New Zealand

[geochaching0505]

Greetings!

 

I am going to be studying abroad in New Zealand this coming fall and was wondering if yall could give me some help as far as GPS, geocaching, and, maps are concerned? I know that I can use a GPS unit in New Zealand, the question is how easy is it going to be to set it up and get the maps and such.

 

So I am looking at buying a Garmin Etrex Vista GPS, but don't want to buy it before I get a little bit more information and some research.

 

1) Once I get my Garmin, I will need to buy an extra memory card. How big of a card do I need? Is the included 128MB MicroSD big enough? I want to be able to put maps of places in NZ that I will be hiking, but I do not see it necessary to have all of the maps on there at once.

 

2) Where can I find free New Zealand maps? I have Googled it a little but I either get a map of NZ that costs $100 to $200, a map of just the cities of NZ, or a map that will not be useful for hiking or tramping.

 

3)This is what I am going to buy. Does it look alright or do I not need to bundle and all that jazz?

http://www.rei.com/product/769532?cm_re=lq...ista_HCx_Bundle

 

4) Any words of advice before I take the plunge into the GPS / Geocaching world?

 

thank you for your time, help, and patience

geochaching0505

[Keystone]

I can't help you with New Zealand maps, but I encourage you to join the New Zealand geocaching group and ask for help on their forum.

 

My advice to you is to write to Groundspeak and ask them to correct the typo in your username, unless it has some special meaning to include the extra "h."

[+the england's]

Try here

 

NZ Maps

[+La Vista]

You can buy NZ Topo map for hiking etc. see: http://www.gtmaps.co.nz/

For road maps with auto routing you can get the free open source maps see: http://gwprojects.orconhosting.net.nz/gps/index.html.

You can put it all on the GPS if you have about 400Mb memory. I would suggest you get the Garmin models which take the micro SD memory cards ie the "x" models. Put in a 1 or 2 Gb card so you will have plenty of room

[+Skytracker]

Hi There

 

There are free maps that will do the job.

 

Come and visit us at www.gps.org.nz

 

You will get heaps of helpful tips and advice, not to mention a warm welcome when you get here.

 

Cheers