BKK to Wellington

Post by **samster** » July 30, 2014, 3:57 pm

I am thinking of going to NZ to see England fail in the cricket world cup next Feb. First and last games are in Wellington with a game against the Jocks in Christchurch in between. I have been looking at flights from BKK on Skyscanners and there doesn,t appear to be any direct flights to Wellington only Auckland. I know NZ is in the back of beyond but there must be direct flights to the capital city, right

? Any recommendations of airlines etc from you kiwis out there would be appreciated?

Post by **GT93** » July 30, 2014, 4:21 pm

Ha ha mate you obviously know little about Wellington - not that you should. It's a way smaller city than Auckland. The Wellington airport runway is short with rocks and the sea at each end. It couldn't take a big plane from Bangers.

It's very windy in Wellington. I lived there for 10 years in the 1990s. Once after a plane I was on safely landed in heavy winds from Australia most of the passengers burst into applause. It's fine for domestic flights.

Not many airlines fly to NZ because the population is small. The cheapest flights to and from Thailand are usually on Qantas or Jet Star but you need to change planes at Singapore or Sydney. There might not be a Singapore - Wellington flight. There will be heaps of Sydney - Wellington flights. Thai Air is the only direct flight to NZ from Bangkok and it lands at Auckland. You can probably save about 8,000 baht by not flying Thai Air. Malaysian Air used to fly to Auckland from Malaysia. It might have cheap fares if it's still flying to NZ. February is one of the more expensive months to fly.

Wellington is a nice place apart from the weather. The bars, cafes and night life are within walking distance of the cricket ground. Accommodation in Christchurch might be expensive (but not by UK standards). It still hasn't recovered from the earthquake and people still find it difficult o find a place to live there as many homes became uninhabitable. I haven't been there since the earthquake but it's probably worth a look just for that.

Post by **GT93** » July 30, 2014, 4:44 pm

I'd add Jet Star has a poor reputation and if you have a choice between Qantas and Jet Star where Qantas is only 2,000 to 3,00 baht more expensive I'd choose Qantas.

Post by **Aardvark** » July 30, 2014, 6:34 pm

New Zealand, isn't that off the North Coast of Antarctica

Post by **maaka** » July 30, 2014, 7:16 pm

no its on Antarctica Ardy. Perth is pretty close though, because on a clear day you can hear the slap of thongs over the noise of the penguins..

Samster, why you want to come all this way just to cry in your beer is beyond me Matey, but as an Aucklander, and Feb being summer, I would make Auckland your base, with its beaches and bigger city lights, and just nip down to Wellington and Chchurch on domestic flights for the day or overnight...or hire a car in Auckland, and slowly drive down to Wellington, via Mount Maunganui, then get the car ferry over to South Island and drive on to CHCH, and then do alittle tour of our scenic south island....might cost you alittle more, but might as well get in some beaches, babes and a swim, before the doom and gloom sets in with the bat and ball....

Post by **samster** » July 30, 2014, 7:48 pm

Thanks for the advice and geography lesson guys, you learn something new every day!! Assumed Wellington was NZs London but it sounds like NZs equivalent of Hull.

Why come all that way Maaka? Because I can see England lose anytime in the UK but just fancied having the joy of seeing our abject failure in someone else's backyard. I was planning to take the ferry over to South Island as you say and see some of that on the way to see us getting a rare victory in CHCH (even we can beat the jocks). As for staying in Auckland, it sounds great but Oz are playing NZ there and there's only one thing worse than an Aussie that's losing and that's an Aussie that's winning

Post by **maaka** » July 31, 2014, 5:34 am

dont we know it Samster. Being neighbours to our Australian colonial mates, we are fierce sporting rivals, and there is nothing worst then losing to them, but also there is nothing quite like beating them as well..

on topic, my son and his new Australian wife ( they prefer Kiwi men to Aussie blokes ) flew into Auckland a month or so back and hired a flash camper van / mobile home at the airport, and toured the country..it was reasonably cheap, perhaps cheaper than a hotel, and they had the freedom to go when and where they liked..dropped at CHCH airport on the way out and had a marvelous time...so its another option for ya..

Post by **GT93** » July 31, 2014, 1:34 pm

Jeez maaka next thing you'll be telling the poor bloke to abandon Thailand and move to NZ. He just wants to spend a few nights watching grown men play cricket in their pyjamas.

He'll flee the country in terror if the wind is howling when he's in Wellington. Fingers crossed Wellington has some calm days for the World Cup and Lou Vincent is banned from all the grounds.

Post by **maaka** » July 31, 2014, 2:57 pm

oh Mate, you gotta promote our country as much as possible, as it brings in tourist dollars, and gives us work..
if I was going to come all that way to watch the sport of Kings, and spend all that money, then jasus I would hire a passion wagon, so I could crash out in the back at Basin Reserve carpark, after all the beer on a hot day goes to my head on an empty guts...

Post by **GT93** » July 31, 2014, 3:02 pm

You're a true bogan maaka. Good on ya.

Post by **samster** » January 15, 2015, 7:14 pm

Sorry to resurrect this post but I need some more advice from the Kiwis. I tried posting on a specialist travel forum but got a lot of advice about how to drive the "winding and difficult" roads in NZ and don't really need a nursemaid!!

Have sorted all my plans apart from 2 days/1 night in South Island when I need to get from Wanaka to Picton to catch a ferry.

I am coming down the east coast so fancy doing the more scenic route on the west coast on the way back.

My idea is to go through the mountains etc on day 1, stop overnight and do the rest of the journey on day 2. I need to get to Picton on day 2 before 12.30 to give me time to dump the hire car and check in for the ferry so don't have as much travelling time on day 2 (still with me??!)

I originally looked at Murchison for an overnight giving me (according to google) an 8 hour drive on day one and a couple of hours day 2. A more equal journey seems to be to stop halfway at Greymouth/Hokitika which would give me 2 journeys of 5 hours.

Are there any South Islanders out there who can give me some guidance - my main priority is not to miss the ferry on day 2 as I don't want to miss Sangakara showing us how to bat in Wellington the next day so would prefer option 1 but might not be practical?