Nous nous rendrons en Nouvelle-Zélande du 14 novembre au 13 décembre, accompagnés de nos deux enfants âgés de 4 et 5 ans. Nous prévoyons de rejoindre Auckland à Christchurch en 28 jours. Cependant avant d'effectuer la reservation de notre campervan, j'ai besoin de savoir combien de temps faut il prevoir à Auckland et à Chrischuch.
ne connaissant pas vos goûts, et ce qui vous attire dans une ville, il est difficile de vous répondre.
Personnellement, j'ai trouvé Auckland ennuyeuse et Christchurch beaucoup plus intéressante, mais le centre est petit. Comme il y a énormément d'autres choses à voir en NZ, à votre place, je ne m'éterniserais pas dans ces villes et resterais
- 1j complète à Auckland (+ 2nuits - celle d'arrivée et celle vous séparant du jour où vous récupérerez votre campervan avant de partir sur les routes)
- la même durée à Christchurch
Thierry
On dit souvent "Fermez la porte, il fait froid dehors !" Mais une fois la porte fermée, il fait toujours aussi froid dehors.
Les villes en NZ sont d'un interet tres limite. Il vaut mieux reserver votre temps aux curiosites naturelles, paysages, randonnees, ... Per ex, pres d'Auckland, allez plutot a la plage de Piha. Plutot que Xchurch, allez a Mt Cook.
Donc si je comprends ton message, il faut qu'ils louent leur van à Piha (et surtout pas Auckland) et qu'ils le rendent à Mt Cook (et surtout pas à Christchurch) ? 🤪
Ca va être dur de trouver des agences de location dans ces lieux 😕
Thierry
On dit souvent "Fermez la porte, il fait froid dehors !" Mais une fois la porte fermée, il fait toujours aussi froid dehors.
Bonjour J'étais à Auckland en janvier. C'est une ville à prime abord assez ennuyeuse et pas particulièrement jolie mais j'y suis restée 6 jours et j'ai pu y découvrir ses charmes cachés, d'autant plus que j'avais la chance d'y avoir une connaissance qui m'a fait découvrir. Je vous suggèrerais 3 jours, question de se remettre du vol international et de prendre des forces pour la suite du voyage.
C'est en fait un bon endroit pour débuter le voyage en NZ avec la visite de l'extraordinaire Auckland Museum qui plaiera aux enfants et vous permettra de vous immerger dans la culture Maori + toutes les îles du pacifique et de découvrir toute l'histoire volcanique absolument incroyable de Auckland expliquée de façon très originale et interactive qui plaiera aussi aux enfants. Ne manquez pas d'assister au spectacle de danses Maori du Musée. Pour vous y rendre, vous prennez le bus "Link" pour 2 dollars NZ au Sky Tower (impossible de ne pas trouver, c'est la plus haute tour de Auckland que l'on voit de partout et qui permet de s'orienter dans la ville). Ce bus fréquent est très facile. Pour le musée, prévoyez une bonne demie journée. Sérieusement, vous ne le regretterez pas.
Le bus Link vous amènera aussi au petit quartier sympa et mignon de Parnell pour un peu de shopping dans des boutiques originales avant 18h00 et pour un grand choix d'excellents restos après.
Inutile de perdre trop de temps dans le centre de Auckland par contre qui n'a rien d'exceptionnel.
Je vous suggère de prendre un hotel pas trop loin du Sky Tower au centre ville et en 5-7 minutes à pied, on arrive au Port, sinon on y va en bus. Ce n'est pas bruyant dans les petites rues.
Avec le temps qu'il vous restera, je conseille vraiment une ou deux (même trois) excursions par bâteau (je les ai toutes faites et les conseille toutes) à partir du Port très sécuritaire, très bien organisé et sympa. C'est facile, vous achetez les billets pour les croisières ou ferry de votre choix sur place avant le départ ou la veille. Je suis sûre que les enfants vont aimer. Il y a des croisières d'une demie journée et d'autres d'une journée avec la compagnie Fullers. J'ai particulièrement apprécié la croisière sur l'ïle fleurie vraiment très jolie de Waiheke à une trentaine de minutes seulement avec un peu de shopping pittoresque et artistique et de belles ballades jusqu'à la plage. J'y ai pris un excellent repas et le meilleur verre de Sauvignon blanc de toute la NZ chez Vino Vino sur Ocean View Road. J'ai aussi aimé la croisière de deux ou trois heures avec l'excursion sur l'île de Rangitoto, le dernier volcan à emerger des océans à côté de Auckland. Il y a en 3e choix Devonport (ferry de 10 minutes à prendre du port d'Auckland et vous revenez quand vous voulez).
Au débarcadaire du port, les crèmes glacées italiennes du café sont fantastiques!
Le Mont Eden vaut vraiment la peine pour une vue incroyable des cratères volcaniques en plein coeur de Auckland mais c'est plus difficile d'accès sans voiture. Sinon, se ballader simplement tout autour du port ou ils ont aménagé tout un vaste espace restaurants, cafés, d'ou l'on peut admirer les Yachts en sirrotant un petit verre de Sauvignon sous le soleil de NZ...
Si vous avez l'occasion, Rotorua non loin de Auckland (se rendre plutôt en avion) est vraiment très spéciale! La ville entière sent le souffre ce qui ne plait pas à tous et on y reste donc pas longtemps mais faire l'excursion avec une petite compagnie locale pour y visiter les lacs volcaniques bleu turquoise et vert lime, les fumerolles et les bains de boue volcanique est une expérience vraiment exceptionnelle! Le petit de 4 ans est peut être trop jeune...
Je n'ai pas vu Christchurch. Bon voyage! Ne manquez pas d'allez à Cape Reinga faire du sand surfing et au Parc Abel Tasman faire du kayak de mer ...
SI vous n'avez que 30jours serieusement je dirai 0 jours a Auckland et 0 jours a Chch, il y a tellement de choses a faire en dehors de ces deux villes. Si vous allez en NZ c'est pour la nature et les paysages certainement pas pour les villes.. Sinon apres vous allez regrettez d'avoir "perdu" du temps et de mojns profiter de tout ce que l'ile du sud a a offir...
Auckland est vraiment sans interet chch a plus de charme mais vraiment limite!
Wellington est de loin la meilleure ville de NZ et merite qu'on s'y arrete.
Profitez bien de la NZ c'est tellement un beau pays!!
J'arrive à Sydney avec Air Canada (29 août) et je dois prendre un vol pour Queenstown, Nouvelle Zélande avec une autre compagnie aérienne. Ai-je assez de temps…
Je prépare avec ma copine, un voyage d'un an minimum en Nouvelle-Zélande. Nous comptons partir début Décembre 2013, et nous avons trouvé quelques billets…
Voyager à petits prix › Nouvelle-Zélande · 1 reply
Comme le dit le titre de mon message, je me demande quel est le meilleur temps de l'année pour acheter un billet d'avion pour la Nouvelle-Zélande. Je voudrais…
Je pars samedi prochain pour un mois en NZ, nous allons faire l'ile nord puis l'ile sud mais je ne sais pas trop quoi mettre dans mon sac à dos, si qqn…
Partis pour faire un tour du monde, on passe par la nouvellez zélande, normalement on attéris à chrischurh et on repart de Auckland, on souhaite louer un van,…
Hi everyone! I’m planning a long trip of two and a half months and could use some input to fine-tune my itinerary. I already have a good idea of the dates and how the climate will vary depending on where we are in Australia. Feel free to share your thoughts!
**Zone 1: DARWIN – August 17 to 22 (6 days)**
Activities & visits: Crocosaurus Cove, Kakadu Park scenic flight, 3-day excursion to Kakadu, Litchfield, and Katherine National Parks
Flight to Alice Springs on the 23rd
**Zone 2: ALICE SPRINGS – ULURU – August 23 to 30 (8 days)**
Car rental
Activities & visits: Alice Springs (1 day), West MacDonnell Ranges (1 day), Watarrka National Park, Uluru (3 days)
Flight to Cairns on the 31st
**Zone 3: CAIRNS – August 31 to September 9 (10 days)**
Car rental from the 31st to the 6th
Activities & visits: Port Douglas, Daintree Rainforest, Mount Quincan, Herberton Historic Village, Cairns, Great Barrier Reef
Bus to Townsville on the 10th
**Zone 4: TOWNSVILLE – NOOSA – September 10 to 26 (17 days)**
Activities & visits: Magnetic Island
Bus to Airlie Beach on the 13th
Activities & visits: Whitsunday Islands, Great Barrier Reef
Car rental from the 17th to the 20th
Activities & visits: Eungella National Park
Overnight bus from Mackay to Hervey Bay (20th to 21st)
Activities & visits: K’gari (Fraser Island)
Bus to Noosa on the 25th
Activities & visits: Noosa National Park
Bus to Brisbane on the 27th
**Zone 5: BRISBANE – September 27 to October 1 (5 days)**
Car rental from the 29th to the 1st
Activities & visits: Brisbane, Glass House Mountains, Springbrook National Park, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Bus to Coffs Harbour on the 2nd
**Zone 6: COFFS HARBOUR – October 2 to 4**
Car rental from the 3rd to the 4th
Activities & visits: Dorrigo National Park
Overnight bus to Sydney (4th to 5th)
**Zone 7: SYDNEY – October 5 to 9 (5 days)**
Car rental from the 7th to the 9th
Activities & visits: Sydney, Blue Mountains, Jenolan Caves
Overnight bus to Melbourne (9th to 10th)
**Zone 8: MELBOURNE – October 10 to 16 (7 days)**
Car rental from the 13th to the 16th
Activities & visits: Melbourne, Phillip Island, Great Ocean Road
Flight to Hobart on the 17th
**Zone 9: TASMANIA – October 17 to 23 (6 days)**
Car rental from the 17th to the 23rd
Activities & visits: Hobart, Tasman Peninsula, Freycinet National Park, Natureworld
Flight to Perth on the 23rd
**Zone 10: PERTH – October 24 to 27 (4 days)**
Activities & visits: Rottnest Island, Wave Rock, Perth
Flight to Paris on the 28th
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 ;-)
