On May 2, 2007, at 8:45 AM, Peter Lacus wrote: > 1. where to go? > I'm sure there are so many places worth visiting and > we've got just 8 days for the Southern Island and 5 days for the > Northern Island. I'd certainly like to experience Rotorua and > compare NZ > fjords with their cousins in Norway.
The fjords are definitely worth a look but don't expect fine weather. Not that it matters... Milford is spectacular in good weather and even more spectacular in the rain. I've only been to the North Island a few times. Wellington is my favourite city but I'd probably hate the place if I lived there :) If you like movies, I think The Embassy is the best cinema in the country. Bob's map is probably about the best you can do for the South Island in that time frame. Next time he should add the following: - Arthurs Pass (the road between Greymouth and Christchurch), - the Southern Lakes (including the towns of Twizel, Tekapo and Mt Cook), - a tour through Manapouri power station (if he's not claustrophobic) - the Catlins Coast, - Abel Tasman National Park (west of Nelson) - about the only part of this island that I haven't explored yet. > If you know about some hidden gems > please share your knowledge. Exact GPS coordinates of great > photographic > vistas are especially welcome! (just kidding, I don't have a GPS ;-)). > > 2. where not to go? Are there some obvious tourist traps which are > better to be avoided? I don't think there are any tourist traps here. Queenstown is relatively expensive but it's one of those places that has to be experienced. > 3. availability/prices of Pentax lenses and slide film. If the prices > were substantially closer to the US than to the UK, I'd probably buy > 21Ltd. and perhaps 40Ltd. at the start of our trip (which happens in > Christchurch). WRT slide film, Kodak EliteChrome or Fuji Sensia is > enough for me (but of course AGFA RSX-II 50 would be preferable) - > is it > readily available or it's better to take some from home? In Christchurch the best camera shop is Photo & Video. http:// www.photo.co.nz/ No problem getting hold of slide film in any of our bigger cities. The prices won't be too bad, especially as you can buy tax-free (don't forget to obtain the customs paperwork), but the availability of nice Pentax kit is pretty limited. Bodies (eg K10D) seem to be easy to find but don't hold your breath looking for good lenses. > 4. I'd welcome some tips which car rental company offers most bang for > the buck - e.g. not the most expensive nor the cheapest one, but with > solid fleet and services. On our US trip we've used Alamo services and > we were very satisfied. Also is compact/intermediate car (1.6-2.0l > engine) enough or it would be a better idea to rent a SUV? A smaller car will be fine as long as you don't have huge amounts of luggage. The roads here certainly don't need an SUV. It is very expensive to take a car on the inter-island ferry. It may be worth dropping the car off, flying to the other island and picking up another car. Domestic airfares are pretty cheap if you're flying between major cities and you get to avoid the 10-metre swells that are all too common in Cook Straight :) > 5. And of course the most important question - how about small PDML > meeting under the Southen Cross? It's always nice to meet fellow > Pentaxians anywhere in the world, isn't it? Let me know when you're in Christchurch :) Hopefully I won't have hurt myself this time. > Of course any other suggestions/comments are welcome - if you know for > example where to buy the best (yet affordable) wine or where to see > kiwi > in the wild - _everything_ is welcome. Best wine area would probably be Blenheim. There are award-winning wineries through the whole region. Pretty much every winery does tastings and even the supermarkets there are pretty well stocked. The kiwi is unfortunately rather rare so you might not get to see any wild ones (they're also nocturnal, which makes it less likely). - Dave -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
