New Zealand TouringNew Zealand TouringIndependent traveller tips on NZ accommodation and touring Articles
Popular camping ground first of many to close over winter
2008-05-16 01:26:00 One of the South Islands iconic camping grounds is to close for the winter season. Glendhu Bay in Wanaka is a popular camping ground for the winter ski season traveller and temporary ski field staff alike. However, the camp was losing money as visiting skiers and boarders increasingly chose to park on the side of the ... More About: Winter , Ground , Popular , Camping , Close
Robbed within first hour of arrival in NZ
2008-05-06 23:03:00 A British couple who arrived in New Zealand yesterday on their three week honeymoon were robbed within one hour of arrival. The jetlagged Devon couple had just picked up their rental campervan and decided to pick up some groceries for the trip to Rotorua. They parked at the supermarkets covered carpark in downtown Auckland. After spending around ... More About: Hour , Robbed
New Zealand On top of the world
2008-05-02 07:11:00 Two destinations in the South Island NZ have been ranked 1st & 2nd most popular among the worlds top destinations.The travellers’ choice survey held by the worlds largest online travel site trip advisor listed Milford Sound first followed by Queenstown in second place. The travellers’ choice survey uses a combination of popular hits, input from travellers ... More About: World , New Zealand , The World , Zealand
Visitors require more search & rescue
2008-04-02 05:15:00 NZ Search and Rescue have released figures showing that over one third of rescues carried out this summer have been for lost or injured overseas visitors. The great proportion of these are in the South Island where mountain climbing is popular during the summer months. New Zealand Land Search & Rescue (landSAR) say many of these ... More About: Visitors
Queenstown says Ban all Freedom Campervanning
2008-04-01 00:43:00 The proposed sticker law to regulate where campervans can overnight park does not go far enough for one South Island council mayor. Queenstown Lakes district mayor Clive Geddes believes that the sticker law will not deter those tourist that pollute the area with human waste. Mr Geddes stated that his council should lead the way by ... More About: Freedom
Campervan Law
2008-03-19 23:26:00 The legislation of campervans rights to freedom camp in New Zealand has gone a step closer . All South Islands local governments have voted unanimously to put forward a proposed regulatory system that will class campervans into three categories. The proposal is to require campervans to be issued with a sticker registration system that will limit ...
Prosecute Trespassing Campers
2008-03-12 22:55:00 District Councils have been asked to clamp down on campervan travellers that park next to or outside camping grounds and use their facilities. The manager of two council owned holiday parks located in the Queenstown area has removed 30 people in one night from the grounds communal kitchen. Mr Hartshorne reported these people had climbed over ...
It?s Official - The Banana Republic of Fiji
2008-02-26 05:50:00 The Australian publisher of the Fiji Sun newspaper was taken from his residence last night by two men who claimed to be immigration officers. Russel Hunter was at home with his wife and daughter when the men arrived and asked to view his passport. He was then taken away for further questioning. He was latter deported ... More About: Banana , Official , Banana Republic , Republic
Backpacker Wins 1 Million Dollars
2008-02-26 03:20:00 An Australian backpacker who arrived in New Zealand just two days before he purchased a winning lotto ticket now plans to upgrade his accommodation and travel in style. The lucky tourist purchased the ticket in Christchurch and then immediately travelled to the Wellington Lottery headquarters to claim his prize. He initially planned to get seasonal fruit picking ... More About: Backpacker , Million , Dollars , Wins
Tourist Insurance Scam
2008-02-25 05:56:00 Three Dutch tourist who claimed they were robbed while camping at Akaroa near Christchurch have admitted guilt in a Christchurch court to making a false complaint. The trio was arrested as they tried to leave the country bound for Australia. The residing judge convicted and discharged the men stating that although the investigation had wasted 100 hours ... More About: Insurance , Scam , Tourist
Dodgy Lodges
2008-02-15 22:36:00 The tourist industry has once again hit out at the many New Zealand accommodation establishments that brand themselves as ?lodges? or ?boutique lodge? accommodation. NZ has many wonderful lodges that have invested vast amounts of both money and energy to create internationally recognised accommodation. Huka, Kauri Cliffs, Blanket Bay and Grasmere Lodge are but a few ...
Fording NZ Rivers by Car
2008-02-15 03:50:00 Fording small rivers is a common experience on many roads that lead to scenic spots, trail heads and popular picnic locations. Many overseas travellers and New Zealanders alike are not aware that these small river crossings can become almost unpassable on the return crossing as river levels can quickly rise. Heres a little story of a German ... More About: Rivers
Copland Track Thief
2008-01-30 01:48:00 A South Island man who robbed tourists of goods and cash to the tune of $104,000 has been jailed for three years and two months. The 25 year old Fox Glacier resident, pleaded guilty in the District Court to 42 theft charges. These thefts occurred from tourists’ vehicles in carparks mainly at the Copland Track car park ... More About: Thief
Fiji to Los Angeles cut flights
2008-01-24 06:46:00 It appears the American inbound tourist market to Fiji has wilted due to the current coup. Air New Zealand has announced that it is cutting its three flights per week service between Nadi and Los Angeles effective from April. On February 2007 I wrote of the current coups potential crippling effect on Fijis tourist dependent economy. ... More About: Flights
Sleeping Van Law Step Closer
2008-01-21 00:33:00 The issue of freedom camping in vans that are not equipped with toilet facilities could likely result in laws prohibiting this popular form of touring.Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Clive Geddes has once again warned tourists van operators that a district ban may be enforced. Roadside waste such as toilet paper, sanitary products and faeces is a ... More About: Sleeping , Step , Closer
NZ Greenstone
2008-01-13 07:12:00 Also known by its Maori name ?Pounamu? or its gemmological term ?New Zealand Jade?, Greenstone is very similar to jade and is used for making adornments and jewellery. Pounamu is only found in the South Island with the main deposits located around the Taramakau district and Arahura rivers in Westland, coastal south Westland and the ...
Fiji Island for Sale
2007-12-20 02:55:00 Less than 10% of land in Fiji is available freehold resulting in high prices for freehold islands that seldom come up for sale. Since the latest coup premium properties have hit the market frequently.The suspension of issuing new titles to foreigners at the start of the coup has frighten purchases away. Although this suspension was ... More About: For Sale , Sale , Island
NZ Gold Fossicking
2007-12-15 01:43:00 Most inbound travellers to NZ come here for the splendid beauty of our parks and many mountains rangers . Most tourist utilise New Zealand?s many day walks or longer treks like the famed Milford, Routeburn, Copland and Albel Tasman to mention but a small few. However most who venture into this natural environ are unaware ... More About: Gold
New Zealand Christmas Alcohol Ban
2007-12-11 06:06:00 Many holiday resort towns in New Zealand impose a liquor ban in public places over the busy Christmas new year period. These NZ bylaws make it an offence to bring liquor into, possess liquor in, or consume liquor in any prescribed areas. These areas are usually notified by signage and public notices in local news papers. ... More About: Alcohol
Only in America
2007-12-06 23:23:00 An irate America n guest staying at the Hermitage Hotel in Mount Cook National Park rang reception to complain about her in room microwave oven. The guest stated that she was not able to retrieve her pizza from the oven. When staff attended the guest room they discovered that the pizza was in fact placed in the room ...
New Zealand Sandfly Plague
2007-11-20 03:13:00 Something you aren?t told about in the travel brochures? sandflies. The West Coast of the South Island and in particular the lower half of the island are plagued with these biting little pests all summer long. They are found in large cloud like quantities along river, lakes and beaches. Their bite causes a small mosquitoes like ... More About: New Zealand , Zealand
NZ ranked 5th for car theft
2007-11-12 04:24:00 New Zealand has the dubious honour of 5th in the world for car theft and burglary from cars per head of population. Further more this type of crime is on the rise and in some areas over twenty percent increases have been reported. Many theft from vehicles go unreported so this figure can be regarded ... More About: Theft
Hike Safely, use a distress beacon
2007-11-12 03:56:00 Hikers, trampers and fishermen/women visiting New Zealand?s national parks are encouraged to take with them a vital piece of equipment that is proving a life saver for many lost or injured visitors to these remote areas.The personal EPIRB (Emergency position indicating radio beacons) distress beacon is readily available for purchase or hire from as little ... More About: Hike , Beacon
Earthquake hits South Island
2007-10-17 23:09:00 An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale and located 60 km west of Milford Sound has closed the only road to this popular tourist destination for the second day running. Department of Conservation Staff say that the quake together with the recent 1.5m of snow have made avalanche risk on the highway an unacceptable ... More About: Earthquake , Island , South , Hits
Martial Law Reinstated in Fiji ??.again
2007-09-11 01:13:00 I receive regular emails from travellers heading to New Zealand with planned stop overs in Fiji . These emails ask advice from the NZ perspective of the safety for tourist travelling to Fiji. Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, reinstituted martial law last week. The new regulations gives his soldiers the right to kill without criminal sanction. In response many ... More About: Martial Law , Martial
Fourth Airline for NZ Domestic ?
2007-09-11 00:44:00 Qantas has announced that it budget subsidiary Jet Star remains committed to starting a New Zealand domestic airline. This is not surprising given the arrival into New Zealand of Qantas?s major competitor in Australia, Virgin Blue. As previously posted, Virgin Blue will fly domestically under its Pacific Blue banner later this year. The announcement leaves industry analysts ... More About: Domestic , Airline , Dome
New NZ Domestic Airline
2007-08-29 07:18:00 Australians Virgin Blue will be entering the New Zealand domestic market under it Pacific Blue label. Air New Zealand?s initial reaction to the new discount carrier was the offering of heavily reduced fares based on internet only sales.The introduction of competition to New Zealand?s main trunk routes is welcomed by the tourist sector who have ... More About: Domestic , Airline , Dome
New Zealand Avalanche Season
2007-08-16 01:35:00 The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council has issued a warning to back-country skiers and snowboarders in the South Islands Otago and Queenstown Lakes district. Due to a high avalanche danger, skiers and boarders are warned to stick to the main ski areas. Heli-skiing, a popular tourist activity at this time of the year, posses a even ... More About: Season , Avalanche , Seas
Pot Holes Plague Roads
2007-08-07 01:00:00 The recent freezing conditions experienced in the South Island and central North Island has left large sections of our state highways riddled with large pot holes and a general deterioration of road surfaces. Pot holes are formed extremely quickly. They are formed by cracks in the road allowing water to seep into and under the road ... More About: Holes , Roads
NZ Ski Report
More articles from this author:2007-08-01 05:24:00 With the metres of snow falling on Australian ski fields and the scant amount that has been received in New Zealand, Australian skiers are staying home. Ski towns are reporting a very average season with Australians notably absent. Accommodation suppliers are claiming below average occupancy rates which could be due in part to the high value ... More About: Report 1, 2, 3 |
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