Nobody - Yeah I'd like a Māori welcoming ceremony (Pōwhiri ?). And we'll try to avoid the use of taiaha...
ArneHD: it'll be winter when we're travelling (Dec '07 & Jan '08).
Any advise on places to sleep? We're quiet fond of the Bed & Breakfast system. Is that possible in New Zealand?
And transportation? Is it 'best' to just hire a car and travel using that or is there a good system of public transport or something else ?
I get sick of powhiri's because all through school we had a million of the things, with school culture groups (kapahaka) dancing. Had them for everything, you cant open a out house in new zealand with consultation, a powhiri, and a free breakfast for marare leaders. But the ones put on for Tourists are cool.
There are bed and breakfast places in new zealand, but i cant advise any because i just stay at relatives houses when i go about. (or a tent on jamboree)
There are scenic trains that go up and down the islands, i dont know how the compare to the rest of the world and you do get to "see the country" but when i went on one from wellington to taupo i found it horribly boring, small and stuffy. But if you rent a car and drive yourself you could stop at any sights ya want to see yourself. Or maybe even some tourist bus thing if ya like that sort of thing.
heres a example, back in january i went up to auckland to watch the wwe with my. We could have flown up in 30 minutes, which is quick.
If we had gone by train it would have been a long ride and we would have been stuck with strangers
But we took the cheaper route, we drove up and got to stop in taupo to swim in the lake, and then drive through and see sights. (like the giant L&P bottle in paeroa:
and waitangi where i had been (Important treaty was signed here). Driving like a maniac we got to auckland alot faster than a train.