Kiwi House, Christchurch

Advantages: Brilliant views.
Disadvantages: Make sure weather is nice before you go. Expensive.

...We heard that New Zealand was famous for having more sheep than people and after being in Christchurch for a couple of days, quite amazed that we hadn't seen any sheep, that was until we had a ride up the gondola..... The gondola is a 945 mitre ride from the bottom of the port hills (very steep hill that the first settlers walked over on their arrival - i.e. had to get from the port to the flats). 500 meters above sea level. Take a trip to the crater rim of Christchurch famous extinct volcano. At the top you have a spectacular view of Christchurch, Lyttleton and depending on the clouds... Diamond Harbour/Governers Bay, etc. It's quite expensive to go up - $22 for an adult and $10 for school age kids (family pass - 2 adults and 3 kids $55). I do know at the centre of town they have an offer for a tram ride and gondola (tram ride... Read review

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Advantages: Much Gorgeousness. Nicer beer than across "the ditch"
Disadvantages: Rain. Obsession with rugby.

...it rains a lot. 6. Kiwis like chasing eggs and throwing themselves off bridges tied to big elastic bands. 7. There is a theme park dedicated to Kiwifruit. 8. A kiwi is also a kind of bird with a pointy nose. 9. There are lots of sticky up things like mountains and volcanoes. 10. It's quite wet, due to the rain. Me and Ken left Australia on the 8th Jan. leaving Rich to climb up Mt.Ozzy Osbourne, the tallest mountain in the country, with Dawn the Dwarf. Leaving our idyllic location, the hippy house high on the rocks above Coogee beach in Sydney was difficult enough. Having to do it at 5.00 am compounded this difficulty significantly (in fact I think it has taken me until now to recover). It was here we paused a while, in the company of our friends Tom and Emma whom we met in Vietnam, two Germans, two lesbians and a weekend hippy called Rosa... Read review

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Advantages: breathtaking variety of scenery, friendly people and a wonderful feeling of space
Disadvantages: distance and long flight times, need at least a month

...New Zealand is well known by Kiwis as Godzone - or God's Own little country, and I can well imagine this to be true. Often overshadowed by neighbouring Australia, there is little doubt that New Zealand possesses quite simply the most breathtaking variety of scenery and some of the most genuinely friendly people you are likely to meet on holiday. In fact, I think of it as how Britain ought to be, but never will be. The country is not too dissimilar from England in size, but with a much smaller population, leaving plenty of open unspoilt places, and a general feeling of space that England lacks. It is separated into two halves, referred to as North and South Islands. Basically, North Island contains most of the large cities, including Wellington and Auckland. In contrast South Island contains the better scenery of the two, with snow... Read review

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