Best time for New Zealand vacation...have you seen the fares

[sf_firestarter]

Found out a few minutes ago that round trip fares on Quantus are now sub $700 total cost from San Francisco. Nothing stopping me from going. When is the best time to be there for surf and sun? I've got to book by Friday for fares.

Thanks

[Mike Fernandez]

Life is soooo unfair!

[SFKneelo]

SF... how about the World's?

It's their Fall: nice weather, good surf, water's not too bad at all...

[HOOPER]

Nows good good weather good waves

[ross]

Hey SF,
I just laid down some coin on flights in the opposite direction with Qantas(a380, yewww!) for about the same amount! My travel agent roared laughing when he told me the price cause i just said "FAAAAAARK!".
I had to ring him back 20 minutes later just to make sure i'd heard correctly

As for NZ anytime from now till end of august is our Autumn/Winter. Which like most places is the swell season. If you take camping gear there are loads of opportunity to camp for free around the place, even cheaper !

In the dead of winter, its also worth checking the coastline opposing the area that the worlds are going to be. lots of reef breaks and minimal people to share it with. Plenty sharky though .

I lived over there, for a period of time (in Raglan) and hitch hicked south from the Coromandel peninsular, sailed from Wellington to Christchurch and finished hitching all the way down to Stewart Island. Had some funny times over there

Good luck with the tickets!!

[Howard Lorney]

Any time any one comes over and is looking for accommodation in the Bay Of Plenty region, just PM me. We normally have a spare room available. Dont live on the beach but only a ten minute drive and I'm normally on for a surf .

[Bintang Bob]

what Howard said.... sept we're on the east cape, 3 minutes walk from the Gizzy Pipeline....

[mutiny]

Does anyone know if its more economical to exchange the US dollar to New Zealand dollar in The USA or at a bank in New Zealand?
I know the exchange rate fluctuates but is there anywhere that does not charge a fee for exchange?

Ross that trip of yours to NZ sounded great! Theres sharks in NZ?

[stemple]

Just use your visa and the exchange rate is automatic and usually the standard rate. You can also use your bank card if it has a 4 number pin to withdraw from local atm machines. Worked like a charm even in small Peruvian towns.

[sf_firestarter]

So the seasons are as follows:

Spring - September, October, November
Summer - December, January, February
Autumn - March, April, May
Winter - June, July, August

and from what everybody said now through August is the best surf. I can't make the worlds but think I may be able to do May. Not to keen on being there middle of winter and freezing my ass off...I get to do that here already.

[sf_firestarter]

looks like my trip is going to have to wait. I f----d my shoulder up really good hitting the bottom. Doctor says nothing for at least 6 weeks unless I want to go in for surgery.

I couldn't handle going and not being able to surf and just have to sit on the beach.

This blows!

[tom nova]

We have got all our fares and stuff, but our board bags our stuffed up and we need new ones.. Does any know where you can get them?????

If you do send me an e-mail

Regards Tom

[CONTIKI]

Strong quake hits near major New Zealand city
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FULL STORY »
A powerful earthquake that struck New Zealand on Saturday caused "a lot of damage," though there are no reports of serious injuries or major damage, an emergency... FULL STORY
2 HOURS AGO | 93 comments

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/0 ... ml?npt=NP1

[randiego]

They're $700 because it's farking Winter down there - great for waves, not so much for beach weather (depending on where you are of course).

Right now Qantas R/T from SF/LAX --> Melbourne for the Worlds are $1180 US. Not bad, not great.

[rooster]

Randy,

What airline are you flying over here on.