We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, all the way from down-under.
A few days ago we had a day out shopping and a comment by HeyDuke made me think you might all be interested.
We live a little out of the way on the Coromandel Peninsula http://www.thecoromandel.com/, and a trip to the nearest town, pop.less than 4000 is a 30 minute drive. The next and largest town on the Peninsula is Thames, aprox. pop 7000, is a 1 hour 20 minute drive. Our roads are narrow and winding. An ex mayor called them rat runs.
Once off the Peninsula the roads are still mostly 2 lane but easier driving with multi-lane motorways as the population becomes more dense. The cities of Hamilton and Auckland are both about 2.5 hours driving time from home, and at this time of the year temperatures are warm, 70-80'F and currently very moist with up to 97% humidity. Last night our TV weatherman described our weather as Singaporean. Not the best weather for shopping in larger cities although the Malls are airconditioned..
On Tuesday, (NZ Time), we decided to go shopping in Thames, and it turned into an expensive day in spite of watching our dollars carefully and not completing our Christmas shopping. The weather was reasonably comfortable as there was a light sea breeze although it was too warm for jackets even in the rain showers.
I know most costs are relative so to give you an idea our weekly income after income tax is around $600. On top of that we pay GST, Goods and Services Tax), on every purchase. We spent a total of around $700 upgrading our phone, purchasing some health products, buying a few inexpensive gifts, getting an external drive so I can keep our photos safe from the expected Laptop meltdown, using some gift vouchers, and filling the car with petrol and ourselves with food.
Food. Cafe#1 fuelling up before we began the arduous task of shopping. $17 for a pot ot tea, a cappuccino coffee and muffin each.
Cafe#2 Late lunch. A savoury main each, big bowl of fresh stawberries with whipped fesh cream on the side, and 2 iced coffees NZ style made with expesso, icecream, ice and fresh whipped cream. Not recommended if you want to lose weight. $34
MacDonalds would have been maybe $10 less, but neither of us like Fast Food and especially Macs.
Petrol. $72. We understand we filled the car just in time. The cost of petrol. (gas), has reached $2 litre At aprox. 3.7 litres to the gal. that makes buying gas in NZ about $US5.50 a gallon after allowing for the exchange rate.
How would you like to fill your RVs at that rate?
I was shocked when I got home and added up the cost of this day out. Was it worth it? Yes. We enjoyed our day and we don't do this often.
Will we do it again? Not for months and months although John has a medical appointment there next month. Needless to say we won't be shopping.
I'm hoping we can make our fuel last but I guess next week we'll have another refill.
It's not cheap living in this country and there are many surprises for visitors. After paying an arm and a leg to get here they must pay through the nose for everything.
Sorry I can't remember how much a Starbucks Cappuccino is but I am now paying up to $nz4.50, more usually, $3.50. I could go on.Perhaps I'll get around to doing a cost of living post on my NZ Diary Blog. http://newzealandmyhome.blogspot.com/
It's time I wrote there again.
-- Edited by MargieAnne on Thursday 16th of December 2010 07:50:21 PM
Luvglass said
07:50 PM Dec 16, 2010
It may be expensive, but you have an absolutely beautiful country. I was there on business about 30 years ago and took a short vacation at Rotorua before the 23 hour flight home to America. Will never forget it.
Tim & Robyn said
07:56 PM Dec 16, 2010
Hi,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too.
Are you native to New Zealand, or did you relocate there from somewhere else? I wasn't quite clear on that from our post.
I don't know much about New Zealand, but after seeing the beauty of the country in Peter Jackson's 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, I added it to my list of places that I 'must see'. I had no idea the topography was as varied and beautiful as what I saw in those films.
But alas, it will not happen now that I'm retired and on a fixed income (I don't have a passport anyway).... unless of course I win a lottery or something...
Best wishes, Tim Fansler
MargieAnne said
08:15 PM Dec 16, 2010
Born and bred Kiwi.
Yes New Zealand is beautiful but so is North America.
I liken the difference between New Zealand and US of A as comparing a tiny dolls house with a huge mansion. We seem to have many similar features but you can find them all in a more compact space in NZ.
New Zealand is aproximately the same size as Colorado with a pop of 4 million and now they tell us more dairy cows than people. It used to be more sheep but although their numbers are still high cows are increasing and sheep decreasing.
We have been privileged to travel 3 times in USA, a total of about 14 weeks road tripping covering about 18 States. We would love to return but that looks less likely everyday. We are superannuants on a fixed income. We do have some investments but all tied up in family stuff and there isn't much hope of freeing them up in the forseeale future.
I haven't given up the dream of living in an RV in North America. Lotto would be nice but we rarely buy tickets
-- Edited by MargieAnne on Thursday 16th of December 2010 08:18:12 PM
JackieandTony said
03:36 PM Dec 20, 2010
Hi MargieAnne,
We have a daughter who moved a couple of years ago to Whangarei. Is that anywhere close to you? As you say travel to and from there is expensive - we would love to visit them!! We were very interested in the prices that you posted. Many thanks.
MargieAnne said
05:42 PM Dec 20, 2010
Hi Jackie and Tony. I took this of Google maps. I know ... far more information than you need. *giggle*
The route takes you through Thames, to Auckland and north. We are on the East coast of a Peninsula. Whangarei is on the East coast of the skinny northern part. We experience similar weather.
Driving directions to Whangarei 1. 4 hours 28 mins State Hwy 349 km/217 miles
This route has tolls.
1. Head east on Matarangi Drive toward Castle View Rd 1.8 km 2. Continue onto Matarangi Rd 1.6 km 3. Turn right at Te Rerenga Kuaotunu Rd 8.2 km 4. Continue onto Whangapoua Rd 12.5 km 5. Turn left at Tiki Rd 3.1 km 6. Continue onto Manaia Rd 16.5 km 7. Turn left to stay on Manaia Rd 1.3 km 8. Continue onto Thames Coast Rd 28.7 km 9. Continue onto Tararu Rd 2.5 km 10. Continue onto Queen St Go through 1 roundabout2.3 km 11. Continue onto Jellicoe Cres 650 m 12. Continue onto Ngati Maru Hwy 4.3 km 13. Turn right at Kopu Rd 900 m 14. Continue onto State Hwy 8.2 km 15. Continue onto Main Rd 500 m 16. Continue onto State Hwy 14.6 km 17. Turn right at State Hwy/Route 2 (signs for Auckland) 32.6 km 18. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for 1/Auckland and merge onto Route 1 Partial toll road 137 km 19. Continue onto State Hwy 32.3 km 20. Continue onto Waipu Bypass/Route 1 (signs for Whangarei) Continue to follow Route 137.6 km 21. Turn right at Maunu Rd 800 m 22. Turn right at Walton St 750 m Whangarei
It's not an easy drive and we would probably take at least 6 hours including rest breaks. Some of these roads become clogged during holidays.
There is an alternative route if you can be bothered organising it. We can drive to Coromandel, (30 minutes drive), take a passenger ferry across the Firth of Thames, (Hauraki Gulf), to Auckland, and then by bus or rental to Whangarei.
I don't mind the cost of flying all that much. I guess when you live on an island miles from anywhere you become used to the idea. But first you have to have the cash and there's the crunch!
We think we have a bargain if we get return flights under $NZ2000 each. By keeping a close eye on Air NZ you can get deals as low as $NZ1500 each. I suggest you keep a watch on Air New Zealand's website. I'm sure you'll find something that works for you if you're patient. We have decided we will only fly Air NZ. They are generally efficient and friendly and while there isn't heaps of room in economy, it's adequate. They also have some sleepers now in economy class for a bit extra. We fly at night from Auckland to San Francisco, (preferred) or Los Angelos and don't have to worry about jet lag as we leave in the evening and arrive in the morning, just losing a day going east and gaining it coming home. The flight is around 12 hours. Good if you can sleep.Not so good if you can't. We always get 2 side by side seats but that can mean being close to the bathrooms and galley. I don't mind. Id' rather not be in a multiple seat row.
We have had cloud and rain with little sun for nearly 2 weeks. Talk about steamy but good for the garden. Typical of our Christmas weather. And now I must go as I promised I would do some gardening.
-- Edited by MargieAnne on Monday 20th of December 2010 05:46:30 PM
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, all the way from down-under.
A few days ago we had a day out shopping and a comment by HeyDuke made me think you might all be interested.
We live a little out of the way on the Coromandel Peninsula http://www.thecoromandel.com/, and a trip to the nearest town, pop.less than 4000 is a 30 minute drive. The next and largest town on the Peninsula is Thames, aprox. pop 7000, is a 1 hour 20 minute drive. Our roads are narrow and winding. An ex mayor called them rat runs.
Once off the Peninsula the roads are still mostly 2 lane but easier driving with multi-lane motorways as the population becomes more dense. The cities of Hamilton and Auckland are both about 2.5 hours driving time from home, and at this time of the year temperatures are warm, 70-80'F and currently very moist with up to 97% humidity. Last night our TV weatherman described our weather as Singaporean. Not the best weather for shopping in larger cities although the Malls are airconditioned..
On Tuesday, (NZ Time), we decided to go shopping in Thames, and it turned into an expensive day in spite of watching our dollars carefully and not completing our Christmas shopping. The weather was reasonably comfortable as there was a light sea breeze although it was too warm for jackets even in the rain showers.
I know most costs are relative so to give you an idea our weekly income after income tax is around $600. On top of that we pay GST, Goods and Services Tax), on every purchase. We spent a total of around $700 upgrading our phone, purchasing some health products, buying a few inexpensive gifts, getting an external drive so I can keep our photos safe from the expected Laptop meltdown, using some gift vouchers, and filling the car with petrol and ourselves with food.
Food. Cafe#1 fuelling up before we began the arduous task of shopping. $17 for a pot ot tea, a cappuccino coffee and muffin each.
Cafe#2 Late lunch. A savoury main each, big bowl of fresh stawberries with whipped fesh cream on the side, and 2 iced coffees NZ style made with expesso, icecream, ice and fresh whipped cream. Not recommended if you want to lose weight. $34
MacDonalds would have been maybe $10 less, but neither of us like Fast Food and especially Macs.
Petrol. $72. We understand we filled the car just in time. The cost of petrol. (gas), has reached $2 litre At aprox. 3.7 litres to the gal. that makes buying gas in NZ about $US5.50 a gallon after allowing for the exchange rate.
How would you like to fill your RVs at that rate?
I was shocked when I got home and added up the cost of this day out. Was it worth it?
Yes. We enjoyed our day and we don't do this often.
Will we do it again?
Not for months and months although John has a medical appointment there next month. Needless to say we won't be shopping.
I'm hoping we can make our fuel last but I guess next week we'll have another refill.
It's not cheap living in this country and there are many surprises for visitors. After paying an arm and a leg to get here they must pay through the nose for everything.
Sorry I can't remember how much a Starbucks Cappuccino is but I am now paying up to $nz4.50, more usually, $3.50. I could go on.Perhaps I'll get around to doing a cost of living post on my NZ Diary Blog. http://newzealandmyhome.blogspot.com/
It's time I wrote there again.
-- Edited by MargieAnne on Thursday 16th of December 2010 07:50:21 PM
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too.
Are you native to New Zealand, or did you relocate there from somewhere else? I wasn't quite clear on that from our post.
I don't know much about New Zealand, but after seeing the beauty of the country in Peter Jackson's 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy, I added it to my list of places that I 'must see'. I had no idea the topography was as varied and beautiful as what I saw in those films.
But alas, it will not happen now that I'm retired and on a fixed income (I don't have a passport anyway).... unless of course I win a lottery or something...
Best wishes, Tim Fansler
Yes New Zealand is beautiful but so is North America.
I liken the difference between New Zealand and US of A as comparing a tiny dolls house with a huge mansion. We seem to have many similar features but you can find them all in a more compact space in NZ.
New Zealand is aproximately the same size as Colorado with a pop of 4 million and now they tell us more dairy cows than people. It used to be more sheep but although their numbers are still high cows are increasing and sheep decreasing.
We have been privileged to travel 3 times in USA, a total of about 14 weeks road tripping covering about 18 States. We would love to return but that looks less likely everyday. We are superannuants on a fixed income. We do have some investments but all tied up in family stuff and there isn't much hope of freeing them up in the forseeale future.
I haven't given up the dream of living in an RV in North America. Lotto would be nice but we rarely buy tickets
-- Edited by MargieAnne on Thursday 16th of December 2010 08:18:12 PM
The route takes you through Thames, to Auckland and north. We are on the East coast of a Peninsula. Whangarei is on the East coast of the skinny northern part. We experience similar weather.
Driving directions to Whangarei
1.
4 hours 28 mins
State Hwy
349 km/217 miles
This route has tolls.
1. Head east on Matarangi Drive toward Castle View Rd 1.8 km
2. Continue onto Matarangi Rd 1.6 km
3. Turn right at Te Rerenga Kuaotunu Rd 8.2 km
4. Continue onto Whangapoua Rd 12.5 km
5. Turn left at Tiki Rd 3.1 km
6. Continue onto Manaia Rd 16.5 km
7. Turn left to stay on Manaia Rd 1.3 km
8. Continue onto Thames Coast Rd 28.7 km
9. Continue onto Tararu Rd 2.5 km
10. Continue onto Queen St
Go through 1 roundabout2.3 km
11. Continue onto Jellicoe Cres 650 m
12. Continue onto Ngati Maru Hwy 4.3 km
13. Turn right at Kopu Rd 900 m
14. Continue onto State Hwy 8.2 km
15. Continue onto Main Rd 500 m
16. Continue onto State Hwy 14.6 km
17. Turn right at State Hwy/Route 2 (signs for Auckland) 32.6 km
18. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for 1/Auckland and merge onto Route 1
Partial toll road 137 km
19. Continue onto State Hwy 32.3 km
20. Continue onto Waipu Bypass/Route 1 (signs for Whangarei)
Continue to follow Route 137.6 km
21. Turn right at Maunu Rd 800 m
22. Turn right at Walton St 750 m
Whangarei
It's not an easy drive and we would probably take at least 6 hours including rest breaks. Some of these roads become clogged during holidays.
There is an alternative route if you can be bothered organising it. We can drive to Coromandel, (30 minutes drive), take a passenger ferry across the Firth of Thames, (Hauraki Gulf), to Auckland, and then by bus or rental to Whangarei.
I don't mind the cost of flying all that much. I guess when you live on an island miles from anywhere you become used to the idea. But first you have to have the cash and there's the crunch!
We think we have a bargain if we get return flights under $NZ2000 each. By keeping a close eye on Air NZ you can get deals as low as $NZ1500 each. I suggest you keep a watch on Air New Zealand's website. I'm sure you'll find something that works for you if you're patient. We have decided we will only fly Air NZ. They are generally efficient and friendly and while there isn't heaps of room in economy, it's adequate. They also have some sleepers now in economy class for a bit extra. We fly at night from Auckland to San Francisco, (preferred) or Los Angelos and don't have to worry about jet lag as we leave in the evening and arrive in the morning, just losing a day going east and gaining it coming home. The flight is around 12 hours. Good if you can sleep.Not so good if you can't. We always get 2 side by side seats but that can mean being close to the bathrooms and galley. I don't mind. Id' rather not be in a multiple seat row.
We have had cloud and rain with little sun for nearly 2 weeks. Talk about steamy but good for the garden. Typical of our Christmas weather. And now I must go as I promised I would do some gardening.
-- Edited by MargieAnne on Monday 20th of December 2010 05:46:30 PM