misc questions

I was just wondering about a couple of other things.

I'm trying to decide if I want to bring a laptop or not, and I'm wavering between the extra weight and the convenience. As a general rule, I understand that most hostels probably have free wi-fi. But, does have average hostel have desktop computers?

From Auckland airport, what's the cheapest way (besides walking/hitching) into the city centre? The Airbus is $16.00. Is there an alternative, even if it's less convenient?

Thanks again.

A lap top has obvious advantages. You can pull up a pew in cafe, get yourself a flat white (a coffee invented in Australia) and tap away in luxury. Hostel computers often charge in my experience (like wounded bulls at times) and you often/sometimes wind up queuing being a sweat European continental type in smelly white sports sox or having them impatiently waiting behind you. I would normally say no to the laptop because I wouldn't normally be too bothered keeping too much in contact with the folks back home. The email every few days would cover it. So I'm saying, I guess, I'd ditch the laptop and get what you can when you can based on the premise you don't want to be facebooking/instagramming/tweeting/flickring/pinteresting every bloody moment of your trip.

The 380 bus will take you to Papatoetoe for $4.50 but I don't know how well it copes with luggage or how crowded it is and from there you can get a train for I don't know how much into Auckland.

www.maxx.co.nz
You can check fares on that website. $5.60 I think it is. Give me a sec. Edit: yes, its $5.60 from Papatoetoe to Britomart Place, Auckland CBD.
Note that after paying the bus driver for bus route 380, the train fare from Papatoetoe to Britomart is extra.
A Dayrover tix is $16, so if you pay this to the bus driver, it would give you a whole days of wandering around Auckland CBD and the suburbs, good if you get into Auckland early am.
And yes, I have been to Auckland twice, going 4 times more in the next few months.
I have used Supershuttle, have used the AirportExpress, haven't tried the 380 though.

Nothing problematic taking the 380 bus then train. After all, its just a public bus going from the airport to Manukau City or Onehunga (the other way).

What are you doing in Thailand, westwood?

Sitting on the deck of my bungalow typing this while looking out to sea. Husband is up having a beer at the local shop. Same bungalow as last year, 20 paces from the sand. Go to Google earth and look at Banthai Beach. The washed away sand of 6 months ago is back, better than ever.

I kind of couldn't be bothered going the long way when the airport express bus is quite good and will either take you to where you want to go, or you can catch the red/green/orange link buses for not much (i think they were 50c up to $1.80)

I have taken an ipod to NZ when I went there, twice, and used it to link to the hotel's wifi.
Look into bringing along an ipad, that's thinner, and lighter, and it serves more or less the same purpose.
No harm if you bring along a smaller laptop, eepc, or what ever its called.

NZ is a pretty safe place as long as you have your wits about you. So it really depends on how long you'll be over here and what you'll be needing a laptop for (vs an iPhone or other smaller device). Keep in mind that when hostels (or most establishments) advertise Free Wifi, it's usually 50mb a day (can't skype for that), with the option of purchasing more data, maybe $5 for another 100mb or something. Some hostels like Base give you unlimited for 24 hours for around $7, and you can sit in the lobby on facebook all day with 30 other travelers. Plus they don't have netflix or anything like that here.
How long are you in nz for? The only thing we've found ours useful for is watching movies at night in our van, and storing photos off our phones, but if you're here a short time you won't need it. The average hostel does have a desktop you can use, I have found the price is usually $2 for 20 minutes but you can upload photos, etc.
Don't know much about the buses from the airport, sorry.

Mate, don't even think about hitch hiking in New Zealand. It is not safe to do so there. Do some research into the subject. There have been many bashings, rapes and murders of hitch hikers in recent times. The most recent is on the front page of todays New Zealand Herald. As a seasoned traveller myself, having hitch hiked in several countries over a number of years I would liken hitch hiking in New Zealand to Hitch Hiking in the United States. Not a good idea.