Our trip to New Zealand has finally caught up with us. Wk to go.
Wondering about the best phone and internet deals and also
what type of health insurance etc we would need.
We have 28 days to travell around South Island.Have rented a unit in Christchurch
for the first wk. Then will play by ear after that.
Thanks for your help.
Aus-Kiwi said
08:56 PM Sep 16, 2017
Buy SIM card or phone at airport . We don't bother with health insurance . Just get travel insurance . If paying for trip on Visa ? Check that it has health, travel insurance?
hako said
10:36 PM Sep 16, 2017
We're also doing the south island but not till November. NZ has reciprocal Medicare I think. We have a CUA Platinum Mastercard which has travel insur and $6000 for rental vehicle excess...I think most if not all "platinum" credit cards have this or similar insurance but there are conditions!!.
Woody2 - did you rent on Airbnb or thru an agency and are you renting a car?
AK - any particular brand of SIM card?
Thanks
Aus-Kiwi said
12:12 AM Sep 17, 2017
Spark pre pay is cheap . Vodafone etc are at airport to the left near Maccas . At Auckland airport. From memory as low as $35 ..
macka17 said
05:50 AM Sep 17, 2017
Prebook your cars here. we saved near $40% on most trips. With Upgrades.
RACQ has good Travel ins. We normally buy a local SIM at each country we land at. Usually the cheapest way.
Don't know about credit cards. Haven't even got a credit rating. Borrowing anything puts you behind the 8 ball before you even start.
-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 17th of September 2017 05:53:17 AM
RustyD said
10:51 AM Sep 17, 2017
I just allowed my Aus Telstra mobile to have NZ (International) roaming. Think I bought a roaming package too. Worked OK. As soon as you switch on your phone, Telstra's partner picks up and easy from there. Just got to remember to add the Australia country code when calling home if you don't have it already in your contacts. There are advantages to using an international roaming package on your own phone if you can. Not sure what other Telecoms offer that deal. I suspect that all Australian Telecoms have a reciprocal Telecom in NZ.
Papou said
07:02 PM Sep 17, 2017
Aust Post for Health Insurance. Valid for twelve months no matter how many trips abroad.
Woody2 said
07:55 PM Sep 17, 2017
Thanks fellows for your replies.
Halo... rented a unit thru agency,and also renting a car which is pre booked.
Will check with Medicare if care is reciprocal.
Was told about Aust post to day so will check tomorrow,thanks Papou.
Also will be using Visa card so check with them.
Idea is to use unit as a base them travel to where we would like to go.
Then move to another area, then do the same.
So we are not packing and moving every day.
That's the plan see how it works out.
Thanks again.
Woody2 said
07:59 PM Sep 17, 2017
Aus-kiwi we are doing the South Island in and out of Christchurch.
Have you got any must see spots we need to see .
RustyD said
08:18 PM Sep 17, 2017
Akaroa. Stopped there on a Cruise. Did the boat trip looking at all the sea life in the bay. Mate recently did a day trip from Christchurch. Loved it.
Aus-Kiwi said
09:45 PM Sep 17, 2017
I'm from Hamilton in North Island . Must say everywhere in S I is nice . Queenstown, over the mountains to Greymouth . There's a nice valley,camping spot about half way. Summer is quite warm and dry down there . Low humidity. All around the coast . Take it easy on mountain roads !!
Jaybird said
08:39 AM Sep 18, 2017
Last time I went home to NZ (been in OZ 41 Years) I got a better Voda Phone deal by walking into a Voda phone shop in the nearest town than what I got at the airport. Just text your new number they give you home to your friends and family. Anywhere in NZ is good to go to especially if you havent been before.
macka17 said
09:47 AM Sep 18, 2017
Rusty D.
We tried Telstra Roaming yrs ago.
Used $100 in about 3 calls.
Found it very expensive for a phone call.
Just get local sim. text it's No to people you interested in. They can pass on if you that way inclined.
We go away. To get away thank you.
I often stay inside the fence for a week, no problems. Just doing my thing.
It's great.
NO PEOPLE..
Warren-Pat_01 said
04:22 PM Sep 18, 2017
Woody, this advice might be a little late.
Join Youth Hostels Association! They cater for the "young" & "older - up to 90+ years" - their hostels are generally in the middle of town in NZ, are cheaper than motels, comfortable & have a range of facilities available. And they forward book your next stop.
I can't recall (5 years) what we did for a phone but on Norfolk Island last year, we bought a cheap unlocked phone & SIM card.
Warren
Aus-Kiwi said
09:39 PM Sep 18, 2017
I got a complete phone from The Wgarehouse for $40 including calls etc.http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz
Our trip to New Zealand has finally caught up with us. Wk to go.
Wondering about the best phone and internet deals and also
what type of health insurance etc we would need.
We have 28 days to travell around South Island.Have rented a unit in Christchurch
for the first wk. Then will play by ear after that.
Thanks for your help.
Woody2 - did you rent on Airbnb or thru an agency and are you renting a car?
AK - any particular brand of SIM card?
Thanks
Prebook your cars here.
we saved near $40% on most trips. With Upgrades.
RACQ has good Travel ins.
We normally buy a local SIM at each country we land at.
Usually the cheapest way.
Don't know about credit cards.
Haven't even got a credit rating.
Borrowing anything puts you behind the 8 ball before you even start.
-- Edited by macka17 on Sunday 17th of September 2017 05:53:17 AM
Halo... rented a unit thru agency,and also renting a car which is pre booked.
Will check with Medicare if care is reciprocal.
Was told about Aust post to day so will check tomorrow,thanks Papou.
Also will be using Visa card so check with them.
Idea is to use unit as a base them travel to where we would like to go.
Then move to another area, then do the same.
So we are not packing and moving every day.
That's the plan see how it works out.
Thanks again.
Aus-kiwi we are doing the South Island in and out of Christchurch.
Have you got any must see spots we need to see .
We tried Telstra Roaming yrs ago.
Used $100 in about 3 calls.
Found it very expensive for a phone call.
Just get local sim. text it's No to people you interested in. They can pass on if you that way inclined.
We go away. To get away thank you.
I often stay inside the fence for a week, no problems. Just doing my thing.
It's great.
NO PEOPLE..
Join Youth Hostels Association! They cater for the "young" & "older - up to 90+ years" - their hostels are generally in the middle of town in NZ, are cheaper than motels, comfortable & have a range of facilities available. And they forward book your next stop.
I can't recall (5 years) what we did for a phone but on Norfolk Island last year, we bought a cheap unlocked phone & SIM card.
Warren