New Zealand - Our Summary

  Auckland, North Island, New Zealand Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Quick summary This was somewhere else that we had already been before. So how did this trip compare with the last one? Time Zone ~ GMT +13 hours Currency ~ NZ$ £1 =  $2NZ Population ~ 4.4 million Capital City ~ Wellington Official languages: English, Māori Our Budget ~ rooms: about £15 a night    ~ food: £10 each per day - it's not cheap to eat out here so luckily having the camper van brought the average spend down  They drive on the ~ left Internet connections - mainly rubbish but a good connection can be found if you look hard for it Places we stayed and our Star Rating Point Break Hostel - Christchurch - 2* Apollo campervan - 4* Top Ten Campsite - Hot Water Beach, North Island - 4* Waipuna Hotel & Conference Centre - Auckland, North Island - 4* Airport Gateway Hotel - Auckland, North Island - 3*   Summary What was different this time ~ Again we didn't have the wow factor of being here for the first time but it definitely felt different. Last time we were here we spent just one week on the North Island and 3 on the South. Our experience was clouded by all the grumpy old witches we met in the South Island who just seemed to want to tell us off wherever we went. It left a really bad impression on us. So spending most of our time on the North Island was well worth while. The people we met were lovely especially around the Coromandel. Some of the friendliest of anywhere in New Zealand We loved ~ the volcano, Hobbiton and the friendly people we met We didn't like ~ Can honestly say there wasn't much to dislike this time The people ~ This time we spent most of our time on the North Island and we had a much better experience this time. The people seemed much friendlier and we didn't come across any of those grumpy old battleaxes that we met last time! (although they were mainly in the south anyway) Food ~ OK but still difficult for vegetarians. Bryan didn't do so bad as he eats meat Transport - We didn't test public transport at all this time as we had our camper van and the rented car Things which will remind us of New Zealand ~ Hobbits, Digging holes to sit in,  Would we recommend it?  Yes especially the North Island and we would love to go back again one day (after we have seen the rest of the world)