[Jignesh]

Originally Posted by rahulsharma2008

I just explored the Changi Airport in my layover of 6 hours.

Hello Rahul,

Congrats on your marriage & a wonderful three week honeymoon in New Zealand.

The pictures are absolutely brilliant to say the least & though fir the first time, you are surely clicking great pictures with your new DSLR camera.

Regarding your layover of 6 hours at Singapore Airport - the Airport (Singapore Tourism) organises 3 / 4 hours guided tours in Singapore for the passengers who are waiting for there next flight. The service is absolutely free & they just take your passport at start of journey & return it back at the Airport. Next time do avail this facility.

Thanks,

[rahulsharma2008]

Originally Posted by Judemayne

Dear Rahul,

Thank you for a pictorial delight of NZ-your narrative is spot on too. A little details of the cost of all-hiring of cars, the various places stayed at and the activities. Reason -can it be fitted into a budget?? If its possible please do intimate.

Jude

Dear Judemayne,

I am glad that you liked my travelogue. Being a newbie on TeamBHP.com, I am touched by the overwhelming response of so many BHPians. Thank you all for rating this thread so highly.

The most expensive part of NZ is the flight in which we cant cut any corners and secondly the adventure activities. Since these activities are indeed a unique and offer best experiences, I would say it is fair on the part of Kiwis to charge a premium for them. I had chosen Singapore Airlines and that costed me Rs. 1.20 Lakhs for a couple (I had booked well in advance). Domestic flight from Rotorua to Queenstown costed me INR 30k. I could have saved 2/3rd of this money if I had taken that flight from Auckland rather than Rotorua. I had booked my cars through Europcar and Apex Car Rental. The Sedan costed me about INR 4000 per day (Europcar) and SUV costed me about INR 6000 per day (Apex) all inclusive of insurance.

Accommodation on an average was around INR 12,000/Night for a couple (with breakfast) whereas food expenses turned out to be INR 2k per meal for a couple. You can save a major chunk of money by opting to stay in B&B's which are actually pretty good and luxurious too.

NZ can surely be fitted into a budget although you wont be able to do all the activities.

Kiwi Trip was an investment for me and the return that I got was some of the most beautiful memories and experiences I have ever had in my life.

[rahulsharma2008]

Originally Posted by Jignesh

Hello Rahul,

Congrats on your marriage & a wonderful three week honeymoon in New Zealand.

The pictures are absolutely brilliant to say the least & though fir the first time, you are surely clicking great pictures with your new DSLR camera.

Regarding your layover of 6 hours at Singapore Airport - the Airport (Singapore Tourism) organises 3 / 4 hours guided tours in Singapore for the passengers who are waiting for there next flight. The service is absolutely free & they just take your passport at start of journey & return it back at the Airport. Next time do avail this facility.

Thanks,

Thank you Jignesh for those words and really appreciate your suggestion. When I had gone I didnt have any idea about this facility and ended spending the time at the Airport itself. My better half liked the shopping at the airport though

The Nikon D3100 is a lovely piece of hardware and even with the stock 18-55mm lens clicks some decent pictures. Really motivated to click more pictures.

Soon after my Kiwi Trip, I ended up touring South East Asia and found Singapore to be the best place to be in. South-East Travelogue coming soon

[voyageur]

Originally Posted by rahulsharma2008

Driving License – Check (I had converted my license to smart card type especially for this trip)

Hey Rahul,

Nice to hear about the NZ trip. Heard from a lot of friends that NZ is a paradise to visit.

About the license, Do you mean the normal card type which we get or should it be converted to any other form ?

Also I would like to know about the expenses incurred in your stay and fun activities item wise ( I didnt see any figures in the quick glance any where above), so that I can also plan for it some day.

Was the Visa process hectic ?

[rahulsharma2008]

Pictoral Part II

Almost broke my back clicking this one


Queens Street - A shopper's delight in Auckland


I am proud to see you in this part of the world


Beauty awakens the soul to the act


At Kelly Tartlon's, Auckland


Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder


Camouflage at its best!


Found Nemo!


Enroute Rotorua from Auckland


Rare divided rural roads


I wish we had this culture in India


There's no better feeling in the world than a warm pizza box on your lap.


Cute little lambs at Rotorua Farm Tour


And a few Ducks


This one seemed to be older than everyone around


What's up?


Ah! I have patted the most ferocious of dogs but this was going to be something different


The Lion Cub


Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife Park


Rotorua Rain Forest


Be like duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath.


Wallabies


Mr. Donkey (a rare find in NZ)


If you are a bird, I am a bird.


At the Maori Hangi


Traditional Maori Performance


An achievement in ink & paper


Thank you Lake for quenching my thirst


The Koreans surely know how to design their cars


God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand. - The National Anthem

[rahulsharma2008]

Dear Mods,

Can you please mention in the name of this thread that there are more pictures loaded on page 2?

Eg: "100% Pure New Zealand (Pictoral II & III on page 2)"


Thanks in advance

Originally Posted by voyageur

Hey Rahul,

About the license, Do you mean the normal card type which we get or should it be converted to any other form ?

Also I would like to know about the expenses incurred in your stay and fun activities item wise ( I didnt see any figures in the quick glance any where above), so that I can also plan for it some day.

Was the Visa process hectic ?

Yes the normal card type license is perfectly valid in NZ. They just want it to be in English.

I stayed in 4 and 4.5 star hotels in most of the places and the average expense of stay per night worked out to be INR 12k/Night. International Return Flight costed me about Rs. 1.20lakhs for two persons. In addition to this I had taken a domestic flight from Rotorua to Queenstown which costed me about Rs. 30k for two people. (Already quoted earlier)

For detailed costing of activities you can go on this link: http://www.viator.com/South-Island/d129-ttd

I hope this helps.

[voyageur]

Originally Posted by rahulsharma2008

Yes the normal card type license is perfectly valid in NZ. They just want it to be in English.

I stayed in 4 and 4.5 star hotels in most of the places and the average expense of stay per night worked out to be INR 12k/Night. International Return Flight costed me about Rs. 1.20lakhs for two persons. In addition to this I had taken a domestic flight from Rotorua to Queenstown which costed me about Rs. 30k for two people. (Already quoted earlier)

For detailed costing of activities you can go on this link: http://www.viator.com/South-Island/d129-ttd

I hope this helps.

This helps mate , thanks.

For me I think it will work out cheaper.


Cheers

[rahulsharma2008]

Pictoral III


Estuary



Vitamin M



The average dog is nicer than the average person.



That's the reason why they buy Pick-up trucks



Who needs a mirror in NZ when you can have lakes like that.



Beautiful Bee



Left Hand Drive.... Err..... Fly



Narrower than a Nano



Parking Attendant




It is not only fine feathers that makes fine birds



Banks of Lake Wakatipu




LOOK BACK
Laugh. Cry. Remember.



Aerial View of Franz Josef Glacier



Making Way for the newly wed couple



There is always something beautiful outside.



When I look at you, I know that you are as smart as I am.



Flippin Awesome!



Kaikoura Whale Watch Tour



Life is so much more, than what we've been told.
(Photo credit: Steve)

[LoneWolf9]

Beautiful Travelogue.

Can you please post more pictures of the whale watch tour and the ride for the same?

[treadmark]

Congratulations on your marriage and all the best wishes on this new phase of life. This trip is more than perfect to start you journey called marriage.
Though you have mentioned you are a novice in photography but none of your pictures made me feel so.

[rahulsharma2008]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf9

Beautiful Travelogue.

Can you please post more pictures of the whale watch tour and the ride for the same?

Thank you LoneWolf. I had fallen sea-sick that day hence didnt click many from my SLR. Though I will upload a few soon.

[ramkya1]

Congratulations. Lovely photos and t-Log. I may be heading out to NZ this November, so this log is very useful to me.

Can you explain a little more on the Nomad 4x4 tour, do they drive or can you hire a self drive? I read that through the mining roads, rentals are not allowed anyway. Your experience? I think Nomad also hires out Quads.

--Ramky
=======

[bigwheelz]

Absolutely breathtaking pictures of New Zealand. Thanks for sharing Rahul.
Your point about looking at your trip as investment is a good point. Will always remember.

[rahulsharma2008]

Originally Posted by ramkya1

Congratulations. Lovely photos and t-Log. I may be heading out to NZ this November, so this log is very useful to me.

Can you explain a little more on the Nomad 4x4 tour, do they drive or can you hire a self drive? I read that through the mining roads, rentals are not allowed anyway. Your experience? I think Nomad also hires out Quads.

--Ramky
=======

Thank you ramkya1. I had chosen the Skippers Canyon Tour by Nomad Safaris. It was a proper 4WD Vehicle perhaps it was the Land Rover Defender that took us in the mountains (driven by our guide). You cannot take your own rental car over there since Insurance companies dont cover such adventures. Also the roads are not so safe for a self drive expedition. You can also hire out 400cc Quad bikes for the same.

You can find further information at http://www.nomadsafaris.co.nz/

As far as experience is concerned you can read the reviews on www.rankers.co.nz for you to decide on which option to take. For me the 4WD Tour was not really an adrenaline pumping activity and you can give that a miss. Quad bikes should be more fun since you yourself would be driving that.

Originally Posted by bigwheelz

Absolutely breathtaking pictures of New Zealand. Thanks for sharing Rahul.
Your point about looking at your trip as investment is a good point. Will always remember.

It always brings me a big smile whenever I share my travelogue with anyone. I really appreciate that

[vish_wagon]

NewZealand is certainly one of the most beautiful countries to drive across! And the pictures just mesmerize every time I gaze at.
Just a small question.
Any particular reason for changing cars going from the North to the South Island? Because we had got the car across the sea through a ferry, from Wellington to Picton; covering 7000 odd KMs in one speedo
And even I used Apex Car Rentals, was worth a service