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[PEIGUY]

My fianc�e and I are thinking of New Zealand or Hawaii for a honeymoon. We're learning towards New Zealand so I thought I would ask the New Zealanders on this board about good places to go, stuff to do etc. etc.

[kiwigirl :O)]

I am a kiwi that has also been to Hawaii

I would recommend either...I think Hawaii is amazing and definitely a place that has to be visited..

In NZ there is a lot to do and many wonderful places to visit...it really depends on what you would like and your personal tastes...

Queenstown in the South Island is the adventure destination....if it gives you an adrenaline rush you can do it there.....
Jet Skiing....
Bungee Jumping
White Water Rafting
Caving....

Christchurch is the Garden city and is very beautiful...you can go along the avon river with a gondolier....

Wellington (my home town) is beautiful....lots of parks, good for hiking, cafe and bar crawling, good shopping

Rotorua is the cultural capital...you can enjoy traditional Maori culture there...have a hangi (food cooked in foil in an enormous hot pit) watch a show and go zorbing (inside a giant plastic ball rolling down a hill....)

The Marlborough Sounds are incredible (Ive not personally been there...but just ask anyone....)

We also have many wineries....

BTW...the South Island is more visually stunning than the North...you can just drive around the whole island and I doubt you'd be disappointed

Hope that helps ^^

[blackjack]

First of all what time of the year and how long? what's you budget? do you want an action type honeymoon or a relaxing peaceful romantic one

Summer (remember it's the inverse of here)

North Island
Northland -camping amazing beaches laid back
Waiheke Island -close to Auckland wineries, nice beaches
Rotarua thermal area, bungy jumping, white river rafting
Bay of plenty/Gisborne beaches laid back wineries

I don't recommend wellington, it's a nice city to live but not really a tourist destination.

South Island
Queenstown what the previous person said plus I will add that it is the most beautiful place i have ever lived.
Marlborough Sounds and a trip down the west coast

I don't really recommend NZ in the winter unless you like skiing and then I would recommend Queenstown.

[blackjack]

I will add a couple of things. You will need to rent a car. Don't count on using public transport.

Do a bungee
Try feijoas
Climb a volcano
go to Coromandel
mission bay in auckland hire a windsurfer or kayak
go for a tramp
The Catlins
Kapiti Island
Stewart Island
whale watching
white island
surfing at raglan

but bear in mind it would take months to do all of this

[Koreadays]

I think it depends on your budget and how long you are staying, the time of year and what kind of things interest you.
this is what we did a couple years ago. was amazing...

Fly into Auckland, rent a car and make your way north up to 90mile beach, then to cape rianga (spelling) and then come down east coast, hit the coramadel, rotaroa, taupo and then straight to wellington. take the ferry over drive down to kiakora, (whale watching) skip christchurch. head down to Queenstown, then to the fiordlands(lord of the rings landscape, breathtaking) then back up to christchurch and fly out.
camper van would be best!

[BrenSmith]

How long do you plan to spend there on your honeymoon? That'll give a better idea for itineraries.

Slight correction to the above post, it's: Cape Reinga, Coromandel, Rotorua and Kaikoura

[mr_texperience]

I studied abroad down there (Near Christchurch) and would definitely recommend a visit. To add to what has already been mentioned.

North Island:
-Hot water beach (dig your own hot spring pool on the beach) off of Coromondel peninsula

South Island:
-Stay in one of the many trekking huts dotted along their mountains near Mount Cook
-Kayak Stewart Island
-Visit the rugged West Coast and the wander on the glaciers
-Wander Castle Hill and walk an underground river on the pass over from the East to the West Coast
-Drink plenty of Speights and Tui beer

You can also pick up a used car from other travelers leaving the country for pretty cheap (we paid about $500 US) and sell it on your way out. Just check the local hostels in Christchurch or Auckland and you will sure to find someone.

[calmerlek]

Rent a car and just cruise the whole country. As previous posters said, public transport sucks.

For me (born and lived auckland NZ for 20 odd years):

Coromandal, rent a batch for a few days or camp out.

Outside of auckland, piha or muriwai beach are fun day trips. Theres also a cool and very beautiful forest out there you can go mountain biking in.

Wellington is cool, nice cafes, oriental bay is nice on a non windy day

Queenstown in the winter or summer is awesome, ski in the winter, wineries and golf/trekking/just about anything outdoors in the summer.

Malborough sounds are great too yea, you can go on boats for a few nights there and cruise around the sounds.

lol @ drinking lots of speights and tui beer... ignore this - macs or monteiths beers are what you should be spending your pennies on.

[southernman]

Hi, I'm a Kiwi as well...

I agree with BlackJack and all the other posters NZ is awesome in many ways but do remember that the time of year does curtail some activities.

Heres a tip that may save you heaps of money.

Before you arrive contact Rental Car companies. This only applies if you've got an International Driving License and are over 25 but you're getting married, so I'll assume you're good to go.

Say the time when you are arriving and offer to drive a rental car, or in quiet times even campervans, to another city. I'd mention the honeymoon as well for feel good factor

For example say you're flying into Auckland and can deliver a rental to Wellington for them. Or from Christchurch to Queenstown in the South Island., or vise versa. Often there are too many rentals in one location and not enough in another. The rental car company may allow you, say, a week to get the car or van to the other place. Or even just ask them if they need any rentals delivered anywhere and then choose where to go.

All you will pay for is the petrol/insurance...... Otherwise rental car companies have to employ drivers to move these cars around and the guy that told me said it's actually quite expensive with all the additional costs like petrol/accomadation/food allowance/insurance etc for the franchise


EDIT try Avis first the guy that told me is a franchisee for them, so they definitley do it or they did in the 90's, anyway it's worth a try