For those sitting in the summer heat.

[awbuzz]

Twelve days in just NZ would be adequate. We are spending time in both NZ and OZ. Free air and half the car rental and hotels free made it possible to do a lot more

Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[Animal02]

Thanks for the confirmation.

The south island is much more scenic than the north. Auckland is just a big city. Queenstown is sort of like Vail....big ski scene in the winter. Christchurch....still a mess from the earthquake in 2010. Talked with a local... apparently insurance claims and guvmint red tape is slowing reconstruction.

 

[Whiskey_Clear]

Government red tape slowing things down??? Naaaahhhh!!!

 

[Animal02]

This is Christchurch Cathedral. It has sat like this for almost a decade. Apparently they just recently decided to restore it.

 

[Animal02]

Beach was not very crowded.

But then it was only 50° midday.
St Helens Tasmania.

 

[smathis30]

lucky duck. trying to go next year but them adding travel Visas in October is gonna make it slightly harder. Choosing between Machu Pichu (which also is limited now) and there

 

[Animal02]

lucky duck. trying to go next year but them adding travel Visas in October is gonna make it slightly harder. Choosing between Machu Pichu (which also is limited now) and there

I did Machu Picchu in 2003, before the limits. Stayed at the Sanctuary Lodge outside the gates. Watched the sun rise from the Temple of the Sun. It was an incredible experience.
We needed visas for Oz....but we got them online....not aware of what is changing

 

[Jim Prather]

lucky duck. trying to go next year but them adding travel Visas in October is gonna make it slightly harder. Choosing between Machu Pichu (which also is limited now) and there

Go do Machu Picchu now... At some point in the near future they are going to close the site to pedestrians -- you will only be able to see it from a distance... I was there 2 years ago, and they said that the weight of the tourists is causing the ground to settle and some of the walls are are in danger of falling over...
I don't think they will close New Zealand anytime soon.

 

[Supersizethatorder-mutt]

lucky duck. trying to go next year but them adding travel Visas in October is gonna make it slightly harder. Choosing between Machu Pichu (which also is limited now) and there

I wasn't aware that they were limiting access to Machu Pichu now. I went 7 or 8 years ago, but I was with a tour group, so we didn't actually stay in that area. It is definitely impressive. Lake Titicaca and the Peruvian Amazon are terrific too.

 

[smathis30]

I did Machu Picchu in 2003, before the limits. Stayed at the Sanctuary Lodge outside the gates. Watched the sun rise from the Temple of the Sun. It was an incredible experience.
We needed visas for Oz....but we got them online....not aware of what is changing

just adding more restrictions to Visas starting in October. Saw an article about it, might have been last year though if you already did it!

 

[smathis30]

Go do Machu Picchu now... At some point in the near future they are going to close the site to pedestrians -- you will only be able to see it from a distance... I was there 2 years ago, and they said that the weight of the tourists is causing the ground to settle and some of the walls are are in danger of falling over...
I don't think they will close New Zealand anytime soon.

yeah were planning on getting the visas January 2nd! Potentially the first depending on hangover