avant notre départ pour notre TDM en famille, je réalise des carnets de route afin de ne pas prendre de livres trop lourds. Ce carnet est un fil conducteur cad que nous avons recensé ce qui est à voir ou faire et nous verrons sur place en fonction du temps, des envies et des rencontres.
Merci de donner votre avis et vos infos.
A+
Auckland
Chercher hôtel (offert par cousins)
Takapuna holiday park, Remuera, manakau
Northland (route 1):
Kawakawa (glow-worm caves)
Palhia waihaha: (bay of islands): peut être trop touristiq
- Hole in the rock
- Treaty house
- Rewa’s village
Awanui (route 10)
Te Paki (route 1F):
- Cape reinga (spirit bay)
- Ninety mile beach
2 options:
- Kaitaia- tautoro (route 12)- Waipoua forest (Waipoua kauri forest)
- Kaitaia- Rawene (ferry)- Opononi- Waipoura forest (route 12) ++++++ ATTENTION si PLUIE
Dagarville :
Camping top 10 kauri coast
Auckland (via la route 16)
Papakura (route 25)-Orere- Miranda
Coromandel
http://wwwmirandaholidaypark.co.nz : camping sympa avec eau thermale
Thames
Continue sur la route 25 jusqu'à :
Coromandel town
- Rapaura watergarden
- Possible boucle jusqu’au Cap Colville
- Cathedral cove
- Hot water beach
Waihi ou Tauranga
Paeroa (route 2) Te Puke: kiwifruit country
Te aroha (route 26) : Mokena geyser Ngongotaha
Matamata lac rotorua
Tirau
Central plateau
(Route 5)
Lac de rotorua
Rotorua :
- Hell’s gate : 25 $NZ : bof
- Ohinemutu
- Whakarewarewa : attrappe touriste
- Waimangu volcanic valley : bof
- WaiOtapu : +++
- Puis petite route vers Orakei korako hidden valley (cool pour se poser)+++
Autour de rotorua : (plus cool)
www.orakeikorako.co.nz: +++
www.hotpools.co.nz:+++
www.geyserland.co.nz
Lac Taupo : +ou – crater of the moon, huka fall (camper au reid’s farm)
Turangi
Tongariro NP
Tongariro (route 47) : Ketetahi hot spring ou route 1 desert road +++
Tongariro crossing : rando de 7h difficile mais incontournable
Whakapapa (route 48) : DOC
Raetihi ou Voir vers Taranaki
Pipiriki (route 49) : Rangiahua N Marae
Wanganui : Kawana mill ou Road 1
Wanganui
Le ferry, il faut compter 120 NZD par voiture donc ça doit être aux alentours de 150 NZD pour un van (prix en fonction de la taille). Et 40 NZD par personne. Je ne sais pas si c'est moins cher pour les enfants. Le mieux est d'opter pour la compagnie Bluecruises.
Ile du SUD
Picton
Havelock:
Camping: à pelorus bridge
par la Queen charlotte drive (35km)
Si temps aller : portage- crail bay
Rai Valley : route 6
Aller jusqu'à okiwi bay
Nelson
Richmont
(Route 60)
Abel tasman park Randos et excursions à faire ??????
Entré du parc : Marahau : voir randos ?
Motueka- Takaka
Camping : top 10 de Motupipi
Route vers Totaranui (nord du ATP): Trek : Chutes de Waini
Si temps trek : Pupu Springs
Motueka
Motupiko (route 61)
Charleston :
- buller gorge
- Sea colony
-
Punakaiki : Paparoa NP
- Pancakes rolls and Blowholes
- Truman trek
Greymouth :
- tour du lac brunner et Arthur Pass NP
- Trek Dobson nature walk
Hokitika :
- Boucle lac Kaniere
Franz joseph / waiau : Westland NP
- lake Matheson, +- gillespie beach
- treks à choisir : Franz joseph glacier : Robert point track
: Fox glacier Valley walk
Lake Moeraki : knigths point
Haast village :
- Jackson bay
Mont Aspiring NP :
- Thunder creek falls
- Haast pass +++
Wanaka : http://www.puzzlingworld.co.nz/
- Top 10 (dormir autour des lacs)
- Lake Wanaka : route jusq Mt Aspiring
- Lake Hawea: route à l’est du lac
Queenstown : (route 89) ++++++
- Avant queen route vers Skippers canyon
- Lac Wakatipu : route longeant jusq Elfin bay : randos ??? route jsq glenorchy : top et dormir au bord du lac :http://www.dartstables.com/
- profiter de la route
Kingston- Five rivers (route 6)
Te Anau (route 94)
- Si tps voir route à droite vers le lac Mavora
- Trek : peut être Routeburn track
- Te ana-au caves : visite de 2h30 sur le lac
- Milford sound : Types de compagnies ????: Real journeys
: route 94 : La Cleddau valley/ Hommer tunnel/ gouffre de Chasm/ lac Gunn (mirror lac)
Manapouri
Clifden
Invercargill (route99) A voir ???
- bluff hill: vue sur l’océan antarctique
Dunedin (Sounthern Scenic Road)
- région des Catlins
- Mc Lean falls- Purakanui falls : pistes + marches 30mn
- Otago Harbour
- Taieri gorge Railway ?
- Curio bay, porpoise bay, cathedral caves
Oamaru
- moeraki boulders
- Yellow eyed penguins + vieille ville
Omarama
Lake Pukaki
Mont Cook NP : (route 80) assez décevant ?????? Que si beau temps
- très touristique
- Si dormir : camping Glentanner : 10 km avt le parc
- Eventuellement randos : Red Tarns track/ hooker valley track
Lake Tekapo: le longer
A Auckland, j'avais sejourne dans un Backpacker tres tres bien, avec piscine, jardin, place pour garer pas mal de vehicules (camping car ou vl = une dizaine environ) :
Bamber House sur Mount Eden, dans un quartier tres chouette.
http://www.hostelbackpacker.com/index.htm
Bamber House
22 View Rd
Mt Eden
Auckland
New Zealand
Phone: (64) 9 623 4267
La maison, tres grande, et ancienne, a une chouette atmosphere, on s'y sent tres tres bien ! Quand je retournerai a Auckland, pas de doute que c'est la que je sejournerai de nouveau meme si ce n'est pas aussi proche du centre que d'autres backpackers : c'est dans une rue perpendiculaire a de grands avenues, et CALME = on y dort bien, la literie est bonne, tout est nickel question proprete.
Ca peut remplacer un hotel, d'autant plus qu'ils disposent de chambres doubles ou vous pouvez dormir avec votre gamin.
qq remarques : sur ce post, j'avais détailé notre parcours (mes souvenirs étaient plus frais et ça peut donner des idées): http://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=334178 pour les emplacements dans les DOC : on voulait faire ça, mais comme ça caillait un peu pour BB la nuit (Octobre), on privilégiait les campings avec branchement electrique pour chauffage. on n'a jamais réservé à l'avance, et toujours trouver un coin sympa. Abel tasman : on a dormi dans le camping du dernier bled avant le parc (j'ai plus la carte en tête), y rien aux alentours, c'est trop bien... pour les randos dans Abel tasman, si vous partez à la journée, utilisez les water taxis (système de bus des mer) : ils vous laissent à un endroit, vous marchez toute la journée, et vous reprend le soir (tu trouve facilement des liens sur le web). attention aus sand flies, elles sont pénibles et piquent partout (prévoir répulsif) la route qui remonte de Haast vers wanaka est super (remarque les paysages sont partout super) Queenstown : tu ecris "route 89 +++++". j'espere que tu parles de la route autour de queenstown, car la ville en elle même ne nous a pas laissé un grand souvenir... faire de l'hydrospeed, du jetski, du saut en parachutes ou du VTT avec un p'tit bout, c'est pas l'top ! milford sound : rien que la route pour y aller, c'est magnifique la diversité des paysages. on a fait un tour dans le Sound, j'étais un peu déçu car je m'attendais à voir plein de phoques et d'otaries. les montagnes sont néanmoins tres belle. on a eu de la chance, il y a seulement des nuages et pas de pluie😛 southern scenic road est super, tres vert, tres sauvage, tres tranquille, tres moutonneux, et plusieurs baies, ou plages avec des sealions et des otaries. la péninsule à Dunedin (faire le tour par la côte et revenir par le centre - ou l'inverse) et la peninsule à Christchurch sont magnifiques aussi. on a vu des yellow eye penguins, sur un cap paumé (shag point) au nord de dunedin, avant moeraki boulders. (je crois que j'en parle dans l'autre post).
toutes les routes ne sont pas autorisés avec les c. car. On avait acheté un roadbook sur le site des frogs. il est pas mal, toutes les curiosités sont marquées dedans, même les colonies de phoques, etc.
Bon voyage
ps : pour confirmer ce que dit zabinouk, les centres d'info touristiques ont souvent des petites expos ou musées assez succint, mais sympas, sur la région etc..
Cela me semble un excellent programme. Tu mets un point d'interrogation pour Invercagill et tu as raison, c'est sympa mais il n'y a pas de regrets à avoir si on ne peut pas y aller. J'ai bien aimé le Southland Museum and Art Gallery cependant. Pareil pour Bluff, c'est vrai que cela parait un must d'aller jusqu'à l'extrême Sud mais cela n'a d'intérêt que le fait de se dire "je suis allé jusqu'à l'extrême Sud"! Par contre, il parait que l'ile Stewart est vraiment très bien, peut-être pouvez-vous y faire un saut si vous disposez d'un mois et demi.
Je n'ai pas été impressionnée par les Holiday Park Top 10 où j'ai pu séjourner : souvent plus chers et pas forcément mieux que les autres, je ne crois pas que ça vaille la peine de payer une carte pour avoir des réduc... Il y a plein d'autres endroits sympas.
J’ai avancé dans mon projet d’itinéraire et vous le soumets afin que vous me donniez votre avis et que vous me fassiez vos remarques le cas échéant. Je serai…
Pour ceux qui sont déjà allés en Nouvelle-Zélande, je voudrais savoir votre top 5 des choses à voir ET je vous invite a faire aussi le top 5 des choses qui…
Travailler, étudier et vivre à l'étranger › Nouvelle-Zélande · 2 replies
Je vis en NZ depuis 10 mois maintenant avec un VVT... Je suis cavalière et Directrice artistique dans la pub. Mon boss va me sponsoriser pour avoir un…
Sites personnels des membres › Australie / Nouvelle-Zélande · 10 replies
Nous sommes passionnés par l' Australie et souhaitons vous faire partager nos expériences.Nous y sommes allés 3 fois (2003,2007,2010) et allons y retourner une…
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! 😎🙂
