Where's good in New Zealand?

Question

I'm going to New Zealand in October for a year of travelling and working. I can't wait! I have a working holiday visa so will be doing temp work as and when I need the money. We are starting off in Auckland but haven't planned anything else yet. I've read guidebooks and websites but I always think it's better to hear peoples personal opinions and experiences. Can anyone suggest places to see? Things to do? I want to make sure I get to experience everything New Zealand has to offer!

Answer 1

Get your self a car or even better a van. There's a car fair at the Ellerslie racecourse in centralish Auckland where you can pick up something cheap. Often you can get vans off other backpackers that are leaving and they'll come with camping gear and maps. You can free camp a bit round the place but some places you can't.
there's plenty of work in Auckland. Get out to Waiheke Island or maybe a day trip to Rangitoto the big volcanic Island in the middle of the harbour.
There's great surf beaches on the west coast of Auckland - Piha, Muriwai etc. Black sand, beautiful bush.
Good cafes round Ponsonby, Kingsland, Parnell is a bit more upmarket. K Rd (Karangahake Rd) is great for gigs, bars, clothes. I recommend Brazil on K Rd's coffee shakes. It's not everyone's scene though I guess. Also Hallelujah Cafe in St Kevin's Arcade and Habanero on the corner of Pitt St and K Rd.
Go up Mt Eden for the view. It's a dormant volcano with a cool crater.
For boutique beer in Auckland go to Galbraiths(English Ales etc), and Shakespeares on Albert St near the Sky Tower.
For gigs check out the Kings Arms (you might need to ask someone how to find it) and look out for the free gig guides floating about such as The Fix.
Out of Auckland - Northland is really cool. There's seasonal fruit picking at Keri Keri in the Bay of Islands which is a great spot. Great beaches up there too. You can dive round the Rainbow Warrior wreck at Matauri Bay I think.
Coromandel Peninsula is beautiful. Lots of great beaches and scenic bush.
Rotorua is worth a look for Maori culture, hot pools, geysers and lakes. There's a few streams around that have hot water that you can swim in for free between Rotorua and Taupo. Try and find Waiotapu or Kerosene creek. Don't put your head under though.
Mount Maunganui near Tauranga is a really popular surf beach on the East Coast. There's seasonal picking (kiwifruit etc) around the Bay of Plenty too.
Raglan on the West Coast is a really good surf beach too. The road down the West Coast to Kawhia then down to New Plymouth is pretty remote. There's a Kawhia Kai festival in february if you wanna eat traditional Maori food - Hangi, rotten corn, shark liver sausage.
The East Coast is cool, lots of Maori culture, you'll see guys riding horses with full moko facial tattoos.
There's heaps of seasonal apple picking in Hawke's Bay.
You can canoe down the Wanganui River on a three day trip through national park.
Wellington is a nice city and easy to get around. The wind can be full on though.
Nelson is cool, there's seasonal apple picking in Motueka. Golden Bay is nice.
Kaikoura on the east coast of the South Island is cool and a base for whale watching. The west coast of the South Island is beautiful. Check out Punaekaiki Rocks and the glaciers. Christchurch is nice, Dunedin is nice. Queenstown and Wanaka are great on the lakes and good for winter skiing\snowboarding. You should be able to find plenty of seasonal work round there too.
There's great hikes(tramps to the locals) all over the country. Milford track in Fiordland down the bottom of the South Island is really popular, you need to book. Tongariro saddle in the central North Island volcanic plateau is popular too.
Good seafood all over the country. Great wine round West Auckland and Waiheke Island, Hawke's Bay, East Coast, Martinborough(especially Pinot Noir), Marlborough(especially Sauvignon Blanc), Nelson and Central Otago. Lots of microbreweries all over the place.

Answer 2

Auckland is like any city with lots of shopping. The guide books will show all the sights. But you must go fishing, out at sea, not the river kind. North island is relatively flat and green, has beautiful farms, dairy and fruit orchards. Rotura seems to be the most touted visit. Hundreds of golf courses to hack around. South island is much rugged brown countryside and more sheep farms. Mt Hut is always beckoning when you're in Christchurch.
Queenstown, my Zurich in NZ, is a must visit location.

The Kiwis are very friendly and hospitable people. I am not sure about work opportunities but I suppose there are lots at all the regular touristy destinations.

I did the reverse of what you plan to do. Driving across the south island proceeding to the north island all in 21days. Go have a great time, play it by ear, and good luck.

Answer 3

The harbour-side city of Auckland is New Zealand's correct area and the lively financial heart of the nation, know it with hotelbye . Auckland can also be referred to as the "City of Sails" and it sprawls out in helter-skelter fashion between Manukau Harbour (to the west) and Waitemata Harbour (to the east) with the lightweight key city section proper beside the waterway. For most visitors to New Zealand, Auckland is the idea of birth, and a couple of days soaking up the national and outside attractions here must be on every tourist's to-do list. The monuments, museums, and art galleries listed below are a few of the finest in the country. The suburban coastline of the town is speckled with fine beaches, and the hawaiian islands of the Hauraki Gulf provide a style of New Zealand's spectacular national park landscape close to the city's doorstep. Auckland happens to be a town worth seeing.

Answer 4

Head to the Sth Island. Auckland is a fine city, and is a good place to start but the most beautiful places are in the sth island. Places like Franz Josef, Milford Sound and of course Queenstown. Christchurch is also nice but a little British for my liking.

For me, NZ is one of the most beautiful places on earth and the South island is stunning!

J

Answer 5

Fiji

Answer 6

Hobbiton!

Answer 7

auckland....great places to see

Answer 8

wow , you are very lucky

you are going to the garden

take care

bye

Answer 9

http://webdirectory.natlib.govt.nz/index.htm