Whenever you review a place, you always hope you’ll have positive things to say. Hope springs eternal, right?

Our underwhelming experience began with finding parking. They are woefully underequipped for a lot of visitors, so if you choose to drive there make sure you can handle walking a decent distance. They do, however, operate a free shuttle from downtown Auckland, so that might save you some headaches. Although finding parking near their pickup spot isn’t so easy either, and it definitely isn’t cheap.

If you plan on visiting, I would highly recommend purchasing your tickets online. Not only will you receive a 10%-20% discount, but if they’re busy the line for prepaid customers is MUCH shorter. So, it’s a win-win all the way around.

I did enjoy their entryway. They have created a fun optical illusion as part of their Scott Base exhibit.

The penguin exhibit is also entertaining, especially if you’re there when it’s feeding time.

And that’s kind of where the compliments end. Overall, we found the exhibits to be fairly uninteresting, at least for older kids and above.

Smaller children might enjoy the aquarium a bit more as there were some exhibits that were designed more for little ones. Like most aquariums, they do have a “touchpool” where visitors can touch some marine life.

They also have a tunnel with a moving walkway which provides a decent up-close view of some sharks and other creatures. If you’ve been on one of these before, though, you’ll find this one fairly unimpressive.

Although, I will give them props for having a preserved giant squid in a tank. That was kind of cool to see.

Visitor info

Ticket prices are pretty high in my opinion, but New Zealand tends to be more expensive for activities. The walk-up price for an adult (age 16 and above) is $36 NZD (almost $30 USD), but if purchasing tickets online, the rate starts at $28.80 NZD. Children’s tickets start at $14.40 NZD online.

If you are visiting with kids, check out their different family rates which could save you some cash.

The aquarium is open everyday with last entry being at 4 PM (and last shuttle pickup at 3:30).

Unless you are easily entertained, you don’t need to plan a lot of time to visit.

Bottom Line

We have to give this one the highly undesired rating of snoozefest. As divers, we enjoy going to aquariums sometimes. We both love the underwater world and seeing the different creatures, many of which we’ve seen in the wild. Perhaps having visited several really good ones has tainted others for us, especially after having thoroughly enjoyed the aquarium in Kuala Lumpur.

However, I have to say this Sea Life Aquarium is mediocre at best. There are more interesting things to do in and near Auckland in our opinion.

Do you enjoy aquariums? Which was your favorite?

While we were on the south island of New Zealand, we were staying with a friend. She happened to know someone who works at the International Antarctic Centre, and they were nice enough to give our group tickets so we could experience everything.

I had absolutely no idea that this center existed. Likewise, I didn’t know that the USA and other countries had their Antarctic bases here. Almost every research team and supporting crew member that goes to the continent leaves from this New Zealand base!

This center is designed to give visitors an education they aren’t likely to forget, and they are big on experiential learning.

The first experience we had involved entering a room that is chilled to –5 degrees Celsius. Thankfully, the center provides jackets and overshoes. Here you can experience an ice cave, go down a slide made from ice, and see what a minor wind storm with 40 km/h winds feels like as the wind chill brings the temperature down to –35 Celsius (-31F).

There is a penguin encounter, and it’s quite fun to watch the staff feed the penguins. You can really see some of their personalities.

The center offers a 4D movie experience (included in the XTREME pass) that is pretty fun. You will get a little spray of water to the face, but it isn’t that bad.

For the more restless kids, there are plenty of things to climb on.

One of the more interesting offerings is the Hagglund ride (also in the XTREME pass, or an extra fee for the XPRESS pass holders). These are the vehicles that take new arrivals from the airstrip to the research center. They are designed for virtually any terrain and can pass over crevasses and go through water. They have built a varied course on the property so you get a bit of a realistic experience of what riding in these things in Antarctica would be like. If you are prone to motion sickness, either take something, slap on a patch, or skip this ride. I usually do pretty well, and I got a bit nauseated from all the banging around.

The ride lasts for about 10 minutes. The scientists and crew get to endure it for 2-1/2 hours or longer. I can’t even imagine.

Visitor Information

The center is open from 9 AM to 5:30 PM every day of the year, including Christmas. Prices are not cheap. The XTREME pass provides the best experience, and it’s also the most expensive ticket. Adults will pay $59 NZD (about $49 USD) and children 5-15 are $29 NZD. If you have 2 adults and 3 children, you can get the family rate which is $147 NZD total. If you buy your tickets online, it will reduce the fees a bit.

Whenever we receive something for free or at a discount, I always have to ask myself would I have felt like it was worth it had I paid full price. While this is a really cool place, and some of the experiences are very unique, I’m not sure I would have felt like I got my money’s worth. It is a great way to experience Antarctica for kids, but with New Zealand already being so expensive for everything else, I’m just not sure I can honestly say this is a must-do.

Do you have any desire to go to Antarctica?

The cathedral in the square was long a symbol of Christchurch. Previous earthquakes had done some damage to the historic church, but the 2011 quake saw the complete loss of one whole side of the church, including its iconic bell tower. Today, it is surrounded by attractive fencing as it bears sober witness to the city’s destruction while the debate continues over whether to raze and rebuild or invest the multiple millions of dollars it would require for restoration.

Near the square several shops have been replaced with repurposed storage containers. A creative solution which is quicker than what many business owners have had to endure. Many buildings are still deemed risky or have been condemned. Reportedly, multiple people remain in limbo waiting for inspections to determine if they can reopen their business, if it will need renovation, or if the building needs to be demolished. And funding any of those options is going to be a big challenge.

An extremely large section of the city remains uninhabited and behind fences. It is surreal walking around a city that was once quite busy and now closely resembles a ghost town.

As we left Cathedral Square and the redevelopment center, we began to feel like we were strolling through a ghost town. Rarely any building was accessible. The streets were eerily silent. An occasional parking lot occupied the space cleared by the demolition of a building. Some buildings appeared safe but were clearly vacant, while others had only a single wall remaining, supported by a stack of shipping containers protecting the streets below from detritus.

Aside from decorated fencing, there have been several installations to help beautify the city. The sculptures, colorful bicycle parking areas, and other installations add some vibrancy to the otherwise austere environment.

Seeing the effects of the Christchurch quake and witnessing its aftermath was a fascinating exercise, but one that also left us quiet and slightly discomfited. If you come to the city during a visit, I suggest not only walking around just to explore but also visiting Quake City where you’ll be able to see a different side of the city, learn more about the disastrous earthquake, and the lives that have been greatly affected by New Zealand’s most powerful natural disaster.

Have you ever visited a place devastated by a natural or other disaster? What was it like?

Bus

There are a few bus companies traversing the country. Naked Bus (don’t let the name bother you) is one of the better known companies for budget travel, but InterCity also has some great fares. Both companies also offer passes that could save you some money.

If you’re planning on bus travel, make sure to check out discount sites like GrabOne Escapes which often has some super deals on Naked Bus. I utilized one of their recent deals to book roundtrip travel between Christchurch and Queenstown for $45 NZD total, which was for 2 people (normally one would spend that for 1 person just one way).

As stated previously, bus trips can be very long hauls. Our bus didn’t have a bathroom on it, but they did make a few short bathroom stops along the way as well as a 30-minute lunch break during our 9-hour journey.

Booking with Naked Bus is quite easy. You can do it online, and they don’t require a paper ticket. All you need is the unique number they give you which is great for travelers. I hate having to pay to print out a ticket, especially in this day and age with so much technology.

Planning in advance can help you save lots of money as there are $1 deals quite often.

Train

Really not your best option. Train prices are much more expensive than flights for almost every route I’ve investigated. Depending on your itinerary, you may also have to take a combination of train and bus which ends up requiring about the same amount of time as the bus for a lot more money.

Plane

Flying around New Zealand can be surprisingly inexpensive and shouldn’t be overlooked as a viable option, especially if you factor in transit times. Going from Auckland to Christchurch overland would cost over $200 NZD and require more than 1 day of travel. Flying that same route can be done for $44 NZD per person or lower, and that’s including the baggage fees. The flight will take about 1-1/2 hours.

When considering flights, make sure to check out Grabaseat (which offers more than just discounts on airfare). The further in advance you can plan, the greater the chance for big savings.

Flying within New Zealand is pretty easy. We flew with Jetstar from Auckland to Christchurch, and I not only didn’t need a paper ticket/printout, I didn’t even have to show ID at the ticket counter, when passing through security, or when boarding the plane. It’s a lot more relaxed!

Between the islands

If you want to travel between the north and south island and aren’t planning on flying, you’ll also need to figure in a ferry crossing. The crossing takes about 3 hours, and it is not cheap at $52 NZD per person. That price is only for traveling by foot.

Something to consider

You will obviously see much more of the country if traveling overland, and there is definitely some incredible scenery. So if you have the time, money, and temperament, it may just be worth going overland between cities of New Zealand. You just have to factor it all in.

When given the choice between flying or taking a half-day bus ride, which is your preference?

Our visit to Australia really surprised me. We actually only went there initially because (1) we were fairly close, (2) we needed to go there to cross the 6th continent off our list, and (3) Tigger really wanted to go. Despite hearing wonderful things, I just didn’t think I’d care all that much for it. I prefer undeveloped to developing countries. Australia seemed to be just one more European metropolis without the charm of say, my favorite city in the world Paris.

I ended up really liking it, though! We only had a few days in Sydney before our housesit in Ballarat, a small town about 1-1/2 hours outside of Melbourne. Sydney was nice but not impressive. The best part for me was visiting with some friends. For Tigger, their incredibly fast Internet was a huge feather in Australia’s cap.

When we arrived in the small village of Buninyong for our housesit, I was a bit concerned. It was very rural. I like rural, but I also wanted to be able to explore and see new things. However, we quickly fell into the rhythm of small town life, and we fell in love with our village and the town. We had such a great time there, and both places had such a great vibe to them.

We did manage to visit Melbourne, and I instantly fell in love with the city. It has such a great energy to it, has a gorgeous beach area, and a wonderful public transportation system. It’s just such a freaking cool city.

Once I got past the initial culture shock, it was even easier to enjoy the area. But the longer we stayed, one thing kept coming up for me.

Australia is way too . . . vanilla for me.

There’s plenty of museums, shows, theatre, etc. If you’re in bigger cities, there is a lot of ethnic food available. But I felt like I was surrounded by . . . I hope no one takes this the wrong way, but far too many white people.

I grew up in a melting pot, a place full of color, different languages, and ethnicities. As we’ve traveled, we’ve primarily remained immersed in similar situations. Even in France, there was a healthy amount of diversity. Not so much in Australia.

New Zealand has a slightly different culture, especially with its large Maori population. But it still feels very, well, “white bread.” I greatly miss hearing all the languages around me I don’t understand, seeing all the different colors of skin, the down-to-earth lifestyle of developing countries. I miss my hawker food places. I miss the challenge of trying to figure something out because I don’t understand the language. While it can be nice communicating with the locals, I miss both of us, a local and me, laughing as we try to figure out how to communicate. I even miss the chaos of motorbikes whizzing around.

Most of the people I’ve met in both countries have been extremely friendly. But it still feels. . . sterile.

New Zealand reminds me of home in the Pacific Northwest, but I don’t think I could live here long term. Australia would be a bigger draw to me. I’d love to visit and stay longer in both places, but could I live in Australia or New Zealand long term?

They’re both special, wonderful places, but I don’t think I could call either country “home.”

Where to Go

The charm of New Zealand doesn’t lie within its cities. Chances are, if you’re planning a trip to New Zealand, you already know that. New Zealand is most famous for its staggering mountains, clear blue lakes and oceans and wild, lush flora. The countryside is what you come to see. The three main cities, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, have enough to hold your attention for a few days but really should be viewed as jumping off points for exploring the wonderful landscapes that make up the country. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss.

In the North Island:

• Rotorua – thermal mud pools and Maori culture
• Taupo – fishing and water sports
• The Coromandel Peninsula – Golden sand beaches and rolling green hills

In the South Island:

• The West Coast – Rugged black sand beaches and rainforest
• Franz Josef and Fox – Walk to or on top of these Glaciers
• Queenstown – Home of adrenaline sports
• Abel Tasman National Park – Great camping and hiking

Weather

Weather in New Zealand isn’t terribly extreme. It doesn’t often snow in the major cities in the winter, and summer temperatures rarely get beyond 28 degrees. Pretty much any time of year is a good time to visit. In winter, visitors can really take advantage of winter sports and spectacular snow-capped mountain scenery. In the summer, New Zealanders love to get outdoors to camp, hike and wrestle sheep (…just kidding!).

Banks Peninsula, New Zealand

The weather in New Zealand can truly span four seasons in one day. Don’t rely on just looking out the window. A brilliantly warm summer morning can turn into freezing rain by afternoon. Dress in layers so you can strip off when it’s warm and rug up when it’s cold. The perfect excuse to purchase one of New Zealand’s great lightweight merino jumpers as a souvenir! Especially if you’re planning outdoor activities, check the weather forecast for the day. Metservice covers the national weather report. Be sure to check the UV report as well as the temperature. New Zealand sits right underneath the hole in the ozone layer meaning the sun is strong and you will burn quickly. Bring sunscreen with you from overseas as it’s expensive in New Zealand.

Typical Costs

New Zealand isn’t a cheap destination for tourists, though thankfully not as expensive as Australia. The NZ dollar is strong against most foreign currencies at the moment, making it even more expensive. Food and drink are expensive, as is gas. Here are some typical costs:

• Latte – $5 NZD
• Cafe meal – $15-20
• Restaurant meal – $25-40
• Supermarket meal – Rotisserie chicken $15, bag of salad $4 and a bread stick $3
• Scoop of ice cream – $2.50-4
• One day hire for a rental car – $40
• Tank of gas – $80-100
• Domestic flight – $70-120
• Hostel Dorm bed – $25-30
• Motel room – $80-120
• Hotel room – $100-250

Wellington Waterfront, New Zealand

Saving Money

Grabaseat is Air New Zealand’s cut-price ticket site. Every day they post new deals on domestic flights and occasionaly international flights. Every Tuesday they “reverse auction” seats on specific dates on many different routes meaning, if you’re travelling soon and are flexible, you can pick up a great bargain. Air New Zealand’s standby service is fantastic if you’re not in a hurry. Show up at the airport, pay $69 for the ticket and wait for the next available flight. If you don’t mind travelling late at night Air NZ have a special late night service between Wellington and Auckland (and vice versa) for only $29 a seat. Grabaseat also has the occasional deal on relocation car rentals.

Group discount sites offer some great travel deals. Bookme, Grabone and Groupon always have deals on hotels, motels, dining out, activities, tours and attractions. You’re pretty much guaranteed to save 50% or more on everything you book this way. Vouchers are usually valid for around three months, so start looking a few months before you arrive and you’ll snag some great deals.

Cromwell, New Zealand

Wifi and Cellphones

Free wifi isn’t as ubiquitous in New Zealand as it is in the rest of the world. Broadband is much slower and more expensive than even in developing countries like Thailand. You won’t find free unlimited wifi at cafes. Usually you’ll get 20MBs or 30 minutes free usage for one device. McDonald’s restaurants and public libraries do have free wifi.

Picking up a local prepay SIM card is easy if you’ve got a locked phone. Go for 2 Degrees which has SIM cards for $10. For $19 a month you can get free texts, 50 minutes of calls and 500 MB of data. You won’t get coverage everywhere in New Zealand, but it’s pretty good.

Bethaney Davies is one third of Flashpacker Family – a semi-nomadic, globetrotting family from Christchurch, New Zealand. Bethaney, Lee and their toddler Reuben spend half the year at home and the rest out exploring and enjoying the world. Flashpacker Family is a family travel blog that has great tales from the road, tips on travelling on a budget & travelling with a toddler and information on living a location independent lifestyle. Bethaney also runs an online guide to Thailand and works with Lee on a Las Vegas travel guide. You can follow Bethaney on Twitter and Facebook.