Daylight Saving Start & End Dates 2011 to 2019

Prepare for Daylight Savings Time

Daylight Saving Time comes around quickly each year in New Zealand and Australia. See the tables below for more specific details of Specific Dates.

The following States and Territories do have Daylight Saving:

  • New South Wales
  • Victoria
  • ACT / Canberra
  • South Australia
  • Tasmania

You can refer to the tables below for more information of DLS start and end dates over the coming years up to 2019 for both Australia and New Zealand!

Start DLS later in 2014: For those interested in when daylight savings starts later in 2014 this is for you. 🙂 Before you head to bed on Saturday 4th October 2014 you need to move all of your watches and clocks forward 1 hour in Australia. This same procedure needs to be done on the night of Saturday 27th September 2014 if you live in New Zealand. This will ensure all of the times are correctly set to DLS time when you awake Sunday morning 28th September 2014 in NZ or 5th October 2014 in Oz.




End DLS 2015: Before you go to bed on Saturday night 5th April 2015 (in both New Zealand and Australia) you need to set all of your clocks and watches back 1 hour.  So when you get up on the morning of Sunday 6th April 2015 your clocks will all show the correct time. Note: smart phones, computers and other electronic equipment may already have inbuilt DLS settings and so you may not need to manually change the time on these devices.

These are the important dates to mark on your calendar if you live in one of these areas of our nation. This table shows important Australian Daylight Savings dates up to 2019.

 Aust Start DLS Year  Start DLS Date  Aust End DLS Year  End DLS Date
 2011  Sunday 2 Oct   2012  Sunday 1 April
 2012  Sunday 7 Oct   2013  Sunday 7 April
 2013  Sunday 6 Oct   2014  Sunday 6 April
 2014  Sunday 5 Oct   2015  Sunday 5 April
 2015  Sunday 4 Oct   2016  Sunday 3 April
 2016  Sunday 2 Oct   2017  Sunday 2 April
 2017  Sunday 1 Oct   2018  Sunday 1 April
 2018  Sunday 7 Oct   2019  Sunday 7 April
 2019  Sunday 6 Oct   2020  Sunday 5 April

At 2am on Sunday 5th October 2014 the clocks in the States and Territories above all need to be moved forward an hour to 3am.

3am is Start of Daylight Savings TimeThe easiest way to remember to do this is before retiring for the night on Saturday 4th October 2014, just set your clocks an hour faster. This way when you awake on Sunday morning your clocks will all be set correctly.

Then in 2015 you will need to set your clocks back an hour at the end of Daylight Savings time. So at 3am on April 5th 2015 the clocks need to be turned back to 2am.

So before going to bed on Saturday 4th April 2015 move your clocks all back one hour and you will be all set with the correct times when you get up on Sunday morning the 5th of April 2015.

The States and Territories that do not currently have DLS are:

  • Queensland
  • Western Australia
  • Northern Territory

It is also important to keep Daylight Savings in mind when you are travelling between different states as it can become confusing if you are not aware of the different times in each area.

This can especially become a problem in areas such as the Gold Coast that does not currently have Daylight savings and yet is on the border with Tweed Heads, in NSW, that does have Daylight saving time.

If you mark the dates above in your calendar, then you should be fine and not become confused with the time differences.

Daylight Savings Time New Zealand

New Zealand also has daylight, but the dates are slightly different from Australia, but also involves moving the clocks forward an hour at the start of the season.

  NZ Start DLS Date   NZ End DLS Date
 Last Sunday in September
  First Sunday in April




So if you are in New Zealand, or travelling to New Zealand then do the following:
Last Sunday in September: Put all clocks forward One hour on the last Saturday night in September, before retiring to bed.
First Sunday in April:  Put all clocks back One hour on the Saturday night that occurs just before the first Sunday in April, before you go to bed that Saturday night.

 NZ Start DLS Year  Start DLS Date    NZ End DLS Year  End DLS Date
 2011  Sunday 25 September     2012  Sunday 1 April
 2012  Sunday 30 September     2013  Sunday 7 April
 2013  Sunday 29 September     2014  Sunday 6 April
 2014  Sunday 28 September     2015  Sunday 5 April
 2015  Sunday 27 September     2016  Sunday 3 April
 2016  Sunday 25 September     2017  Sunday 2 April
 2017  Sunday 24 September     2018  Sunday 1 April
 2018  Sunday 30 September     2019  Sunday 7 April
 2019  Sunday 29 September     2020  Sunday 5 April

Updating Your Clocks & Devices

Change Clock Times for Daylight SavingsNote that there are many devices that you will need to change the time on. Some electronic items, such as mobile phones and computers, may already have inbuilt settings that will adjust for Daylight savings automatically, if you have set it up for this automatic update.

Devices to update time on may include:

  • Wall Clocks
  • Watches
  • Mobile Phones
  • Clock radios
  • Car Clocks
  • DVD players
  • Microwave ovens
  • Computers
  • Electronic refrigerators

This list is not exhaustive, but does give an indication of the quantity and kinds of items that you need to keep in mind when allowing for daylight savings time changes.

You can also see a World Map of time zones here showing the places with Daylight savings time in the Southern Hemisphere shown in light green and the Northern Hemisphere shown in yellow.

Spectacular Bethells Beach & O’Neills Bay West Auckland

A must see place to the west of Auckland, New Zealand, is the gorgeous Bethells Beach. Its pristine black, fine sand is a pleasure to walk on a stunning to see!

It is a pleasant drive of approximately an hour from Auckland’s CBD. Bethells is situated on the West Coast of NZ at the mouth of the Waitakere River. As you stand on the shimmering black beach you are looking out into the refreshing Tasman Sea. The sight alone is truly invigorating and peaceful at the same time.

Keep in mind that the waters surrounding Bethells Beach are very treacherous and are best to avoid unless you enjoy surfing. Even then be sure to have a friend with you at all times to assist if you find yourself in trouble.

There are many places that you can walk along the beach, around the dunes and over the surrounding hills.


O’Neills Bay is just a short walk over one of the small sand dunes and offers stunning views. This would also be a perfect spot for a quite, peaceful picnic with the family or that special person in your life.

If you bring the kids with you then you can join others and bring a couple of kites to fly. The wide open sandy beach provides a perfect location for flying kites that soar up high into the sky with the refreshing sea winds. The prevailing westerly winds assist in keeping the kites up and taking them high up into the crisp sea sky.

Many people come to enjoy physical activity and surf or parasail, while others just enjoy the feeling of refreshing that comes from the fresh sea air and the beautiful surroundings.

Cost:

Free public beach that is open to all visitors.

Location:

North of Piha on West Coast
At the Mouth of the Waitakere River
West of Auckland
New Zealand

Bethells Beach Location Map:


View Larger Map


Popular Activities:

Many thousands of visitors flock to this pristine area on New Zealand’s west coast each year. With many different activities and pastimes to occupy everyone from the youngest to the oldest visitor.

Some of the popular things to do at Bethells Beach include:

  • Surfing
  • Fishing – be careful of any rogue waves when fishing from the rocks! Many fisherman have lost their lives due to the treacherous waters. So take extra care!
  • Flying kites
  • Parasailing
  • Hang Gliding
  • Walking on the beach
  • Bushwalking – boardwalks provided in some areas
  • Picnics with family and friends
  • Sunbathing
  • Swimming – but be aware that the waters are dangerous and so swimming is not advised.
  • Skimboarding – has recently become popular with some of the younger visitors.
  • Relaxing
  • Reading that long awaited book you have sitting next to your bed!
  • Viewing Gorgeous Sunrises over the rocky and sandy beach

 

 

Te Puia Thermal Reserve NZ

The Te Puia Thermal Reserve can be found in New Zealand’s thermally active region of Rotorua. If you enjoy seeing and experiencing the thrill of bubbling mud, pressurized steam and shooting geysers then this is certainly one place that you need to visit on your next holiday in New Zealand’s North Island.

Te Puia Guided Tour:

One of the best ways to enjoy all that Te Puia thermal springs has to offer is to take advantage of the free guided tour that is included with your entry ticket. This way you not only get to see everything in the park, but you also get a local’s perspective on the Te Puia thermal park and the history and culture of the region and the maori people.

Check out the Maori men working in the school of carving. You may even be fortunate, as we were, to hear them singing some local Maori songs as they happily did their individual wood carvings.

The school of weaving displays a wide variety of items that the Maori women weave from local materials. It is interesting to see how they bring out the different colours and create so many useful and decorative items.




Depending on the ticket that you purchase you may also have access to see the live Maori Experience, which includes a show along with audience interaction. Here you will learn about the local Maori culture and history, while you also enjoy an entertaining live show.

Te Puia Thermal Reserve Prices (at October 2012):

Adult Child (5-15 years) Family Pass
Te Puia Daytime Experience $46.00 $23.00 $124.20
Te Puia Daytime Experience Combo $57.40 $28.70 $155.00
Te Puia Cultural Performance Experience $46.00 $23.00 $124.20
Te Po Indigenous Evening Experience $110.00 $55.00 $297.00
Te Po Indigenous Evening Experience Combo $145.00 $72.50 $391.50

 

 

 

 

 

With the family pass above you can have up to 2 adults and between 2 to 4 children aged between 5 and 15 years. So this is great value if you are coming with your family!

NOTE: Another great way to get discount entry into Te Puia Rotorua is to buy a special Rotorua 5 Star Pass combination ticket through Rotorua Super Passes. Find out more by checking out our blog post on this service.

Times of Operation:

Summer: 8am – 6pm (last tour begins around 5pm)
Winter: 8am – 5pm (last tour begins around 4pm)

Address:

Te Puia,
Hemo Rd,
Rotorua,
New Zealand

Te Puia Map:


View Larger Map

Aerial View:


View Larger Map




 

Te Puia Thermal Reserve Facilities:

  • Free off street parking
  • Wheel chair access
  • Souvenir shop
  • Restrooms
  • EFTPOS
  • Tourist Information

Lots more to see in Rotorua and New Zealand!

Rotorua Super Passes

Rotorua Super PassRotorua in New Zealand’s North Island is a unique location with many different things to do and places to visit. The prices of each of these different local attractions can quickly add up, so what is the solution? If you are after the best deal and the cheapest way to see many of Rotorua’s local sights then why not purchase one of various Rotorua Super Passes for you and your family?

There are passes available to suit a variety of budgets and travel tastes. You can enjoy the best that this gorgeous part of New Zealand has to offer without breaking the bank. You also save money as the passes are less expensive than the normal combined cost of the individual attractions.

Rotorua Location:

One of the best ways to get to Rotorua is by car. The trip by road will take you around 2.5 hours from New Zealand’s capital, Auckland. Once there you will then be able to use the car to visit the many fun attractions.


View Larger Map

Rotorua Five Star Pass:

One of the popular options with families and those on a tight travel budget is the 5-Star Pass. This super pass allows entry into 3 fun and interesting local tourist attractions. These include:

Rotorua Skyline Gondola at NightSkyline Gondola – Jump into the gondola, which holds up to 8 people, and enjoy the breathtaking view as you travel higher up the mountain. You will see the spectacular 180-degree panoramic views, which include the lake, Rotorua township and the hills that surround the region. Check out the live webcam view here.

Te Puia – Here you will learn all about local, Maori culture and also get up nice and close to the bubbling mud and vibrant thermal activity. You many also choose to pay a little extra so that you can enjoy the live Maori cultural show on site.

Polynesian Spa – Spend some time relaxing and rejuvenating in the naturally warm thermal waters at the spa pools. If you have kids with you then you can enjoy the family fool and 2 separate spa pools. If you only have adults in your group then you can go into the adult only section and enjoy a wider range of pools of varying temperatures and water types.

Other pass options include:

  • Rotorua Diamond Pass
  • Legends of Rotorua Pass
  • Rotorua Escapade Pass
  • Rotorua Fab Foursome Pass
  • Rotorua Land and Lake Pass
  • Rotorua Superpass
  • Rotorua Treasure Chest Pass
  • Rotorua Trilogy Pass
  • Rotorua Triple Treat Pass
  • Tarawera Legacy Pass

Prices:

The prices vary depending on the specific pass that you purchase, but prices range from approximately $80 to $235 per person.

Each of the options above will give you many hours of fun, excitement, relaxation and education. You will be sure to create many happy memories of your holiday in Rotorua that you can carry with you into the future.

Drive Yourself?

You also have the option with some of the passes to drive yourself or to have transport included in the cost. If you prefer just to sit back and be driven to the various attractions then you may want to look at this option.

The individual components of each pass can be used of different days so that you can enjoy one attraction each day or multiple attractions within the same day. The choice is entirely up to you!

So before you arrive for your next vacation be sure to check out all of the available Rotorua Super Pass options so that you can select the one that best suits you and your family or friends.

Happy travels through Rotorua and New Zealand!

Uprising Resort Fiji Review

The Uprising Resort Fiji is the perfect spot for a peaceful holiday for couples or families. Uprising is located in Pacific Harbour around 45 minutes drive from Fiji’s capital, Suva and approximately 2 hours from Nadi (pronounced “Nandi”).

Accommodation Prices Per Night (October 2012):

Note that the prices listed below are per night and each includes a lite continental breakfast.

The prices for the Villas and Bures are for 2 people per night. The price for the dormitory is for 1 person per night.

Beachfront Villas $375 FJD (double)
Garden View Villas $335 FJD (double)
Beachfront Bures $255 FJD (double)
Garden View Bures $235 FJD (double)
Backpackers’ Dorm $40 FJD / person

Obviously the higher your travel budget the more luxurious the accommodation that you can book. But regardless of whether you stay in a luxurious beachfront villa, complete with air con, or share with others in the backpackers dorm, you will still be able to enjoy the amazing location and all of the fun activities that the Pacific Harbour region has to offer.

Booking Tip:

Remember to check out the special package offers that the Uprising resort itself and other travel companies may be offering at the time you want to book. It may well be that you can find a great discount deal that includes a breakfast each morning and possibly even some fun activities as well. So have a look around online or through a local travel agent before you confirm your booking.

Distances From Suva & Nadi:

Uprising beach resort is in a tranquil location on the gorgeous Fijian island of Viti Levu.

Below you can see a table of distances and the approximate times that it takes to drive to the Uprising Resort, Fiji from Viti Levu’s major cities.

Distance (km) Time
Suva to Uprising, Pacific Harbour 50 km 45-60 mins
Nadi to Uprising, Pacific Harbour 140 km 2-2.5 hours

Keep in mind that travel times are approximate. If you hire a car and drive yourself then you may be able to get there a little faster (if you don’t stop along the way to enjoy some of the beautiful scenery!). In public transport and shuttles there may be additional stops along the way, which means that the trip may be slightly longer than you originally thought.

NOTE: Not all of Fiji’s roads are well maintained. Around the south of the Viti Levu island the road from Nadi to Suva (including Pacific Harbour) is quite good in most places. Some spots, however, are quite bumpy and so you may find the trip somewhat tiring.

Travel Tip:

Remember to have a bottle of water with you for the trip and enjoy the stunning scenery and landscapes along the way. If you do this then the time will pass quickly and you will soon be at your destination and ready to enjoy an amazing Fijian holiday!

Cheap Shuttle Bus From Nadi To Uprising Resort:

One inexpensive and yet reliable way to get to the Uprising Resort is to book a trip on the Coral Sun Express Shuttle. This bus picks travelers up from the Nadi Airport twice daily at 7.30am and 1pm and then stops along the way at Nadi town and then major hotels and resorts all the way to Suva.

There are also 2 trips from Suva to Nadi airport two times a day. These leave Suva at 7.15am and 3.30pm.

Uprising Resort Address:

The Uprising Beach Resort,
Beach Road,
Pacific Harbour,
Fiji Islands

Email: enquiries@uprisingbeachresort.com
Telephone: (679) 3452200
Fax: (679) 3452059

Uprising Postal Address:

P.O. Box 416
Pacific Harbour,
Fiji Islands

Map:


View Larger Map

Aerial View:


View Larger Map

Shopping & Attractions Near Uprising Resort:

It is a nice 5 minute walk to the township of Pacific Harbour where you will find some local sites and attractions that you can visit.

  • Arts Village
  • Church – services held each week

Within the Arts Village you will find a range of different stores and shops selling clothing, sportswear, Fijian jewellery, carvings, handcrafts, CDs and lots of souvenirs. There is also a grocery store, cinema and swimming pool complex.

Read Reviews From Other Travellers:

Many people have taken the time to write reviews of Uprising on Trip Advisor for travelers to find out more. Currently there are over 120 reviews that you can read and use as part of your research.

Just about all of the reviews are positive. The one thing that many people say was a negative is the distance that you need to travel in order to arrive at the resort at Pacific Harbour. If you are able to plan your trip well and book a taxi or shuttle bus then you will find that the 45 minutes from Suva or 2 hours from Nadi will pass quickly enough.

Enjoy your vacation at the Uprising Resort, Bega Bay.