Nous venons de passer 18 jours sur place, on avait prévu un itinéraire auquel on s'est tenu dans les grandes lignes mais qui aurait pu être mieux.
Nous étions 3, ma femme, moi et notre bonhomme de 2 ans. Nous avions loué un campervan (fiat ducato) idéal quand on a un bambin à mon sens.
Les routes sont sinueuses mais les axes principaux sont corrects par contre dès qu'on s'éloigne.... Un conseil ne prévoyez pas d'étape de plus de 300/400kms
Contrairement à nous essayez de contacter les organisateurs locaux pour connaitre les horaires. Pour les ballades en mer il n'y a souvent que 2 ballades. Certains tours organisent une sortie toutes les 2H c'est bete d'attendre 1H dans le camping car... ce qui nous est arrivé au royal albatros center.... Par exemple, pour un saut en parachute il faut prévoir entre 2 et 3H.
N'hésitez à demander de l'aide dans des campings ou DOC les gens peuvent appeler pour vous ce qui facilite vachement les prises de renseignements.
Notre itinéraire :
J1 : arrivée à Auckland et repos
J2 : un petit tour dans Auckland (pas evident de se garer) et route vers whitianga en passant par coromandel (qu'est ce que ca tourne)
J3 : route vers rotorua avec arrets en route
J4 : rotorua + route vers kawhia pour les sources d'eau chaude sur la plage arrêts à Cambridge et autres
J5 : Waitomo caves (le kanyoning dans les grottes de base est franchement bof bof... à voir pour les sorties d'1/2journée ou 1 journée)
J6 : route vers le tongariro national park, ballade de 2/3 heures sur place et ensuite route vers wanganui
J7 : musée de wanganui (j'ai préféré au Te papa et souvenirs pas chers) route vers Wellington
J8 : wellington et traversée le soir
J9 : sortie en mer dans le malborough puis route vers motueka
J10 : abel tasman (sous la flotte) et route vers westport
J11 : route vers Franz joseph
J12 : route vers Queenstown
J13 : saut en parachute (on est parti de Queenstown à 13H...), te anau, arrivée à Milford
J14 : Milford (croisière le matin) puis route vers nugget point
J15 : dunedin, royal albatros, cadbury, puis route vers oamaru
J16 : route vers geraldine puis tekapo
J17 : tekapo vers akaroa
J18 : nettoyage et avion jusque auckland
on a eu énormement de pluie donc on a pas fait autant de ballade qu'on aurait voulu. Je pense qu'on aurait pu/du passer moins de jours pour la remontée de Dunedin vers Christchurch
De temps en temps on s'est dépêché pour arriver dans des sites afin de faire des activités qui se sont avérées fermées (surtout le cas à la fin) et on a donc continué notre route.... De la même facon kawhia et Coromandel sur l'ile du Nord c'est joli mais pas forcement indispensable (surtout que la route est longue, sinueuse et usante...)
Avec le changement d'heures, la nuit tombait avant 19H la dernière semaine... sachant qu'on partait du camping entre 9 et 10H...
4400kms en tout mais franchement super voyage
Si vous voulez plus de détails ou des des renseignements pas de problèmes :D
Nous partons en Nouvelle Zelande au mois d'août prochain pour trois semaines entre Auckland et Christchurch; je pense bien m'inspirer de votre itinéraire! vu la période je voulais commencer par le Northland (Quitte à passer moins de temps sur l'île du sud); en avez vous entendu parlé?
Est ce que dans les villes ou villages les DOC sont facilement identifiables pour se renseigner sur les activités à faire dans les alentours; avez vous fait une croisière d'observation des dauphins et baleines; avez vous fait du camping sauvage et dernière question quel type d'adaptateur électrique faut il pour la NZ !
Nous ne sommes pas allés dans le Northland. C'est vrai qu'au mois d'aout le temps y sera certainement plus clément. Attention, dans l'ile du sud, si vous décidez de faire le tour de l'ile vous ne pourrez pas forcement raccourcir sauf à passer dans une autre passe que celle de Haast... ou alors aller de Wanaka / queenstown ou Te Anau directement à Dunedin.
Comptez une moyenne de 300kms par jour (4/5H de camping car) sur l'ensemble de votre voyage ca me parait deja pas mal
Les DOCs sont très facilement identifiables, en général indiqués dès l'entrée dans la ville et en général dans l'une des rues principales ou le centre. On s'est servi du GPS que pour trouver les activités ou les campings jamais pour un DOC.
Nous avons observer les dauphins dans malborough sounds avec une croisiere au depart de Picton. Nous aurions pu en faire une autre à Akaroa (a cote de christchurch) mais c'etait pour les duaphins Hector que nous avions deja vu et nous ne sommes pas allé à Kaikoura donc pas de baleine.
Pour avoir fait le meme type de truc en espagne au detroit de Gilbratar, j'ai préféré en NZ.
Nous n'avons pas fait de camping sauvage car nous avions un petit chou et il commencait à faire froid. Attention, dans un camping car, les prises (et la plaque elec) ne fonctionnent que quand le camping car est branché. Le camping sauvage implique donc d'avoir la bouteille de GPL bien chargée pour avoir le chauffage et cuisiner et on ne peut pas recharger les appareils elec (telephone, PC, appareil photo, etc.).
Est ce que dans les villes ou villages les DOC sont facilement identifiables pour se renseigner sur les activités à faire dans les alentours
Tu veux parler des Visitor Centers 😉
Il y en a dans la plupart des grandes (et moins grandes) villes, et sont facilement repérables par cette enseigne :
la liste complète
Le DOC concerne la gestion des parcs nationaux, notamment des aires de camping qui s'y trouvent. Dans les petites villes effectivement le bureau du DOC et le visitor center sont regroupés au même endroit.
Nous partons en Nouvelle Zelande au mois d'août prochain pour trois semaines entre Auckland et Christchurch; je pense bien m'inspirer de votre itinéraire! vu la période je voulais commencer par le Northland (Quitte à passer moins de temps sur l'île du sud); en avez vous entendu parlé?
Nous avons passé un mois en Nouvelle-Zélande (en octobre), dont quelques jours dans le Northland.
Toute la partie au nord de Whangarei est vraiment sympa à découvrir, très sauvage et bien moins fréquentée que la plupart des coins de l'île du Nord (de l'île du Sud aussi d'ailleurs...).
Si l'on devait résumer cette région en un mot, on dirait bien "bucolique" !
Mais un peu à l'image de tout le pays en fait, le Northland c'est très varié :
- la Kauri Coast (côte ouest du Northland) et ses forêts denses au milieu desquelles des circuits de randonnées amènent aux kaoris géants...
- Bay of Island (côte est), une succession de baies renommées magnifiques mais on n'a pas eu de bol avec le temps dans ce coin-là et moyennement accroché...
- le Cap Reinga (et pas que le cap, toute la pointe à l'extrême Nord de la Nouvelle-Zélande) avec des balades géniales à faire le long de la côte, des criques aux allures tropicales, et des dunes gigantesques dont les dimensions ridiculisent notre dune du Pyla !
- Karikari Peninsula, un peu au sud du Cap Reinga, un vrai coup de coeur avec là aussi des plages magnifiques, mais en août il ne faudra pas trop compter s'y baigner... en octobre l'eau était encore glaciale...
Allez quelques photos pour illustrer un peu...
les forêts de la Kaori Coast
les environs du Cap Reinga
Karikari Peninsula
Bref le Northland c'est sympa, et boudé à tort par beaucoup de voyageurs qui préfèrent filer directement au sud d'Auckland, vers Coromandel, Rotorua ou le Tongariro (qui sont à découvrir aussi !) donc assez tranquille.
Pour une idée plus détaillée du Northland et une vue d'ensemble de la Nouvelle-Zélande, on a un blog qui retrace notre parcours dans l'île du Nord puis l'île du Sud :
Merci pour ces précieuses infos; j'étais en effet assez convaincu de l'intérêt d'aller dans le Northland mais vos propos viennent les confirmer et me rassure sur l'intérêt de découvrir cette partie de la NZ ! J'espère juste que le temps sera relativement clément avec nous... car j'imagine qu'avec le soleil les couleurs doivent être magnifiques...
Voici 8 mois que nous sommes partis en couple au pays des kiwis en visa vacances travail, et nous voulions partager avec vous tout ce qu’il nous a été possible…
Je pars bientôt en nouvelle-zélande pour un circuit touristique. le tour opérator dit: vous munir d'un passeport encore valable six mois après le retour. Hors…
De bons et beaux voyages pour chacun! Comme toujours je tiens à remercier tous ceux qui ont laissé de précieux renseignement sur ce forum qui m’ont permis de…
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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 ;-)
