Mon amie et moi partons 3 semaines (à partir du 9 Avril) en NZ. Nous arrivons à Christchurch et repartons d'Auckland. Nous avons réservé un van pour voyager et se loger. Nous avons décidé de répartir notre temps de la façon suivante : 2/3 Ile Sud et 1/3 Ile Nord. Nous savons que c'est juste, mais nous voulons impérativement faire les deux iles.
Quelques questions :
- Quels sont les sites qui sont absolument à voir (nous sommes plutôt nature, rando, ... mais nous savons apprécier les milieux urbains)?
- Nous avons entendu parlé des "Greats Walks". La quelle faire sachant que nous ne pourrons y consacrer que 2 jours (3 max)?
- Nous avons entendu parler de différents "réseaux" de camping (histoire de recharger les batteries du van et prendre une douche) comme celui du DOC ou le BBH. Le quel conseillez vous?
Salut Paul,
Alors on imagine que je suis à ta place et que j’ai 3 semaines pour aller de Christchurch à Auckland en van… voilà quels seraient mes choix.
Je quitte au plus vite Christchurch et je vais digérer le décalage horaire dans la péninsule de Banks (via la summit road).
Ensuite je vais m’installer dans le camping du DOC situé au pied du Mt Cook (et au passage j’en profite pour faire une halte pique-nique au bord du lac Tekapo). Je précise que les campings du DOC sont très sommaires (pas d’électricité, pas de magasin, pas de douche…), mais situés en pleine nature dans des endroits magnifiques.
Après une journée passée auprès des glaciers, je fonce à Glenorchy avec comme objectif un morceau du Routeburn (aller-retour à Conical Hill = 8 heures de marche et un panorama magnifique sur le Fiordland N.P. avec vue jusqu’à la mer).
Remontée vers Wanaka et son lac grandiose. Deux marches de choix : Mt Roy (5 heures pour bénéficier d’une vue plongeante sur le lac), Rob Roy (3 heures pour atteindre un amphithéâtre de glaciers et de cascades avec la compagnie des Keas). Attention bien te renseigner auprès du DOC sur l’état de la route menant au Rob Roy (passages à gué).
Remontée de la West Coast avec quelques passages savoureux :
- Blue Pool de Makarora (30 minutes)
- Lac Matheson (2 heures de préférence en fin de journée)
- Fox Glacier (1 heure juste pour approcher la langue de glace)
- Punakaiki (2 heures au pays des pancakes)
- Cap Foulwind (2 heures en bord de mer pour voir des wekas et des phoques)
- Karamea (Oparara : plusieurs balades au cœur de la forêt, avec une rivière mystérieuses et des grottes à explorer)
- Karamea (Heaphy : un aller-retour sur cette Great Walk et ses magnifiques palmiers Nikau)
Une halte à St Arnaud pour profiter du magnifique point de vue sur le lac Rotoiti (les balades sont belles et nombreuses, mais ton temps est limité).
Je garderais en réserver 2 ou 3 jours pour Abel Tasman et la Golden Bay (en passant une ou deux nuits dans le camping du DOC de Totaranui). De magnifiques balades sur le coastal track d’Abel Tasman et la possibilité d’aller explorer l’extrême nord du sud : Cap Farewell & Spit Farewell.
Dernière étape sur l’île du Sud Picton et la possibilité de faire une journée sur le track de Queen Charlotte (par exemple Ship Cove – Furneaux Lodge avec transports en bateau, 5 heures de marche).
La belle traversée en ferry pour atteindre ma ville préférée de NZ : Wellington. S’il y a une ville qui mérite d’être un peu visitée à mon avis c’est celle-ci.
Mais le principal reste la nature et avec 1 semaine à disposition je foncerais dans la Tongariro N.P. pour faire la marche de Tongariro Crossing (incontournable !).
Une petite halte pour visiter Taupo : Huka Falls, balade le long de la Waikato River. Et deux magnifiques sites géothermiques : Orakei Korako et Waiotapu.
Beaucoup de différentes possibilités à Rotorua. Des attractions touristiques (soirée maori, attractions frissons, virée en bateau, etc.), mais aussi de magnifiques morceaux de nature : Redwood Forest, Taranaki Falls, les lacs, etc.
Pour rejoindre Auckland il y a l’option rapide via les grottes de Waitomo et l’option s’il te reste encore un peu de temps via Coromandel (Cathedral cove, hot water beach).
Et si à Auckland tu as une demi-journée à occuper, alors je te recommande une excursion sur l’île de Rangitoto.
Ouf, quel sprint 😉 Tu peux trouver des informations détaillées de chaque marche sur le site du DOC www.doc.govt.nz
Les campings tout confort sont les TOP 10 (http://www.top10.co.nz/ ) ou d’autres « marques » similaires (les BBH sont des backpackers, les campings du DOC c’est zéro confort, mais maxi plaisir).
Dans le parcours que je t’indique tu peux faire quelques pas sur 4 Great Walks (Routeburn, Heaphy, Abel Tasman, Tongariro). Bien entendu tu peux envisager une ou deux nuits et faire un plus long itinéraire pédestre (attention cependant car même en avril tu devras probablement réserver tes nuitées un peu à l’avance).
Flicitation Fantail pour cet exposé. Nous envisageons la NZ pour une balade en vélo ... et nous aurons tout notre temps (6 à 12 mois). Nous allons nous inspirer de tes suggestions pour se faire un itinéraire mais si tu as d'autres conseils, nous sommes preneurs. Merci encore
En avril, le temps devient tres automnal. Donc les randos, tu dois regarder les previsions du temps avant de te lancer. Il vaudra mieux choisir des randos basse altitude comme Queen Charlotte, Abel Tasman sur l'ile Sud. Possiblement Tongariro Northern Circuit sur l'ile Nord.
Il y a des tas d'excellents campings, pas specialement part d'un reseau.
Merci beaucoup d'avoir pris la peine de m'envoyer cette réponse complète!
Nous prendrons en compte tes conseils.
Si tu as d'autres infos à nous faire passer n'hésites pas!
Au fait, à quel temps devons nous nous attendre pour ce mois d'Avril (je sais que ça peut être très changeant en NZ ... mais bon en général)? C'est bien la fin de l'été/début de l'automne?
Les paysages du mois d’avril sont particulièrement beaux. La lumière automnale est un régal pour les photos et j’ai de merveilleux souvenirs de contrastes entre d’immenses nuages noirs, un soleil très orangé, de fréquents arcs-en-ciel et des paysages paraissant se mouvoir entre ombre et lumière. Sur l’île du sud c’est également le temps de la première neige sur les sommets (faible en quantité, mais magnifique pour les photos). La température commence donc à baisser un peu (prévoir la polaire), les nuages peuvent être plus présents qu’au cœur de l’été (prévoir le coupe-vent), mais de mon point de vue ces petits désagréments sont compensés par les belles couleurs automnales. A noter que les forêts endémiques sont à feuillage persistant, c’est seulement à quelques endroits (plutôt dans l’île du sud) que tu pourras profiter des changements de couleurs des arbres à feuillage saisonnier.
Par comparaison, j’avais vécu un mois de mai beaucoup plus hivernal et moins propice aux grandes randonnées.
Cependant ce commentaire n’est que le reflet d’une expérience automnale et il est difficile d’en extrapoler une généralité. A toi la suite...
Pascal
Je viens de voir ton post, et je vois que tu es en recherche d'idées, et d'itinéraires en NZ. Alors je te laisse l'adresse de notre site, sur lequel tu pourras peut-être trouvé des choses qui t'intéresseront... on sait jamais...
www.tilsa-voyage.fr
En tous les cas, très bon voyage à vous !
tilsa
"Tant mieux si la route est longue, je ferai le tour du monde..."
j'ai vu ds un de tes précédents posts que tu avais fait en 3 semaines perou et bolivie
je compte faire le meme trip en septembre prochain
avec arequipa, cuzco, macchu picchu, lac titicaca , la paz, uyuni, potosi sucre
peux-tu me dire si c'est faisable ?
ce qui t'a plu et moins plu dans ton voyage et ce que tu changerais si c'etait à refaire ?
Tu vas chercher des infos sur ton voyage au Pérou et en Bolivie en Océanie.
Décidément...🤪
Nos avis te conviennent pas ?😏
Il est la ton billet !
Bonne chance.
hello
j'ai vu ds un de tes précédents posts que tu avais fait en 3 semaines perou et bolivie
je compte faire le meme trip en septembre prochain
avec arequipa, cuzco, macchu picchu, lac titicaca , la paz, uyuni, potosi sucre
peux-tu me dire si c'est faisable ?
ce qui t'a plu et moins plu dans ton voyage et ce que tu changerais si c'etait à refaire ?
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I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the scattered info out there and I'm struggling to organize my solo trip to French Polynesia. I'm all about snorkeling—no hiking for me—so it's all about the water, water, water... I'd love to meet whales (what's the best season?), stay with locals or in budget guesthouses (I'm pretty low-key, no worries about comfort), and most importantly, be as close to the coral reefs as possible (all day long...).
I'm retired, so I've got plenty of time...
If you can help, it would mean the world to me.
Thanks everyone! !
Hi,
I'm planning a trip to this region in November. My initial plan was Adelaide-Darwin by van, but I'm worried about those critters. I'm now considering staying in hotels instead, but for the Red Centre, camping is more practical... if we overlook those pests.
What do you think? Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m reaching out because I’m finally living my dream later this year, and I could really use your advice!
On December 26th, I’m flying to Tahiti, then Moorea, and finally Bora-Bora.
Since I’ll be staying in Bora-Bora for several days, I’d love to take a day trip to another island: either Maupiti or Tahaa-Raiatea (my top picks...).
My issue is that the schedules for getting to Tahaa and then to Raiatea don’t quite work for me. Here are the two options I’ve looked into:
**Option 1: Day trip to Tahaa-Raiatea**
- Morning departure at 7:00 AM to Tahaa from Vaitape (I’ll be staying on a motu, so I need to check if there’s a shuttle connecting the motu to Vaitape early enough).
- Arrival at 8:15 AM in Poutoru, Tahaa. Tour of the island, visit to a vanilla plantation.
- Hire a "private" boat to Raiatea around 12:00–1:00 PM.
- Tour of Raiatea.
- Departure at 4:00 PM from Uturoa (Raiatea) back to Bora-Bora.
**Option 2: Day trip to Maupiti**
- Morning departure from Bora-Bora at 8:30 AM.
- Arrival in Maupiti at 10:05 AM. Visit the island and the motus.
- Return in the evening at 4:00 PM.
My questions:
- Will I have enough time to explore Tahaa-Raiatea from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM?
- Car rental? Bike rental? For all three islands...
- Time lost during rentals?
- Distance between rental shops and the ports where I arrive?
- For Tahaa and Raiatea, should I hire a guide? Would that be better organized, meaning no car rental needed, to save time or explore the island on my own?
- Finally, what do you think of these three islands and their points of interest? Which would you choose between Maupiti and Tahaa-Raiatea?
If you can shed some light on this, I’d be so grateful!!!!!!!
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, comments, suggestions, and advice!
Hello! We’re heading to the Marquesas in July-August and I’d love to know if it’s possible, for a fee, to do a leg of the journey on the Aranui—like from Hiva Oa to Fatu Hiva, or Nuku Hiva to Ua Pou, or even Ua Pou to Ua Huka? Sure, there are shuttles twice a week with Codim connecting these islands, but the schedules won’t be known until two months in advance, and I need to book flights and hotels much earlier than that. So, what’s the best way to handle this?
Looking forward to your replies—thanks in advance!
Elisabeth Marcel
babeth.marcel@yahoo.fr
Hi there,
I’d like to go to French Polynesia.
I found round-trip flights for 650 € with Air Caraïbes.
That seems really cheap—anyone here who can tell me about this airline if you’ve flown with them before?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi everyone. I’ve got a round-trip ticket to Perth for 4 weeks. Is it better to stay on the west coast the whole time?
Or should I grab a round-trip to the east coast?
Or even head over to NZ as well?
Thanks for your tips.
We’re crossing New Zealand next April and we’re wondering which to choose between exploring Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound.
The first is more well-known, famous, and popular, a UNESCO natural heritage site, while the second can be just as spectacular—bigger, harder to access, and less touristy.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I’ve blocked out 3 weeks at the end of March/beginning of April, arriving in Sydney and departing from Adelaide while following the coast.
Kangaroo Island is a bit of a question mark for me. If I go, I can dedicate 2.5 days to it. Is it worth the time and the cost? I’ve read plenty of travel journals highlighting the landscapes and wildlife, but I’m sure I’ll see plenty of that along my route anyway. I’m not factoring in the financial side (which isn’t negligible for KI), but I’d rather not be disappointed. What are the real added values of KI, especially since the island has been affected by fires? I’ve also come across people online calling it a tourist trap. For example, I ruled out Phillip Island because it felt too organized and structured. Sorry if I’m opening Pandora’s box here!
Hi! I just spent a month in New Caledonia (backpacking/tent) and I know some of you were looking for info on accommodations and itineraries, so feel free to reach out if you want me to share my little experience. Just to say—New Caledonia is AMAZING!!!
Hi there,
I just got back from two weeks in Fiji, and I noticed the forum discussions here are a bit outdated (the most recent ones are from 2017).
So feel free to ask if you'd like an update!
Hi,
I’m heading to Viti Levu, the main island, for a few days’ vacation.
I usually rent a two-wheeler to keep some independence.
On several forums, people advised against it—first because it’s not really the local culture, and also because of the road conditions and local driving habits.
But I’m a bit wary of English-language forums where the typical vacation is just airport-resort-airport with a taxi in between.
Can you confirm if it’s really that risky compared to, say, Southeast Asia? What are the alternatives? Buses, taxis?
Thanks!
I’m planning and budgeting a trip to Australia for August 2026, lasting 40 days.
Here’s the current itinerary:
Arrival at Port Macquarie Airport in New South Wales and return from Cairns Airport in Queensland.
- South West Rock
- Cap Ridge Park
- Springbrook Park
- Stradbroke Island
- Maleny
- Noosa
- Rainbow Beach
- K’Gari
- Gladstone
- Heron Island
- Airlie Beach
- Townsville
- Magnetic Island
- Cairns
- Cape Tribulation
My main issue is transport to cover all of this.
The first leg is already tricky—I haven’t found a way to rent a car in Port Macquarie and drop it off in South West Rock.
And if we keep the vehicle until Cleveland (8 days) before taking the ferry to Stradbroke Island, it’s already around 1000 €.
- Are there any systems where we could buy a vehicle in Port Macquarie and be sure it’s bought back at the end of the trip in Cairns?
- Do you know of any Australian online car rental sites?
As for trains, they’re not really an option for our stay in New South Wales.
In Queensland, I found the Queensland Rail Travel website with a Brisbane–Cairns line, but trains don’t run every day.
- Do you know of any other train companies in Queensland that connect coastal cities from Brisbane to Cairns?
For flights, I checked Queensland with Qantas, and most routes require a stopover in Brisbane, which wastes a lot of time, and the prices are still high.
Do you know of any low-cost airlines for domestic flights in Australia?
2025 is shaping up to be amazing, as I’m lucky enough to be planning a 6-week trip to Polynesia.
I wanted to buy the *Guide du Routard* (my favorite), but I discovered there isn’t one for this destination. And the *Lonely Planet* is from 2022, which I feel is already a bit outdated.
So I’m looking for other resources: in your opinion, what’s the best paper guide, and most importantly, what online resources have you used to prepare a trip to Polynesia?
My wife, our 3-year-old son, and I are planning a trip along Australia’s East Coast, leaving in early October and returning in mid-November. The plan is to do a 4-week road trip in a campervan, then settle down for about ten days.
The question I’m asking myself is: which way should we go? From Sydney to Cairns or the other way around? Despite all the documentation I’ve read, I’m still struggling to decide the best direction based on the climate at that time and swimming conditions.
Up north, the weather will be warmer, and the water too, unlike the south. However, in the north, there are swimming restrictions, especially because of jellyfish, whereas in the south, there seems to be less danger (apart from sharks, maybe). Are there many protected beaches in the north where we can swim safely?
Also, I should consider that in the south, the Great Barrier Reef no longer protects the beaches, so I imagine there are fewer calm spots for swimming?
I’d love any tips or advice you can share, and thanks in advance!
Hi there,
for a 6-month trip to Australia and NZ starting in NOVEMBER, I’d like to visit PNG and the Solomon Islands. Has anyone already explored these two countries?
How can you travel solo there—transport, accommodation, banking, safety—and what’s the best way to get there from AUS?
Thanks for any tips! Are there any French-language sites about these destinations?
Cheers,
jps
Hi there,
I’m leaving on March 4th for Australia from Réunion Island, landing in Perth, then a road trip down to Melbourne before flying out to Vietnam on April 15th.
I’d like to visit Perth and the surrounding area, then head southwest to Margaret River, Albany, Esperance, and back to Perth to catch a flight to Adelaide. From there, I’ll make my way to Melbourne.
1/ What do you think of this itinerary?
2/ For flights, are there any domestic airlines worth prioritizing for good prices?
3/ I’m planning to rent a car after exploring Perth and the area—I’m traveling solo. Any rental companies you’d recommend, as well as nice hotels, B&Bs, or hostels?
4/ Any tips, good deals, or info are welcome—don’t hesitate to share!
Thanks in advance.
I’m planning a solo trip from April 16th to June 2nd!
I have to work for 3 weeks in Papeete when I arrive in French Polynesia, so I can only explore on the weekends (3-day weekends). For my first weekend, I’ll visit Tahiti; my second weekend will be dedicated to Moorea, and the last weekend to Huahine.
After my work period, I’ll continue with my vacation and keep exploring:
Maupiti - 4 nights
Raiatea - 3 nights (including a day trip to Tahaa)
Bora Bora - 3 nights
Rangiroa - 4 nights (could do 3)
Tikehau - 2 nights (could do 3)
Fakarava - 3 nights
For activities, I’m mostly interested in discovering the islands, hiking, and observing wildlife.
I’m not a diver, but I plan to do a beginner’s dive once I’m there. I love snorkeling, though, and I’m wondering if I’m spending too much time in the Tuamotus, which are famous for diving from what I’ve seen.
For travel between the islands, I’ve already looked into the Bora Tuamotu Max pass, which seems like the best option, but I’d love advice on replacing it with one or more ferries.
What do you think? I’m struggling to finalize my itinerary.
We’ll be in Adelaide from February 24th to March 4th and we’d like to spend 3 days and 2 nights on Kangaroo Island.
Any recommendations?
We always travel with simple accommodations
Hi everyone, we're heading to Australia next month. We have 7 days to go from Adelaide to Melbourne via the Great Ocean Road. Should we visit Kangaroo Island or not? We can't decide! Thanks for your advice.
We really want to see kangaroos and koalas in their natural habitat.
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to NZ at the end of January.
It’s peak season—do you think it’s necessary to book activities in advance (like a cruise to Milford Sound), or is it not essential?
Thanks
We’ll be in New Zealand starting March 15th. We’re considering renting a car from Christchurch to Auckland. We’ve read that a lot of ferries have been canceled—is that true? Would it be better to rent one car in the South Island and another in the North Island? Thanks, and happy New Year!
Hi,
When I hear our French friends talk about them, they’re the most beautiful islands in the world.
For those of you who’ve traveled extensively, is that really the case?
Are the prices for accommodation, even basic ones, justified? Isn’t a room in a family-run guesthouse at 150/200 € a bit much?
Are there other islands in Polynesia (non-French) that are just as "paradise-like" but more affordable?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Hi everyone,
A quick introduction. I'm 27, I live in Picardy, and I'm getting married in 2017. We'd like to spend our honeymoon in French Polynesia for 3 weeks.
I'm open to all kinds of advice!!!
I think we'll use a travel agency because our work schedules don't leave us much time to organize the trip... Unless I change my mind! ;-)
But we don’t want our trip to turn into tourist clichés—we really don’t like that. That said, we *do* want to see those postcard-perfect beaches and landscapes!
We don’t dive, but I think we’ll try a beginner’s dive, and maybe even get our Level 1 certification, depending on how it goes (I read some comments about it on this forum).
Anyway, I’m looking for any information and internet links to make this trip a success.
This is THE trip of a lifetime, and it has to be perfect!
Thanks for your help!
I’m also checking out the different threads about Polynesia on this forum ;-)
Hi everyone,
What great news to read that Voyage Forum is back up and running—I’m so happy! 🙂 I need some advice for a trip we’re planning in 2025: New Caledonia and Australia.
We’ll arrive in Australia on September 1, 2025, and the plan is to spend 2 nights in Melbourne to explore the city, then rent a car to drive from Melbourne to Sydney, where we’ll arrive on September 12. Unfortunately, we won’t have time for the Great Ocean Road
I’ve checked several blogs for this route and here’s the itinerary I’ve put together:
9/4: Melbourne to Philip Island (140 km) – 1 night
9/5: Philip Island to Wilsons Promontory National Park – 2 nights
9/7: Raymond Island (free ferry to cross a 200 m sea channel) – Lakes Entrance – 1 night
9/8: Drive to Narooma (stop at Quarry Beach) – 1 night at "Bodalla Park Forest Rest Area"
9/9: Batemans Bay – Pebbly Beach – Dolphin Point – Jervis Bay – 1 night (to be found)
9/10: Jervis Bay and surroundings – 1 night at Bendeela Picnic Area
9/11: Blue Mountains National Park (1 hour from Sydney) – 1 night (to be found)
9/12: Arrival in Sydney
I know we won’t be able to see everything, and this 9-day route is just a starting point. The goal is to avoid rushing—if we see a place we like, we’ll stop, even if it means seeing less. A vacation where we don’t watch the clock too much! 🙂
Does this route (a mix of several blogs where not all stops are noted) seem realistic or too ambitious? Are there certain spots that are more worth prioritizing over the ones I’ve listed? For example, in one of the blogs I read, travelers skipped Blue Mountains National Park because they chose another site (which I’ve forgotten 😎).
For accommodation, we’ll likely be camping (free or paid), so if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them! 😎
Our arrival in Sydney on September 12 depends on my hope to participate in the marathon on September 15, 2025. After that, we’ll leave Sydney on September 17 for Ayers Rock.
Thanks in advance for your tips and ideas—it’s always tricky to plan a route from a distance when time is limited.
And long live this site, which I’ve missed so much since 2020! 😎🙂
