Metro News - Newspaper Online - formerly Toorak Metro News Victoria au newspaper Melbourne south eastern Bayside Melbourne

One doesn’t really need too many incentives to visit NZ. However there are some substantial savings to be had by visiting at this time of the year. Even though winter isn’t everyone’s pick as the most appropriate time to travel, there are some fairly attractive offers to lure visitors across the Tasman (as well as the skiing!).

Off Peak prices are considerably cheaper as tourism operators try to get Bums On Seats and notwithstanding a very favourable exchange rate for Australians presently. One Kiwi dollar is fetching 85 Aussie cents whereas late last year the exchange rate was virtually dollar for dollar.

Airfares

Jetstar and Air New Zealand are offering one way internet fares out of Melbourne for around $220.If you don’t have time constraints you can leave booking your return flight once you are in NZ, where the favourable exchange rate will see savings of up to 15%. My return Auckland to Melbourne flight with Air New Zealand ended up costing around $180 after the credit card currency conversion.

Vehicle Hire

Ezy Car Rentals were the pick of the offerings. A seven day rental period will set you back NZ$105, that’s NZ$15 per day all inclusive for a late model Toyota Echo that’s ‘been around and done the rounds’ .The vehicle was a little rough around the edges but it was reliable.

It wasn’t until returning to Melbourne that I truly appreciated what a bargain it was. Tullamarine Airport charge you $12 an hour to park your car in their car park! Britz are offering 2 berth camper vans for under $40 per day. During peak season when all forms of humanity descend into NZ, the daily rate is prone to quadruple in price as demand outstrips supply. That’s a hardly an issue at this time of year.

The beauty of these vans is that they offer the liberty and versatility to come and go as you please but off peak rates usually coincide with some bloody cold nights. The heating issue can be overcome by staying in motor camps [caravan parks] where you can plug in to a power source and activate the van’s heating.

Accommodation

Baylys Beach Motor Camp provided a fully self contained “Bach “, a no frills beach house for NZ$250 per week. While camping in a van offers the utmost in flexibility when touring around New Zealand, a couple of weeks in a camper van can get a touch claustrophobic at times. Baylys Beach offers sublime rugged coastal walks for those wanting to stretch their legs.

Yes, there is no denying it can get quite cold, especially in the South Island, at this time of year but Mother Nature still puts on a splendid show for visitors and the tourism operators are really making it enticing with those Off Peak Rates.

If these deals aren’t enough to get you over there, you have the added bonus of being able to gorge yourself on bananas for a dollar a kilo. The Kiwis don’t have a home grown market to protect as they import their bananas from the Philippines and Ecuador. So if you are tired of paying upwards of $10 a kilo for those little yellow fellows, Go Bananas and book your flight!

“Where The Hell Are You”.

by Fabrizio Marsani fmarsani@yahoo.com.au