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Fri 12 Mar 2010 12:05 p.m.


apex car rentals new zealand
PO box 10233
christchurch
new zealand
tel: +64-3-379-6897
fax: +64-3-379-2647
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New Zealand Car Hire Made Easy!

Apex Car Rentals has branches conveniently located throughout New Zealand. If you would like to talk directly with any of our rental car branch managers please use the number listed below. If you are calling from outside New Zealand please use the "click to talk" feature or call +64-3-379-6897

For auckland car hire call:
Ian Berrington 0800-737-009

For christchurch rental cars call:
Jeff Kerkhoffs 0800-10-50-55

For wellington car rental call:
Adrie Kruiniger 0800 300-110

For picton rental cars call:
Adam Rennick 0800 422-744

For queenstown car hire call:
Dan Gerard 0800 53-11-11

For nelson rental cars call:
Dave Thorn 0800 939-777

For greymouth car rentals call:
Neil Richards 0800 93-95-97

NZ TRAVEL TIPS: How much to holiday in NZ? ...It's possible to travel economically in New Zealand. Budget travellers can expect to get by on less than US$35 (NZ$85) a day if camping or staying in hostels and self-catering. If however, you want to stay at hotels, eat at restaurants and spend money on activities like bungy jumping, be prepared top outlay about US$100 (NZ$240) a day. All goods and services in New Zealand are subject to a 12.5% Goods and Services Tax (GST), included in the displayed price. Visitors cannot claim refunds on this tax, but GST is not charged, on either goods or freight exported by a supplier to a visitor's home address.

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new zealand driving holiday

...take the scenic route with apex car rentals. sample extract from "new zealand driving holiday" guidebook.

new zealand guidebook

new plymouth to auckland

The Forgotten Highway threads its way from Taranaki through forests of beech and small villages (including the unique ‘republic’ of Whangamomona) to Taumarunui, located in the foothills of the Tongariro National Park. Further north, the world-famous Waitomo Glow-worm Caves were formed 30 million years ago and discovered in 1887 by Tane Tinorau and Fred Mace. South of Auckland, on the western coastline, the harbour townships of Kawhia and Raglan were once important ports prior to the advent of road and rail. Today traditional kiwi baches form the majority of dwellings but larger, architecturally designed houses verify that the west coast has become a popular lifestyle choice for many. On our final scenic North Island drive we travel from New Plymouth to Auckland via Taumarunui, Waitomo, Kawhia and Raglan. We visit the gravesite of Billy Gumboot the goat (ex-president of Whangamomona!), float on a raft beneath galaxies of glowworms, enjoy a cultural tour of Kawhia by boat, take a hot sandy bath at Te Puia Springs and arrive in Auckland relaxed and ready to see the scenic South Island.

day two: taumarunui to waitomo


Key
red marker - Destinations
yellow marker - Apex Locations

The morning brings showers as we head north and rejoin SH3 at Eight Mile Junction, pass through Te Kuiti, the Shearing Capital of the World, and turn off to Waitomo Caves. En route we debate whether to: a) take a black water rafting trip (float on an inner-tube through dark caves with Waitomo Adventures), or b) take a walking tour. Bob’s keen to walk while I’d rather float with Waitomo Adventures as they have an excellent reputation, but in the end, as we only have two more days in the North Island, we compromise and opt for a wetsuit-free cave adventure with Spellbound.

We join a small group at the information centre where we depart with our guide, Katy. A rocky downhill stroll leads to the Mangawhitikau Cave where we don safety helmets and enter its inky blackness. A stream runs through and there are several good examples of stalagmites and stalactites.

We board a raft and Katy instructs us to switch off the miner-lamps on our helmets. Then, as we gently float through the darkness, glow-worms begin to emit bright beams of light tinged with green. Before long countless galaxies are swirling by with such dizzying regularity that Bob comments that he feels like we’re on the set of Star Trek.

And wait, there is a sound….and it’s not the theme music, it’s a…. waterfall?! “Oh no,” yelps Bob, “you promised we wouldn’t get wet!” The roaring gets louder and louder and just as I wonder if I have actually let Bob down, Katy flicks on her safety helmet light and we disembark...

To read the full story
Please click the link to download the full New Plymouth to Auckland scenic drive, courtesy of apex car rentals new zealand... the kiwi way

to read more extracts from our driving holiday's guidebook please click on any of the following links:

north island scenic drives


south island scenic drives

purchase new zealand driving holidays online

If you would like to purchase a copy of this stunning nz pictorial guidebook online please click here (RRP $24.95 plus postage)

new plymouth to auckland rental cars

view today's best deals for new plymouth to auckland senior rental cars

With apex rental cars the longer you hire the lower the daily rate. Please click the link to view today's best new plymouth to auckland senior rental car deal.

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