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Anyone ever been? Do you recommend it? I'm not a tour guy, like to drive in a rental car with my Lonely Planet book. How many days is a fair amount of time to see what I need to see?

Yep .. I have been - I went for two weeks on a Contiki tour (18-35 yo) ... while I am not much of a tour person either - this was just a great way to see the place and have lots of adult beverages of an evening

Most people go for two weeks.

North Island - suggest the Bay of Islands and Rotarua (ok I think it is on the north island - as I said - lots of drinkin!) ... take a peg for Rotarua - smells like farts 100% of the time cause of sulphur. I have an allergy to it - so I was actually ill on the stomach the whole time there - but it is great to see the craters and hot mud springs etc.

South Island - Must do is a fly over of Fox Glacier - a lot of people walked it - cause I didnt want to kill myself falling down one of the ravines- I took a helicopter flight .. and we landed up on top of the glacier - it was awesome!

Also is Queenstown - a bit to do there.

We did a day trip from Queenstown to Milford Sound - that was a waste of time for me - didnt float my boat at all.

Go in the spring here (sept.oct) .. you get the bonus tour - twice as many sheep as there are all the little lambs out

UpstateNYPH wrote:Anyone ever been? Do you recommend it? I'm not a tour guy, like to drive in a rental car with my Lonely Planet book. How many days is a fair amount of time to see what I need to see?

I've been there Mike. spent a little time on the North Island and more time on the South Island. I really didn't doall that much touring. I spent three days in Auckland watching the America's Cup then went up North for a few days to visit an internet friend. Then I went to Christchurch on the South Island. More interested in a Kiwi gal there(met her in the states) but did get to do some exploring of Christchurch and went to some town which I can't remember the name of at the moment and swam with the Hector Dolphins. These are the smallest Dolphins in the world and it was all natural in an open bay with wild Dolphins. It was a blast!

To do it proper you would probably want to visit both Islands and I would imagine you would need a minium of two weeks. One week on each Island and I don't think you would even come close to exploring all there is to explore. If you like adventure I believe it's Dundin on the South Island that known as the adventure capital of NZ. Also don't miss doing the jet boats. Lot of fun. You do 360 deg turns zig zag etc all in inches of water. Another blast of fun. Iwish I had done a lot more while in NZ and would love to go back there one day. Hope this helped a little bit.

PS The Kiwis drive on the wrong side of the road. Even though I knew that when I rented my car as soon as I pulled out of the parking lot I was still in American mode.

Greg - think it is Dunedin that you are looking for there - I have never been.

One thing to remember- they get some miserable weather there - so dont book for our winter time!!!

and the kiwi's drive on the correct side of the road

creeky wrote:Greg - think it is Dunedin that you are looking for there - I have never been.

One thing to remember- they get some miserable weather there - so dont book for our winter time!!!

and the kiwi's drive on the correct side of the road

Actually the adventure capital of NZ is Queenstown. I'm visiting the official tourism site of NZ to refresh my memory. Also the town I went swimming with the Hector dolphins was Akaroa.

Mike this is a good site to start searching about NZ and the many different things to do in this beautiful country. http://www.newzealand.com/travel/USA/

I know a one time there were tours for the film sites of Lord of the Rings. I'm sure it still done if you like the movies. There is just so much stuff to do in NZ and don't forget their seasons are opposite of ours.

and there is a Hogs Breath in Queenstown!

I had loads of fun on the luge there!

Thanks for the info Creeky and Greg. The girlfriend and I are looking to go somewhere we havent been before, probably in Oct/Nov timeframe. I will keep researching NZ. I am just not a fan of the airfare around that time of year

UpstateNYPH wrote:Thanks for the info Creeky and Greg. The girlfriend and I are looking to go somewhere we havent been before, probably in Oct/Nov timeframe. I will keep researching NZ. I am just not a fan of the airfare around that time of year

Jimmy might be here on Dec and maybe take in NZ???

creeky wrote:

UpstateNYPH wrote:Thanks for the info Creeky and Greg. The girlfriend and I are looking to go somewhere we havent been before, probably in Oct/Nov timeframe. I will keep researching NZ. I am just not a fan of the airfare around that time of year

Jimmy might be here on Dec and maybe take in NZ???

LOL, all depends on how expensive Tahiti is.

I lived in Christchurch fro 18 month's. The best experience in my life, well maybe except that time with those twins and the jello shooters, but honest. Friendly people, easy to travel about and beautiful countryside.