Hi - I need some help with New Zealand. I am going with my wife and four kids in November for around 10 days. We leave from Portland, Oregon. To fly to Auckland would be 18 hrs and to Queenstown would be around 22 hrs. I do not do well on long flights so I need to break it up. I am thinking of flying into Hawaii and then to Auckland the next day. I would like to see both islands but driving it all seems too much for 10 days. I was thinking about touring around the north island for half the trip then getting a flight to the South Island touring around for the other half then getting a flight back to the north island. The trouble is, this is a lot of flying. Is adding the quick flight to the South Island "worth it"? We don't have much on the check list. I would really just like to see the scenery and I understand the South is best for that. I know this is very subjective but I would appreciate your opinion. Jesse
Been there twice. Skip the north Island except to land, then hop to Nelson. The south island is just awesome and has a lot fewer people. You leave the US at 8 pm, have dinner, watch a movie, take a sleeping pill and arrive at 10 am. I would *not suggest* economy. Also, while pricey if you are flying on Air New Zealand join Koru for perks: https://www.airnewzealand.com/koru-benefits NZ is an incredible place, you can go to rain forest to glacier in the same day.
Would you recommend premium? First class is a bit much for me. Is the skycouch a gimmick or worth it?
Yes, premium economy was as good as domestic business class at the time we flew (about 12 years ago, next trip we went first class). Airlines changed a lot of things after covid so check the distance and what meals/services are currently provided. They did not have sky couch when we flew, but here is a good write up on it: https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/skycouch-air-new-zealand/
Breaking the flight half way is a good idea. Air NZ are a good airline. Premium Economy is comfortable. What you suggest is the right way to do it - Fly into Auckland, rent a car and tour for a few days. Driv North to the Bay of Islands or South to the central plateau area (Taupo, Mt Ruapehu, etc). The scenic beauty is really in the South Island. Fly into Queenstown from Auckland and rent a car to see Fiordland, Milford Sound, Manapouri, the many lakes (Te Anau, Tekapo, etc). Depending on the age of your kids there are a number of more action oriented activities particularly around Queenstown. November is usually a good time - the beginning of summer although it can rain
How cool, we just signed up with Ponant in January, even thought we know Clemson will be winning the Football Championship in Houstin during that time. We just didn’t want to go to Houstin. We have to decide if we are going on to Australia and for how long. Advice? You know it just occurred to me…not trying to highjack your thread, but do you think headed to Australia would be warranted since you will be traveling so far? https://us.ponant.com/oceania-pacific-islands-natural-treasures-of-new-zealand-er070124-12 Image Unavailable, Please Login
I think you will be safe I'll relate my first trip to Australasia... We had a month, and didn't know much about either place. This was before the interweb-knows-all age, so we more-or-less looked at the map and said; "Well, Australia is far bigger so let's go with 1 week in NZLD and then 3 weeks in Australia." Our trip started off in NZLD. By the end of the first 24 hours in the country, we realized we had just had one of the best days of our lives. By the time we were sitting in the lounge at AKL on day 7, we were calling our travel agent back home and re-doing our flights and dog care back home, et al so that we could return to NZLD after our 3 weeks in Australia. Which we did and spent another month in NZLD. I call NZLD "God's best work". And, to explain, I've done many of the "cultural/museum/food/etc" type trips many times over, but going to amazing natural landscapes and doing outdoors activities is still tops for me. So that is why NZLD so tops for me. Thus, while Australia is *very* near the top of amazing places to visit, NZLD is *the* top for me (and what I enjoy). To answer your question more directly, "yes" Australia is more than worth visiting. Amazing place. Sydney is one of the very best cities in the world, Tasmania is right up my alley and the barrier reef is, well, the barrier reef. If avoiding a second all-day journey half-way around the world is important to you, combining the two is a great way to go...
I wouldn't break up the flight. You will sleep on the way over and back and breaking it up means you won't sleep much. If been to NZ a number of times and loved it. Queenstown and the Milford Sound are awesome but so are Auckland and the Bay of Islands. Don't try to do it all- pick either the North and South Island and see as much of each as you can. And go Business Class- you'll really want a flatbed.
Great advice we ended up going straight over and got the sky couch and it was enough to get a few hours of sleep so we weren't destroyed by the flight. I agree to break it up there is way too much to see and experience and we took our time and it was well worth it.
