Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: What is so Good About New Zealand Anyways? ...and Other Questions About Down Under

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Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 12-07-2005, 10:35 AM:

I just realized that there seems to be a lot of people on this forum from New Zealand. I was looking through a few threads and saw several different names with a New Zealand location.

My wife and I are planning a trip for this August to go to Australia for a few weeks. If New Zealand is such a great place, we may be tempted to stop there too. [thumbsup]

We have friends that were transferred to Brisbane for a few years and next August they come home so we want to visit while they are still there. What do you Australians/New Zealanders suggest for things to do in in your countries? The only two things that are a must for us so far are the Great Barrier Reef and the opera house in Sydney.

I believe we are purchasing a pack of flights through Qantas that will let us fly all over Australia while we are there.

*edited to change Quantas to Qantas.* My mistake.

[ 03-28-2006, 09:28 PM: Message edited by: Joshua Waaland ]

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-07-2005, 11:15 AM:

Well, that Peter Jackson guy likes to make all of his movies there.

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 12-07-2005, 01:46 PM:

Do the bridge climb in Sydney. It's a little pricey but well worth it.
North of Brisbane (not to far) is a little town called Noosa. It's a very pleasant place and has sort of a nature preserve within walking distance. You can see all sorts of wildlife there. I like the turkeys. Their tails are 90° out from out turkeys so they look like they have rudders.

While in Sydney leave the wife home and check out Bondi Beach [evil]

Lots of Sheila watching there. [Big Grin]

Australia is a great place. Very pleasant people. We're going back soon

Good beer too

Posted by Emma Tomiak (Member # 1862) on 12-08-2005, 02:07 AM:

If you're going to be in Hamilton anytime in June, let me know and we can hang out. I'm going to be studying there from February through mid July.

Oh, I might have already said this, but my member pic is me abseiling 100m down into a huge cavern. It's a tour thing called the "Lost World" in Waitomo. You can abseil, black water raft, and do lots of cool underground stuff.

Posted by Paul Trimboli (Member # 1509) on 12-08-2005, 04:54 AM:

Well I think there are more Australian projectionist on here then from New Zealand....but anyway.

Definatly agree with what Greg said to do in Sydney, also check out Darling Habour and possible go to IMAX there (WORLDS biggest screen), The Powerhouse Museam is worth a look at. It is actually hard to think of things for you to do even thought there is tonnes! Will you be coming over to Perth? I definatly recomend you come and see it- Kings Park, Rotnest, Fremantle, Valley of the Giants (which is in Pemberton),Swan River. Perth is a fairly quiet and relaxed place that shuts down pretty early most week nights except for the resteraunt districts. Broome (up north WA) is a great place to relax at.

I have not been to New Zealand but would definatly like to go there, a really great place I am told. Might be my next holiday...

Posted by Stephen Brown (Member # 292) on 12-08-2005, 05:16 AM:

Joshua,

Ok, Important safety tip #1. Its called QANTAS, no U. It actually stands for Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services. Common mistake. You only make it once.

Theres heaps to do in Australia, it just depends what your into. If your starting in Brisbane you can go North to the Sunshine Coast (where Noosa is located) and if your pre-disposed to the Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, you can visit his Zoo there. The Sunshine Coast also has some great beaches and places where you can get lost quickly. South of Brisbane is the Gold Coast, which is where the theme parks are (Seaworld, Dream World, and Warner Brothers Movie World). Its a very touristy place, too touristy for a lot ot Aussies, but if thats your thing then check it out. Its always good for a perv (looking at the fairer sex).

Bear in mind that in Australia we also have some low cost airlines Jetstar and Virgin Blue, so jumping on a plane cheaply and going somewhere for a couple of days is relatively simple. I do it all the time.

If your going up to the Reef you have a couple of options. The Great Barrier Reef is a big long bit of Coral that runs for the majority of the Queensland coast, so there are different points you can see it from. The Whitsunday Islands is a popular place which is made up of a lot of small islands off the coast. Most of them have resorts on them so staying up there is easy, but can be a bit pricey. Another option to see the Reef is to head all the way up to Cairns. They have boats that leave from there everyday of the year and head out to the reef, where they will take you diving/snorkling. Thats a pretty popular option. Also while in Cairns you can see the world heritage listed Daintree Rainforest. A fantastic trip (done it myself), just watch out for the Crocodiles up there, they seem to have taken a liking to eating American tourists lately.

Which Amphitheatre are you talking about in Sydney?? I'm with Greg, do the Bridge Climb. Its a great way to see Sydney. If your in Sydney there are a lot of Day trip options available to you. West of Sydney is the Blue Mountains which is so named because of the colour they take on. You can also head on up to the Hunter Valley, where theres some fantastic Wine country (if your into Wine). Theres the usual beaches and all that sort of stuff. Bondi Beach is okay, but thats where all the the tourists go. Try the Northern beaches area of Sydney (Manly. Narabeen).

Theres an awful lot to tell, and not much room to tell it, so if you want some more information, drop me an email with some specifics and I will give you some detailed information.

I do know that New Zealand is full of Kiwis and Sheep. Oh, and they like to jump off tall things with bungy cord attached to their ankles (yeah, I know, its Wierd).

Steve Brown

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 12-08-2005, 07:15 AM:

Yeah, I think we will skip the theme parks. We have one about 10 minutes from here and I grew up next to one. My parents would buy me a season pass and drop me off all summer with my friends. It was a cheap babysitter for them. I have had enough roller coasters to last me a lifetime.

Thanks for all the tips folks. I will definitely check into them. [thumbsup]

[ 03-28-2006, 09:29 PM: Message edited by: Joshua Waaland ]

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 12-08-2005, 12:45 PM:

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Sydney many years ago. Was there training spacecraft controllers for the then brand new Aussat (now Optus) satellite communications network. Commuted every day from our hotel in Manly Beach to the Operations Control Center in Belrose and had the run of the city evenings and weekends. Great place, one of the few I've been to where American visitors weren't mocked or despised.

Definitely want to go back.

Posted by Warren Smyth (Member # 1838) on 12-08-2005, 05:49 PM:

If you are coming down this way, a trip to New Zealand is well worth it. It has been said that NZ has a piece of every country in the world in terms of scenery and you don't have to travel that far to see it once you are here. It's one of the reasons that American producers are coming here to make films. Many Americans are buying property here and staying.

In May and July you will be in our winter which means that the snow capped mountains at Queenstown in the south island will be magnificent. If you are into skiing, tramping, bungie jumping, riding rapids, and fishing, there is plenty. If you want to take it easy, you can go on many tours and see the scenery, lakes and mountains as well as whales jumping around off the coast of Kaikora. The towns and cities in the South Island reflect the British influence.

In the North Island, which is warmer, there is great scenery and thermal activity at Rotorua with much entertaining Maori culture available. The Maori were here before european settlement. Up North there is the Bay of Islands with great scenery and many tours.

The capital is Wellington at the bottom of the North Island where Peter Jackson is building a large facility. You can go on a tour of locations and see where the LOTR films were made if you are so inclined.

The largest city is Auckland in the north of the North Island where there is plenty to see. We have still got some of our old theatres such as the atmospheric Civic Auckland but unfortunately, like most parts of the world, we have lost most of our magnificent picture palaces. I consider myself fortunate to have worked in some of them.

There is plenty of material about New Zealand on the web and our dollar exchange rate is in your favour. If you end up in Auckland, let me know and I'll show you some plexes.

Posted by Steve Scott (Member # 630) on 12-08-2005, 05:56 PM:

Duh, it's new [Big Grin]

The only way it could be better is if it were New Digital Zealand!

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 12-08-2005, 07:12 PM:

After we were there a few days I started noticing how pleasent the Oz "accent" is. The whole speech pattern is sort of happy sounding.
It makes for a very pleasent, relaxed feeling

I think this ad was filmed in the same location as the LOTR trilogy
so you get a little peak at NZ
http://www.bigad.com.au/

Posted by Peter Berrett (Member # 672) on 12-09-2005, 12:04 AM:

Hi from an Australian

Here is what I think you will find to be the best thing about Australia & New Zealand.

If you stay at a three star motel in Australia you will be surprised at the good quality accommodation you will receive. Generally speaking our motels are clean, serviced well, properly run and nice places to stay. Having experienced American motels you will impressed I promise you. Further the people that run the motels are generally friendly and helpful too.

NZ motels are even better and Kiwis are very friendly. Don't miss Rotorua with its mud pools, thermal activity and Maori culture.

cheers Peter

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 12-09-2005, 08:17 PM:

With many of the motels/hotels in the states run by immigrants from a third world country the quality and service is about as shabby as you would expect and certainly don't expect a thank you or a smile, rude and sullen is pretty typical here a standard that is easy to exceed.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 12-10-2005, 12:08 PM:

Hmmm... I can think of a bunch of experiences in hotels here in US, run by americans, that sound like that.

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 12-10-2005, 12:40 PM:

OOps

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 12-10-2005, 01:18 PM:

A kid I graduated high school with sold his car just to afford the airline ticket to Australia. Came back and said it was worth it. Seems to me a bit fad-ish going "Down Under". Kinda like everybody vacationing in Acapulco back in the 70's. Nothing against you guys, but I'd rather see Europe first.

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 12-10-2005, 02:19 PM:

I just cancelled a trip to Europe. We were going to Libya to see an eclipse on march 29, (by way of Italy and Egypt etc etc) but now they won't let americans in their country. We're going back to Oz, where they like us.
Too many terrorist types over in Europe

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 12-10-2005, 03:46 PM:

You got guts. Hell, thats about as insane as vacationing in Krygistan or Azerbajan. No, myself I'd love to see Italy, the Balkans, and parts of southern Germany. Day trips to Istanbul, London and Moscow not out of the question, though.

My opinion is no foreigners "like" us (Canada included), but they sure "like" the money we spend.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 12-10-2005, 03:52 PM:

I had no problems in Europe last year (Netherlands, Germany and Italy). Everyone was nice as could be that we dealt with. I wouldn't hesitate to go back in a flash if I could. That being said, I wouldn't mind seeing Oz/NZ either.

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 12-10-2005, 04:52 PM:

We were only going to be in Libya for 6 hours. The cruise ship would dock and we'd be on a bus out to the eclipse site and back. Seemed doable. Then the Libyans started acting up. Screw them (nuke'em)
Why the sun and the moon had to intersect so the shadow fell in that god forsaken (really) country I'll never know. Other options were Niger and Chad or Turkey on the other side of the med, but the weather isn't favorable there

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 12-10-2005, 11:22 PM:

My only foreign soil experiences were to the Caribbean Islands and to Mexico and Canada.

Mexico was especially bad. We took a cruise for our honeymoon and we stopped at a resort to dock. We went into this huge tent to shop since my wife wanted a keepsake to remember our honeymoon. The vendors were fighting over customers and they would literally shove you into their little store and give you the hard sell. The Caribbean was about the same but not as bad.

[ 03-28-2006, 09:31 PM: Message edited by: Joshua Waaland ]

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 12-11-2005, 01:05 AM:

I would think that people who sell in ports have a different attitude than people who have shops in the country. After all, the ports are just tourist stops really, with those people just hopping off the ship for a few hours. I would guess these people experience alot more of the "Ugly American" stereotype, rather than the person who chooses to visit the country for a longer time and actually experience the culture etc.

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 12-11-2005, 01:48 AM:

Well I guess you can see much of the country thru the eyes of Peter Jackson in Kong and LOTR , but it as others have said ... a piece of all the best in other Countries in a compact area , the people are friendly , Aussies are nearly the same but the sights are very different , a very large sunbaked land with lovely coastal cities , a tough place for tough cars and people hence the rivalry with Ford and GMH Holden (or Chevys) your welcome to contact the Techies while your down under and hope that we are able to show you some of the sights of the Lands Under

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 12-11-2005, 10:52 AM:

I lived in Maui (Wailuku) during the early 70s and after a while I got to hate tourists too. They all seemed to have this attitude that because they could afford a ticket there, that everyone had to get out of their way cause they owned the place. Little old ladies off the tour buses (the ones with sunglasses, camera and sharp elbows) were the worse. At the same time I became accustomed to being a minority.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 01-18-2006, 08:40 PM:

Hey Greg

When are you due back here?

John

Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 01-18-2006, 10:23 PM:

Got to wait until after April 15 (tax day) to see what I have left over. I hope to look you up again.

Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 01-18-2006, 11:03 PM:

John Wilson! Where ya been on MSN! Hopefully I'll be down in your area within a year, I plan on taking a long trip later this year or next...

Posted by Fred Georges (Member # 505) on 01-19-2006, 08:27 AM:

" Hmmm... I can think of a bunch of experiences in hotels here in US, run by americans, that sound like that. "

Mike, you just have to stay away from those Hotels that rent their rooms by the Hour! [Razz]

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 08-04-2006, 08:39 PM:

Well, it's finally here! We leave tomorrow at noon for the airport. First we fly by Southwest into Las Vegas then onto L.A.. After that we stay in L.A. for 4-5 hours until our Qantas plane leaves. Then it's 14 hours to the other side of the planet.

First we will be staying with our friends in Brisbane for a few days then onto Cairns, Alice Springs and Sydney last.

We will be diving at the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns. I am a bit of a Discovery Channel nut and this has been shark week. Not good for getting up courage when you are getting ready to dive the reef in Australia. Between that and their programs on Irikandji and Box Jellyfish and how they are the most venomous creatures in the world I am convinced we will not be coming back. [Frown]

My wife thinks I am overreacting.

I never really had the need to visit Australia but my wife wants to go there and I think it will be fun.(I got my projectors and she got her trip) I think the only place I have ever really felt the need to see before I die is Europe. Of course by the time I come back I will probably want to revisit Australia again someday. I am just looking forward to two weeks of no customers calling me and vacation. My cell phone won't work over there. [thumbsup]

Thanks for all the help!

Posted by Cameron Glendinning (Member # 3516) on 08-04-2006, 08:49 PM:

when your in Sydney, I would be happy to help show you around,
just click on the tab above

Posted by Steve Maggs (Member # 444) on 08-04-2006, 11:23 PM:

I am happy to show people around Brisbane. There are some cinemas that people may wish to visit. I recently had some people from the CTA in England that I took around. [Smile]

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 08-07-2006, 11:15 AM:

I have a friend, a man and his wife who are in their '70s, he made a fortune in the construction business over the past 30 years. Every January 2nd or 3rd they head for Hawaii where they stay for a few days before setting out for someplace in Asia or the South Pacific. They've been doing this for about 15 years. Four years ago they visited Australia for the first time. After a 10 day organized tour was over, they liked it so much they rented a car and stayed 3 more weeks touring on their own with nothing to guide them other than a map and advice from locals. They've told everybody not to miss Australia and New Zealand.

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 08-08-2006, 05:10 AM:

quote: Greg Mueller
Too many terrorist types over in Europe

.

There are too many for my liking, granted; but you stand a greater chance of winning the National Lottery than being directly affected by any of their activities.

Related to which, it looks like I recently had a lucky escape. Earlier in the spring I had an email from a contact asking if I'd be interested in some consultancy work in an unspecified part of the Middle East, advising on the spec-ing up a new archive facility and training staff. At the time she was talking about June or July, to which I replied that I'd be unable to take any time off from my day job at that point, but that if things still needed doing in August or September, to get back to me.

Over the weekend she emailed me about something completely different. In response, I added a PS to the message asking what had become of the Middle East job. She replied that it was now permanently on hold, because the project was in Beirut. Scary - if I'd taken the job on her original timescale, I guess I could have been over there when Hisbollocks started, as President Bush put it, 'doing this shit'...

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 08-21-2006, 04:03 PM:

Well we have finally returned home from a nice two week stay down under. Thanks for all your input guys. We had a great time and will try to post some pics later. I took over 1200 photos in total. Made good use of that 4G Memory Stick.

My wife had a final for one of her master's classes on saturday morning on August 5th. After that we left for the airport and hopped a Southwest flight to Las Vegas (flew over the Grand Canyon and saw The Strip for the first time) and then over to L.A. We boarded a Quantas 747 in L.A. at 11:30 their time. We then flew the 14 hour trip to Brisbane non-stop on Qantas. We landed at 6am in Brisbane which would have been 4pm Sunday our time. So basically it took us about 28 hours from the time we left our house to get to Brisbane.

We stayed in Brisbane with our friends for several days before heading on to Cairns. After several days there we left for Ayers Rock and then onto Sydney. It was a long trip with lots of flying but we got everything in that we wanted. Definitely an experience to remember.

My wife's favorite part was holding the Koalas. I mostly enjoyed Sydney and Brisbane. We bought a Didgeridoo and some clap sticks among other things. It seems the Didge and clap sticks are the required tourist keepsake when you visit. We were happy to comply. It seems I have a natural talent for the Didge. My brother would probably say it's because I talk so much and stretched out my lips. [Big Grin]

The trip back was a b_tch! We were up for 36 hours straight. We left Sydney in the morning so it made it tough to sleep on the way home. By the time we made it to our third flight we were just trying to hold each other up. All in all it was a great trip. Thanks Oz.

[ 08-27-2006, 11:01 PM: Message edited by: Joshua Waaland ]

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 08-21-2006, 05:14 PM:

Joshua, I sent you a PM a month or two ago. It still says unread, but you could have read it in email. Just wanted to make sure you got it.

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 08-27-2006, 10:59 PM:

Here is a link to 95 of our 1,263 photos that we took in Australia. These are the best ones that we picked out for our family and friends to look at without sitting for hours and being bored out of their minds. Hope you enjoy them.

Australia Pics

Oh.....I forgot. I loved the Gold Class cinema tickets our friends got in Brisbane. Only place I have ever seen that. There are only 12 or so seats in the auditorium and they are Lay-z-boys. You order food and alcohol before the show and tell them when to bring it in. They serve you during the movie. Well worth the $35 AUD price tag to experience once!

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 10-13-2006, 05:54 AM:

Some photos of our trip. You can also go to Snapfish to see more. I took over 1,200 photos and only picked out a few.

My wife and I in Brisbane.

In the red center riding a camel.

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane. This was her favorite part of the trip. She loved those koalas.

This was a photo I snapped of the rainforest in Cairns while suspended in a cable car.

Sydney was our last stop before we headed home and probably my favorite part of the trip.