[amasino]

I'll travel to NZ by the end of November and I have to choose my itinerary: I travel with 2 children, and for just 15 days.
I'd like to see the 10 top places, but I'm afraid I won't have time (2/3 days for each place).
What would you recomend? Just the North Island, a bit of the North Island and more of the South?

Regards
Alejandro

[Penguin]

I think two weeks is enough time to see the main sights in NZ, particularly if you're driving. However don't expect to have enough time to do some more out-of-the-way places such as Northland, Stewart Island or the Coromandel Peninsula. Major hiking trails are also out of the question, although it's unlikely that you would plan on these with kids anyway.

I take the following itinary (which I did in two weeks with a rental car a couple of years ago):

NORTH ISLAND
(fly into Auckland)
Auckland (2-3 nights)
Waitomo caves
Rotorua (2 night)
Taupo
Napier (1 night)
Wellington (2-3 nights)

SOUTH ISLAND
Picton (1 night)
Marlborough wine region or Nelson
Greymouth or Hokitika
Franz Josef or Fox Glacier (1 night)
Queenstown (3 nights)
Mt Cook
Akaroa (1 night)
Christchurch (1 nights)
(fly out of Christchurch)

This is rushing things a little. You could save time by travelling down the east coast of the South Island rather than the west and flying out of Dunedin rather than Christchurch. You would miss out on Fox/Franz Josef Glacier, but it would also give you the oppotunity to see Dunedin (which I missed out on).

[tommohawk]

NZ is a beautiful place I was lucky enough to spend 10months travelling around.

Places I enjoyed
SOUTH ISLAND
Nelson - Sunshine Capital
- Geographical Center of NZ 20min walk up hill
Franz Joseph
- Good weather do the helihike. Kill two birds with one stone as get to see Mt. Cook
Queenstown
pricey but has everything you could want to do in a place - SuperJet fastboat or Bungy!
Dunedin
Just loved the Scottish feel of the place (stop for lunch or night)
Christchurch did not make that much of an impression.

NORTH ISLAND
Bay of Islands approx (4hr North Auckland)or
Waihkehe Island (30min on ferry form Auckland City) Beautiful peaceful, plenty of beaches great country side

Wellington - the hip and happening place

Rotorua - Smelly but an experience

Well whatever you do it's a beautiful place and you'll enjoy the time you are there. Are you going to do 2 Islands or focus on 1 and return?