The missus and me have been thinking of going to NZ for 4 weeks this Autumn. But we can't help thinking its gonna be very similar to whats on our doorstep in Scotland.
Do we need convincing ? I mean, it looks a stunning place... but then so are the Highlands.
Go.
It is not like scotland, bits might be, but there is far more to it than that.
There are others on here who live there and might be able to give better advice, but it is a massively diverse country. It is old fashioned in many ways, distances are greater because there are no motorways, no real rail network either as i seem to remember.
You have huge beaches, mangrove swamps, glaciers, etc. You also have Auckland, so it is not all countryside.
But we can't help thinking its gonna be very similar to whats on our doorstep in Scotland.
You have Hobbits in Scotland?
it's like Scotland on steroids !!
seriously, if you like the outdoors there really can't be many places better, MTBing, walking, serious mountains, amazing coastlines, fantastic sea and river kayaking, a very welcoming you-can-do-what-you-like-but-be-responsible-for-yourself attitude
If you like the highlands you'll love it.
Bizarrely when in smaller towns it's a great place for breakfasts and lunch but not so great for evening meals, they all go to bed at 10am in the sticks to prepare for a hard day ahead having fun
the biggest difference between the south island of New Zealand, and Scotland, is the advertising budget.
Yes, NZ has the southern Alps, and Otago, but most of the South Island looks quite a lot like Dumfriesshire.
our Autumn = their spring, it'll be beautiful.
and chuffing cold.
(i never made it to the North Island - i can't comment)
There are good vineyards in Scotland?
we went in mid-Oct to mid-Nov and the weather was pretty good for the whole month. It was cold at altitude on both islands but you even get that in Scotland believe it or not. Overall it was a lot like the UK weather this week
the biggest difference between the south island of New Zealand, and Scotland, is the advertising budget.
- you missed the 3000m peaks, glaciers, fjords, penguins, some truly wild landscapes, nice pubs, lots of nice places to eat, the list goes on
i'm not suggesting they're the same, but they're pretty bloody similar.
i don't think it's fair to claim that NZ is defined by 3000m peaks and glaciers and whotnot...
mind you, if you're only going for 4ish weeks, then there's no reason for you to leave the parts that look like middle earth...
Dumfriesshire my arse, did you get lost driving around ?
lots of times! - it was ace!
🙂
Dumfriesshire too, a truly beautiful place.
Used to live in Kia Ora by Oamaru, South Island.. Go you won't be disasapointed its a lovely place with equally lovely people.
Get out in the sticks it's pretty lawless if you want it to be, anything goes and does, i had a ball.
Don't expect any glamour, NZ doesn't do it.
They speak funny and live about 40 years behind UK 😉
The sheer magnitude of the landscapes is the major difference
the cops are pretty vigilant when it comes to speeding, be careful not to get caught even out inthe middle of nowhere
oh and okay Dumfriesshire is actually really nice too
8)
GO. There's been a few threads on here about what to do, where to stay done if you want to search. In 4 weeks you could either do a fairly unhurried tour of South Island or see the best bits of both.
The Southern Alps and lakes are amazing (and unlike anything I've ever seen in Dumfriesshire, which is great, but not quite the same).
I went there at Christmas/ New Year
amazing place - it's like the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the Highlands all rolled into one, but bigger and with bits of rain forest, white sandy secluded beaches and fjords thrown in
plan where you want to go, and some checkpoints but leave yourself some flexibility in your schedule
it's only 24 hours on the plane - I even enjoyed the flights! 😀
I was gonna post my thoughts but Brakes are identical to mine. Second favourite place I have ever been after a safari in Kenya.
that's next on my list!
Dumfries vs NZ?
I'd go to Dumfries for the vineyards, locals obsessed with boat owning, glacier trekking, volcanoes, tremors underfoot as you walk up mountains, sea kyaking in sunshine, nice locals, free camping, near some Pacific Islands for a change,... I could go on. Or have I compared them the wrong way round?
I've been to lots of parts of the world and NZ is one of my favourites. Just a long way to get there.
We hired a campervan for 6 weeks and a car for 2 weeks IIRC on our RTW trip and had a truly great time! We did get robbed when in Christchurch though (non valuables like swim suits, shoes etc which was a real shocker: like anywhere be careful with your stuff).
Dumfries is ok too - and has Kirroughtree!
