me to skip Milford in favor of a 60 min drive to Wanaka.

Also I'd rather see a glacier than the gloworms.

RVs in NZ are epic. But if you're not sleeping in it, then no real point other than I guess the only upside is the cost. But half the fun of a drive like that is the ability to stop.

[Something Fishy]

Do absolutely whatever you can to add a day (month is better).

Makes no sense to me to skip Milford in favor of a 60 min drive to Wanaka.

Also I'd rather see a glacier than the gloworms.

RVs in NZ are epic. But if you're not sleeping in it, then no real point other than I guess the only upside is the cost. But half the fun of a drive like that is the ability to stop.

A month in NZ would he a dream. Alas...

I wouldn't be trading MS for Wanaka, it's just with that schedule I won't have time for MS so I may as well do Wanaka. It's really the ability to photograph the glowwowrms that dictates the schedule change, but I don't think that's worth it over MS.

As far as glaciers, I've literally seen hundreds of them by now, trekked on a dozen, landed on others both by airplane and helicopter, snowmobiled and dog sledded on them, and even camped overnight on one. I'm not gonna waste a day in NZ on glaciers when I can do something as unique as glowworm caves instead...

[Yehoshua]

Do absolutely whatever you can to add a day (month is better).

Makes no sense to me to skip Milford in favor of a 60 min drive to Wanaka.

Also I'd rather see a glacier than the gloworms.

RVs in NZ are epic. But if you're not sleeping in it, then no real point other than I guess the only upside is the cost. But half the fun of a drive like that is the ability to stop.

+1000 to all the points. Wanaka has that tree, but that's about it. Milford sound is way prettier in my opinion. Also, having been to glow worm caves in australia, they're not nearly as worth it. I would skip that and do Milford sound and Wanaka your options.

[Dan]

Whatever you do, obviously POIDH.

I'm still mad at the penguin dash tour in Tasmania that didn't let us take pictures.

[shmelive]

It's really the ability to photograph the glowworms that dictates the schedule change, but I don't think that's worth it over MS.

I'm surprised that they would let you take pictures. In Hokitika they said that the flash disturbs the worms.

Agreed with all the opinions above. Milford Sound is awesome.

[shmelive]

I can also get an RV from Queenstown to Christchurch...

The drive out of Queenstown is pretty steep and narrow, lots of hairpin turns. I'd say only do the RV if you're an experienced RV driver.

We won't have a ton of time for stops, the drive is 6h and there's 9h of daylight, and is there even a point in doing part of that drive at night?

The last part of the drive to Christchurch (after Tekapo, once you leave the mountains) is pretty but not uniquely so. Not such a big loss to do in the dark.

[pghtown]

Arranging a trip to Australia and New Zealand in September. 5 days in/around Sydney, and then 5 days in New Zealand. What are must sees/priorities in New Zealand assuming 3-4 full days in NZ (outside of travel)? Is Milford Sound #1 ?  Help also needed with suggestions for Sydney. Like nature and mild hikes. TIA

[Dan]

Arranging a trip to Australia and New Zealand in September. 5 days in/around Sydney, and then 5 days in New Zealand. What are must sees/priorities in New Zealand assuming 3-4 full days in NZ (outside of travel)? Is Milford Sound #1 ?  Help also needed with suggestions for Sydney. Like nature and mild hikes. TIA

Too much time for Sydney, too little time for NZ.

[pghtown]

Too much time for Sydney, too little time for NZ.

Thanks!  What about spending time elsewhere in Australia, like Gold Coast? Anything in driving distance from Sydney?

[Yehoshua]

Thanks!  What about spending time elsewhere in Australia, like Gold Coast? Anything in driving distance from Sydney?

There's lots to see in australia, but it's best to discuss that in the Australia thread. I agree that 5 days is too long for Sydney unless it happens to be over Shabbos and you're including the day you land and the day you depart.

[pghtown]

Looking for suggestions for 4-5 days in New Zealand (stop over on way back from Australia). Want to fly into Queenstown and focus only on the South Island. Unfortunately we only have a short time.

[Yehoshua]

Looking for suggestions for 4-5 days in New Zealand (stop over on way back from Australia). Want to fly into Queenstown and focus only on the South Island. Unfortunately we only have a short time.

That amount of time seems like a decent amount to see the main highlights of the South island. Read my TR to see what I did and only 3 days coming from Australia. Also, if you want suggestions on what to do you should probably start with telling us what you like to do, who you're traveling with, and what their abilities are. Telling me you like nature but are not into a 10 mile grueling uphill hike doesn't help. Telling me you like adventure, but that you're freaked out about bungee jumping also doesn't help. Telling me you like to hike but are traveling with an infant severely limits the amount of hikes you can do unless you have a baby carrier.

[pghtown]

Might be spending a Shabbos on the southern part of the South Island (not Christchurch).  Does not look like there are minyanim. Likely staying either in Queenstown or Wanaka. Looking for suggestion as to which of those 2 towns (open to other suggested locations too) would be better to spend a quiet Shabbos, go for an enjoyable walk etc.

[shmelive]

Might be spending a Shabbos on the southern part of the South Island (not Christchurch).  Does not look like there are minyanim. Likely staying either in Queenstown or Wanaka. Looking for suggestion as to which of those 2 towns (open to other suggested locations too) would be better to spend a quiet Shabbos, go for an enjoyable walk etc.

I wasn't in either for shabbos, but my sense is that Queenstown would be better - there is more breathtaking beauty in a more concentrated area. The downside is that it is on a mountain, and walking will involve a lot of up and down.

Wanaka might be nice if you're close to the water...otherwise expect to do a lot of distance walking. It's really more suited for driving, IMO.

My wife and I stayed in Lake Tekapo for shabbos. It was unreal. It's part of the Dark Sky project, which means that the night sky will be most visible here. We stayed at a hotel right near the lake, and our room had a skylight over the bed for nighttime star-gazing. Motzei shabbos we booked a stargazing tour at the Observatory, which was also spectacular.

No chance for a minyan anywhere, unless you bring your own