Has Anyone Ever Been to New Zealand?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/10/08 at 12:25pm

I know this post is totally random, but I am thinking of studying abroad there next semester. Has anyone been, specifically Auckland? How is it, what would you recommend doing, etc. Thanks!

[Liverpool]

Posted: 1/10/08 at 12:50pm

Umm i went, about 10-11 years ago, so my memory is pretty vague (plus i wasn't there for very long) but if you can check out a maori area that's pretty interesting. that's really outside of auckland though Auckland itself, as i remember is a pretty normal city. they have some touristy things (a tower, space needle like). But yeah, we didn't do a ton there most of our time was spent outside the city.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 1/10/08 at 12:52pm

My question is where is old Zealand?

EDIT: Zealand is the largest island in Denmark.

Updated On: 1/10/08 at 12:52 PM

[Tom1071]

Posted: 1/10/08 at 12:54pm

I hear there are no snakes there.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 7:45pm

I went there on a family trip in January 2005. I LOVED IT. We stayed in Auckland for 3 days before getting on the cruise ship.

NZ is just different enough to be exciting, but just familiar enough to be comfortable.

Be sure to go to the Sky Tower. You don't have to do the bungee jump, but it's fun to just look out at the view.

http://www.skycityauckland.co.nz/skycity/auckland/sky-tower/sky-tower_home.cfm

Updated On: 1/11/08 at 07:45 PM

[scott68]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 7:51pm

New Zealand is without a doubt the most gorgeous place I have ever been, or really even seen in pictures. The entire country looks like it's been put through Photoshop to have the colors brightened up.

I spent most of my time there in Rotorua and smaller towns, but the day or so I spent in Auckland was very pleasant. If you get a chance to visit the Agrodome, absolutely do. It's like Disneyland... except with sheep. Oh, and they do bungee jumping there too, just for the hell of it. Odd in the best way.

[wexy]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:14pm

Agree with Scott, New Zealand it has fjords, glaciers, hot springs with mud..
Auckland is a nice city. It was a while that I went. Saw some theater,just missed the Rolling Stones.
Went to Mount Cook and Queenstown. One of the young women who posts here is from New Zealand maybe she'll pop in.

Updated On: 1/11/08 at 08:14 PM

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 1/11/08 at 8:28pm

I went to New Zealand for a week in November and it was amazing. I spent three days in Queenstown and went bungy jumping there. Then I made my way to the North Island and did a Kiwi Experience tour to Rotorua and some other small town--I can't for the life of me remember what it was called and then ended up in Auckland. I remember this adorable little park that I walked to near the university and of course the Sky Tower. I loved the South Island a lot more just because it is much prettier (at least I thought so) but overall I loved NZ.

[Urban]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 12:37am

<>son_of_a_gun_25 - New Zealand is actually named after the southern Dutch provence of Zeeland, not the island in Denmark.

Anyhoo. I have been to New Zealand but it was a three hour stop over on a flight from Brisbane to LA, so I wouldn't really count it. It was at the height of the LoTRs mania though and the airport gift shops where full of that crap.

I did get to watch back-to-back episodes of "Sabrina The Teenage Witch" on the airport tele though!

[wickedfiyeroofoz]

Posted: 1/13/08 at 1:36am

I'm moving to New Zealand in 32 Days! I'm doing my full degree at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch (South Island). I can't wait!

[WOSQ]

Posted: 1/14/08 at 10:20am

I have not been yet.

But I will be staying for 6 days in and around Christchurch Feb 23-29.

In my reading I have determined that NZ is worth a long stay of its own instead of a side trip from Oz. This sounds like a terrific place to travel in depth.

Next time it will be 3 weeks in NZ and a week in Oz instrad of the other way around.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/14/08 at 10:22am

Everyone I know who's been there has fallen deeply in love it.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 6:17pm

Sorry to bump this up now, but thanks for your replies everyone!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 9:01pm

actually we have one or two BWW members from NZ, I do believe

[nztheatreluva]

Posted: 1/16/08 at 12:50am

Well yes in fact I've spent every day except for 5 months of my life in Auckland. I would say, as a city it's not particularly exciting, although it's pretty, but the rest of new Zealand is great. I would say go for a road trip around New Zealand if you want to get the best of it(I know that might sound crazy but you can drive all around the country in a few weeks). Also come in our summer(which is now) because that's when you'll get the best of Auckland, especially if you want to visit the beach. If you're more interested in skiing or something, come later on in the year

Obsessedjb-I think the park you are talking about is Albert Park - with the flower clock in?

If you wanna know anything else, just ask!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 1/16/08 at 12:46pm

nz, she/he will be coming for school, so....doubt he/she will have three weeks to drive around, or be able to select when they come.
Either way Millie, it's the experience of a lifetime, "just do it"........no reason to even think about it!