Visiting New Zealand anyone ?

Well, to All SRP members that aren't axe murderers (JL excluded) if you decide to visit NZ I will offer free board in the South Island.
So many people say they intend to visit, explore LOTR country etc but it seems the trip is too far or too daunting to take on.
No problemo, fly to Christchurch, I'll meet and greet and put you up, get you sorted and you can use my home as a base to explore.
Great fly fishing, hiking, climbing, whitewater sports, bungy jumping, horse trecking, natural hot spa pools, wine, beer, wine, beer, wine, beer etc..Oh the roast lamb ain't too bad either. We also have green lipped mussels to die for. Yummy.
Don't bring your kinds unless they wanna sleep outdoors in a tent, we only have one spare double room.
We have a dog and cat so if you are allergic you are warned. We do have chickens (they live outside) so I can offer you the best eggs for breakfast...ever.
Full highspeed internet, you can even use my workshop whilst your better half is shopping if you want:roflmao
Give me at least a few weeks notice though :D
This is a serious offer btw.
No time limit on this offer either, so plan ahead.
pm me any time.
Cheers
Gary

Thanks for the invite Gary. One fine day when I finally pay off my student loan, I'd like to take you up on it, but in my case it's gonna take years. In any case if anyone does it sooner, I'd like to see some pics posted here :D

sweet, now I really wanna got NZ... with fly fishing and the wine, beer, wine, beer, and wine being nice added incentives :)

Naa, if I came over I'd never want to come back and I think you get sick of me after a couple of years :)
Beautiful part of the world you got there.

Gary, that's a very generous offer:tu

Chickens, by the way, are sometimes known as yardbirds in the southern U.S. :D

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Originally Posted by garythepenman

Don't bring your kinds...Gary

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:eek:

He invites us over, he insults us all! Don't make offers that you'll regret later, because I will be on a plane for the fly fishing alone! Never mind all of the other incredible stuff there is to do. An amazing offer, very kind of you Gary.

I'd offer the same deal, but compared to NZ, staying with me would be like going to prison. Because of the lack of exciting things to do. Not the trading of drugs for favors.

Don't sell your town short, Matt... One of the best parties I ever went to was on the UofG campus. :D

This is a serious offer and I'm sure I won't regret it Matt.

I would like to think that if I ever decided to visit USA I could hop across the country visiting you all.

There was an incident recently where a young American couple were touring NZ. Their car broke down in a remote area down south. A local farmer found them, towed their car to his homestead, arranged for the car to be fixed the next day. He put them up for 3 days. They went horse riding on his property, he took them fishing and even had a day hunting deer in the high country. This story is not unusuall for New Zealand. We are very proud of our country and love showing it off. Unfortunately tourists on comercial travel packages don't see this side of NZ, they get the expensive touristy bits.
The best way is to have someone organise "homestay"accomodation. This is a little like B&B where you stay in peoples homes (generally farms or nice cottages etc) and can eat with the family in the evenings etc. A real taste of kiwiana and is less expensive than hotels. My place is Free ;)

So, when is someone coming then ? :nj

Gary

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Originally Posted by garythepenman

So, when is someone coming then ? :nj

Gary

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Can I shave with your razors? :p

Nenad

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Originally Posted by superfly

Can I shave with your razors? :p

Nenad

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Yep, I'm sure

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Originally Posted by superfly

Can I shave with your razors? :p

Nenad

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Yep, I'm sure I've got a nice gnarly one somewhere ";"

Oh, I don't think you'll regret making the offer. I was thinking you may have some trouble with crowd control.

I remember a story about a few folks travelling across Australia. Same story, the car broke down, a friendly local offered to tow them home and repair their car. It ended differently though.:eek:

I really want to go to New Zealand, my wife would never come with me due to the flight time, but I have wanted to go ever since I was in australia about 9 or 10 years back, but didnt get the chance. I really want one of those comfy wool sweaters they make from those NZ sheep too! If I ever make it down that way, I wont bring any axes that aren't really pretty :)

If you ever make it near my way, let me know, if I dont have room to put you up, I have plenty of hilton hotel points and could get you a nice room for a week. Of course if I was to visit the USA, I dont think I would make my vacation spot on the east coast, unless I wanted to see it for the historical value...:hmmm:

I have two questions. One, can I bring my female spousal unit? Two, are we allowed to feed the hobbits?

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Originally Posted by TomlinAS

I have two questions. One, can I bring my female spousal unit? Two, are we allowed to feed the hobbits?

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Yes you can bring a significant other.

Feeding hobbits is expensive. Breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper as a minimum.

Other requirements are a weapon of your choice. Axe, bow, sword etc...

Gary

That is a very cool offer....and once I'm done with school and have a fulltime job me and my wife might take you up on that. It'll be a few months though...most likely a year at least.

You're most welcome LX.

Gary

That is a very generous offer indeed.

I just have to wait until I can afford a business class ticket. It's about 30-40 hours from here to there. No way I could handle that in coach. ;)

Flight time from LAX to Auckland is about 12 hours. 1hr flight from Auckland to Christchurch after that. So you West coasters have nothing to fret about.

Gary

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Originally Posted by garythepenman

Flight time from LAX to Auckland is about 12 hours. 1hr flight from Auckland to Christchurch after that. So you West coasters have nothing to fret about.

Gary

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It's 8 hours from NYC Metro Airports to LAX, or thereabouts. Travelocity said anything from 27 to 48 hours for the whole trip, though I guess that includes layover time.

It's a long way, that's for sure, but I'd love to see it some time. :) I mean, I thought six or seven hours to Europe was a long way.

I think Travelocity is lying. It was 18 hours to get to Al Asad, and that is counting a 2 hour flight in a C-130. 16 hours from March Air Force Base to Kuwait City. MAFB is pretty close to LAX, being northwest of 29 Palms, CA.

For those of us that have never been to your neck of the woods what are the best times of the year to visit? By that I mean climate, local events, etc.

Thats a looong time on a plane, sometimes the 2.5 hrs to Las Vegas drives me nuts :cry:

Out of curisoity I checked a travel site and they put coach at about $1500 and first class at a hair over $10,000, is that normal? Ten grand seems a little steep!

The official seasons are:-

Summer:- Dec-Feb
Autumn:- Mar-May
Winter:- June-Aug
Spring:- Sept-Nov

The best time if you don't want to ski is Nov-Mar

Gary

If you guys visit from the US, I would recomend making some plans in NZ and AU. The flight for me was around 22 hours from the east coast, and it was painful, so schedule a few weeks to tool around the countries before you subject yourself to the flight again :D