Learn what to see on your visit to New Zealand, based on
our experiences and recommendations.
Obviously the longer you can stay for a visit, the more you can see and take in of this great country. If you have the time to stay for more than a month, you can plan a tramp or two on each island, visit the main cities, and soak up the countryside and smaller towns.
Start with the 30 day itinerary, and then add on our recommendations with the highest priority at the top. One further suggestion would be to build in a day or two throughout the 30-day itinerary for rest, relaxation or driving. You don't want your time here to be too hectic because, as we've said time and again, there is a lot of driving--but it is worth it.
Keep in mind that as we visit some of the places we've only heard about, we'll likely revise our suggested itineraries.
If you like big waves and surfing, Piha is totally awesome. But be careful, it's not covered with shady trees and you will get burned!
Wellington deserves more than we've given it as the best of the three cities. If you're a city person and want to taste good cuisine and shopping, spend more time here.
Spend more time as per the itinerary in these areas if you would like, but we prefer time spent in the Coromandel to this middle section. Obviously do both if you have the time.
We have not visited the Bay of Plenty region except for inland Rotorua. We hear it has lots of sun and sandy beaches.
Keep in mind that as we visit some of the places we've only heard about, we'll likely revise our suggested itineraries.
It is difficult to visit the Marlborough Sounds without a boat, but you can get creative about it using the NZ Post, and there is always the Queen Charlotte track that you can tramp over for a few days. Driving out to French Pass and crossing to D'Urville Island is on our list of things to do. The Sounds are gorgeous and worth the time if you are an avid tramper or boatie.
One-and-a-half hours drive outside of Nelson into the center of the island you'll find the Nelson Lakes Region that has easy, breezy hikes along the lakefront, fabulous boating, swimming, and gorgeous views. Worth a day trip at least, bring a picnic.
South of Dunedin the Catlins are forests teeming with wildlife along the shoreline on the southeast. Take a scenic, slow drive through the area to see petrified forests and wetlands.
About 2-3 hours ferry ride off the southernmost shores of the South Island, Stewart Island is apparently a bird-lover and otherwise nature-lover's paradise. We've not been there yet, and when we make plans it will be a camping trip because there are no cars allowed on the island.
