| We had only been back a few days from our trip to | | | | (that includes electric ones). Youll need to arrive at |
| Europe when Louise said she thought we might go to | | | | check-in a bit earlier to book it in and to get a |
| New Zealand next Christmas. | | | | wheelchair for use at the airport. Ask for a staff |
| It was then I knew the travel bug had bitten. | | | | member to help you through to the plane. This has the |
| All we needed was a golden egg-laying goose and | | | | added advantage of giving you quick checking through |
| wed be right. Fortunately for us one came along and I | | | | customs. Youll be put in an aisle chair, which is a |
| know its like finding a needle in a haystack for people | | | | wheelchair narrow enough to get you down to your |
| with disabilities to be tripping over such a windfall, | | | | seat on the plane and youll get taken to your seat first. |
| however we were lucky. | | | | Unfortunately this also means that youll be last to get |
| But enough of multiple metaphors; New Zealand was | | | | off, but dont worry; with the VIP service through |
| great! | | | | customs youll be first at the luggage carousel! And ask |
| Before we went, we asked people who had been | | | | for staff help all the way through as it will make things |
| where we should go. Nearly all replied, Everywheres | | | | much easier and quicker. |
| good. Not much help, we thought. | | | | When traveling if you are disabled, its very important to |
| Now we know they were right! | | | | book ahead. Unfortunately your days of just dropping |
| There are many reasons why an Australian disabled | | | | into a town and grabbing somewhere to stay on the |
| tourist should go to New Zealand. For a start, they | | | | spur of the moment are over. We started booking |
| speak English (well sort of. I had almost perfected my | | | | accommodation almost a year prior and the internet is |
| Kiwi accent, but the rest of the family forbade me | | | | a wonderful (and cheap) tool for this. Dont rely on |
| prectising in the car). This makes communication and | | | | those wheelchair friendly symbols because sometimes |
| understanding of our needs so much easier. | | | | theyve been put there for no apparent reason. |
| New Zealand is so close to Australia- only 3 hours on | | | | Contact the owners directly by e-mail and check on |
| the plane- and so much cheaper than Europe. Even in | | | | steps, space inside rooms, doorway width, safety rails, |
| their High Season car hire, accommodation and tourist | | | | bathroom configuration and accessibility generally. (In |
| attractions were much cheaper than Europe in the | | | | fact, I could write a book on motel rooms-I have quite |
| middle of Winter. Although food and petrol were | | | | a list of practical suggestions for improving them for |
| dearer than Australia, they were still quite a bit cheaper | | | | disabled travellers!) In general, I found its better to |
| than Europe too. | | | | exaggerate rather than downplay your level of |
| Like Tasmania here theres lots to see and do in a | | | | disability. That way youre less likely to end up |
| small area. Unlike the rest of Australia, you dont have | | | | somewhere unsuitable. |
| to drive for hundreds of kilometers between big tourist | | | | Youll want travel insurance; if only to cover any |
| spots (in New Zealand everywheres a tourist spot!) | | | | medical emergencies. We had to pay a little more to |
| And it really is true that most New Zealanders are | | | | cover my pre-existing condition, but it wasnt at all hard |
| tremendously friendly and helpful. | | | | to get. Most insurance companies will be happy to |
| Things for me seemed a bit harder than Europe in | | | | cover for everything apart from your illness! |
| some ways; but that was because with chronic | | | | I bought a lightweight partially collapsible electric |
| progressive MS things get worse- and it was a year | | | | wheelchair especially for the trip. Luckily I bought it |
| later. Louise was right though; its a good idea to try | | | | early enough ahead to iron out a few teething |
| these things while you still can (and while our boys- | | | | problems and to get used to using it (at the expense |
| aged 11 and 15-still wanted to travel with us). | | | | of our house, which has been gradually destroyed by |
| Before You Go | | | | my earlier miscalculations). |
| Its important for anyone to get organized for a trip | | | | Louise began cursing the wheelchair early in our trip as |
| overseas, but when youve got a disability its essential! | | | | its rather small battery began running out of charge |
| Heres some tips; | | | | and I had to keep finding power points and wait for a |
| Make sure you take plenty of any medication you | | | | re-charge. In future weve decided to just take the |
| may need. Never try to buy it overseas. It will be | | | | manual wheelchair overseas. Its a lot less bulky and if |
| enormously expensive, or may not be available. Get a | | | | youve got someone to push, theyll appreciate the |
| covering letter from your doctor and make sure the | | | | exercise! |
| airline is aware. Needles are OK in the hold, but if you | | | | Dont forget your disabled parking pass, if youve got |
| need to take them as cabin luggage, youll need to | | | | one. We tried to organise an NZ pass before we left, |
| make special arrangements. | | | | through CCS, but it didnt eventuate. So we just used |
| If you suffer from incontinence, for men Id strongly | | | | our Australian sticker and had no problems at all. In |
| recommend wearing a leg bag as it takes away a lot | | | | fact in New Zealand youre very unlikely to encounter |
| of the pressure of trying to find a toilet in time. | | | | parking problems even in the peak tourist season. |
| You also need to choose a good airline and inform | | | | And dont be afraid to say you could do with help. Its |
| them of your special needs. Weve tried some | | | | taken me a while to work this out, but most places are |
| cut-price airlines and a few wobbly luggage hoists and | | | | set up to cater for disabled people and are only too |
| tarmac steps later I can tell you it aint worth it! Contact | | | | happy to help if given notice. You might be pleasantly |
| the airline well ahead to arrange seating. We found the | | | | surprised and even find yourself at the front of the |
| best place was up the very back, right near the toilets. | | | | queue for once! |
| Almost all airlines will take your wheelchair for free | | | | Need more travel content? |