Hello all…
I have booked my flights to Wellington from Melbourne & return from Auckland to Melbourne (Thanks to Ozbargain for the cheap as tempting flight deals). I am travelling solo by road covering Wellington, Rotarua, Napier and Auckland before I fly out.
Any recommendations of stay/car rental/places to visit would be much helpful.
Thanks very much!
Don't wear a sheepskin onesie…
All the more ways to keep myself alive!
I've used Apex car rentals, and they were well priced.
There is an insane mini-golf / metal sculpture place just south of Wellington, all built by one guy using scrap metal, called Carlucci Land. On a weekday it is empty and heaps of fun to have a look around.
Consider hitch hiking, honestly. It will need some patience and courage but you will be richer for the experience. NZ is very safe.
Haven't done it myself but I met a guy who literally hitch hiked everywhere across the whole of NZ this year. He raved about it. He says he had more success after he made and used a sign that says the direction he's going ("North" or "South" etc.) I think he used the train/bus to get to the fringe of the bigger cities and hitch hiked from there.
My highlights in NZ were Waitomo Caves tubing. Rotorua luge. Queenstown "mad dog" river boarding (during warmer months only). Staying the night on a boat at Milford Sound. Trekking over Fox Glacier.
You will enjoy NZ it's amazing.
Edit: Looks like you're doing North Island only but you can still do Waitomo Caves.
Don't talk about the cricket.