Where to rent a vacation house in Aus or NZ?

[ecr]

I've been googling, and I'm a bit ovewhelmed by the possibilities ... hope someone can help.

We have about 10-12 days, and the scenario is a few days in a fun city with great eats and good shopping, then retreat by car to a rental place in a beautiful, quiet area where we can relax a lot, run, bike, and eat eat eat (and drink drink drink - wine).

Not looking at NE Aus -- we'll save Barrier Reef Daintree etc. for another trip.

It will be over Xmas/New Year (or maybe just over New Year).

Don't want a plane ride within Aus or NZ -- so we'd be flying into Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Auckland etc.

Don't care about temperature, warm/cool, either is fine. Coast or not, doesn't matter as long as we're in the midst of some nice scenery.

Don't want the rental to be in a city, but would like to have fairly easy access (1/2 hour or so drive) to wonderful raw materials to cook with. Seafood and cheeses high on the list.

Any ideas??

[arbuclo]

ecr, sounds like a nice trip! I love Melbourne (lived there for 11 years) so I'd recommend it for the shopping, fantastic food and great sites. Then, there are several areas around Melbourne where you could retreat to a rental house. The closest place perhaps would be the Yarra Valley. It's likely to be more than a half hour away, though. About the same distance in a different direction is a wonderful area around the spa area of Daylesford. Both areas have wineries, though Yarra is more well known (and sometimes more snobby). There's art and spas, particularly around Daylesford. The both have local producers, farmers markets and good restaurants too.

South of the Yarra Valley there's the Mornington Peninsula. It is kinda the Yarra Valley's not so fancy cousin. It has beaches, wineries and also good food and food markets.

If you want to go to Sydney, I have really enjoyed the Blue Mountains because they have all of the above attractions plus dramatic views and great bushwalking. It also is more than a half hour out of Sydney, however.

Let me know if you need further clarification or some websites.

[episyd]

Although from Sydney I often think early January is oneof the worst timesto visit this fair city - very humid, most good restaurants closed and half the city gone on holidayson beaches upand down the coast.

I would recommend either Mornington peninsular just south of Melbourne - great restaurants and vineyards specialising in coolclimate pinots and chardonnay. You are alsoclose to the Bay for swims and seafood - can be a bit crammed atthis time but heh any greatplace atthis time in Oz is going to have a lot of holiday makers.

Another option and probably where i would go is Margaret River region south of Perth. Absolutely stunning scenery - huge eucalypt forests , some of the bestsurfing beaches in Australia and superb wines -arguably our best cabernet/bordeaux blends and world class chardonnay. Excellent restaurants and accommodation.

happy to provide more info or other options or ideas once you have narrowed the field.

Cheers

Paul

[ecr]

Thanks both! Arbuclo -- to clarify -- I meant once we're in the rental, don't want to be much more than 1/2 hour away from provisions (a market, whatever) ... rental can be several hours away from our arrival city.

Will have a look at the peninsula and Margaret River area....

[PCL]

As a Melbournian, the Mornington region is the best bet in my opinion.

Daylesford is too um, superficial?? these days and the restaurants are expensive and quality does not seem to be a priority. Went there with my parents for a 'family' holiday not long ago and got completely ripped off in my reckoning. But there is a great rental property there... check out www.villaparma.com.au

In Mornington, you have choices for beaches (ocean vs bayside) lots and lots and lots of cool climate wines, and probably the best Pinot Noir in the country if not the Hemisphere out of Main Ridge Estates, cellar door sales only and FANTASTIC sunday lunch.

And you have seafood coming out of your ears.

And Melbourne the most livable city close by, I mean, less than an hour's drive away. Is good, very good.

[madumbi]

Margaret River/Yallingup region is about 3 1/2 hours south of Perth by car , a winery region , with masses of places to eat scattered across the countryside. The area (part of the "South-West") is partly agricultural (the wineries, dairy cattle, horticulture) partly forested, including old-growth native forest, karri trees which stretch up to 80-90 metres tall. Yallingup is on the world surfing circuit, stunning beaches up and down the coast "between the capes" (Naturaliste and Leeuwin), lots of good walking on the coast and in the forests. Lots of good eating and shopping too (because a lot of crafts people and artisanal producers work and live in the area).

A lot of self-catering accommodation available, and the ingredients to go with it are just as accessible in Margaret River itself, but also Dunsborough, Augusta, and from the farms and producers across the area. Meelup/Eagle Bay are paradise if you like to be close to the water - lunch at Wise's and a walk along Meelup beach in the late afternoon seems like a dream of perfection.

Christmas/New Year is just about the busiest time of the year in the South-West - you will need to book early I think. But there is always some accommodation available later. The roads are easy to get around so the distances are not a problem -

Lots of websites - try Margaret River, Yallingup and Eagle Bay as search terms.

madumbi

[madumbi]

Margaret River/Yallingup region is about 3 1/2 hours south of Perth by car , a winery region, with masses of places to eat scattered across the countryside. The area (part of the "South-West") is partly agricultural (the wineries, dairy cattle, horticulture) partly forested, including old-growth native forest, karri trees which stretch up to 80-90 metres tall. Yallingup is on the world surfing circuit, stunning beaches up and down the coast "between the capes" (Naturaliste and Leeuwin), lots of good walking on the coast and in the forests. Lots of good eating and shopping too (because a lot of crafts people and artisanal producers work and live in the area).

A lot of self-catering accommodation available, and the ingredients to go with it are just as accessible in Margaret River itself, but also Dunsborough, Augusta, and from the farms and producers across the area. Meelup/Eagle Bay are paradise if you like to be close to the water - lunch at Wise's and a walk along Meelup beach in the late afternoon followed by some fish on the barbecue for supper seems like a dream of the perfect day.

Christmas/New Year is just about the busiest time of the year in the South-West - you will need to book early I think. But there is always some accommodation available later. The roads are easy to get around so the distances are not a problem -

Lots of websites - try Margaret River, Yallingup and Eagle Bay as search terms.

madumbi

[Julles]

If you are coming to NZ there are several options open to you - if you want to stay in Auckland you can have a good time without much travel - lots of local restaurants, seafood suppliers, local produce - though you might have to ask where to buy it. You could have a few days in the city then catch a ferry out to Waiheke Island - 40 mins from Downtown, nice beaches, laid back - there is a big supermarket, but you wld be advised to take speciality products with you. Lots of vinyards, good walks, great views. You can either hire a car out there, or there is a car ferry if you already have a rental. Though you can get around via bus/taxi/bike! There are websites promoting the island, so have a look at the pictures - also lots of people rent out their holiday homes - from very basic to elaborate.

If you wanted to drive further you cld go up to the Bay of Islands, a few hours drive, or if you wanted a different holiday, head to Wellington - a 7 hour drive - 30 min flight, have a few days there, then over to Martinborough - another vinyard town, inland but not too far to drive to the coast. If you are coming all the way to NZ you really shld try and get down to the South Island, magnificent scenery, maybe on the next trip??

[ecr]

More great info! Spent the wknd online, think we've narrowed it down to Mornington or a wk on Waiheke (I like the rental options, weather seems good) with some days in Auckland before or after. Checked out public holidays in Aus/NZ that time of year ... and I'm wondering when can I count on all restaurants/stores (for food provisions) being closed .... Dec 25 25 AND 27? Jan 1 obviously, will things be back open on the 2nd?

Julles - yes would love to see more of NZ but basically we are lazy and don't want to move around too much in such a short period of time. And we live in Asia, so if it's just Waiheke/Auck this trip no worries, a return trip is in the cards!!

[Julles]

I really don't know if things are all open all the time, but more or less everything will be- all the shops are open - we have very liberal shopping/employment laws!! The restaurants will be open all year round - you might have to pay a slight holiday surcharge, but c'est la vie........ If you want to go out for a New Years Eve dinner, it would be a good idea to book a bit in advance, maybe down in the Viaduct, there is usually some sort of fireworks, and masses of people looking to party! Or take the late ferry back to Waiheke,make sure you rent something with a view - most places out there have a view of something - the best beaches are Onetangi and Palm Beach!! Good luck.

[arbuclo]

In Australia most things are open except Christmas Day. Shouldn't really have too many issues with that sort of thing because it's summer and tourist season.

[Cedreena]

You could get all you want in Tasmania

[helenjp]

If you stay in Auckland around Christmas, Waiheke will be nice, and so will Devonport (on the north shore of Auckland), a small peninsula with a strong seaside feel and increasingly upmarket (though a long way from Sydney's trendy seaside suburbs) shopping and dining. Pick a small private hotel or lodge. Central Auckland seems to be dominated these days by Universities and language schools, so that area is the most likely to shut down over summer - our academic year starts at the end of summer.

[foodie52]

Am curious: what's your weather going to be like in October? Specifically Melbourne and Adelaide? Should I pack lots of layers? Rain gear? Bring an umbrella? Winter coat??

[arbuclo]

I can tell you about Melbourne...it's highly variable and unpredictable! While I don't think you need a winter coat, do pack layers and an umbrella.