Cricketfish - New Zealand

It is funny that, as a New Zealander, I feel least qualified to write a guide to New Zealand. The main problem is that I generally have someone to stay with in most cities in New Zealand and rarely stay in hotels or backpackers. Also, I don't know where to start. I have been to most places in New Zealand (other than the Coromandel and Taranaki) but often the focus of the trip has not been sightseeing and exploring in a touristy sense. Therefore, the below is just a summary of some of the places in New Zealand that I like (with strong emphasis on places where I have lived).

I guess the first thing to say to anyone thinking of coming to New Zealand is that there is practically no public transport. If you want to see anything of the country, particularly the best out of the way places, you really need to hire a car. That said, hiring a car between two or more people for a couple of weeks probably works out a lot cheaper than buses or trains anyway.

East Coast

Visited: February 2003

The East Coast of the North Island is an area caught in time, isolated from the outside world.
There are a scattering of coastal villages most of which consist of a pub, a camping ground, a corner shop, a church, a school and a fish and chip shop (often two or more of these attractions are combined) but the main attractions are the landscape and the feeling that you have gone back in time and are miles away from civilisation. There are many important sites from the musket wars era of New Zealand history - we took R D Crosby's book The Musket Wars with us and it really added to the enjoyment of our trip to be able to find out something about the area.

Arrive:

The East Coast can be difficult to get to, the nearest airport is Gisbourne and then you need to prepare yourself to navigate the narrow, winding, often gravel, coastal roads for several hours. Alternatively, the area is a 6-8 hour drive from Wellington and Auckland.

Explore

Tolaga Bay - Tokumara Bay - Te Kaha -

Rest:

We camped every night during our February trip. Each of the little towns seemed to have a well appointed camping ground, some, like the one at Tolaga Bay are right next to the beach. The only other options for accomodation are probably to stay in a B&B or rent a house for a week.

Wellington

Lived there: 2001-2004

Windy Wellington, New Zealand's capital, prides itself on being more cultured than its rival Auckland. It has New Zealand's national museum, stages the bi-annual International Festival of the Arts and has a number of theatres and art galleries. The best thing about Wellington is that the city is very compact. Most of its attractions are in the centre of town, right by the harbour and within easy walking distance.

Arrive:

Wellington Airport is about a 20 minute drive from the centre of the city. Taxis and shuttles are available from right outside the terminal building or you can take the orange airport bus.
The Interislander Ferry sails several times daily from Wellington to Picton in the South Island.

Explore

Te Papa- New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, is modern and interactive. It is a great place to go to get a feel for New Zealand history and culture. Entry to the museum is free but there is a charge for some rides and special events.

Cable Car- The Wellington cable car runs from Lambton Quay, past Victoria University, to the hill suburb of Kelburn and the botanical gardens. It is affords a great view out over Wellington harbour and is an efficient way to get yourself up the steep hill.

The Cake Tin- Wellington's stadium, nicknamed the caketin, has been a real asset to the city. There is no bad seat in the house and it only seats 35,000 people so there is always a good atmosphere even if the game isn't sold out. It is only a couple of hundred metres away from the CBD and adjacent to the railway station. When Super 14 games are held on Friday nights it is usual to see streams of people dressed in yellow and black walking from work down to the stadium. The New Zealand Sevens, held in early February, is also a great event - it can be hard to get tickets though.

Oriental Bay- Situated around the bay from the CBD, the city council have created a manmade golden sand beach. It is a nice place for a stroll in summer. If you get peckish, pop in for something to eat at Parade Cafe.

Karori Wildlife Santury- Conservationists have fenced off an area in Karori, a few minutes from downtown Wellington, to create the Karori Wildlife Sanctury with the hope of promoting native birdlife. There are many walking tracks through the sanctury.

Rest:

I honestly have no idea where to stay in Wellington.

Nelson

Lived there: 1981-1996

My home town. A sunkist city with a large artistic population. Known as hippy refuge, I'm sure it probably has the more alternative healers per member of the population than anywhere else in the world.
It is surrounded by three national parks and there are a multitude of beaches, rivers, lakes, walking tracks within an hour's drive.

Arrive:

Nelson airport is 10 minutes drive from the centre of the city. If you're arriving by car, expect a long windy journey by road.

Explore

Nelson Market- Every Saturday morning Mongomery Carpark, to the West of Trafalgar Street, is closed off for the weekly market. It sells anything from, food to art to secondhand goods. It is particularly good (but busy) over December and January when the town is buzzing with holidaymakers.

Tahunanui Beach- Tahunanui is the closet beach to the city.

Art/Pottery Trails- Tahunanui is the closet beach to the city.

The Bead Gallery- A collection of

Rest:

We stayed at a cool little hotel called Hotel Bijou. Near to train station. Cheaper than Rome.

Able Tasman and Golden Bay

Visited: Countless times

This is Rome.
Rome is cool.
Rome is cool.
Rome is cool.

Arrive:

We arrived by train from Rome. Lots of trains every day.

Explore

Duomo Uffizi Ponte Vecchio Leather Market

Rest:

We stayed at a cool little hotel called Hotel Bijou. Near to train station. Cheaper than Rome.

Queenstown

Visited: Many times

This is Rome.
Rome is cool.
Rome is cool.
Rome is cool.

Arrive:

We arrived by train from Rome. Lots of trains every day.

Explore

Duomo Uffizi Ponte Vecchio Leather Market

Rest:

We stayed at a cool little hotel called Hotel Bijou. Near to train station. Cheaper than Rome.

Fiordland

Visited: October 2003

This is Rome.
Rome is cool.
Rome is cool.
Rome is cool.

Arrive:

A number of different options from Queenstown - ski plane, coach or rent a car.

Explore

Rest:

We stayed at