New Zealand!!!

Ask away - backpacked around both islands (granted 26 years ago but still remember it like it was yesterday). It's the best country on the planet, without question.

What do you want to do, where are you going (or are you just getting to Auckland and figure it out from there - which is cool because that's what we did)?


Off the top of my head:
- Waitomo Caves - go abseiling into the caves. Amazing.
- Rotorua - OK it smells like sulphur but the natural hot springs are awesome.
- Bay of Islands - so much to do. So much to see. Amazing place to chill and relax
- Queenstown - adventure capital of the world. I went skiing and bungee jumping. But also recommend the full-day trip to and into Milford Sound for amazing scenery

The time of year you are going, I would try to go whale watching. It wasn't in season when I was there, though I did swim with wild dolphins out in the Bay of Islands which was amazing (crushes getting in with captive dolphins in a pool). I would also love to go down to Stewart Island for the nature and white sharks.
 
i have a rough plan. my gf is going in mid January so will have been there for a few weeks already when i arrive. she's got family in NZ and aus.

flying in an out of Auckland.

we definitely want to spend a lot of time outside, any hiking or other outdoor activity recs are welcomed.
 
4thgenheel said:
i have a rough plan. my gf is going in mid January so will have been there for a few weeks already when i arrive. she's got family in NZ and aus.

flying in an out of Auckland.

we definitely want to spend a lot of time outside, any hiking or other outdoor activity recs are welcomed.
Click to expand...
Awesome. Modified my post with my best recommendations
 
We were in nz 9 or 10 days Feb 2017.

2 hrs south from Waitomo caves is a really cool, big (12 miles), day hike: Mt Tongariro. Its scenery was used partly for Mt Doom.
Then 2 hrs north would be Rotorua. And there are a few nice waterfalls along that loop between this trio, like Huka falls.

NZ has some "great hikes" that are multi-day backpacking routes involving shared huts that provide shelter, water, stoves, (so your backpack can be a little more minimal with no tent or water or stove). They're reserved, so you must book in advance, and you have to keep pace to hit your hut each nite.

Milford track was one the best hikes I've done in my life. We splurged and paid a private gig to feed us and put us up in their lodges (we only had to pack clothes in our backpacks, maybe a sleep sack/sheet), but the scenery is amazing.


Private option:

Milford track ate up a bunch our time but I'd do it again (and pay for private guided approach again too).
 
I was there for a month almost 20 years ago. Greatest country I have ever experienced. Rent a car, go everywhere, both islands. I believe the South island is a little more rugged. Others have named key places, but in a car you can just let the views casually unfold. My analogy for NZ is it's as if Ireland and Alaska were smooshed together. I would happily live there if I could convince my wife. And try to make an "all blacks" rugby game if you can.
 
I almost killed us several times because NZ drives on the opposite side of the US. If there is lots of traffic it is easy to just follow everyone else. But away from cities there often isn't much traffic... and several times I turned into the wrong lane.
 
Took a three or four day horse trek with this crew and it was bucket list level. That was my trusty "old" horse in the above picture. I'll let you guess which one was me in the group.

1765997005854.jpeg
 
My wife and I spent a few weeks there in 2017/2018. We spent five days on the North island and nine days on the South Island, and we still didn’t get to do everything we wanted to do. The South Island is the most beautiful place I have ever been to, as there are so many distinctly different biomes crammed into a relatively small area. You’ll find everything from a pristine beach to a temperate rainforest to an alpine environment. Make sure you bring sunscreen and a hat. It’s down by where the ozone layer thinned, and the sun will get you if you aren’t prepared.

We really liked the west coast of the South Island - places like Frank Josef Glacier, Hokitika, Fox Glacier/Lake Matheson, and some of the other coastal towns - as well as the aforementioned Queenstown/Otago region. Milford or Doubtful Sound is worth seeing. You can take a helicopter from Queenstown or get in a car and explore. Probably the best day of vacation I have ever had was finding adventures along the route from Franz Josef to Queenstown. A five hour drive took almost three times that given how many trails and sites there were to explore.

I briefly mentioned it, but the best piece of advice I can give - rent a car and explore. Your driver’s license here will get you driving privileges there. They drive on the left side of the road, but it doesn’t take long to get used to it. Even if you can drive a manual transmission, get an automatic. You’d otherwise be shifting with a different hand than you’re used to given the way the cars are set up.

The place is beautiful, the people are nice, and the food is good. Doesn’t take long to realize that you’d stay forever if you could.
 
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