2 week Trip to New Zealand

Woo hoo! Another American vegan traveling New Zealand in March! Maybe we'll bump into each other.

Who's the American vegan on this thread?

Dear Westwood: CWDORIN is talking about me (see my very first post). He gotcha! Anyway, just an update: I got email from NZ Motor Homes that (1) $15/day Insurance is mandatory and (2) I can use the "van < 5.5m" option with the ferries.

cwdorin: I am planning on arriving March 12 and leaving March 26. When are you planning to be here?

Blessed are the leeks, for vegans will inherit the earth! Long may you walk a mung us!

Be careful, PC. There is a lot at steak and you may be up for the chop. I advise you to rissolve this (GM modified) cornflict.

I just can't see the snag.

both of you are good with words but didn't get this "rissolve" ??

Rissole (Aus) is a meat patty served by itself; a naked hamburger if you will.

Yes, I believe the advice was good and it is certainly appreciated. Sorry I have been busy with planning the rest of trips. I am now finalizing the car reservation and then will do the ferry booking and once done with it, will post my choices here and why I chose what I chose and what it cost and what were the planning tools (besides you guys!!). Only thing that will need to be done after that would be to book hotels/hostels but based on my understanding, I should be OK not to book hotels/hostels in advance and just walk-in. Is that correct? Thanks again everyone.

PC_Glow: I see you are in China. I assume you are very familiar with China travels scene. Why I ask is after NZ and Fiji, I go to Australia and then to China. I am planning to do a Buddhist Tour and have worked with a travel agent to make a 42 day Buddhist Pilgrimage itinerary. Would you be able to give some feedback on that? TIA.

It might not hurt to book a hostel in advance so you don't have to worry about finding a place when you arrive. After that just use the 'book as you go' method, booking places a few days ahead. If you can't be bothered then in New Zealand in March you don't need to stress about planning too far in advance.