Rare mr walker Posted October 29, 2022 #51 Share Posted October 29, 2022 49 minutes ago, chezzyr said: If anyone has done any good wildlife related tours (land or water) around Dunedin please feel free to chime in. Thankyou. On our last visit to Dunedin in Jan '19 (Ovation OTS), we did a wonderful tour with Russ at Tourworks Dunedin Tours For Small Groups » Tourworks We did Mainland Peninsula Tour - picked up at ship & visited some city sights & then went to see Penguins, Seals & Albatross - great trip, thoroughly recommended 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Relaxing Robbies Posted October 29, 2022 #52 Share Posted October 29, 2022 We are cruising to NZ late next week and are intending to use the public buses in both Dunedin and Christchurch. Sounds like we will need to get an early start to beat the masses. Looking at the websites of the bus services, they are already warning about overcrowded services, even without cruise ships added to the mix. I have rummaged through my foreign currency supplies and found a NZ$50 note left over from my last trip. Bus websites say you can pay cash for tickets on the bus, but do not mention if you need the correct fare or if they will give change. Does anyone know the answer to this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSWP Posted October 29, 2022 #53 Share Posted October 29, 2022 6 minutes ago, mr walker said: On our last visit to Dunedin in Jan '19 (Ovation OTS), we did a wonderful tour with Russ at Tourworks Dunedin Tours For Small Groups » Tourworks We did Mainland Peninsula Tour - picked up at ship & visited some city sights & then went to see Penguins, Seals & Albatross - great trip, thoroughly recommended Back in 97, we did a 3 week in depth coach tour of NZ North and South Islands with Guthrey Pacific Coach Tours, not sure if they still exist. It was leisurely with some 2 and 3 night stops, but missed nothing, saw and did everything, good hotels, meals, all inclusive, even the inter island ferry with the coach on board too, lol So I highly recommend a coach tour of NZ on a ship visit you only have limited time and range, done that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
possum52 Posted October 29, 2022 #54 Share Posted October 29, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, chezzyr said: Is there a way to find out which tour operators are offering Port Chalmers pick ups/drop off on cruise ship days (besides the ship advertised shore excursions)? We booked our last excursion from Port Chalmers (2018) through Viator where we were picked up at the cruise terminal. There were plenty of tour operators collecting passengers for their respective excursions/tours. A quick look at Viator shows a number of full and half day tours for cruise ship passengers in Dunedin. Also just google cruise ship excursions and you will find some more suggestions. Edited October 29, 2022 by possum52 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jean C Posted October 29, 2022 #55 Share Posted October 29, 2022 19 minutes ago, Relaxing Robbies said: We are cruising to NZ late next week and are intending to use the public buses in both Dunedin and Christchurch. ... I have rummaged through my foreign currency supplies and found a NZ$50 note left over from my last trip. Bus websites say you can pay cash for tickets on the bus, but do not mention if you need the correct fare or if they will give change. Does anyone know the answer to this? Hi, if it says you can pay cash then in NZ you hand it to the driver and you would be given change. However, you may or may not have problems with a $50 note, especially at the start of their run when they won't have built up much cash in their drawer. If possible, visit a convenience store and make a small purchase, or a bank, to change the note. Some drivers, and it would depend who you got and what mood they were in, would give you the ride and if possible (cash depending) charge you at the end - but don't rely on that scenario 😊 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Relaxing Robbies Posted October 29, 2022 #56 Share Posted October 29, 2022 6 hours ago, Jean C said: Hi, if it says you can pay cash then in NZ you hand it to the driver and you would be given change. However, you may or may not have problems with a $50 note, especially at the start of their run when they won't have built up much cash in their drawer. If possible, visit a convenience store and make a small purchase, or a bank, to change the note. Some drivers, and it would depend who you got and what mood they were in, would give you the ride and if possible (cash depending) charge you at the end - but don't rely on that scenario 😊 Thanks for your advice. I have searched my currency supplies furter today and found about $6 worth of NZ coins. Did your coins change at some stage? I have 2 different sizes of coins saying 20 cents and 2 different sizes of 10 cents. Do they still accept old currency? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windsor26 Posted October 29, 2022 #57 Share Posted October 29, 2022 ALL passengers who are not Australians or residents with PR have to pay for a tourism entry and a visa waiver the total is $116 for a couple surely this tourism tax should enable local councils to offer shuttles at a fare(lol) fee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jean C Posted October 29, 2022 #58 Share Posted October 29, 2022 36 minutes ago, Relaxing Robbies said: Thanks for your advice. I have searched my currency supplies furter today and found about $6 worth of NZ coins. Did your coins change at some stage? I have 2 different sizes of coins saying 20 cents and 2 different sizes of 10 cents. Do they still accept old currency? Hi, yes our coins changed a while back and unfortunately old coins are no longer accepted. The old style coins were the same size as their Australian counterparts. NZ's new coins are all smaller in size - see screen shot below of what they look like 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jean C Posted October 29, 2022 #59 Share Posted October 29, 2022 44 minutes ago, windsor26 said: ALL passengers who are not Australians or residents with PR have to pay for a tourism entry and a visa waiver the total is $116 for a couple surely this tourism tax should enable local councils to offer shuttles at a fare(lol) fee Unfortunately not, they say the levy "is invested in projects that will help to create productive, sustainable and inclusive tourism growth that protects and supports our environment". At the time it was introduced it was said to be to help small centres with a small ratepayer base but large tourist numbers to provide things like walking tracks and public toilets for the tourists. I've enjoyed the convenience of free shuttle buses at different places but also accept that not everywhere provides them, it's just a bonus when they do. Providing a reasonably priced shuttle is definitely an opportunity for an enterprising local though 💰 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Relaxing Robbies Posted October 29, 2022 #60 Share Posted October 29, 2022 17 minutes ago, Jean C said: Hi, yes our coins changed a while back and unfortunately old coins are no longer accepted. The old style coins were the same size as their Australian counterparts. NZ's new coins are all smaller in size - see screen shot below of what they look like 🙂 Thanks so much for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ozwoody Posted October 29, 2022 #61 Share Posted October 29, 2022 2 hours ago, Jean C said: Hi, yes our coins changed a while back and unfortunately old coins are no longer accepted. The old style coins were the same size as their Australian counterparts. NZ's new coins are all smaller in size - see screen shot below of what they look like 🙂 Is that a NZ in joke, "The three 'sides' of each coin", I know we Aussies tease you, But...😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jean C Posted October 29, 2022 #62 Share Posted October 29, 2022 (edited) 8 hours ago, Ozwoody said: Is that a NZ in joke, "The three 'sides' of each coin", I know we Aussies tease you, But...😄 Our coins of similar size have a different feel to the edges to assist vision impaired people to distinguish one from another - so, front, back and sides. Isn't that universal? 🤔 Edited October 29, 2022 by Jean C 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ozwoody Posted October 29, 2022 #63 Share Posted October 29, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Jean C said: Our coins of similar size have a different feel to the edges to assist vision impaired people to distinguish one from another - so, front, back and sides. Isn't that universal? 🤔 Guess so😁 But we call the side, the rim or edge😄 and yes we have tactile edges as well. But with them being different sizes, their fairly easy to tell apart. Even our notes have tactile dots for sight impaired. Edited October 29, 2022 by Ozwoody Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windsor26 Posted October 29, 2022 #64 Share Posted October 29, 2022 At least NZ has the $2 coin larger than the $1 which makes sense !! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted October 29, 2022 #65 Share Posted October 29, 2022 34 minutes ago, windsor26 said: At least NZ has the $2 coin larger than the $1 which makes sense !! Agree! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Over from NZ Posted October 30, 2022 #66 Share Posted October 30, 2022 It's interesting. It was even in the news - how much the cruise companies are rorting people with chartered buses here in NZ. Absolutely a rort. Something like $50 to get from Lyttleton to Christchurch on a rickety old bus. Shocking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sallyandtex Posted October 30, 2022 #67 Share Posted October 30, 2022 46 minutes ago, Over from NZ said: It's interesting. It was even in the news - how much the cruise companies are rorting people with chartered buses here in NZ. Absolutely a rort. Something like $50 to get from Lyttleton to Christchurch on a rickety old bus. Shocking. I hought there was a free or low cost shuttle between the 2? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sallyandtex Posted October 30, 2022 #68 Share Posted October 30, 2022 On 10/29/2022 at 11:37 AM, Relaxing Robbies said: We are cruising to NZ late next week and are intending to use the public buses in both Dunedin and Christchurch. Sounds like we will need to get an early start to beat the masses. Looking at the websites of the bus services, they are already warning about overcrowded services, even without cruise ships added to the mix. I have rummaged through my foreign currency supplies and found a NZ$50 note left over from my last trip. Bus websites say you can pay cash for tickets on the bus, but do not mention if you need the correct fare or if they will give change. Does anyone know the answer to this? Do you know if you can tap with a visa debit card? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Over from NZ Posted October 30, 2022 #69 Share Posted October 30, 2022 22 minutes ago, Sallyandtex said: I hought there was a free or low cost shuttle between the 2? There should be - the public buses charge $2.10 each way! lol. Seems it was celebrity sorry. Princess may have something better.. but I doubt it. They'll all try and stiff you and Princess are no different. The article blamed Christchurch.. but it was the cruise company that charters the buses.. https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/christchurch/canterbury-mornings-with-john-macdonald/opinion/john-macdonald-christchurchs-shameful-welcome-for-cruise-passengers/?fbclid=IwAR256hbE8KDwo4Fc07s8fV5l-ZyxtbLrP_GNYWGOTpsgRskgsVdBFjmCyYg 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSWP Posted October 30, 2022 #70 Share Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Over from NZ said: It's interesting. It was even in the news - how much the cruise companies are rorting people with chartered buses here in NZ. Absolutely a rort. Something like $50 to get from Lyttleton to Christchurch on a rickety old bus. Shocking. You can bet the bus owners/tour operator is making big dollars from the charters, not all Princess, probably 50/50. Edited October 30, 2022 by NSWP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jean C Posted October 30, 2022 #71 Share Posted October 30, 2022 48 minutes ago, Sallyandtex said: Do you know if you can tap with a visa debit card? Not on public transport just yet - it's planned to be introduced in 2024, both credit and debit cards. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sallyandtex Posted October 30, 2022 #72 Share Posted October 30, 2022 2 hours ago, Over from NZ said: There should be - the public buses charge $2.10 each way! lol. Seems it was celebrity sorry. Princess may have something better.. but I doubt it. They'll all try and stiff you and Princess are no different. The article blamed Christchurch.. but it was the cruise company that charters the buses.. https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/christchurch/canterbury-mornings-with-john-macdonald/opinion/john-macdonald-christchurchs-shameful-welcome-for-cruise-passengers/?fbclid=IwAR256hbE8KDwo4Fc07s8fV5l-ZyxtbLrP_GNYWGOTpsgRskgsVdBFjmCyYg Thanks for the reply and link. So, is it possible to get a public bus? Or has the cruise companies taken over the route entirely? How about a taxi.? I was really looking forward to Christchurch in a few weeks, $50 each for a bus seems excessive. We would rather spend that on the local businesses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suey Posted October 30, 2022 #73 Share Posted October 30, 2022 We always hire a car at Dunedin . Visited Larnach castle and Otago museum is great. My son also drove our van up Baldwin St the steepest street, scared the life out of me most people walk up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Over from NZ Posted October 30, 2022 #74 Share Posted October 30, 2022 9 hours ago, Sallyandtex said: Thanks for the reply and link. So, is it possible to get a public bus? Or has the cruise companies taken over the route entirely? How about a taxi.? I was really looking forward to Christchurch in a few weeks, $50 each for a bus seems excessive. We would rather spend that on the local businesses. Taxi, Uber.. public bus.. all available. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chezzyr Posted October 30, 2022 #75 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Question re Port Chalmers. Can passengers walk off the ship and walk straight to the terminal building and beyond? Or is it a 'working port' and passengers have to be bussed/escorted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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