Local Guides sharing real New Zealand Stories & Insider Knowledge with fellow Travellers!
Welcome to Virtual Journeys NZ. My name is Michael Nees, I love to share my deep tourism knowledge about New Zealand. With over 30 years being a tour guide and travel itinerary designer (at Guest NZ) you get valuable insider tips on this channel. Lately been a virtual tour guide and VR/360 storyteller.
If you are dreaming about a holiday to New Zealand or planning a trip in the future Virtual Journeys NZ provides travellers with insider knowledge videos and inspirational, safe and affordable digital tour experiences with immersive 360 video products and Online Storytelling.
Virtual Journeys New Zealand will add another dimension for sustainable travel by focusing on authentic experiences in balance with available resources and with a neutral impact on the natural environment.
Glad you get value out of the videos. Re sandflies, it really depends on the weather on how sandflies 'behave'. When the weather turns to rain they are usually most 'active'! As long as you move around you are fine. They are NOT around at nighttime. Otherwise there is some local eucalyptus based lotion you can use in the Fiordland region. Hope this helps with your travel preparation. Cheers Michael
Planning a 12-day trip to NZ this year from December to early January and your video has been the most helpful for planning I've come across, so thank you! I plan to fly from LAX to Queenstown, drive to Milford Sound, Dunedin, and nearby areas on the South Island for 6 days, then spend the remaining 6 days on the North Island exploring Rotorua, beaches, and ending in Auckland. Do you have any advice for first-time travelers or solo drivers, especially those new to driving on the left? Also, how common and expensive are one-way car rentals in New Zealand, since they can be quite pricey in the US if returned to a different city… hoping to avoid backtracking before flying to the next location. Again, thank you for the quality content!
Hi Demitri, with only 12 days time my suggestion is to spend 8 days in the South and 4 days in the North Island. Connect with a domestic flight to Auckland, pick-up a rental car and focus on the central part of the North Island. Yes, everything will be expensive during the Christmas/New Years peak holiday period. Also, everything will be fully booked. So you need to plan this now and make key reservations. Hope this helps! Cheers Michael
Glad it was helpful! If you intend to travel in mid Nov I would recommend to head to OZ first. Then cover the northern (e.g. Great Barrier Reef) and maybe the Outback (time permitting). Then head over to NZ. All depends on your overall time budget available. The more time you bring the better! Cheers Michael :-)
There are some non mobile areas, especially between Te Anau and Milford Sound. My suggestion is to have some notes ready. Otherwise most key places as well sign posted. Hope this helps!
Whatsup Michael Nees, how are you? my self aniket a professional video editor. i just wanna ask, do you need a video editor for your youtube videos. i can edit your videos if you give me permission.
I'm glad I found your video! It was very informative. I'm a French Canadian and I just love NZ. I'm planning to do a trip there in my lifetime and Dunedin caught my attention for many reasons. Subscribed. Cheers! - Freeway Franks
Thx, very helpful.Whats do recommended rental car or motorhome , for example a 3 weeks trip? We are planning a trip in february 2025 for 3 weeks (coming from germany)
Either or will work with 3 weeks time. As mentioned in the video it's about the style of travelling. If you like to drive less and stay longer at one location use a rental car & accommodations. If you like the independence of a motorhome (and travel more) then use that. For Feb you need to expect very high prices for motorhomes as this is peak summer season here. You need to make bookings NOW. Here are also a sample travel itineraries to check out -> guestnewzealand.com/new-zealand-travel-itineraries/ Cheers Michael
I don't know from where did you come up with those prices, but they are ridiculous high, they are high even for peak season. Car rental right now from Queenstown Airport is around 70NZD per day with full insurance, in February when I was in Queenstown was around 90-100NZD per day, even 80-85NZD if you booked to pick up from Christchurch. Mid Range Hotel for 350 NZD? A quick search on Booking and you can find mid range accomodation at a much lower price and not talking hostels. Also, for queenstown everyone knows you book at least 1 month in advance. 400NZD for airplane tickets from Auckland to Queenstown? A quick search and a direct return flight is 260NZD with a 20Kg luggage. At least you got the gas price right.
Thanks very much for your feedback on your experiences. Yes, prices can vary a bit for any tourism services in NZ. Especially with rental cars it always depends on locations, one-way rentals, age and size of the vehicles. The same does apply for camper and motorhomes. With accommodation the cost range is widely open, depending locations, standards, inclusions. My key message for holidaymakers (2-4 weeks travelling) is this: if you calculate it all up there is no cost difference between travelling with a car rental and a motorhome/camper. Whatever standard level you look at. Rather than looking on the cost a memorable holiday experience depends on the style of traveling the individual prefers. BTY, the airfare calculation is for 2 pax for 2 x flights, so NZ$200 per person per flight, which is achievable if booked early. Again, many thanks again for your thoughts and feedback. Cheers Michael :-)
Thanks for sharing me and my wife will be coming to Mapua in may this year celebrating our 35 year anniversary from Australia. It all looks amazing I know it’ll probably be a bit cooler then but that’s okay cheers 🙏 again all the best 🤠😘
Great to hear you are coming over Colin! Check out the Upper Moutere area as well with NZ's oldest pub as well as very cool smaller wineries, arts and crafts places etc. Cheers Michael :-)
Hi Dora, you can use a standard car as the road is good. In the winter season (June-August) you need to be aware that there could be snow and ice, so this would be a different story. If you travel in winter I would recommend to use a local tour or transfer. Cheers Michael
Hello Michael, I am planning to visit New Zealand in the spring for 10 days on the South Island. What would you suggest as the best itineraries? I prefer nature. Thanks.Kevin, Houston Texas
Hi Kevin, very much depends on your interests. Generally speaking I would recommend to stay as much as possible two nights, so you have a full day to explore. Later this week we'll release another 'How to plan' video, which you might be keen to check out. Plus a 'easy use' planning sheet. Here is a sample 10 day itinerary for the South Island to get you started, travelling with a rental car. Hope that helps. Cheer Michael guestnewzealand.com/itineraries/south-island-travel-itineraries/new-zealand-south-island-itinerary-10-days/
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Great video man! Do you have an email I can contact you at? My girlfriend and I want to come to New Zealand but need a solid travel guide to point us in the right direction.😊
We got a number of other videos on how to plan your trip -> ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-r59LtbLlyOg.html Plus a planning sheet -> bit.ly/vj-planning-updates If you have specific questions please email me on michael@guestnewzealand.co.nz
Great to hear from you Sandi. We had some struggle with the internet connect. It's really strange. One spot is 4 bars and the other 2 bars... Anyway, enjoy the recording! I will do, so keep an eye out for more livestream tours!
@@virtualjourneysnz I'm in the UK so I think the time difference might mean it's a bit late at night here, will be sure to watch it later though if it's available!! :)
Such a beautiful part of the world, unlike any other. So glad you are here with the virtual travelers, Michael! Looking forward to many more exciting adventures.
No rats at all? Not that I don’t believe you, but I do find that difficult to believe. Hard to keep them out of your house, so to keep them off a whole island? Is there a history or reason for that? What a wonderful place to be if there aren’t those pests!
Yes, the Department of Conservation has a pretty good job with pest control on those islands. Hopefully we can keep those nasties away from the birds on Mou Waho!
@@virtualjourneysnz Ah! Ok that makes sense if the DOC is keeping them at bay. They must be doing a wonderful job then! Almost like trying to get rid of ants or earth worms. Not easy!!
Stunning area and great concept. However, you'd have to be both very lucky and a tour pro to be able to hit a postage stamp green surrounded by hazard with driver standing on an elevated platform slightly bigger than a standard golf mat. Might have to give this a go next time I cross the ditch!
Thats cool like bro when was the last time you saw a crocodile doing the "wiggle wiggle thing" as a human doing that doesn't look cool but darn seeing a crocodile doing that is cool so I might go too a zoo to see that
