New Zealand 2015 with 6yr old

[Basketofchocolate]

Hi

Family event in NZ spring 2015. DS will be 6yrs so just 3 of us. Not sure whether to go or not. What, when, where, how?

Any advice?

Which airline? Which stops? Where else to go while there? How long for?

I think you have a bit of a dilemma. I assume your DS is at school so presumably you will only get about 2 weeks off school at Easter plus maybe an extra day or two. This means you are travelling a lot, having to adjust to the time zone , go to your event, see a bit and then come home again. If you could get 3 weeks I would do it but stopping off in a 2 week holiday is really impossible or you will have very little time in NZ.

Better airlines include BA, Emirates, Singapore and Air NZ. Some flights stop once and others twice. If time is short, you would, presumably, not travel from Island to Island so you would need to build up an itinerary that is doable from your base. You do not say where that is but hiring a motor home could work well. There will be lots of people with ideas if you say where your event is. I would want longer than 2 weeks myself to make the cost of flights and effort to get there worthwhile. I would also insist on Business to get the lie flat beds! About a month would do me!

It's in Auckland.

I am not sure it coincides with Easter holidays - that's another issue about whether or not we'd get time off school or get fined - and whether can afford the fine.

Was thinking 3 weeks was about right - DH would have to take holiday too and then that's a lot gone in the first half of the year.

For stop offs, where would be best? Would I get DC jabbed for a stop somewhere like Bangkok if a day or so? Need jabs for NZ anyway?

A friend is just off to Aukland and is going Emirates. I know one stop is Dubai but not sure about second one. I think it is an Australian city but there are one stop options. They cost more though.

Jabs depend on whether you actually get out of the airport or even the plane. There are plenty of web sites that tell you what you need if you actually stay at a destination, but refuelling/transit are usually exempt. Can't think NZ wants much but best to check.

Flight times are about 26 hours but I would do a search via a flight price comparison site to see what comes up. However the prices may be quite high now as Easter is close. Look for about 9 months time to get a better idea. I don't know how much a fine would be for missing school. I guess it would not be a huge percentage of the total cost of the trip. I think you do need to be organised when you are in NZ though, because it is a long way to go if you don't see much, no matter how great it is to see relatives. I have heard the Aukland area is great though. Can DH save a few days leave from the previous year and carry it over? Some companies do allow this for family reunions.

no jabs needed for NZ (although of course he will have had his standard childhood set I hope), no dangerous insects, no tropical diseases, no native mammals to bite. Heavy biosecurity.

3 weeks is absolute minimum to see a bit of both islands and that is pushing it. With a child who won't care about scenery and won't want to do the longer walks that are a must to see a lot of it, I'd stick to the north island. He'd probably enjoy Rotorua and there's plenty there for you too. Coromandel is great too, and there's plenty to do in and around Auckland.

do not underestimate the length of the journey and the jet lag - the time change from the UK is 13 hours in NZ summer and is never less than 11.

Emirates is the best. Route is UK (they fly from all the major airports) - Dubai - Melboune - Auckland. It's 8ish hours to Dubai, 14ish to Melbourne and another 5 to Auckland. You get a couple if hours stop in each airport. Their departure and arrival times are good. Not sure when it'd leave Auckland, but Ive done the Melbourne - UK leg plenty of times and its a 9.30pm departure from Melbourne, into Dubai around 5am, leave Dubai around 7am and into Uk around noon. It works well for getting you adjusted.

A layover in Singapore/KL/etc is a good option. It's only 7ish hours to Melbourne from there and helps with the time difference.

You don't need vaccines for Oz and NZ, or Singapore etc.

You can do the trip in a week but three weeks is best. It gives you time to adjust and then enjoy yourself.

South Island is nicest, but Auckland to Wellington is a good trip. Lots of places to stop.