Anyone here ever been to New Zealand?

Sorry but unless it concerns Moslems, Nigel Farage or non whites/foreigners committing crimes you're in the wrong place.

Cheers for the replies.
Not sure what level of fitness is required for the Milford Track. Am 41 and reasonably fit (play squash a few times a week and did the Sandstone Trail (36 miles over 2 days) a couple of years ago). Main concern for me would be an uneasiness with heights. As long as I am not walking along cliff faces I wll probably be OK. Hopefully the trains will have improved but if not I might have some expensive taxi fares!

If you like horse racing there is a lovely little track in Auckland, Ellerslie Park. Rotorua is worth a visit, you get used to the smell of sulphur and there is lots of things to do and see. I spent a couple of months based in Auckland after a year in Australia, it was OK but not a place I'd ever care to go to again.

If you like train travel the Tranzalpine Route from Christchurch is pretty good. There's not much in Greymouth so you can either do the return journey in the same day, or catch buses to Queenstown or some of the glaciers.

If you get as far North as Auckland it's worth doing a coach trip to Cape Reinga & along 90 Mile Beach.

Milford track will be no bother to you Barton and you will love Queenstown.  Sorry, I had you alliteratively confused with anther older poster, Burton Brewers.

Cheers agan folks. Had a look at the Milford Track and if I can book a place at the right time I am definitely going to do it as it looks absolutely fantastic. Tranzalpine railway is probably a goer as well. Enjoy it and don't forget to report back, Fenway.

Cheers Zen. Might extend it to more like a couple of weeks. Nothing is booked yet and as long as I am in Australia in time for the RL World Cup final/Brisbane Test I can possibly bring the start forward a few days to see more of New Zealand. Will have a look at Rotorura and probably add it to the list. Milford Sound definitely. Will visit Queenstown. Bungee jumping isn't for me but would be happy to have a go at Jet Boating/Kayaking.
Reason I am not going to hire a car is because I don't drive. So would need to hire a chaffeur as well which I suspect would be more costly than taking cabs when the public transport won't cut the mustard.

I'd stay in Oz for another 2 weeks.

Just a personal view mate but no I don't. Hope you have a great time if you go.

BB - Wellington mostly, just be careful.  The museums are free and you can get all sorts wandering in, as we found out.  They should charge a token dollar on entry.

Great views from Mt Victoria at night, fantastic, but again..druggies or drunks in the vicinity.    Don't go alone.

As a tourist you get about and see a lot, so it happens..  but don't worry about it, you may never notice... just enjoy the scenery and the maori culture, that's what it's all about really, and the hotels are pretty good, we had fabulous breakfasts like nowhere else for the money, but there isn't a huge amount to do in NZ if you're not into sailing/boating, it's made for that kind of outdoor activity.

I got a scheduled flight over Mt Cook and Fox Glacier... terrific views, like a different planet. I'll never forget it, and don't be alarmed if you see a Weta, they're harmless creatures.

NZ is often called the adventure sports capital of the world but if you try anything (from wimpy level white water rafting to parachuting while drunk) just make sure your insurance covers it, they may have clauses or an add on charge if you get hurt doing anything they consider "risky".

Thanks for the heads up JC.

In Auckland, you can get tickets that are valid for about 3 days that let you take trips on boats that go from island to island around the bay. You can jump off one, and get on a subsequent boat a few hours later. One of the islands is Rangitoto - it's an extinct(?) volcano - you can climb to the top if you want. Another island in the bay is Titi Tiri Matanga (a separate tour) - which has plenty of birdlife - you land on the island in a group, and get a guided tour. Make sure your walking boots are clean when you enter NZ, otherwise they'll be taken off you, and leave your pet rat at home.

We got the Overlander train from Wellingon to Auckland - takes all day - has a special coach at one end to relax and take pics from - very scenic, until the last hour or so when it gets close to Auckland.

Went to Trentham Gardens (at Little Hut, near Wellington) for their big day's racing in January. Sounds like you'll miss that. But if racing's on there, it's a very easy, and scenic train ride from Wellington, and the train station (at Little Hut) is right by the course.

No, no kiwis. Not easy to see, in general. Zealandia (in Wellington) might be a place to see them, not sure. But if you go down Dunedin way, I'd recommend getting out to the Otago peninsular, where you can get a boat trip out into the channel where the albatrosses wing back at the end of the day. They'll come in right back over your head, before angling back over their nests to land (taking a few goes to get it right, gradually knocking off the speed). A great sight.

That sounds tremendous, will look into it further. I believe I could see Kiwis in the wild on Stewart Island but obviously it is a remote location if it doesn't pay off.

new zealand come to me in 2 legs of new zealand lamb

You should maybe buy the rough guide/lonely planet new zealand? Even just the kindle one and use the reader if you don't have one, if you don't want to carry a book, if you're taking a tablet or laptop. Do they do a kindle phone app .. looks like they do. Might not be much fun on a small phone, but a tip is probably to change the orientation.

Good racing knowledge, Ged.

I am enough of a Tolkein fan to actually do that! As long as it doesn't involve travelling a massive distance to go somewhere where there's nothing else I want to do.