Going to US, Canada & New Zealand - Any Advice?

[doobie doo]

We are off to the US & Canada from May for the rest of 2009 and then on to New Zealand in January 2010. We're taking our Landrover 130 crew cab with us. Yes we are completely mad.

Shipping, visas and temporary importation to the US already sorted, but does anyone have any tips on places to see and of the beaten tracks to drive or previous experiences and advice?

If anyone's interested I've set up a website to keep friends updated on progress. www.landrover130-adventures.com (http://www.landrover130-adventures.com)



:onkelblaa:

[toppa]

Hello and welcome,


there is a few members on here from each of the countries you have listed as visiting,

How long you in NZ for? Im originally from NZ but there is active members on here who would probably be better to advise as i havnt been there in 8 years now :( but NZ has an abundance of places to go see, route would be dependant on where tha landy lands.

I was there two years ago and drove from Auckland down to the bottom of the south island, but have to admit we were a tad rushed and passed through alot of places...

But we went Auckland, down through Coramandel to Whakatane via hot water beach, then from Whakatane across to Rotorua where we stayed the night, throug to lake Taupo where we only stopped for a few hours due to time, then on to Wellington via the desert road, again straight run due to time, then ferry across to Picton and onto Kaikura, wanted to do the whale watching, very very booked up, if this intersts you , get on line on arrival and book it dependant on your schedule! From there we headed to Christchurch but no into it, we cut across country to Lake Tekapo where we stayed a night, then onto Queesntown where we stayed a night, did a few tourist things etc... then we headed down the east coast to Winton....

We were pressed for time and did this over about 4-5 days, could have spent much longer stopping along the way but we had to be in Winton for a wedding :(




Cheers

[doobie doo]

Thanks for that. We'll be in NZ for two and half months from the start of January 2010 until the middle of March before flying on to Australia for a month without the Land Rover. We will be shipping the Land Rover from LA to Wellington and we'll probably go North first and then head south.

Hopefully we have timed it just right to get the best of the NZ summer. We have been told to spend the majority of our time in the South Island, but I'm sure the North has heaps to offer as you suggest.

We looked at spending 2 weeks in the South Island a couple of years ago and we thought we'd just have enough time to do a loop of it. 4 or 5 days to do what you did is some going. Last year we did 3,500 miles round France and Spain in two and half weeks and everything was just a blur by the end!!!!

Andrew


:onkelblaa:

[sasha2001]

Thanks for that. We'll be in NZ for two and half months from the start of January 2010 until the middle of March before flying on to Australia for a month without the Land Rover. We will be shipping the Land Rover from LA to Wellington and we'll probably go North first and then head south.

Hopefully we have timed it just right to get the best of the NZ summer. We have been told to spend the majority of our time in the South Island, but I'm sure the North has heaps to offer as you suggest.

We looked at spending 2 weeks in the South Island a couple of years ago and we thought we'd just have enough time to do a loop of it. 4 or 5 days to do what you did is some going. Last year we did 3,500 miles round France and Spain in two and half weeks and everything was just a blur by the end!!!!

Andrew


:onkelblaa:
Contact me when you arrive, I am a member of canterbury Landrover club in Christchurch(south Island) we can give you ideas , help if you need repairs etc, there is an excellant "specialist LR shop here

Wecan take you to our private playground here:
http://avtokosmos.ru/forum/showthread.php?t=1482

do not worry about.ru website its in english I post on there sometimes

[AnalogKid]

You'll be in NZ fr the best of the weather by the sounds of it.

I've been here 4 and a bit years and we're taking our time over getting to know the place, don't want to exhaust all our holiday destinations too quickly.

I can thoroughly recommend the Coromandel Peninsula, especially around Coromandel township on the west side, and Whitianga, Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach on the east. Use the 309 gravel road between them since your in a Landy, and stop off at the Waiou Water Works on the way if you appreciate Heath Robinson style engineering.

You've got long enough to go up to the far north and drive a good section of 90 Mile Beach (just watch out for the quicksand in the creeks) and come down the east side via Bay of Islands to Auckland. I'm a member of the Land Rover Owners Club Auckland, and I should be able to hook you up on a club trip around that time if you fancy a behind-the-scenes view of the area.

Heading further south, I love the wild west coast and Raglan is a worth while destination. You can surf there, all gear can be rented and lessons can be had if you require. Taupo is beautiful, and a circuit of the lake heading through the Tongariro Mountains is a must. National Park has a great place to stay called The Park with a fantastic view of Ngarahoe through the main window of the bar.

And that is where my personal knowledge dries up. The only other thing I can add is that Napier, the supposed Art Deco town, we found to be pretty disappointing. Get in touch closer to the time and I'll let you know what trips are on with the club, and failing that we should be able to head out to Muriwai beach with an informal group of trucks anyway.

[doobie doo]

Great advice, just what I'm looking for, information and recommendations that don't appear in Lonely Planet etc.

I'll keep a note of your details and be sure to give a shout later in the year.

Andrew


:onkelblaa: