Hi Peter I would agree with much of what David M says. Be warned we are in mid-autumn here and it will be cool/mild at best cold at worst, so bring warm clothes. I wouldn't necessarily avoid Rotorua - yes a tourist trap in some ways but some spectacular geothermal features, and it's all laid out on a plate. I would certainly want to temper it with some more out of the way experience - like a farm stay on a high country station in the South Island. Queensland is also extremely touristy but it will be quiet at the end of May - cold but not cold enough for skiing yet.
Not sure I would recommend getting lenses here - very limited choice at Photo & Video (http://www.photo.co.nz/newprods/newpent_lens.htm) which as David says is the best bet for Christchurch and is probably typical of the best camera shops here. A $NZ is worth about 0.55 Euro so you can do the math for the prices at P & V. No problem getting slide film here but maybe not all that cheap. I would also endorse Budget - prices are quite reasonable. Definitely don't need an SUV - and we don't need to encourage anymore on the road either - much better off in a car. Chances of seeing a kiwi in the wild - well you might have better chance with the old state lottery - used to be called Golden Kiwi! You will have to visit a kiwihouse and be content with seeing a captive bird I am afraid. Good wine and wineries in several parts of the country - Central Otago, North Canterbury, Marlborough, Martinborough, Hawkes Bay are the best bets. You can buy from direct from the winery in all these places (of course you just get there lables but they will give you a tasting first). Can give you some names of good places to visit if you would like. Happy to meet up if it suits your itinerary - Palmerston North is not exactly on the tourist trail however. Alastair On 5/2/07, Peter Lacus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi, > > I'm flying to New Zealand (together with another list member) on 14th of > May so it's about time to ask some questions I guess ;-) (since I > haven't found too many conversations about subj. in the list archives): > > 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. 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? > > 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? > > 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? > > 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? > > 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. > > If you don't have experience from New Zealand but have some from Hong > Kong, just substitute NZ in the questions above with HK (except of Q4 - > we are probably not going to rent a car in HK - it's just stopover on > the way back home, which means 2 days & 2 nights). > > Thank you for any replies! > > Cheers, > > Peter > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
