Trip to New-Zealand

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kwakster
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Trip to New-Zealand

#1

Post by kwakster »

Me and my girlfriend have already booked tickets to visit New-Zealand in April, and we plan to travel the country for 5 weeks in a campervan.

Are there any kiwi's on the forum that can tell me if taking a couple of Spydies or any knives in general is going to get me into trouble down there ?

Also would like to hear general advice and tips if possible,

Thanks in advance,
:)
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mrappraisit
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#2

Post by mrappraisit »

Can't help with info, but it sounds like a great trip :)
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deeker
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#3

Post by deeker »

Are you going to be on both islands? Lots of good stuff to see and do there... what are your interests? That will help narrow down some activities and sights to see.
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kwakster
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#4

Post by kwakster »

We are flying to Auckland where we will pick up the campervan, the plan is to visit both islands.
Our interests are driving, sightseeing and hiking, and we also have a wedding to attend on a vinyard on Waiheki Island.
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ozspyder
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#5

Post by ozspyder »

I was from New Zealand :) Lived in Auckland for about 10-11 yrs before moving to Oz.

AUckland is NZ's largest and busiest city. But it is small compared to many other cities in the world....certainly a lot smaller than Sydney, Australia.

Waiheke Island is just in Auckland Harbour and a day trip out to Waiheke is great fun for families, especially if you like walking around. Wedding there should be spectacular if the weather is fine. Auckland itself has transformed into quite a cosmopolitan city. You should find good food and entertainment in the heart of the city. Auckland Harbour is magnificent, go visit the tower there, great view from it. Some touristy things you can do in the city just check out some brochures. You sound like you have family or friends in Auckland so they can help you there. IMHO best of NZ is outside of the bigger cities.

I did a train tour from Auckland down to Christchurch. It was good, but a campervan tour would be much much much better (I was there on a working holiday a few years back doing some architectural projects, and also had to pay for my bro and sis who joined me on tour).

5 weeks in the campervan should get you around and about the North and South Islands quite nicely. I would go futher up north right to the tip of the North Island to Cape Reinga and look out to where the seas meet. Then work your way around the North Island either in clockwise or anti-clockwise direction then down to Wellington. North Island must-see's are Lake Taupo (massive lake previously a volcano crater), Rotorua (smelly sulphuric hot springs), The Coromandels ....****, the whole country is like a massive movie scene out of Lord of the Rings ! :D
The ferry trip out of Wellington to the South Island is one of the most magnificent ride's I've ever had. IIRC took a couple of hours. Going through the heads and down to Nelson was remarkably breathtaking. The ferry was massive. Park your campervan in it then go up top and enjoy :P

Definitely visit the larger cities in the South Island.... Christchurch (beautifully planned city, flat as a tack, grid planned, many churches and a few sights to see. Go out of Christchurch to Kaikoura where you can see Dlphins, penguins and whales (I went on a guided tour out of CCH for this).

Work your way down to Dunedin, Invercargill, then to Queenstown (adventure and extreme sport capital of the world...bunji jumping (invented there ??? mad !) water water rafting, blackwater rafting, canyoning, jet boating helicopter fishing etc....) then to Franz Josef Glacier (I never made it to the west side of the South Island due to lack of funds :( and everyone that has says that I missed out big time !). Go on a glacier ferry tour. Then work your way back to Christchurch via Arthurs Pass or just go right around the island.

Not sure if Stewart Island is worth a trip ?

Have fun mate.... some people try to tour in a campervan in 1 week. Your 5 weeks there should be plenty of time to unwind, relax and enjoy the food, people and scenery.

If you can speak English well (or even if not) people are generally very friendly and will offer their time to give advice on travelling and sightseeing.

On Spydies and carrying there???? not too sure. Yo umight be able to ship over a package containing some 'essential spydie goodies' to an address, then carrying around should not be a hassle (but I'm not 100% certain). Just don't pull them out in public to show people your SPydie opening moves etc.... :p

Then ship them back home at the end of your trip. Hopefully neither Customs at both countries will penalise you for it. Another option is to find a Spydie retailer in NZ and grab one whilst there. Then you can ask about carrying and using, but IMHO sports store owners and attendees generally have NFI about the laws ....in any country.

Hope I have helped a bit. Maybe some resident Kiwi's can pipe up with more helpful info regarding knife laws and some more specific tourist destinations.

Cheers
Daniel
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swingshot
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#6

Post by swingshot »

You may get a more detailed response if you ask over at Bladeforums....


However i'm inclined to say the laws regarding knife carry there are on the conservative side.

So that would mean keeping pocket clips invisible (In pocket carry rather than clipped to corner of pocket) and sticking to small items whilst trying to be mindful of instances where you may be searched.

(For some reason the Ferry that Daniel mentioned comes to mind, but perhaps i'm just being paranoid)

I wouldn't be surprised if there are specific laws against the carry of locking blades. I'd suggest you keep any pivots tightened due to possible laws against "Gravity knives" They may or may not enforce those laws tightly at customs, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

It may be best to carry nothing more "Tactical" than a Leatherman.
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MS carry laws

#7

Post by stonefrog »

hi I'm a kiwi (new zealander not the knife), you can bring in folding knives with blades less than 10 cm in your check in bags but they cannot be butterfly or automatic/flick knives. Carrying fixed blades is illegal on the street but you can carry folders during daylight hours (legally this is before 9 pm in NZ) if you have 'good cause'. 'Good cause' has always been for me 'that I may need to cut something). I have never had any problems. But if you pull it on someone or have it on you when your drunk or doing stupid stuff or smoking stuff (weed is illegal in NZ) the police will arrest you for having it. Once you are in NZ there is nowhere that you will be search for carrying knives. (except parliment, the tour isnt worth going on). The ferry doesn't have any searches at all. Hope this helps and enjoy your time there. I'm in London at the moment on my OE but I hear the summer is really good. Ps customs goes nuts if you try to bring food or drugs into the country. (Opps the heading is suppose to read NZ carry laws but I'm using a iPod touch so this took a while to type and I can't see the whole screen, sorry)
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#8

Post by stonefrog »

Also dont plan to buy any spyders in NZ they cost heaps and anyone that stocks them doesn't carry many. Also a fun thing Ild recomend if your going to the SI is to look up Cave Stream. Its about an hour out of christchurh on the way to Authers Pass. Right next to the road in a reseve that was in the lord of the rings. Amateur caving along a stream. Start down stream with a torch each and warm clothes good tight footware and its about an hours walk. Heaps of high schools do it on 3rd form camps. Really good fun but not to be done if its raining in the mountains. Locals will be able to tell you more closer to the time.
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#9

Post by deeker »

I would second the ferry ride from Wellington to Picton, hiking on the glaciers (Fox and FJ). I also enjoyed the "Pancake Rocks" at Punakaiki.

Be sure to go to the Milford Sound. Simply, spectacular! The same can be said for the area of Queenstown and Arrowtown... anywhere with a view of The Remarkables (mountain range). Dunedin and Christchurch are also good places to check out.

The art deco architecture of Gisborne is interesting, as are the hot springs of Rotorua. I spent a lot of time around Tauranga and Mt. Maunganui, as well as up in the Coromandel near Whitianga. I never got to 90 Mile Beach, however. I wish I had seen that. I also got to hike across a portion of the Kaimai mountains near Te Aroha, since they were just a short bike ride from the people who I lived with - between jaunts.

This is making me want to take a trip back there!! I loved it!
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kwakster
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#10

Post by kwakster »

Guys, i don´t know how to thank you for all this useful information.
I will print everything and take it with us when we go, it will come in handy as we have never been there before.

Probably will take a Pacific Salt SE, Byrd Flight G10 PE, and maybe a Temperance PE.
Also various Fenix flashlights and a Princeton Tec APEX Headlamp.

I already know they aren´t cheap, but are there any good brick and mortar knifeshops that are worth visiting ?
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#11

Post by jaislandboy »

datan wrote: ....****, the whole country is like a massive movie scene out of Lord of the Rings ! :D
.... Queenstown (adventure and extreme sport capital of the world...bunji jumping (invented there ??? mad !) water water rafting, blackwater rafting, canyoning, jet boating helicopter fishing etc....) ...

Cheers
Daniel
Dan, I've never been to NZ but I have some kayak videos (paddling porn :p ) w/ some helicopter footage of some "serious" steep creek descents (to me equivalent to watching extreme skiiers doing "heli runs" from mountain peaks) ... most whitewater runs depicted on those videos have paddlers at the "expert" level of skill...the best of the best...
I had the pleasure of meeting 2 "blokes" from New Zealand on a trip to Holland back in 2000 and these guys were brothers form Queenstown... their parents owned a campground near the "attractions" ...gave me a business card... real friendly chaps
Greatest female kayaker in the world imo (no close second... not by a long shot.. her boating skills are exceptional....better than most professional male ww kayakers) is Nikki Kelly from New Zealand :cool:
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Kwakster: I hope you have a great vacation, sounds exciting :)
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#12

Post by jaislandboy »

So Daniel, you're from NZ eh? Now i understand why you're the King of Extreme Photography evidenced here LOL ... :D

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brian
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#13

Post by stonefrog »

kwakster wrote:Guys, i don´t know how to thank you for all this useful information.
I will print everything and take it with us when we go, it will come in handy as we have never been there before.

Probably will take a Pacific Salt SE, Byrd Flight G10 PE, and maybe a Temperance PE.
Also various Fenix flashlights and a Princeton Tec APEX Headlamp.

I already know they aren´t cheap, but are there any good brick and mortar knifeshops that are worth visiting ?
There are none really worth going to in NZ but if you do feel the need the largest (but still very very small compared to anywhere else in the world) would be the King of Knives stores which have chains in some Auckland and Christchurch Malls. They sell mostly Kitchen knives and some pocket knives but the selections are mostly low spec knives as the population of NZ isnt large enought for the stores to stock heaps of expensive knives. Also the staff aren't people that care about knives much theres no real passion (since I left) for them. If its any indication I still purchased my spydercos from the US even with a 25 % staff discount and having to pay around $US 30 each order. (Go NGK!).

I dont know much about Auckland knife stores but I know some Auckland gunstores have good (but expensive) selections on their website. I havn't been to these stores and suspect that they do not stock the knives and only order them from the US after you pay for them. There is a store called House of Knives in Auckland which may be ok but I havnt been there so arn't sure.

If you like guns then 'Gun City' in Christchurch is pretty good, they have a few knives but again nothing too high spec (no spydercos either) but they have a good selection of firearms (you'll need a license) and you can buy Silencers legally (no license) for around NZ$30 ~ 15 euros for a .22 which might be good to take home with you if your a shooter.

What are the knife carry Laws in Amsterdam and what are the handgun laws like? Can you suggest any clubs that I ,as a tourist, can shoot at? I havent found anywhere to shoot stuff in London yet and I'm missing my guns from NZ.
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kwakster
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#14

Post by kwakster »

stonefrog wrote:There are none really worth going to in NZ but if you do feel the need the largest (but still very very small compared to anywhere else in the world) would be the King of Knives stores which have chains in some Auckland and Christchurch Malls. They sell mostly Kitchen knives and some pocket knives but the selections are mostly low spec knives as the population of NZ isnt large enought for the stores to stock heaps of expensive knives. Also the staff aren't people that care about knives much theres no real passion (since I left) for them. If its any indication I still purchased my spydercos from the US even with a 25 % staff discount and having to pay around $US 30 each order. (Go NGK!).

I dont know much about Auckland knife stores but I know some Auckland gunstores have good (but expensive) selections on their website. I havn't been to these stores and suspect that they do not stock the knives and only order them from the US after you pay for them. There is a store called House of Knives in Auckland which may be ok but I havnt been there so arn't sure.

If you like guns then 'Gun City' in Christchurch is pretty good, they have a few knives but again nothing too high spec (no spydercos either) but they have a good selection of firearms (you'll need a license) and you can buy Silencers legally (no license) for around NZ$30 ~ 15 euros for a .22 which might be good to take home with you if your a shooter.

What are the knife carry Laws in Amsterdam and what are the handgun laws like? Can you suggest any clubs that I ,as a tourist, can shoot at? I havent found anywhere to shoot stuff in London yet and I'm missing my guns from NZ.
Thanks for the info, i guess i won't be buying knives down there,

Knife carry laws in Amsterdam are problematic to say the least.
Due to a lot of knife-related incidents and downright stabbings by Moroccan, Turkish and Antillian people, the government of the Netherlands has decided in all it's wisdom to try to relieve anybody of the knives they carry, be it legal ones or not.
Ofcourse they should have targeted only the perpetrators, but that would have been considered racism by the extreme left wing powers that rule this country.

If you want to carry a knife in Amsterdam, it's best to take a Byrd or another cheaper model that is easily replaced when the situation arises.
Just mind your own business and don't draw the attention of the police on yourself by being a smartass in any way is the best advise i can give you.

In the rest of the Netherlands you can legally carry locking folders that , when opened, have a total length of 28 centimeters or about 11 inches.
While this being the case, it's still best not to wave these around in public.

Also you can forget about shooting firearms in this country as a tourist.
The gunlaws are so strict over here that only the bad guys have guns, law abiding citizens do not.
I have been a member of a shooting club for a few years until i got bored with punching holes in a piece of paper with a 9 mm Taurus.

By the way, when you are in the Netherlands and you run into some kind of trouble, don't hesitate to send me a PM through this forum.
Our country is quite small and i have a car, so maybe i can help out if the need arises.
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#15

Post by tonydahose »

to all you kiwis...how's the diving down there??...i know there is the great barrier reef up in australia but i think that is on their northern shores.
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#16

Post by gac »

I spent a semester of college in Perth, Australia. I visited New Zealand on the way there and back.

The first visit was to Auckland and I did a lot of walking around the city. There was a fantastic botanical garden near an ANZAC museum. I also took a tour trip to Rotorua and a couple other locations.

For the return trip I flew into Auckland again but spent a week up North in the Bay of Islands. I joined in with a bunch of other U.S. students in renting a van and we stayed at hostels.

New Zealand was an absolutely fantastic place to visit. I've wanted to go back ever since but that was sixteen years ago. Hard to believe it was that long ago.

Great beer there too. I remember Lion Red being real good. For a small and isolated country New Zealand seemed to have a wide variety of regional brews.
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