NEW ZEALAND

Planning your trip to New Zealand

By Mary Engel
10:46 AM PDT, July 17, 2009

From LAX, nonstop service to Auckland is available on Air New Zealand and Qantas, direct service (stop, no change of plane) on Air Tahiti Nui and connecting service (change of plane) on Air Pacific and Air Tahiti Nui. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $898.

To Christchurch, connecting service is offered on Air New Zealand and Qantas. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $938.

TELEPHONES

To call the numbers listed below from the U.S., dial 011 (the international dialing code), 64 (the country code for New Zealand) and the number.

WHERE TO RENT A CAMPER VAN

Classic Campers, North Shore, Auckland; 9-426-9869, 29-256-6247, www.classic-campers.com.

Bevan and Andrea Beattie rent eight VW camper vans ranging in age from 1966 to 1982, as well as a high-top 2004 VW camper, a 1966 VW Beetle and three non-VW vans. Rates vary; an older VW van is about $60 a day.

Kiwi Kombis Classic Campervan Hire, 96 Uxbridge Road, Howick, Auckland; 9-533-9335, 21-674-159, www.kiwikombis.com. Another husband-and-wife team with nine vans -- including five Splitties! -- ranging in age from 1958 to 1974. Rates for a 15- to 27-day hire are $99 a day, with discounts for the May-September winter season.

WHERE TO EAT

Cinema Paradiso café and bar, 1 Ardmore St., Wanaka, 3-443-1505. Besides freshly baked cookies at intermission, you can get curries, pizza, vegetarian lasagna, homemade ice cream, local wines and microbrews at this charming movie theater/café. Place an order before the movie starts, and your meal will be ready for intermission. About $16 a person.

Joe's Garage, Searle Lane, Queenstown, 3-442-5282. This hard-to-find diner (in an alley across from the post office) is where the locals gather. Order a "flat white," or espresso with a shot of warm milk, and a breakfast of eggs with spinach, mushrooms and a side of hollandaise. About $14.

Cork & Keg, 33 Inkerman St., Renwick, 3-572-9328. It's an odd choice for an eating spot in the heart of the Marlborough wine region, but this English country pub just outside Blenheim is a neighborhood gem, with friendly service and generous portions of fish and chips, meat pies and other comfort food. About $20 a person.

TO LEARN MORE

New Zealand government tourism site, www.newzealand.com /travel/USA/

Department of Conservation, www.doc.govt.nz

Automobile Assn., New Zealand, www.aatravel.co.nz.

Where am I?

Should we take offense, order a drink, or what? That depends, of course, on where you think these words turned up.

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