New Zealand - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

[Ramrod]

who needs a room when you have two islands???

Technically NZ is made up of 3 islands. but i thought it was more when you take all the little ones into account 

[patches]

Technically NZ is made up of 3 islands. but i thought it was more when you take all the little ones into account 

 

if the Alpine fault-line has anything to do with it, we could be looking at 4 islands. The West Coast could be cut off. Hokitika would be its capital 

[hayleyearth]

So ride planned at 440 this Saturday with another South African (not on this thread) and a few Kiwi's I don't know yet/really. Who ever wants to can join...

[Blaze]

Morning All,

 

Quick feedback and one (maybe two) questions.

My work visa has come through!!! Flying to Auckland on Thursday 19th Jan and landing Friday night at 22h15. The family will follow no later than the 22/23rd Feb. Waiting for the house to be sold.

I start work on Monday 23rd Jan.

Questions: I would like to bring at least my MTB with me. What do I do with tires? do I deflate them just enough to absorb the altitude air pressures? I would like to avoid having to re-inflate the tires as the front Conti is rather difficult to seat. And then lastly, does anyone know off hand if I can send the bike box off as cargo (I am fly Qantas) before hand as this will allow me to at least take more than 10kg of clothes (bike box all in might be about 18kg equaling 30kg total).

[Ramrod]

Morning All,

 

Quick feedback and one (maybe two) questions.

My work visa has come through!!! Flying to Auckland on Thursday 19th Jan and landing Friday night at 22h15. The family will follow no later than the 22/23rd Feb. Waiting for the house to be sold.

I start work on Monday 23rd Jan.

Questions: I would like to bring at least my MTB with me. What do I do with tires? do I deflate them just enough to absorb the altitude air pressures? I would like to avoid having to re-inflate the tires as the front Conti is rather difficult to seat. And then lastly, does anyone know off hand if I can send the bike box off as cargo (I am fly Qantas) before hand as this will allow me to at least take more than 10kg of clothes (bike box all in might be about 18kg equaling 30kg total).

send the bike with U-Bag. will be much cheaper and you will also need your full allocation for luggage.

[patches]

Morning All,

 

Quick feedback and one (maybe two) questions.

My work visa has come through!!! Flying to Auckland on Thursday 19th Jan and landing Friday night at 22h15. The family will follow no later than the 22/23rd Feb. Waiting for the house to be sold.

I start work on Monday 23rd Jan.

Questions: I would like to bring at least my MTB with me. What do I do with tires? do I deflate them just enough to absorb the altitude air pressures? I would like to avoid having to re-inflate the tires as the front Conti is rather difficult to seat. And then lastly, does anyone know off hand if I can send the bike box off as cargo (I am fly Qantas) before hand as this will allow me to at least take more than 10kg of clothes (bike box all in might be about 18kg equaling 30kg total).

 

I flew Qantas with my MTB. I upgraded to Premium Economy, which was an extra R6000, but gave me 10kg extra check in allowance, and 7kg extra hand luggage. When compared to buying 10kg extra of pre-paid (at AUS $580), this seemed like a the best bet.

 

Plus one gets better seats on both flights (Premium economy on the 747 from SA to Sydney, and Business on the 737 from Sydnet to NZ). One also gets access to the business lounge in Sydney.

 

So yeah, I was able to being over an enduro mtb with that 17kg extra luggage.

 

I might try U-bag for the other 2 boxed bikes I have sitting back in SA.

[patches]

Just one of the views from my walk to/from work each day this week.

 

 

 

[hayleyearth]

Just one of the views from my walk to/from work each day this week.

 

Walk to work.jpg

 

Been at that bar to the right on the corner many times.... expensive but have free French nibbles on Fridays

 

Edit: I mean to the left...flip my dyslexia!

Edited January 10, 2017 by hayleyearth

[Blaze]

Thanks Ramrod and Patches for the advise!

[hayleyearth]

Does anyone here know how do we apply for USA Visa's and Schengen Visa's from NZ?

Because every time I search it it takes me to websites made for NZ citizens or back to the consulates in SA... 

 

Also the one online USA one I found looks like a scam, when one needs to select which type of visa one wants to apply for it gives one all random nonsense about aliens etc...

 

heeeeeellllppppp please

[Skylark]

Does anyone here know how do we apply for USA Visa's and Schengen Visa's from NZ?

Because every time I search it it takes me to websites made for NZ citizens or back to the consulates in SA...

 

Also the one online USA one I found looks like a scam, when one needs to select which type of visa one wants to apply for it gives one all random nonsense about aliens etc...

 

heeeeeellllppppp please

That's a good question, can't see any other way than flying back to Sa and going to the consulates there, have heard of many instances when people on holiday in Europe etc have to do that because you can only apply for those visas from Sa. Unless you are lucky enough have passports from an Eu country or UK etc which may allow online visa applications.

[hayleyearth]

That's a good question, can't see any other way than flying back to Sa and going to the consulates there, have heard of many instances when people on holiday in Europe etc have to do that because you can only apply for those visas from Sa. Unless you are lucky enough have passports from an Eu country or UK etc which may allow online visa applications.

 

 

[intern]

I got a USA visa last year, just before I got my NZ passport, weirdly enough. It isn't difficult. Just call the US consulate or visit its website, physically it is in Queen street I think. You'll need to fill in some forms and present yourself at the Consulate and pay them some money, I can't recall how much it was, but it wasn't punitive, and the process itself takes a week or less, IIRC.

[intern]

Schengen, I have no idea, but you'd probably need to ring up the consulate of the country/countries you plan on visiting and they are likely to point you in the right direction...highly doubt it will present major issues. Good luck!

[niterider]

Does anyone here know how do we apply for USA Visa's and Schengen Visa's from NZ?

Because every time I search it it takes me to websites made for NZ citizens or back to the consulates in SA...

 

Also the one online USA one I found looks like a scam, when one needs to select which type of visa one wants to apply for it gives one all random nonsense about aliens etc...

 

heeeeeellllppppp please

USA visa application is done via their website. You'll get an appointment in person at the US consulate in the city, and should have your visa a couple of days later.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hayleyearth]

I got a USA visa last year, just before I got my NZ passport, weirdly enough. It isn't difficult. Just call the US consulate or visit its website, physically it is in Queen street I think. You'll need to fill in some forms and present yourself at the Consulate and pay them some money, I can't recall how much it was, but it wasn't punitive, and the process itself takes a week or less, IIRC.

 

Schengen, I have no idea, but you'd probably need to ring up the consulate of the country/countries you plan on visiting and they are likely to point you in the right direction...highly doubt it will present major issues. Good luck!

 

I just phoned both (USA and CH consulates) and was they friendly!

Both cases are the same, I fill in the form online (although with the CH one I have to originally select "country of legal residence" as NZ to be able to get to the form) and present myself with the online appointment and treat is as normally would back home.

 

US$160

NZ$94 (for Schengen)

 

It might be a bit 'tricky' getting the USA one because I don't really have a 'solid' case here in NZ yet (long term live and work and no property etc) work and I am going to visit my sis there. Lets see.

 

Thanks!