Going to New Zealand / Australia next year! - YouLookFab Forum

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Going to New Zealand / Australia next year!

Astrid

Veteran

The flight tickets were booked yesterday, so it's really happening! I'll leave for Auckland Middle/End of February, then I'll be in New Zealand until March 14th. Then I have a flight to Sydney. And again a flight from Sydney to Germany early in April. I will be travelling alone at the beginnig and then my oldest friend is going to join me (she's working near Wellington until the first of March). That means all in all over six weeks! I'm so excited!

There isn't anything planned yet. I would love to hear any recommendations if you have them, for activities, places, hikes... We will do hostels to save money, but are going to get a car for hire (at least some of the time). I plan to buy a backpack with a better hipbelt and a real suspension system, my Osprey Farpoint isn't comfortable enough for a long day walking. I don't plan to do carry-on (because I can't do 7kg weight limit for everything), but I don't want the backpack to be huge all the same. I thought slightly bigger than the Osprey, with a bit of wiggle room for souvenirs. And I definitely want to pack more camera stuff than on the last few holidays.

I know it very much depends on where we are going, but I would love to hear what you regularly wear around that time of year if you live in New Zealand or Australia. I plan to pack more gear and very practical, but I definitely need to put some thought into this! And I want to buy as few things as possible for this trip and pick well (and on sale if possible) so that I have more money to spend during the holiday.

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66 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

Eliza

Veteran

Sounds like a wonderful trip. No advice, but I will be following this in case my once postponed trip comes to pass. Excited for you!

Sisi

Veteran

This is the best news ever!

anne

Veteran

So exciting Astrid. The Australian part will be hot and possibly wet. Hopefully an east coast person will have more than details.

Inge

(website)

You lucky duck!!-)) This is marvelous and so exciting, Astrid. I have no advice, but hope we'll get to hear all about your travel adventures!

Sal

Veteran

Oh wow! I have lots to say of course! I am just off out the door but will reply in an hour or two!! Maybe we can even meet up:). Very exciting news!!

Diana

Veteran

I have no advice, but just wanted to say I'm jealous! That sounds like the trip of a lifetime.

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, lucky duck indeed! It's totally awesome.

Sally, take your time! I'm in no hurry. And yes, maybe we can meet up, how fun would that be...

So far I haven't done much planning with my friend either. I know that she wants to spend some time on the South Island. And because my friend might already have seen a bit of the North Island by then I'll probably do those things on my own at the beginning. And of course I'm landing in Auckland anyway, so I can plan to end up in Wellington with her on the first of March.

crazyone

Veteran

I have been to Sydney but that was almost 2 decades ago now (gulp!) so I don't have that many recommendations to offer, but it's a beautiful city and I'd love to go back. All my friends who have been to New Zealand have loved it too. Lucky you!

Lyn D.

Veteran

This is exciting!
Deborah and I live south of Sydney where it is a bit cooler, but in Autumn the weather should be lovely- not too hot and certainly not cold.

Astrid

Veteran

Crazyone, sounds great. And everyone I know who has been there loved it too!

Lyn, packing for temperate weather is certainly easiest! And of course it's nicer to be active outside when it's not super hot.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Very exciting! In late March you can still expect it to be pretty warm here. Not as humid as February but temps in the high 20s. If you plan to go north (and I hope you plan to go to Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef) it could be very hot, humid and maybe wet. Sydney is a very urban environment but we have some pretty National Parks, spectacular beaches and a beautiful harbour. The Harbour Bridge climb and Manly ferry are popular with tourists. And there are lots of harbourside and beachside walking trails. Me and Ms B might come and join you If you want to see the Great Barrier Reef/Cape Tribulation/Daintree (all very worth seeing), I recommend staying in Port Douglas. I like it better than Cairns. You should probably get yourself a Lonely Planet guide. You will end up knowing more about Australia than I do

Chris987

Veteran

I visited NZ about 20 years ago and loved loved loved it. What a great trip you have planned! We spent almost the entire time on the South Island... did lots of outdoor activities with every kind of travel imaginable - ferry boats, trains, rented car, bus planes, etc. If you can work in a trip to Milford Sound and stay overnight on the mini-"cruise" ship do that...it's a real glacier on the south island and on the overnight boat we saw dolphins and a waterfall. It takes e a half day by bus through very remote areas to get there but one of the best things I've ever done. The next day we had planned to take a tiny plane to a glacier but fog prevented it, so see if you can do that too. (These flights get fogged out pretty often) Sounds like you might be into hiking - you can also get to Milford Sound via a several-day hike that I believe is fairly strenuous. If you are into birds or wildlife you can see yellow-eyed penguins on the Otago peninsula, they live nowhere else on earth. We were in that area to visit a work colleague of DH's in Dunedin, which is a town on a steep hillside with a fairly big university. Christchurch was quite nice. We went to at least one botanical garden but can't remember it's name...it also had a lot of tropical birds. The whole country is just beautiful and the people are wonderful. I went at a warm-ish time of year but can't remember what I wore.

Sal

Veteran

Typically Feb- March is lovely weather in NZ, usually warm dry and sunny. As you head further south it does cool down significantly.

In the North Island, I would wear shorts, summer dresses, cropped pants with a tee etc. I often have a layer to add and wear that in the morning and again at night. And I would bring a rainjacket. As you head into alpine areas or further south I think a merino layer or two would be needed as well as a jacket.

We are a casual place, you can dress informally. At the sort of restaurants/cafes you are likely to head to you can just wear your gear.

Our sun is very harsh (also true for Australia) so a sunhat and good sunscreen are essential and need to be applied regularly. Also you will need sunglasses. The water will be lovely for swimming at that time of the year both in lakes and the oceans...as you head South it becomes colder.

I am about 1.5 hours south of Auckland and would be happy to host you or meet up and take you on an outing.

Wellington is a cool city to visit - the bus system and trains are good and reliable here.

Places that are beautiful and worth visiting are:
- Central Otago - Wanaka/Queenstown
- Anywhere in the Southern Alps
- any of the coasts (we have a lot from West Coast wild beaches to golden sandy beaches)
- Nelson/Golden Bay area (Abel Tasman Park)
- Central Volcanic Plateau ( great walking)
- Rotorua (touristy but fun, lots of Maori culture)
- Coromandel Peninsula
- any of the festivals markets etc that are on - whether farmers markets, Pasifika festivals etc..

Feel free to PM me at any stage:)

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Sal

Veteran

In thinking more, definitely bring good walking shoes/tramping boots and good walking sandals. Jeans and a tidy tee, or one of your summer dresses will be dressy enough for everywhere you might head I think.

Wifi is pretty good here and cellphone coverage is good except in remote places. Here are the links to some bus companies and also the trains.

http://www.kiwiexperience.com/

https://www.manabus.com/

https://nakedbus.com/home

http://www.intercity.co.nz/

http://www.kiwirailscenic.co.nz/

Ledonna N.

Veteran

All I can say is have fun and please please take lots of pictures.

Astrid

Veteran

Brooklyn, thanks for the suggestions! I really need to go to the library and get myself some guidebooks... I think we will probably do the Great Barrier Reef, so thanks for the tip with Port Douglas.

Chris, thanks! That sounds like an awesome trip. I don't think we will do any multi day hikes, but you never know. I've seen a few pictures of Milford Sound, so beautiful! They did remind me of our trip to Norway.

Sally, that is super helpful, thanks! I'm definitely going to PM you if I have any questions. Good to hear that I can pack casual and be fine... Sounds like the warm weather clothes will be useful both in the first part of the NZ trip and in Australia. I'm definitely going to pack my trekking shoes! I don't have trekking sandals right now, but I think I should probably get a pair. And I thought one pair of "pretty" shoes I can wear on the plane and around town with both pants or a dress. Maybe flat Mary Janes or something like that, something that is lightweight and packs down small. That would mean three pair of shoes, plenty. I definitely plan to pack a rain jacket, I'm just not sure if I need a new one or not. The one I have is fairly heavy and lined. It is fine for the cooler temperatures I have used it in so far, but probably not ideal for warm weather. Maybe a really thin rain shell with layers underneath would be better (also for Australia).
Thanks for the links to transportation, I'll definitely check those out. And for the recommendations of course. Picture #4 is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, right? I think I want to do that one, if possible.

Thanks Ledonna, I will! I think I need to stock up on memory cards...

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JAileen

Veteran

Astrid, I wish I could give some great advice, but, sadly, I've never been to either. I would recommend In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson. It came out in 2000, but it's a very entertaining travel book.

crazyone

Veteran

Astrid, I highly recommend getting a lightweight rain shell instead of a heavy raincoat if you are planning to do lots of hiking. Even in colder weather I prefer the light shell+fleece underneath+sweat wicking layer next to my skin. I did lots of hiking in the rain last week and this combo served me well.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks for the reading recommendation, Jaileen! I just ordered the German paperback online, second hand. Unfortunately my library didn't have it, but for 2,30€...

Thanks Crazyone - that's what I feared. I find rain jackets hard to shop for and the decent ones are always so expensive. Hopefully I will find a good deal online somewhere... Maybe I need to scale down the expectations when it comes to looks and fit.

Sally

Veteran

Cool. I live in Auckland. I'll try and think of ideas for NZ but I think the other Sally covered them . The weather is disgusting at the moment but will be lovely then. I'll be back at work then but live near the airport so perhaps we could meet up.

Helen11

Veteran

I'm excited to hear of your trip, too!
I can't give any advice for New Zealand, but I thoroughly agree with Brooklyn's suggestions of North Queensland and Central Australia.
We had a family holiday in 2014 with some time in Cairns. March/ April is a good time of year in the North. It tends to be drier (Dec, Jan, Feb have tropical storms) and will be really warm for you. Probably still in the 30C range. (Maybe I should look that up) Anyway, shorts and Tshirts are all most people wear! A very light rain jacket is a good idea, I use the kind that packs into its own pocket. Your summer dresses will be perfect. A light long sleeved woven shirt is a good idea for sun protection. And a big hat!
Some of my favourite places are:
The Captain Cook Highway - the drive from Cairns to Port Douglas is spectacular, with the ocean on one side, and the rainforest on the other.
The Atherton Tablelands (Cairns Highlands) are inland and always cooler in temp than the coast. Lake Eacham is a crater lake and lovely for swimming.
Kuranda is a tourist stop, but I loved the Skyrail cable car from Cairns to there, and I have taken the scenic rail trip the other direction as well.
The Butterfly house in Kuranda is fantastic. You might see the blue Ulysses butterfly in the wild, but you will have dozens of them close and maybe landing on you at the butterfly house. We bought a pass that gave us entry to a Kangaroo exhibit, tropical bird aviary and the butterflies.

I could go on and on! I imagine you'll be flying from Sydney so you'll bypass me - but do pm me. Happy planning!

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Sally - yes maybe we could. My friend told me she's really miserable right now because she's not used to unheated homes and the weather seems to be not so nice...

Thanks for the recommendations, Helen! Yes, I suspect it's going to feel very warm to me, we're just not used to much heat here in Germany. I found a rain jacket that I like the look of for a reasonable price online. It's unlined and packs down small, and it has pit zips too. Hopefully it will fit. I do like the brand, because it's decent quality and one of the more "responsible" outdoor brands available. Keeping my fingers crossed... And I'll fly to and from Sydney, yes.

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crazyone

Veteran

Astrid, that rain jacket looks good, hopefully it works out for you.

Astrid

Veteran

The rain jacket came and it fits! I can't believe it. The sleeves are a bit long but that's alright. There's enough room for my hips and the hood is nice. I can layer a fleece under it too. It's super thin compared to my other one, loosely folded together it takes a third of the space I think. I got it for almost 50% off, so I'm happy. That's one of the most important items crossed from the list.

jenanded

Veteran

I haven't done it but loads of people do - hiring a boat in the Whitsundays... a fair way south of Port Douglas (and I support that choice over Cairns) but amazing reviews. Sounds a fantastic trip.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh awesome! That is one of my dream trips -- I want to make it happen in the next few years. I'll be saving the suggestions from this thread for future reference. Happy planning, and happy travels!

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Jenanded.

Thanks Janet - I hope you'll have the opportunity!

New Zealand Guy

Member

Hi there.

In February and March the weather in New Zealand is typically warm, hot, dry and sunny. It is the best time to come to New Zealand as we usually have endless days of great weather.

Clothing:

I would advise you to bring lots of summer clothing. At this time of year New Zealanders are still wearing their summer outfits. However, keep in mind the South Island will be cooler but not freezing and because New Zealand is an island nation the weather can change suddenly. So I would also advise you to bring some warmer clothing just encase you need it. Also keep in mind that you need to bring winter clothing with you for your trip to Germany as I imagine it will be cold in Germany at this time of the year. Germany gets very freezing in the winter. In New Zealand at this time of the year men are still regally wearing shorts and a light shirt and women are still wearing skirts, shorts and a light shirt.

New Zealand and Australia sun:

While the weather in both New Zealand and Australia will generally be great at this time of the year the sun in both countries is harsh and will burn your skin if you're not careful. This is why when spending a long time in the sun like at the beach etc you must wear sunscreen in both countries and you need to apply it regularly. We have a vast range of sunscreen in New Zealand which you can pick up from any supermarket when you get here. Buy a sunscreen with a high SPF. You will also need a good sunhat and sunglasses.

Things to do:

There are many great things to see and do in New Zealand. It does seem you will not be here very long. If you want to tell me exactly how many days you will be here I am happy to suggest a plan that will make the best use of the time you do have to travel the country while still being able to see and do New Zealand's "can't miss" attractions.

You will love it in New Zealand, I am so excited for you.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks! I'm from Germany, so I know how the weather is going to be like in February and April. I don't think it's going to be a big problem though. I'm going to dress in layers for the flight and in February we'll take the car to the airport, so I'm not outside much. I generally want to try to pack layers if possible, I think that's the only way to keep the amount I need to carry around with me reasonable. I've came across several warnings about the sun, I'll definitely take my sunglasses and pack a hat. And Sunscreen is a must for me anyway because I'm rather pale. As for travel plans, I'm going to decide together with my travel buddy what we want to see. But I'm definitely open for suggestions.

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