New Zealand Recommendations?

the only advice thats appropiate is to watch out for the Orcs,vicious feckers who will have your head off given half a chance ;\

jammy git

Don't forget your Wellington Boots plenty of sheep there

Don't spend all your time on the North Island - South Island is very scenic - Wanaka, Milford Sound, even Queenstown (though very touristy)

EGG, make sure you go to the racetrack Ellerslie Park, it´s a very pleasant course. not much to get in and is very comfortable. Last time I went there were two $100,000 races. All you need to know is here..

http://www.progroupracing.com.au/NZ_Racetracks/Ellerslie.htm

Auckland to Queenstown is 3300 miles round trip. Probably a bit much in 10 days!

Thanks Slippy, sounds good.

The Sheraton in Auckland is a decent hotel and was not expensive about $100 a night or so if I remember rightly, valet parking as well. I´d give Rotorua a miss personally, I wish I had anyway. Getting off the bus I threw up such was the stench of the place and I wasn´t the only one, it was truly horrendous.

you taking tramp ?

EGG - True. You'll probably need a couple of days to get ovr jet-lag anyway. North Island I'd go for Rotorua, Bay of Islands, Coromandel Peninsula, Napier

Cheers PLC. I fly into Aus. the week before so jet lag won't be a problem.

Realistically I think it would be better to stick to North Island though.

Two differing opinions of Rotorua! What's the stink, Slippy?

I hear the Kiwis have a bit of a negative mindset. A bit chippie, like the Welsh and Jocks, only worse.

Sulphur dioxide from natural vents.

I'm used to that, wur. I live in Essex.

The stink in Rotorua is sulphur - a bit offensive at first but you soon get used to it. Quite an interesting place otherwise. All smoke plumes, bubbling hot pools and stuff.

Rotten eggs from the sulphur, you just can´t escape it. Not pleasant at all.

Ah, I'm alllergic to SO2. Will need an asthma pump.

I'm OK with hydrogen sulphide though.

Good job with my dog lying next to me.

remember and set our clock to tommorow

Wur I would completely agree with you about the mindset of Kiwis. My family live in Browns Bay which is a good area of Auckland and went to few barbies and so on and met a good few of them socially, having just spent the previous year working and playing cricket in Australia and loving every minute of it I found the Kiwis to be pretty obnoxious in comparison. Definite chip on their shoulder.

Bay of Islands is fantastic. Go horse riding through forest and up volcano - www.horsetrekn.co.nz

Rotorua is interesting from a historical maori perspective.

Taupo is just ok.

Wellington is great - like going back 15-20 years in time. Superb quad biking - http://www.kapitifourx4.co.nz/index.shtml

South Island is better overall though - Fox Glacier, Queenstown, Milford Sound

Thanks, TAOR. Reckon I'm gonna have to save South Island for next time though.

none I met had a chip on their shoulder in the 5 or so weeks I was there. The mauri's can't handle their drink at all and can get a bit aggro, especially with 'young pommie bstards', although I was in a 'locals' bar in a pretty quiet town. When sober no problems at all.

With 10 days, I'd spend a day in auckland then book an internal flight to Christchurch (really cheap) and spend your time in the south island, which as somebody mentioned is more scenic. Buy a lonely planet book and plan where you want to go, because there is alot of choice. 10 days isn't nearly enough though and you will want to go back and see the rest, like me :)

Taupo I liked. Its fairly quiet and a nice little town and is the cheapest in NZ for skydiving (over lake taupo), bungy jumps and all that malarky. There is a trek also that isn't labeled Lord of the Rings and so doesn't cost an arm and a leg but I can't remember what it's called. Supposed to be the best treck in NZ. Couldn't do it when I was there though cause the weather was too bad.

Thanks, SP.

fihed there for 14 days in 94.. South Island was loevly , but it was me, mate, the gude and the sheep.. dinner conversation got a bit tough by day 10

fwiw, i have always found the kiwis more likable than aussies. And I like aussies.

fished there...

biggest Brown Trout 9 pounds..

If you get chance to go to the South Island, try to go to the Marlborough wine region at the north tip. It's a two or three-hour ferry ride from Wellington (which is itself very scenic) and Marlborough is a great place.

I went to New Zealand to watch cricket in March 2008 and I had a great time. Wellington and Auckland are good cities, and I also liked Napier.

Christchurch is a nice city too, if you get down there there's a scenic train going through the Alps, was quite nice in summer but I think winter would be better for that.

stayed with a mate in auckland for a couple of months, six years ago. i liked the kiwis. a bit backward but very friendly and easily pleased. they don't seem to like going out at all. nights in together watching rugby with a crate of those red beers and a pizza hut 2 for $10 seems was about as exciting as it gets.

Cheers all.

give the west coast from auckland up a miss if i was you,not much to see and quite a poor area.went on trip to cape reinga ware the pacific ocean and tasman sea meet which was quite interesting if you stay on the north island. rotorua is ok for a day, dont worry about the smell you will soon get used to hit. give hamilton a miss just like any city over hear. as others have said get down to the south island if you can , you will regret it if you dont. kiwis are nice people,think you will find the maoris have the chip on they shoulder. have a nice time!

give the west coast from auckland up a miss if i was you,not much to see and quite a poor area.went on trip to cape reinga ware the pacific ocean and tasman sea meet which was quite interesting if you stay on the north island. rotorua is ok for a day, dont worry about the smell you will soon get used to hit. give hamilton a miss just like any city over hear. as others have said get down to the south island if you can , you will regret it if you dont. kiwis are nice people,think you will find the maoris have the chip on they shoulder. have a nice time!

All NZ men are nicely balanced with a chip on both shoulders,remember to set your watch to 1956 and expect **e customer service wherever you go.

I'm also going to NZ in about 3 weeks for 7-10 days - might see you there

watch 'flight of the conchords'before you go to help understand the crazy accent

Kiwi experience you can try east coast Taupo for skydiving, north Bay of Islands is beautiful. Rotorua if you can stand the smell of rotten eggs. Wellington nicer than Auckland

With limited time you are right to concentrate on the North Island. Bay of Islands is good as is the Coromandel Peninsula. Waitomo, Tongariro Nat Park and Taranaki all worth seeing. Id keep any visit to Taupo or Rotorua to a minimum given the time you have.
People are great. Hope you enjoy it.
Make sure you go back and see the South Island as well.

Coromandel

Cheers all