Any Kiwi's here?

**Mithrandir** · 10-14-2010, 13:48

The term Kiwi's isn't offensive, right?

I'm considering a month long visit to NZ but I'm worried about my financial situation...

How expensive is NZ compared to Western Europe? Is the day to day life cheaper?
How expensive is it to travel&what are the best means?

Any things to think abou beforehand? What's the temperature there?

Any advice would be mch appreciated :)

**Zradha Pahlavan** · 10-14-2010, 16:09

The bird or the fruit?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

**pevergreen** · 10-14-2010, 16:58

Kiwi isn't offensive, its like calling somsone a Yankee. New Zealander is too long.

Its about the same to a few dollars more expensive than the same thing in Australia, add up to 25% (Our dollar is slightly stronger)

I can't speak for public transport, as while I was there for two weeks the family rented a car.

I haven't been to Europe, but my old boss went to England/France for a month last year and it was horrifically expensive compared to what we are used to, and NZ is cheaper. Loaf of bread should be $2, around the same for 1L of milk. The accent may be hard for you to get, I don't know. It could also depend on where you go. I got the impression the west side was higher in quality of living than the east (south island)

Things to think about: Its fush, chups and buggers. Australia is better

(and it has more orgahs

)

The tourist season is basically over (snow) so a lot of stuff is either not happening or less frequent etc.

Temperature..hmmm, I'd say if it was the next few months, be prepared for anything between low teens and low thirties degrees celsius.

I only did an outline of the south island for two weeks, so my experience is limited, but two things I've kept in my memory.

Queenstown is the town where all the cool stuff you can't do in other places is. There was boat day trips up the various sounds (I did milton sound) bunjee stuff (didnt do) speedboat (did do) street performers (saw i guy i'd seen in two other cities, that was funny, he remembered us

) and best of all, helicopter trip to walk around on a glacier. That was amazing.

The other thing? There is a brand of cookies there. I can't remember the name, but these cookies are the best damn cookies I've ever had. We bought 2 dozen packs the day before we left, and I nearly cried because we couldn't finish them, and we couldn't take them home.
They don't sell them here either.

I don't remember any Kiwi orgahs off the top of my head, though I swear there are 2 or 3.

If anything didn't make sense or you have other questions, ask and I'll try to answer. If I don't know, I have a couple kiwi friends that I could ask.

edit: In the back of my mind, I swear Pape or Rythmic has quite a lot of New Zealand experience.

**Samurai Waki** · 10-14-2010, 18:55

I believe Rob the Bastard is a Kiwi...

**Rhyfelwyr** · 10-14-2010, 23:22

Miotas?

Shouldn't there be good scenery, I think they filmed parts of LOTR there?

**Beefy187** · 10-15-2010, 00:49

Like pever I only did South Island, so I don't know about the north.
If you like driving then renting the car might be good idea.
If you can bare hours and hours of driving, you can see some of the most amazing scenery.

As for the cities, I didn't like Christchurch too much... It was like South bank (Australia Brisbane) with little more activities to do.
But Queenstown is definitely worth it. Amazing city with lots of things to enjoy.

Activities are all fun so those will fill your spare time.
If its sunny try some of the sounds. But don't go if its not sunny or you'll have a miserable trip back home like me.

Have a nice trip

**Fragony** · 10-15-2010, 03:03

Isn't Papi kiwi. Never been there but a friend was lyrical about the place, saw the pics beautiful scenery was invented there

**pevergreen** · 10-15-2010, 03:05

Originally Posted by Rhyfelwyr

Miotas?

Shouldn't there be good scenery, I think they filmed parts of LOTR there?

They filmed all of LOTR there, I think. South Island, you can go to the places.

Miotas is an Aussie, but like Frag said, I think Pape is a kiwi, even though he is an Aussie now.

**naut** · 10-15-2010, 16:07

Originally Posted by Mithrandir

I'm considering a month long visit to NZ but I'm worried about my financial situation...

How expensive is NZ compared to Western Europe? Is the day to day life cheaper?
How expensive is it to travel&what are the best means?

Any things to think abou beforehand? What's the temperature there?

Any advice would be mch appreciated :)

No. But, I have some Kiwi relatives.

Compared with Europe, not as expensive. But, like any Western country, not that cheap either.

Travel? In urban areas the buses are quite good, especially around Aukland/Wellington/any major city. Elsewhere a car is best, it is a surprisingly large country (quite long, not incredibly wide, etc). May be best to buy a used car for a few hundred.

Things to consider are that Christchurch is still somewhat of a disaster zone, and they've had some more minor after-shocks. Temperature can range from high 20s on a good day, mostly though averages at mid to low 20s and often overcast or partly cloudy, even in Summer. Rains a fair bit too.

**Mithrandir** · 10-16-2010, 17:28

Thank for the replies :).

Too bad about the weather, should've done some more research, I was expecting some nice sunny country where you'd be able to walk in shorts every day...

**pevergreen** · 10-17-2010, 11:57

Originally Posted by Mithrandir

Thank for the replies :).

Too bad about the weather, should've done some more research, I was expecting some nice sunny country where you'd be able to walk in shorts every day...

Welcome to where I live. (Queensland in Australia, other states are either too hot or too cold)

Seriously, I wear shorts and t-shirt every day of the year.