Getting from Auckland to Christchurch?

[Jodie]

[quote:503aa5c910="netchicken"]Hitchhike.
Gotta be cheapest...
Leave some contact details here so that your next of kin can be identified :)[/b][/quote:503aa5c910]

:icon_lol:

Joking aside though, if you look through something like the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide to NZ, they reckon that hitch hiking is a valid way of getting round NZ, and even offer ideas of where to stand with your thumb out. (Or legs or whatever... :icon_lol: )

Don;t know if it's true tho - we never saw any hitch hikers on our travels of the North Island this time, or last time we were here, and the small number of cars that use the roads outside the main cites and towns, I don;t think I'd be confident of getting a ride...... Better take some strong walking boots if you're gonna do that - and maybe a concealed weapon..... :icon_biggrin:

Hey Dan-ster - where have you been? Good to see you again! :039:

Jod

[cUnDaLl]

Cheers for all your help,

This must be the best place for people who wish to travel to NZ to get all there info.... :icon_mrgreen:

I have found www.strait.co.nz or www.bluebridge.co.nz (same site) for the ferry crossing......... (Jodie your prices were spot on :icon_surprised: )

For car hire i have been looking at www.acerentals.co.nz as i just want the most basic though for the time i am there, does anyone know any other good car rental's? That are cheap?

Thanks again

Mark

[Jodie]

Try a search on www.searchnz.co.nz (might be www.searchnz.com - sorry, can't remember exactly...) - I've found it's brought up some good results when we were looking for local car rental places....

The other Cook Strait ferry service is the Interislander - try them for prices too.

Jodie

[dan-ish]

Hey Jodie,

It's good to be back! Unfortunately, I have moved and have limited access to the Internet, so can't post as regularly as I'd like. It should be sorted soon, though.

As for hitch-hiking, it is a viable option but can be very tiring, and although probably safer in NZ than most other countires, you still can't gaurantee your safety. Like-wise picking up hikers - although we did it once or twice and had no dramas.

Good luck with the journey.

Dan-ish :icon_razz:

[cUnDaLl]

Thanks for all your help again though it seems like i am about to book a car to get around for my 25 day trip. I am booking my car for just short of ?16 per day (2 of us = ?8) and this also includes the crossing via the ferry.

I was planning of staying mainly in Auckland and then go upto 60 mile beach? And then travel around the west coast until i get to Wellington and then accross to the south island and to chirstchurch...

Mark

[jamesthecarman]

I think I'm doing this:

$90 from Wellington to Christchurch on a combo of Ferry/Train

Rent a car down to Wellington and then hop on the Ferry. The ferry without a car is $50, and with a car about $125. The Ferry/Train is only $40 more than just you without a car, and no petrol to pay for if you hire another car.