Re: Digest for teararoa@googlegroups.com - 4 Messages in 1 Topic

[Judith Humbert]

Hello Rod,

Welcome and some good suggestions above.

Post offices: post shop hours vary from town to town. For further
information on hours and shipping see http://www.nzpost.co.nz/ and/or
give them a ring. I have found they're staff to be very helpful.

Btw, depending upon where you choose to hike, you may find it easier
to buy as you go rather than send packages.

Sim cards: If your phone is unlocked, either Telecom (telecom.co.nz)
or Vodafone (vodafone.co.nz) have sim cards available with prepay
plans. Vodafone currently has a plan called Freebee that I have found
to be pretty economical... 2 Degrees is another mobile provider, but I
have no idea what their coverage is on or near the trail. If your
phone is locked, then there are phones available in NZ to buy, and by
law they have to be unlocked so you could take one back with you or
sell it.

I would suggest you flip on over to the TA Facebook page. That's been
the most active place for info and connecting with hikers, and there's
some good planning files there as well.

Good luck with your hike and I hope you enjoy your time in NZ!

Judith

[Roy Britten]

I forgot to mention earlier, post restante is available http://www.nzpost.co.nz/home/receiving-mail/poste-restante

On 17 April 2013 14:09, Judith Humbert <newjourn...@gmail.com> wrote:

 

Sim cards:  If your phone is unlocked, either Telecom (telecom.co.nz)
or Vodafone (vodafone.co.nz) have sim cards available with prepay
plans. Vodafone currently has a plan called Freebee that I have found
to be pretty economical... 2 Degrees is another mobile provider, but I
have no idea what their coverage is on or near the trail.

2degrees are generally the lowest cost non-contract network provider; for technical reasons their network coverage is always equal to or better than Vodafone's. Like the other two main providers, they can sell you the SIM you need. (I'm not an employee, just a customer of theirs.) There are parts of rural NZ where Telecom has better coverage, but much of the trail has no coverage at all, by any provider, and you should plan for that. In built-up areas all networks have good coverage.

 

If your
phone is locked, then there are phones available in NZ to buy, and by
law they have to be unlocked so you could take one back with you or
sell it.

Unfortunately that's not true. Locked phones are perfectly legal in NZ, but are thankfully uncommon. "Skinny" network phones are locked and their customer service leaves something to be desired.

Cheers,

Roy.