Pre-Holiday to New Zealand and Australia

Oh hey diary, i'm back. Okay, hopefully the update will be complete, no promises though. i don't usually write/ update about my trips, but i'll make an exception for this, cause i'm just free this week. For my friends and readers who don't mind some reference or whatsoever.

So here it is, New Zealand is one of my dream country, check off my bucket list! Will i be back? Yes, definitely. Before the trip, I did a lot of research on the following aspects.

• When

Spring (Sept - Nov)
Summer (Dec - Feb) : peak season, accommodation will probably cost more
Autumn/ Fall (Mar - May)
Winter (Jun - Aug)

When is the best time to travel? It all depends on what you're planning to do. Spring it is for me as i experienced summer all day all month all year All My Life. And i do not like carrying bulky clothes with me, i love light luggage, so Winter is also a no-no for me. My free timing is just right for Spring. I visited in early Spring, which means a mixture of Winter and Spring and very lil flower blossom.

• Where

North and South Island

North Island - Do you love high-rise, city, learn about the native, Maori cultures, etc.

South Island - Do you prefer scenery, mountain, lake, adventures, etc. I love South Island!

I'm looking for amazingly beautiful landscape, quiet, peaceful environment whereby i'm living in the city for all my life, I believe everyone loves the feeling of fresh, of something new. Have not come across any honk in South Island. whereas it's totally opposite in Auckland, North Island. 

• Duration

Not much comment on this, but of course the longer, the better. In my case, as my boyfriend is working and it just doesn't feel too good to be away from work for long. My trip was 7 days in NZ exclude the flights, covers both North and South Islands. pretty much tight schedule which means no slagging, no dragging, no wasting time. will definitely be back to cover as much places.

• How

What about the transportation. Drive, bus, tour. My first option was to rent a car and drive around, and it's definitely my boyfriend driving and me giving navigation or sleeping or looking out the window. and then, i feel pity to him as driving requires a lot of energy. Working is tiring enough, does he has to be tired in holidays as well?

Anyway, the cost of car rental including insurance and petrol is reasonable and affordable. It depends on your rental period. Say, you're renting for weeks, it can be NZD 50 or less per day. Renting a campervan is even better, to save on your accommodation, and some campervan is equipped with kitchen, as in everything, convenient much. Campervan can only be parked at certain areas at night.

We rent Camry just for a day in Queenstown, it's NZD 76/day includes the basic insurance excess of NZD 2000 and around NZD 14 for GPS (just in case we need it, it's better to be safe than sorry). So, you see how it's quite affordable, and even better when you have four to five persons to share the cost.

• Cost

and of course, money! I was planning for free and easy all by ourselves, later on boyfriend's parents going as well, so we just booked a tour, and me being QS, worked out the cost based on the flights and accommodation we staying, the tour is pretty much worth it! I went New Zealand and Melbourne. so, i will just roughly work it out on the flight tickets and hotel (not the exact price i paid for, but the cost is around there), the most basic cost. 

1. Flight tickets - RM 4,830
Kota Kinabalu to Melbourne (round trip) : Royal Brunei - RM 2,800

Melbourne to Christchurch (one way) : Air New Zealand - RM 1,300

Queenstown to Auckland (one way) : Jetstar - RM 370
Auckland to Melbourne (one way) : Jetstar - RM 360

It will be much cheaper if you book earlier or during sales, and there's many alternatives as well, so do your homework. :)

2. Accommodation - USD 539 includes breakfast; RM 2,200

New Zealand - 7d6n
i. Ashburton : Hotel Ashburton (1 night) - USD 75/room
ii. Twizel : Mountain Chalet Motel (1 night) - USD 85/room
iii. Queenstown : Aspen Hotel Queenstown (2 nights) - USD 81/room x 2 nights

iv. Auckland : Ascotia Off Queen (2 nights) - USD 93/room x 2 nights
Melbourne - 3d2n
v. Melbourne : Ibis Styles Melbourne (2 nights) - USD 110/room x 2 nights

The above prices exclude breakfast, including breakfast is an additional of approximately USD 10-20 per pax. Say USD 15.

Total : USD 838, share by 2 pax, USD 419 per pax (exclude breakfast); USD 539 per pax (include breakfast)

3. Total Flight tickets and Accommodation : RM 7,030 based on the calculation above and good but not luxury accommodation

Of course you can save more. the backpackers lodge are pretty much affordable. You pay for what you get. Kind of spotted YHA International, like everywhere, it has so many branches.

If you're looking for backpacking, it's best not to look at my flight tickets and accommodation.


Alright, so that's quite about the aspects i'm looking at before planning for travel. but end up i'm not planning for everyday so yeah.

Till then, next post will be photos and more photos. :)