Go to New Zealand! (I meant to post this 2 yrs ago...)

**Tony_Mitchell_1983** · 29-12-2012, 11:45 AM

As the title would suggest, I typed this up to post 2 yrs ago after a trip to NZ, but for whatever reason never did.
I just found it on my hard drive and still think it's worth sharing, so here it is.

Well I am back from my trip to NZ as some of you may know and thought I may as well put up a post to make up for my absence over the last two weeks. After taking my car for a drive yesterday I’m glad to have it back, but not to be home. NZ roads are amazing and make ours (Brisbane’s at least) look like a third world country, maybe worse. I saw a total of one pot hole in New Zealand, and that was in Christchurch. Considering they still have buildings laying in the middle of their city streets, I don’t think pot holes are rating highly on the to do list. (Note: this was after the first earthquakes, not the ones that totalled the city. As you can see, the Cathedral is still standing in my photos. I feel for the people of Christchurch, it was a great city.)

The south island is stunning and a driver’s paradise. Even in my automatic Ford Focus I managed to have a bit of fun. The road into Picton on the way from Nelson was absolutely insane. Most of the roads over there are posted as 100, but it’s impossible to do it. This road was posted as 60 and was so windy, I’m glad I wasn’t in the passenger seat. And since I was running late for the ferry, I was pushing that little car pretty hard.

The road north from Franz Joseph was the best stretch of road I’ve ever driven. Think Mt Nebo / Glorious x1000 (for those in Brisbane). If I had a decent car it probably would’ve been the highlight, but with fuel coming in at 199.9 at one stop, it’s probably a good thing I had the little chugger. I think I covered about 4500kms in the two weeks, and while it was slow, it did the job, squeaky brakes, noisy tyres and all. Instead, the highlight was definitely white water rafting in Rotorua. So much fun and absolutely stunning scenery.

The VW scene over there was pretty small, obviously because they all get used Jap imports for next to nothing. I saw a Subaru B4 for sale in Dunedin for $200 bucks. What a bargain. I took a few pics of cars over there just to post here. I was intrigued when I saw a mk IV golf with a V6 badge on the grille. But then I saw quite a few and just figured that they must have been R32s badged differently. Only saw a couple of mk V GTIs and one mk V R32. The most exciting car was probably a Plymouth Prowler in Queenstown. I’ve never seen one on the road before, and when it drove past I actually went searching for it to get a photo. The mk III wagon was also something I’d never seen, so required another photo. I actually saw two on the trip.

Queenstown was probably my favourite town. Pretty small, but lot’s of things to do and some of the better looking people in NZ. It’s a very tourist orientated place, but I’d love to spend time working there. One of the only places with a decent nightlife too.

What else…? I don’t know. Go to New Zealand. It’s pretty tops. But don’t stay in Waitomo, there’s nothing there. Stop, check out the glow worms, but don’t stay.

**Guest001** · 29-12-2012, 07:45 PM

Hmmmm If your windy road pic was on the way to the Ferry you had a long way to go.

That is the bottom of the Crown Range road near Arrowtown with the Remarkables Ski road in the background LOL

The one with the armco looks like the Lindis between Tarras and Omarama The Coast road shot would be north of Franz Josef.

We went through there in 1968 when it was all gravel from 10 miles out of Wanaka Got to Franz in 4 hours in an EK Holden LOL

Amazing road on wet gravel but when they ran the Rally of NZ through there the drivers complained it was boring so they never did it again.
You certainly had a fast trip and there was a lot you didnt have time to see.

I was in Christchurch 4 weeks ago and you would be hard pressed to find a road with no potholes no. In fact some of them have reverted to being all gravel and with up to a metre difference in height whilst driving along them.
Quite unbelievable really
The Baptist Church has gone and that is where the 185 chair memorial is

Queenstown is my least favourite place in the SI Overpriced tourist trap Can buy similar stuff in the cities for 2/3 the price.

Worked there for a few months and as semi locals we only paid 3/4 price in most restaurants where we were known.

Wanaka was a much nicer place , worked there for 4 years. Go back and I will tell you all the good places to see

**hazrd** · 29-12-2012, 09:08 PM

Nice pics

NZ is a pretty good place to visit. I spent a month there for work last year. You got off cheap with the fuel though. I was paying $2.29 a litre when i was over there!

Also spotted a few mk4 wagons myself. tripped me out coz i hadnt seen one before haha

**Mk3 AAA** · 30-12-2012, 12:09 AM

Yes a great wee country. I think you have to look harder for the real VAG treats. I saw plenty V6 mk4 (they're the 2.8 24v like the bora 4mo not 3.2 like an r32) quite a few W8 Passats including a wagon. VR6s, Vento VR6 and even a VR6 wagon in Auckland. Audi Quattro, RS2, 4, and 6... list of 80s 90s and early 00s treats in particular.

Southward Car Museum near Wellington is worth seeing. Equipt with delorean aieral atom, the tatra the original beetle ripped off (in some capacity)....

Agreed some amazing roads, including some correctly cambered mountain passes which are non existent in old QLD.

**Tony_Mitchell_1983** · 30-12-2012, 12:29 PM

Hey Hillbilly, yeah, that windy road pic was on the trip from Wanaka to Franz Joseph. It was a nice drive compared to the Nelson to Picton Ferry run. That was mental and nearly impossible to pass slower cars. I had fun though.
I don't know if I could go back to Christchurch now, it would be devastating. It was such a beautiful place. It was the first stop while over there, and a pretty spectacular introduction the country.

We did stop in some of the smaller places too. Te Anau was a really nice place.

I definitely could spend a lot more time in NZ. If I do go back i'll hit you up for your best spots.

Mk3 AAA, I wish I'd known about that car museum. I found Wellington a little boring. It was just like another city, but I think I just wasn't looking in the right places.

**Guest001** · 30-12-2012, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Tony_Mitchell_1983

Hey Hillbilly, yeah, that windy road pic was on the trip from Wanaka to Franz Joseph. It was a nice drive compared to the Nelson to Picton Ferry run. That was mental and nearly impossible to pass slower cars. I had fun though.
I don't know if I could go back to Christchurch now, it would be devastating. It was such a beautiful place. It was the first stop while over there, and a pretty spectacular introduction the country.

We did stop in some of the smaller places too. Te Anau was a really nice place.

I definitely could spend a lot more time in NZ. If I do go back i'll hit you up for your best spots.

Mk3 AAA, I wish I'd known about that car museum. I found Wellington a little boring. It was just like another city, but I think I just wasn't looking in the right places.

Windy road pic was just out of Arrowtown 65 k before Wanaka and about 25k from Queenstown. Have travelled it many times before it was ever tarsealed.

I lived in Otago in various places for 55 years.. Lived in Milford Sound for 5 years and always reckoned the only way to hit Te Anau was doing 60 and dont lift the foot LOL It has improved a bit since 1965 however

**swalee** · 30-12-2012, 03:07 PM

Hillbilly we're you born in Otago and do you drink Speights, if so, your a real Kiwi.

**Candyman** · 30-12-2012, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by swalee

Hillbilly we're you born in Otago and do you drink Speights, if so, your a real Kiwi.

Superior Piss Embibed In Great Hotels Throughout Southland (ignore the spelling on "Embibed")

You then have Wards - Worst Ale Retailed Down South

Yes, kiwi lad