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?
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?
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.
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.
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 !!
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.
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.
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
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
