Temporary Low Cost Travel Cafe

[Lightheart]

Hi everybody. My name is Lightheart, and I'm needin' some information!!! I am looking to go to New Zealand, and I am inquiring to everyone as to a way to do that cheaply and adventurously: such as, info about staying at hostels (where? booking? cost?) using public transportation, taking a backpack or two at most, affordable plane ticket OR ship ticket, (I'm a college student) and most importantly, how to BOOK it all! Also, I am a total Lord of the Rings nut (aka a Ringer- lol!) ^^ and seeing as how LOTR was filmed in NZ, I would like to find out somehow if the Middle-earth Tours are still running. A lot o' questions here, I know, but throw at me whatever ya got tae help. THANX to ye all! <whoops!>

Edit Reason: Removed email address - no email addresses in the public folders, please. It makes the forum a honeypot for spammers. Thanks for your understanding.
Moderator: Alan L

[attitudetravel]

Hi, Lightheart and welcome to the Temporary Low Cost Travel Cafe! We'll be moving somewhere permanent sometime soon, but you're most welcome to join us all here while we sort out the move.

It's great that you have found us, anyway - you've come to one of the best places on the web to ask about cheap and adventurous travel.

You're asking a lot of different questions, so I'll tackle them one at a time...

1) What low cost transport options exist within New Zealand?

The main one you need to know about is nakedbus which operates intercity routes up and down both North Island and South Island for as little as NZ$2 per sector.

The other two options for now are both budget airlines - one real and one virtual.

The real one is Pacific Blue which has recently started operating internal low cost flights in New Zealand between Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.

The virtual one is Air New Zealand's grabaseat which is basically a special Air New Zealand tariff where you can find the kind of fares you might normally expect only from budget airlines.
_________________
Alan Lansdowne
Editor, attitudetravel.com

[attitudetravel]

2) Where can I find and book hostels?

Try this up-to-date list:

Hostels in New Zealand
_________________
Alan Lansdowne
Editor, attitudetravel.com

[attitudetravel]

3) Are Middle Earth tours still running?

Too many to choose from!

Try these (listed in no particular order):

1) Lord of the Rings Tours
2) Red Carpet Tours
3) Hassle-Free Tours: Lord of the Rings Tour
4) Tourmasters: Lord of the Rings Tours
5) Flat Earth: Middle Earth Film Locations Tour
6) Independent Lord of the Rings Tours
_________________
Alan Lansdowne
Editor, attitudetravel.com