Anybody know best places to visit in New Zealand?

Question

I've got three weeks there so can fit in quite a bit in the north and south islands.

Answer 1

I lived there for a year, and both islands, although different, have some truly jaw-droppingly beautiful scenery. You probably are aware of the more celebrated places to visit, so the best advice I could give you, if you are a fairly adventurous traveller, is to visit The Catlins at the very bottom of the South Island. The roads are a bit rough to say the least but there is so much to do and see. We only went there after being told about it by some Kiwis. I spent a couple of days exploring The Catlins with my girlfriend and we had a really special time, maybe the most special out of our entire time in NZ, and that is really saying something. We were walking along one beach in late Autumn, and we were the only people on this beautiful beach, except for several HUGE seals which were dozing (and urinating quite frequently) on the sand. We just sat next to them for hours and it really felt like a really private, special moment, just having everything to ourselves. We didn't want to leave. It's times like those that make everything worthwhile, so consider it. Although I obviously can't guarantee the big, fat, friendly seals! Although a final warning: after leaving The Catlins, do not stay at The Bumpy Bridge Backpackers Hostel in Balclutha. This seemed to be some kind of 'halfway house' for mental patients and criminals (medication stocked in the communal fridge - nice touch). That was a hair-raising evening, but part of the fun.

Aside from that, swimming with dolphins in Kaikoura is an unforgettable experience that I could bore you for hours about. The drive from Te Anau to Milford is also completely unmissable: beyond description - just do it.

But the best advice is to spend as much time as possible out of the cities. I lived in both Christchurch and Auckland for several months and whilst they are both pleasant enough cities, they were the lowlight of out time in NZ. Too much time spent in NZ's cities is a complete waste when you consider what else you could be doing.

Answer 2

Geothermal area central North Island. Off the beaten track, West Coast North Island, Taranaki (New Plymouth). South Island. Down the West Coast, amazing scenery, across the Pass and into Queenstown. Then back up the South Island east coast. Top of South Island, great. Digital camera needs extremily large memory

Answer 3

Depends what your into.
The west coast of the South island and the Coromandel in the north Island are both semi tropical forest
Fiordland is untouched and definitely worth a visit you can take tours or walk the track. Diving here is great,

Cape Reianga at the top is impressive where Maori foke law says the departed spirits return to their ancestral home from, it's also where the two seas meet, worth a look

The Kauri trees on the way north are worth a look in to if your into nature

If you into thrills and don't mind paying Queenstowns the place to go - jet boating, bungi jumping, skiing, paragliding it's all there.

If you want to soak in hot pools and relax Hammner Springs is great - book in advance for one of their massages it's heavenly!
Hammner also has jet boating, bungy jumping, mazes etc

Rotorua is stinky (in some parts - sulphur something er rather) but has great volcanic activity you can safely view in places like hells gate and the hot pools

If your young and able I'd recommend pack packing as most hostels will arrange activities for you, you get to meet new people and you don't have to book (although in rush season it may be wise to). Transport either by purchasing a cheap car or getting yourself a pass on some ting like the "Kiwi Experience", or getting a rental car

That's just my opinion

Answer 4

There is quite alot of places, it depends on what you are looking for, if its activities/adventure. Not far from Taupo is the Waitomo District, famous for the Waitomo Caves, where you can experience a genuine caving adventure black-water rafting under a galaxy of glow-worms. The more adventurous will also want to try rock climbing and abseiling.
Whether you're looking for extreme adventure or relaxation, you'll discover a wide variety of options and amazing settings. For adventure activities you'll want to head to Queenstown, Taupo and Rotorua. These popular holiday destinations provide stunning scenic backdrops for bungy jumping, sky diving, white-water rafting, jet-boating and heli adventures.

Christchurch acts as a good base to discover the greater Canterbury area. This includes the Mt Hutt ski fields that are only an hour’s drive away, or a visit to Banks Peninsula and the many small townships that can be found there. So whether you are punting on the Avon, admiring the beautiful Botanical gardens, or sampling the cafés and restaurants, Christchurch offers visitors a great taste of what the Canterbury region has to offer.

hope u enjoy ur visit

Answer 5

New Zealand is amazing! If i were u i'd spend two weeks in the South Island and one week in the North. I dont know when u are planning on going but their wintertime is best for scenery, ice capped mountains, glaciers etc. NZ has the worlds highest bungee jump and u can go on an overnight cruise on the Milford Sound and maybe even spot Dolphins. LOTR was filmed there too.

Answer 6

I could bore you to death with this. My Mum emigrated in 1980 and lived there for the rest of her remaining 24 years, so I have been a fairly regular visitor. Every time I visit I go somewhere new and make sure I visit family and friends.

You can see some photos on my space, along with some travel logs. For scenery, the South Island can't be beaten.

My space is at http://everestmark.spaces.live.com/, just scroll down a bit for the travelogue.

Have a great trip, I'm jealous.

Answer 7

The harbour-side city of Auckland is New Zealand's correct metropolis and the vibrant financial center 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 style between Manukau Harbour (to the west) and Waitemata Harbour (to the east) with the small main town region proper near the waterway. For some guests to New Zealand, Auckland is the idea of arrival, and several days washing up the ethnic and outdoor attractions here should really be on every tourist's to-do list. The monuments, museums, and art galleries listed below are a few of the best in the country. The suburban coastline of the town is speckled with fine beaches, and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf give a style of New Zealand's magnificent national park landscape close to the city's doorstep. Auckland is surely a city worth seeing.

Answer 8

If you are passing through Wellington I highly recommend Te Papa Museum. I really enjoyed it, well worth the visit and only a stone's throw from the Interisland NZ Ferry connector if you're hitching a ride across the Cook Straight to the south island and just around the corner from the Wellington Railway Station.

http://www.tepapa.govt.nz

Cheers! Habren

Answer 9

Right then, make sure you visit Kaikoura, go to whale watch there and tell them i sent you :) Wai o Tapu is nice, you can go to the Paradise Valley Springs Wildlife centre there, at up to 1 year old they bring lion cubs out to meet the public, they are soooooo cute its untrue, went to a thermal wonderland there - it was rainging and the lake was fizzing, wonder why its doing that i thought and stuck my finger in the water, then i found out - it was 70 Centigrade! Wellington i enjoyed, stayed in a place called Edgewater run by a lovely lady called Stella - her meals are spectacular. Christchurch was fun, if you're going there you HAVE to go to the Minus 5 bar, its basically inside a big freezer and everythings made of ice - even the glasses you drink out of, if you do go there dont have the champagne based cocktail - its bloody awful! Went to a place called have a shot in Wanaka, that was a laugh, shotguns, rifles, archery etc, cheap too. If you're feeling brave in Auckland you can chuck yourself off the top of the skytower, 640 feet straight down, i absolutely cacked it doing that but the view was good (when i had my eyes open), they also have a good restaurant at the top of the Skytower that slowly revolves, i remember enjoying that. If you fly into Auckland on arrival, i'd recommend taking the ferry out to Waiheke Island, its like another world - 20 years ago :). Akaroa on the South island is a good place to chill for a few days and has a great restaurant right on the shoreline. Another good place to go in Auckland is Kelly Tarltons Arctic Experience and underwater world, you can go into a sealed room and experience an arctic blizzard as well as stand in front of a big fan that with wind chill takes the temperature to -25C. If you like scenery take a flight up to Skippers Canyon, it'll blow your mind, but dont be taken in by Milford Sound, they make a very big deal about it but its nothing special, other scenery i really enjoyed was driving over Arthurs Pass - words fail me!

Oh one other thing if you cross from the North to South island on the interislander ferry pay the extra $15 to go club class, you get to sit in a nice quite warm area with tvs in them and free tea/coffee and munchies etc, trust me its well worth it, if the weather turns ugly its a 3 hour crossing - much better to be comfortable, and its a good place to get your head down if needs be, when i did that there was only 2 other people in there - marvellous.

Answer 10

this is reliable place to retire this is particularly eco-friendly fantastically in case you pass to the south island. i am going on the top of the week. frequently whilst travelers coming to NZ they stay each week on the North Island after which shooting to South for 3 weeks coz this is extra prettier. There are lot's of mountains the place you may desire to ski forests crammed with interior sight tree. tell me the place could desire to pass and what definitely could you desire to be attentive to approximately NZ may well be i could desire to help.