Going Down Undah

[mauied1101]

Sweeeeeeeet.... though we weren't planning on getting a car. Need it? (a lot of the places you're mentioning seem a bit out). We were thinking of staying in Sydney and doing the local sites, etc. Taking a guided wine tour of Hunter Valley on one of the days - which is our jaunt out of the city.

Any thoughts on unbeatened paths and food? Both fine dining as well as authentic/local food. Wife said y'all have great sushi.

Thanks again for your help!

[rsanz]

Hi Mauied, where in the North Island are you going?

If you're just up in Auckland there's not too much I can suggest. Some great clubs and restaurants down the waterfront.

There's this shop I stumbled across the last time I was up in Auckland (I'm sure there are a couple of others too) http://sites.yellow.co.nz/site/havanahouse/

It's a B&M, but not a B&M as you know them (there's no onsite smoking - actually there's an almost total nationwide smoking ban) . And be prepared for sticker shock - if not buying duty free.

Further south there's the touristy Rotorua where they'll set you up for tours of bubbling hot mud pools, hot springs and Maori culture shows.

There's bungy jumping all over the place, traditional and the 'vertical' type.

Not many tourists venture out of the Auckland area unless it's to go to Queenstown (in the South Island), but if you're heading down to the lower North Island I've got a few more things of note you may be interested in. Let me know.

I'm in Wellington (aka Wellywood) if you make it this far down.

Just in case you haven't checked it out hae a look here... http://www.newzealand.com/travel/International/

Enjoy your stay.

Cheers

[mauied1101]

Hi Mauied, where in the North Island are you going?

Further south there's the touristy Rotorua where they'll set you up for tours of bubbling hot mud pools, hot springs and Maori culture shows.

Not many tourists venture out of the Auckland area unless it's to go to Queenstown (in the South Island), but if you're heading down to the lower North Island I've got a few more things of note you may be interested in. Let me know.

I'm in Wellington (aka Wellywood) if you make it this far down.

Just in case you haven't checked it out hae a look here... http://www.newzealand.com/travel/International/

Enjoy your stay.

Cheers

Thanks Rsanz - our plans for the North Island are going to the Matakana area and the surrounding wine valley - heard there is a Matakana in May festival. Will be going to Ransom, Acension, Hyperion, and a couple other wineries. Then we are actually driving down to Rotorua to see the Orakei Korako Geyserland, followed by a drive to Waitomo (worm caves). Looks like you're pretty south - I don't think we're gonna be able to make it that far down.

I have heard that the South Island is absolutely gorgeous.

[HersheyWalker]

Surf Bell's Beach!

Or if you are aquatically challenged, hang out on the beach and you might see a nude sunbather or two!



Aussie girls are either fat or super hot. And the hot ones are an amazing breed...

[rsanz]

Thanks Rsanz - our plans for the North Island are going to the Matakana area and the surrounding wine valley - heard there is a Matakana in May festival. Will be going to Ransom, Acension, Hyperion, and a couple other wineries. Then we are actually driving down to Rotorua to see the Orakei Korako Geyserland, followed by a drive to Waitomo (worm caves). Looks like you're pretty south - I don't think we're gonna be able to make it that far down.

I have heard that the South Island is absolutely gorgeous.

It sounds like you've got it all sorted. I'm sure you're going to have a geat time. Remember you can bring in up to 50 cigars duty free, and you should be able to pick up some i s o ms at the border (though the selection at the airport duty free stores usually isn't very good).

Yea, most of the spectacular picture postcard stuff is way down south (the nice bits of Middle Earth). I don't get down there often enough.

Have agreat time, drive on the left side of the road and stay safe

[rsanz]

So Mauied, how was your Australasian adventure?

[mauied1101]

I'm baaaaaaaack!

Trip was great - got to meet LeoVJS in a suburb of Sydney, enjoy a smoke and a meal. In a nut shell, held my koala, ate a 'roo steak, petted a kangaroo, snorkeled the great barrier reef, hopped on a bus-on-wheels-worse-than-southwest flight from Virgin Blue (they make you pay for water), went wine tasting in the Warkworth/Auckland area, down to Rotorua, and back to Hawaii for R&R before coming back to a bad reality check.

Wife calls it her favorite vacation ever. I'm not quite as fond of some of the more al-dente moments like staying in a cabin in a rainforest with an open bathroom/shower facing the rainforest, and watching a snake watch me back about 5 feet away.

All and all, great trip. And I'm back, and in need of another one.

And as a funny side bar, I got so used to driving on the right side of the car with my wiper and turn signal controls backwards, I made an idiot of myself trying to do the turn signals in hawaii.

[Cabaiguan Juan]

Man, that sounds like a great trip, even from the truncated version. Did you go to NZ at all, or did i miss that? BTW, you have a PM. Oh, and when are you going to post pictures?

[LeojVS]

Sweeeeeeeet.... though we weren't planning on getting a car. Need it? (a lot of the places you're mentioning seem a bit out). We were thinking of staying in Sydney and doing the local sites, etc. Taking a guided wine tour of Hunter Valley on one of the days - which is our jaunt out of the city.

Any thoughts on unbeatened paths and food? Both fine dining as well as authentic/local food. Wife said y'all have great sushi.

Thanks again for your help!

mate, if you are doing the local scene, no car required. Outside the city, it depends where you go. You will have to let me know where you are going. Trains can get you most places, then there is busses, and Taxis. Taxis are white here too. Unbeaten paths, car is a great idea, unless its a tour with a company. Hunter Valley GOLD! I dont get to the city much, but yeah, the food is great in the city. Never had sushi in the city though. Will have to give it a go...

[JokerZ]

The skyrail is in Kuranda, so if its open and you have the time to get to it, its 100% worth checking out.

LeojVS mentioned the harbour bridge climb, its a bit pricey, but you really should do it if you can. Its not a particularily difficult climb so you should be ok with it. Do it just to say you've done it!

Sydney has an awesome mix of food from all over the world. To be honest I'd steer clear of eating roo and the like. Its ok but its never going to be as good as you'll get out in the bush for example at Ayers Rock (Uluru). The one restaurant a lot of people want to go to is Doyles. Supposed to be some great seafood there, so good to look at.

You can also take the ferry to Manly beach for the day from Sydney. Its a nice ride and there are plenty of 'touristy' type things to do. Plus you get a chance to get out on the harbour which is also really nice.