Let’s get you started on how to map out and plan the holiday to New Zealand. Australians and and overseas visitors sometimes are not sure where to start the journey. The fear of missing out (FOMO) can ruin the best holiday plans. Let’s get our neighbours (Australia) and other overseas visitors a head start on a holiday of a lifetime.
WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO START A NEW ZEALAND HOLIDAY?
The best place to start your New Zealand holiday is where the largest international airport is located, Auckland.
Auckland is undoubtedly one of the great spots in New Zealand to explore the country and network of roads servicing the area.
WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO START A NEW ZEALAND HOLIDAY IN THE SOUTH ISLAND?
The best place to start your South Island holiday is Christchurch. The international airport is central hub for the South Island. However this can mean visitors miss the excitement of discovering the charms of Nelson and Marlborough provinces located in the top of the South Island.
WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO START A SKIING HOLIDAY IN NEW ZEALAND?
Ski and snow boarding visitors have the option of winter holidays starting in Queenstown (diminutive international airport largely servicing AUSTRALIA).
Decisions about where to start have two major influences impacting on what you do.
- How much time do you have?
- What are your interests?
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Slow down and investigate the region’s day trips for interesting ideas where to go off the beaten track for a highly personalised holiday of a lifetime.
Grab inspiration from a pre-prepared selection of itineraries available on BEST BITS.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – PLANNING A ROAD TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND
Remember to check Regional Guides for specific road conditions and more information about driving in New Zealand.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET AROUND NEW ZEALAND WHILE ON HOLIDAY?
Check out the best way to get around New Zealand, private vehicle, bus or motorhome (or guided tours). Nzjane recommends a bit of everything.
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Check out 13 TIPS TO LONG DISTANCE DRIVING IN NEW ZEALAND FOR OVERSEAS VISITORS.
HOW MUCH MONEY WILL YOU NEED FOR A NEW ZEALAND ROAD TRIP?
How to Save Money While Travelling Around New Zealand
Learn More New Zealand Holiday Budget Preparation - 6 Tips for Success
Learn More 10 Tips for a Romantic Holiday Location on a Budget
Learn MoreHOW TO CREATE AN ITINERARY – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Creating an itnerary of what you are going to do every day is fun. The exhilaration of the holiday creates a happy buzz. Perhaps you are going to use one of the many BEST BITS pre-prepared itineraries or craft your own holiday trip.
Here are some tips and ideas how to create an itinerary; your own journey planner reflecting your personal interests.
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Leave space in everyday for last minute deals you spot while on holiday.
Where do you want to go and in which direction while on holiday in NZ?
The first question you ask yourself, when creating a NZ holiday is where do you want to go. Direction is important as you do not want to double up on routes as it wastes time and money.
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Rental cars and public buses have regular routes which are cheaper to purchase. Check out if you are travelling against the flow of tourist traffic. A call to a rental car company will answer this question.
How much time do you have to travel as this influences what you can see and do while on holiday in New Zealand?
The first measure for your journey planner is the proposed distance to travel. It is recommended you shorten the distance (sigh you really wanted to see those …) to ensure you only drive 150km average per day. That’s plenty of time to get out of the car and see things. Even better if you have more than one night, in at least two places to make a destination a hub where you simply move from stop A to stop B over a period of two or more days.
Plan a road trip with a maximum travelling distance, for each day between 100km to 200km. The exception being the last day when you had a plane to catch.
Are your key attractions or activities on your must do list?
Your holiday bucket list is easy to manage with a google my map pin location. Then you have a framework for your destinations within New Zealand. Create a google my map pin locations of must do attractions and estimate travelling times. This will become the structure for the trip route map from day one to the finish line when you depart for home.
If one fabulous must-do attraction is out of the way you will need to consider altering the time spent travelling or debate which attractions cannot be visited due to time constraints.
Does your budget include flights or travel to route origin and route destination places while on holiday in New Zealand?
It is very important to include time spend flying or driving into the day’s activities. And remember, entrance fees, averaged accommodation cost, food and beverage costs, insurance and rental vehicle cost, including fuel. This could influence your route.
Have you considered the weather as a factor influencing your dream holiday in New Zealand?
New Zealand holidays can experience changeable weather. Are you ready for the low season weather forecasts of cool temperatures and rain. The time of the year influences the cost of travel as well as your personal comfort zone.
Now you are ready to work out the details of your journey planner.
You have the following information:
- Where you are going, places, attractions
- Estimated time spent getting from point A to point B
- Provisional expenditure budget
BOOKING YOUR NEW ZEALAND HOLIDAY – YOUR JOURNEY PLANNER TIMELINE
- Check flights if required (you have to be able to get there). This step is CONNECTIONS, connecting between A – B – C.
- Book accommodation; 2nd step – remember you have already checked traveling distances between places (where you are going to stay) and it is on your personalised wish list google map.
- Use an app such as TripIt to collect accommodation information (plus getting there, flights).
- Book tour activities.
- Use our itineraries to craft your own personalised tour, it’s that simple as we provide you with the BEST BITS.
- Choose direction of travel, distance to be travelled in total and distance between major towns where you plan to stay.
- Remember to check where rental car companies have offices as some of the best bargains do not have many actual location pickup points.
- Choose key attractions and guided tours, calculate time required to participate in each activity.
- Work out the number of nights required in places where you will book accommodation.
- Work out the route and record the number of nights in each place where you plan to stop.
- Use TripIt or another travel itinerary planner to store the data as you book accommodation and/or key activities. BEST BITS provides links to key attractions and places to stay. BEST BITS does not charge commission to the tour operator or accommodation provider. The savings belong to you and the provider.
- Book activities, especially those that are instagram moments or if you are travelling in peak season and do not want to miss out. These do not need to be booked immediately as you might be denting the credit card. Viator.com (part of the TripAdvisor group) is a good source of information as it is the activity operator’s website. Check activity consolidators, such as TripAdvisor as you can easily view forward booking information to ascertain popularity.
- Purchase national park passes or multiple day passes, print paper copy and store copy on mobile.
- Do not book everything in advance as we are encouraging spur of the moment decision making as well. Freedom to choose is important.
Whew, you have a holiday booked, planned and ready to go.
NEXT STEPS
- Document travel times for each day, distances to be traveled, route maps to be downloaded.
- Route maps, purchase, print out or download your map. Paper copies are great when Wi-fi is not available, handy to write notes about the trip and to compare with google maps.
- Emergency contacts list to be ticked off and filed with family and friends.
- Entertainment while on the road, download your favourite music.
- Check when sunrise and sunset occurs for those photo moments.
- Perhaps consider a roadside assist plan with rental car company.
- Get inspired, it’s a road trip.
ON THE ROAD IN NEW ZEALAND – BUDGET TIPS
- Avoid impulse buys in petrol stations, I know the doughnuts look delicious however those muesli bars are much better for us.
- Check road conditions on google maps.
- Carry cash for local markets where the vendor is not in a position to offer electronic transactions.
- Have you checked if there are tolls on your route, if not prepare to stop and pay, perhaps with cash (this applies especially in Australia).
- Remember to consult with your sunset time as perhaps you do not wish to drive at night.
- Take breaks and enjoy the journey. It is not a race to the end.
- Enjoy the moments of windshield time with your travelling companions.
- Be spontaneous, stop where it is not planned. You are in charge of the itinerary.
- Chat to locals about the best way to get somewhere.
- Plan a maximum of 1 ½ hours continuous driving, get out, take a selfie and enjoy.
NEW ZEALAND ROAD TRIPS
For visitors who wish to explore New Zealand in detail there are a number of road trips and places to visit off the beaten track check out TOP ROAD TRIPS IN NEW ZEALAND for details.
Enjoy the freedom of a motorhome. Your accommodation travels with you.
BEST BITS TRAVEL GUIDE