Anyone been to NZ recently?

Is NZ an expensive country compared to the UK or USA for tourists travelling
by bus/ train and for hotels. Package tours either from the UK or starting

datasmog...

No.
I've done NZ 3 times by car. The exchange rate isn't as good as it was
but for UK travellers it's still reasonably cheap.
Check the Sunday papers for flights but be aware the quoted prices often
exclude taxes. Look on lastminute.com too, they always have deals.

I have no idea about bus travel but there are a number of companies
offering packages. The problem is they mostly stick to the same popular
routes and you will miss all the good stuff. Unless you go with Flying
Kiwi of course. web-search it :-)

Rent a car. Rent a small 4wd if you do the South Island which is
mountainous and very spectacular. A RAV 4 is perfect. Petrol is cheap
compared to the UK. The roads are mostly empty. It's almost impossible
to get lost.
Food is glorious with some fabulous restaurants in the cities and not
too expensive. They have an infuriating fixation for frothy espresso
coffee and after 3 weeks you will be longing for a decent cup of
Nescafe.
B&B is a good way to go but Motels are mostly good to luxurious and
economical. They are all on the web so you can book the whole lot before
you go.
Spend a couple of days in Auckland, do Wellington and surrounds for 3 -
4 days, great shopping in both places. See Rotorua on the way down. Nip
across to the South Island and drive down to the very bottom and gaze in
wonder at the Roaring Forties. See penguins crossing the road.
Pop in to Christchurch on the way back, if you're lucky it will be open.

Contrary to popular belief New Zealand is very much in the 21st century.
If you go you won't want to come back here.
Go now, before the Chavs and lager louts find it.

Pictures from our last trip here if you're interested

Martin...

Rather a shame that it is in the 21st centuary, I really did want to feel
that I had gone back to the Britain of the 50's. Perhaps we will find a
place that time forgot..
Derek.

Derek F...

Great pictures,we will probably start off in Christchurch and go home from
Auckland.
Derek.

in NZ seem incredibly expensive. Those that seem reasonable at first glance
do not even have breakfast included in the package price far less dinner. We
prefer to travel independently but bus fares also seem high with not much in
the way of bargain travel. Also the exchange rate seems to have swung from
3.1 NZ$ a few years ago to 2.44. Any comments from recent travellers.
We can get cheap flights but all else seems OTT.
Derek.

Tyke...

I hope ray pops in and sees this - he has travelled NZ.

I live next door in Oz.

From what I can make out it is reasonably priced to this country in general.

Best of luck.

Derek F...

Oz is for a future trip, see you then :-)
Derek.

Tyke...

Look forward to it.

Ask me nearer the time about times of year to come etc :-)

Adelaide is a nice place to vist ;-)

Bigbazza...

And Sydney is ever so much better !! :-))