Je dois passer 3 jours à Christchurch et je souhaite en profiter pour visiter quelques parcs. Je suis un peu perdue car je vois qu'il y'en a beaucoup... J'ai déjà mis une option sur Hagley Park et le Botanical Garden, mais je souhaiterais en ajouter un ou deux autres, que me conseillez vous ? Lesquels seraient les plus intéressants ? Dans l'idéal j'aimerais beaucoup trouver un parc qui me permettrait d'avoir (peut être) un aperçu de la faune locale (oiseaux, petits mammifères...) sans pour autant atterir dans un zoo avec des animaux en cage ^^
Enfin, y a t il des plages interessantes (ou même des lacs) à proximité de Christchurch, sachant que je n'ai pas de voiture ?
Salut ladika,
Le parc Hagley est un immense poumon vert dans Christchurch. Je pense que c'est vraiment le parc de la ville à visiter (beauté, animation, terrasses, etc.). Ensuite je trouve que suivre le cours de l'Avon River est une manière très agréable de découvrir la ville (à pied ou en gondole).
Légèrement au nord de Christchurch se trouve la réserve naturelle d'Otukaikino. Il s'agit d'un endroit intéressant en particulier pour observer des oiseaux (on peut voir des pukekos). Pour d'autres infos voir le site du DOC (il y a également une brochure).
En ce qui concerne les plages, une jolie balade permet d'accéder à la plage de Taylor Mystake (depuis le quartier de Sumner). Mais je trouve encore plus intéressant de prendre de la hauteur et profiter des belles balades et du magnifique panorama depuis le sommet du télécabine (entre les Mt Vernon et Pleasant). Cependant attention, suite au tremblement de terre le télécabine est pour l'instant fermé, mais il devrait normalement réouvrir d'ici 2012. Voici une carte de cette région avec différents itinéraires possibles.
Lyttelton, facilement accessible en bus, est le port de Christchurch. A partir de Lyttelton il est possible de prendre un bateau, soit pour aller observer la faune marine, soit pour partir à la découverte d'une île.
Pour voir certains animaux (comme les kiwis) le zoo restera la seule solution et celui de Christchurch est particulièrement beau (il y a une partie "animaux du monde" et une partie "faune locale"). J'en profite pour préciser qu'il n'y avait pas de mammifères en NZ avant l'arrivée des hommes (à l'exception des deux espèces de chauve-souris et des mammifères marins bien sûr). Les mammifères (les opossums, les rats, les lapins, les chiens etc.) posent de gros problèmes à la faune et la flore indigènes (tu vas donc te faire regarder de travers si tu demandes à un kiwi où tu peux observer de beaux mammifères 😉).
Comme tu n'as pas de voiture tu pourras utiliser les bus pour pour te déplacer à Christchurch (plan du réseau). Et pour finir je précise que je ne suis pas retourné à Christchurch depuis le tremblement de terre et qu'il faut bien vérifier si l'attraction que tu souhaites faire est ouverte (en particulier lorsque tu t'approcheras du centre-ville).
Je te remercie beaucoup Pascal pour toutes ces informations, tu m'as appris pas mal de choses !
Je suis contente de voir qu'Hagley parc est un indispensable de Christchurch, de plus j'avais également songé à me pencher sur Avon River, cela confirme mon idée.
Pour la parcours en télécabine, l'idée est super sympa, malheureusement je pars dans 20 jours et ils indiquent effectivement que les travaux vont durer 3-4 mois 😕
Tu as l'air de bien connaître le coin, aurais tu par hasard un avis à me donner sur le Christchurch Farmers market à Riccarton ? ou sur d'autres marchés alimentaires en général ? J'ai vu qu'il y avait beaucoup de marchés/foires, et cela m'intéresserait beaucoup de découvrir les produits locaux de cette façon.
Au sujet de la faune, en fait je cherchais à découvrir (dans l'idéal) un endroit où l'on peut observer des animaux plus ou moins en liberté/semi-liberté, un peu comme les Seychelles où l'on trouve une île réservée aux tortues, une autre aux oiseaux, où des locaux préservent ces espèces mais respectent leur habitat naturel en les laissant évoluer librement.
A la limite j'irais éventuellement visiter un zoo si des espèces exceptionnelles/typiques s'y trouvent, mais si j'ai bien compris, pour le zoo de Christchurch, il n'y a pas cela... il est clair que si c'est pour voir principalement des animaux d'Afrique que l'on a déjà dans tous les zoos du monde, ça ne m'intéresse pas des masses.
Penses tu que la réserve naturelle d'Otukaikino se rapporche de ce que je recherche ?
En tout cas merci pour encore pour les informations que tu m'a données ^^
Salut,
Je ne connais pas le Christchurch Farmers market à Riccarton. Cependant, il y a quelques années (le temps file 😉), j'avais accompagné une amie qui habite Christchurch dans sa tournée d'achats de produits bio (dans les environs du quartier de Riccarton justement). Peut-être que ce Farmers market est la réunion de ses petits producteurs locaux en un même lieu.
La solution de facilité pour observer la faune c'est clairement le zoo. Celui de Christchurch permet d'observer les plus connus (liste des animaux NZ du zoo). Mais c'est vrai que la plupart des animaux du zoo viennent d'autres continents.
Dans les forêts et les parcs naturels (et notamment celui d'Otukaikino) tu pourras observer des animaux (oiseaux) en liberté. Cependant, en règle générale, l'observation n'est pas très aisée car les oiseaux sont dissimulés dans la végétation. On les entend davantage qu'on les voit.
Si tu t'intéresses particulièrement aux oiseaux, je te conseille de te renseigner sur les parcs où ils sont présents (cette page du DOC pourrait t'aider). Il y a d'une part des îles sanctuaires où tous les prédateurs (les mammifères) ont été éradiqués : Kapiti, Motuara, Ulva, Codfish, etc. Il existe également des lieux intéressants sur les 2 grandes îles : spit Farewell, Miranda, péninsule d'Otago, etc. Dans tous ces endroits il faut te renseigner auprès du DOC pour accéder (parfois c'est libre, parfois il faut un permis, parfois il faut être accompagné).
Les pingouins peuvent facilement être observés entre Oamaru et les Catlins (par exemple à Sandfly Bay, Nugget Point ou encore Curio Bay). Les albatros se trouvent uniquement à l'extrémité de la péninsule d'Otago (il y a un petit centre didactique géré par le DOC et l'entrée est payante).
Sur les plages tu pourras observer des phoques ou des otaries en différents endroits (Kaikoura, Cap Foulwind, Nugget Point, Gillespies point, Cap Palliser, etc.). Les dauphins sont également présents sur de nombreux sites, quant aux baleines c'est à Kaikoura uniquement.
Je t'ai cité les principaux endroits que j'ai en tête, ce n'est pas exhaustif (pas du tout 😉).
Bonnes observations.
Pascal
Alors là, je ne pouvais rêver mieux comme explications 😎
Je vais me pencher sur tout ce que tu viens de m'indiquer et voir ce qui m'est facilement accessible avec les transports en commun en une journée, étant donné que je ne reste que 3 nuits à Christchurch et que le 1er jour est consacré à Hangley Park + Avon River. Il me reste donc 1 jour + une après midi à planifier.
Je vais déjà éliminer le zoo, et passer au peigne fin les autres pistes que tu me donnes. Je suis emballée par pas mal de tes idées, j'ose espérer que les itinéraires seront réalisables, je vais vérifier tout ça avec mon ami Google map 😏
Un grand merci, tu m'as permis de débroussailler pas mal de choses déjà !
Je reviens tout juste de NZ. Juste pour info, le centre ville (autour de la cathédrale) est fermé à cause du tremblement de terre. Le parc Hagley ne l'est pas par contre. Tu ne pourras pas suivre Avon River tout du long mais tu pourras la récupérer après le quartier fermé.
A+
Nathalie
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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! 😎🙂
