Questions about New Zealand

[genglandoh]

Next year I will be going to the Taupo NZ for a project.
It will be 5 weeks at the site, 2 weeks home then 5 weeks again at the site.

With all my travel I get a little tired of the Hotel, restaurant thing.

I was thinking this trip I might check out one of the Backpackers hotels or Hostel instead of the normal hotel.
It would be different and I would have a kitchen and common area to talk with others.
I would get a private room with my own bathroom.

Question would it be strange having a 50+ year old man staying in a backpackers hotel?

I tend to work 10-12 hours a day and will be coming and going at odd hours.
Is this OK at these types of hotels?
I do not want to wake up people when I come in.

Any other thoughts.

Thanks

[seanz]

I do not want to wake up people when I come in.

Very considerate, not sure if all of the other guests will be so polite. These are young people that are travelling for fun.


Any other thoughts.

Can't actually recommend somewhere I've never stayed at.......but camping grounds are "Kiwi as". And they usually have cabins for rent...and they have email addresses.
http://www.greatlake.co.nz/ is one of three that comes up on a google search.

I've liked all of the ones that I've stayed at in the South Island......except the one in Invercargill....it was acceptable...just.

[genglandoh]

Very considerate, not sure if all of the other guests will be so polite. These are young people that are travelling for fun.



Can't actually recommend somewhere I've never stayed at.......but camping grounds are "Kiwi as". And they usually have cabins for rent...and they have email addresses.
http://www.greatlake.co.nz/ is one of three that comes up on a google search.

I've liked all of the ones that I've stayed at in the South Island......except the one in Invercargill....it was acceptable...just.


Thanks,

I like the Hostel idea only because they are in town and I can walk around a little.

But it will look into the campground idea also.

PS I have 3 boys who always had their friends sleeping over so I do not mind any noise.

[Chip-skiff]

There are heaps of places to stay in Taupo and the nearby area. Rather than trying to pick a good spot from a distance, you might book a motel for a few days (particularly if you're arriving at the weekend) and then scout for something that suits you, to book long term.

NZ motel rooms tend to be what's called a kitchenette in the 'states, with a cooker, fridge, microwave, and most often pots, pans, plates, etc. There's also tea and a jug of milk.

Quite a few backpackers are former family houses in which you rent a sleeping room and share the kitchen, lounge, bath, etc. If it's full, that can mean waiting a while before you can make tea or cook. In the towns, backpackers might also be older hotels with small rooms, in which the cooking, eating, and bathing take place in common areas. Some NZ hotels have dining rooms and you can get the room and meals as a package. (But avoid taking a room above the pub— too noisy.)

I hope you can roam around and take in some of the sights. Huka Falls is gorgeous.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h4WR4TtP5Y8/S4i2hlrIMkI/AAAAAAAAAP0/0wgR3oifMG8/s600/NZriver3.jpg

(Ouch!) There's boating on the lake, and quite a few parks and reserves. The McDonald's is worth seeing at least once:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ncsr41SlPZA/Tvzd2yralpI/AAAAAAAABzQ/BI0SMjOqvU0/s650/TaupoMac.jpg

Wouldn't hurt to get a Lonely Planet or Rough Guide to NZ, to help you get oriented.

Wish I was going back. . .

[Willin']

We did just that during our travels in NZ and the South Pacific, when not camping in our van. We were in our late 40s and really enjoyed the company of the younger world travelers and they seemed eager to share their travel experiences with us. I don't think the age difference will be a problem and your odd hours should allow you less waiting time for the ablution blocks.

We stayed at a lovely one right on the lake in Taupo with private cabins and a community kitchen, very reasonable and free kayak use!

Make sure you have warm blankets if your there during the winter months.

BTW, why come home for 2 weeks? Take the old lady with ya.

[genglandoh]

We did just that during our travels in NZ and the South Pacific, when not camping in our van. We were in our late 40s and really enjoyed the company of the younger world travelers and they seemed eager to share their travel experiences with us. I don't think the age difference will be a problem and your odd hours should allow you less waiting time for the ablution blocks.

We stayed at a lovely one right on the lake in Taupo with private cabins and a community kitchen, very reasonable and free kayak use!

Make sure you have warm blankets if your there during the winter months.

BTW, why come home for 2 weeks? Take the old lady with ya.

Thanks.

The project is done in 2 phases and the 2 weeks between the phases is for operator training.
During the 2 weeks at home I remotely monitor the system and answer any question they may have.
This way when I return to complete the project the operators understand the system better.
I will also need to spend some time home.

I am hoping in a few years my wife will start to come on some of the trips with me.
In this case she has her job and our son is still in high school.

On the smaller 2-3 week projects I normally work 10-12 hours 7 days a week.
This project being 5 weeks I expect to take a few days off and see the area.

But the project always comes first and I do not like to get behind.

[AnalogKid]

We've stayed at the Top10 (http://www.taupotop10.co.nz/) campsite in Taupo. It's on the northern edge of town, a short car ride but quite a long walk. We were in a tent so I don't know what the cabins are like, but the Top10 franchise guarantees a pretty reasonable standard.

While it is possible to go self-catering in motel style rooms (I usually do when travelling for business because I hate eating out by myself) they lack the communal areas where you actually get to talk to others.

The only backpackers I have stayed in is an excellent place but a little out of the way on the other side of the lake and across the mountains. The Park (the establishment) at National Park (the town) is excellent, with nice rooms, a good communal kitchen, a bar and a communal lounge with a roaring fire and great views of the volcanoes. If you can find a place like it you'll be set.

[The Bigfella]

Nothing strange about a 50+ year old staying at a backpackers. I encountered heaps of them on my latest trip in 3 different countries, including Oz. The oldest was a very weird 68 year old (born Hungary, grew up Argentina then US).... and the owner eventually told her he didn't have a bed available when she wanted to extend.... to everyone else's relief.

I find those sort of places far more enjoyable to stay at. If you want to interact with others, you can. They always seem relaxed and friendly. Go to a hotel though and you start to move into territory where, unless you are travelling with someone, interaction with others seems a bit weird - or its staff only interactions.

I've done the dormitory thing enough times to be more than happy to shell out double for a single room.

One thing worth doing while you are there is to take a flight into the mountains and spend a weekend at one of the hunters lodges.... not the ones with staff, the ones where its just a couple of bunk rooms (you need your own gear).

[genglandoh]

Thanks All,

I think I will spend the first week in a normal hotel spend a little time getting to know the town.
Then move to a campground or backpackers hotel assuming they look good.