Backpacking in New Zealand?

Question

I will be backpacking in New Zealand for several weeks in January and want to know the things that I absolutely MUST see and do!

Answer 1

Have you got the better part of a day? Email me at [e-mail]  I was just there for 3 months and drove around for 15,000 kilometres from Stewart Island to Cape Reinga and everywhere else in between.  It is quite simply the most beautiful country on the face of the earth.

Answer 2

There are like a million things but here is my list of MUST dos:

From top to bottom:

Northland: 90 mile beach (go sanduning!)

Bay of Islands: go exploring and adventure out to a number of amazing and secluded beaches - My favorite is Matapouri (you may want to Google it)

Auckland: Dont spend too much time here, its just another city.

Waitomo: Glow worm caves!!! Black water rafting!

Drink Lemon and Paeroa (L&P) available in all New Zealand convenience stores, or even better drink it in Paeroa (North Island)

Rotorua: Geothermal area where smoke comes out of the drains!!!

Taupo: Cheapest place in NZ to do a skydive. Also home of the largest lake in the southern hemisphere. Go to the 'Holy Cow' for a drink.

River Valley: Half way from Taupo to Wellington. Beautiful setting and grade 5 rapids!

Wellington: Our capital, very arty, more cafes and restaurants per capita than anywhere in the world! I suggest a hot chocolate at Midnight Espresso on Cuba Street  - you get like 20 marshmellows!

Abel Tasman National park: Top of the South Island, you can go for a leisurly walk, hang on the beach, or go kayaking. Need a whole day for this.

Nelson: sunshine capital of NZ! Wonderful beach and awesome locals, and gooood wine! there are plenty of free wine tastings around here.

Franz Josef glacier - do a FULL day hike, its amazing.

Wanaka: go kayaking in a lake, got to puzzle world.

Queenstown: GO BUNGY JUMPING!!!!! Queenstown is expensive but an awesome place for backpackers and adventure junkies. You could spend months here and never get bored. A week (including a 2 day side trip to the Milford Sound) should be sufficient. While you there go to the World bar and get shots in a teacup!

I havent been to Stewart Island but hear it is beautiful if you enjoy tramping. Its right down the bottom and it is about as south as you can get it the world before hitting Antartica! (But will certainly be much warmer than that)

Have an AWESOME time. You'll love New Zealand. :)

Answer 3

Hands down- the Milford Track, one of the oldest hiking trails in the world. Book ahead. It's a three-and-a-half day "walk" through some of the most beautiful wilds in the world. Think of the most gorgeous waterfall you have ever seen, then imagine walking through literally hundreds like that, some of which may be actually in your path (there's no such thing as waterproofing your hiking boots).

From the stunning Milford Sound to enchanted rain forests dripping with New Zealand Moss, to exhilarating suspension bridges high over raging waters;  to vast, sunny, open meadows filled with wildflowers,  to snowy mountain-tops with amazing views and a rustic warming hut.

You'll need: good hiking boots, good knees, an impact absorbing walking stick, and a healthy sense of adventure.   You'll never forget it.

You can pack all your gear in or reserve a "guided" walk. I would strongly suggest looking into the latter for a few extra bucks. Well worth it.

One caution: these wilds are notorious for a certain roving band of thieves, and you won't see them sneaking up on you. They've been known to snatch cameras, film, lunches, articles of clothing-- just about anything you might set down beside you is fair game for the cheeky Kea, or New Zealand Wild Parrot. One naughty bird snatched my tea cup while i was sitting on the edge of a canyon precipice enjoying a drink from my thermos. Swooping down in an instant, she grabbed it with her beak, then mockingly let it drop it off the edge of the mountain into a valley a thousand feet below.

Answer 4

both islands are uniquely worth  a visit!

South island: Christchurch is the biggest city in the south, known as the garden city

http://img2.travelblog.org/Photos/18463/...

Activities there could include a trip to sumner and new brighton beaches, a journey through to lyttelton via the tunnel, a walk through the botanic gardens, museum and arts centre. If you had lots of tiem you could take a journey round Banks peninsula to Akaroa a French infused village with lots of cute cafes and bakeries. You can go swimming with the dolphins there and mutiple wildlife cruises are on offer.

Queenstown is definetly not to be missed, its the adventure capital of the world, white water rafting, bunji jumping, sky diving, you name it. aside from that its just a beautiful place surrounded by mountains.

http://www.world-tour-orion7.com/images/...

milford sound is also not to be missed - its a good 3 hours away from Queenstown, or an hour and half a away from te anau which is another beautiful town that gets filled with tourists! - worth checking out in Te Anau are the glow worm caves and if you're not adverse to a bit of walking you could walk up to the first hut on the kepler track, Luxmore hut - takes about 4 hours but i'm not kidding you when i saw how amazing the views up there are!

http://homepage.cs.latrobe.edu.au/ekpard...

http://www.doubtfulsound.com/sites/teana...

http://www.schmieder.co.uk/NewZealand/Ex...

then theres Dunedin, fox and franz joseph glaciers,

http://laddish.net/events/2005/0227.new_...

punakaiki and you must must must visit Nelson and Abel Tasman national park to see some of the most beautiful golden sand beaches in the world!

http://www.iantraffordphotos.com/gallery...

http://www.photoseek.com/07NZ-2/bin/imag...

http://www.goldenbayconnections.com/phot...

Lakes tekapo, pukaki and Mount Cook and Wanaka also not to be missed!

http://www.union.edu/PUBLIC/ECODEPT/home...

At the top of the south island is Picton where you can catch the ferry across to Wellington in the north island. Picton itself is nestled amidst the Marlborough sounds and is (another) beautiful wee town. Again if you have the time up your sleeves its worth catching a water taxi over to ships cove which is the start of the Queen charlotte track and was captain cook's favourite NZ base during his voyages.

Likewise if you do make it over to Kaiteri beach (definetly do!!) then pop round to Marahau which is the start of the Abel Tasman national park and tramping track. Catch a water taxi from either Kaiteri or Marahau round to Totaranui, the beaches in Abel tasman national park are arguably some of the best in the world (see pictures i attached above) you'll go past a seal colony on tonga island too.

Another spot for guaranteed seal spotting is Kaikoura where you can also go whale watching, swimming with the dolphins etc.

North Island: Auckland is the capital and the largest city in NZ (population 1 million +) its known as "the city of sails" not least because of its lovely watery surrounds and trillions of boats. Waiheke island which is a ferry ride away from Auckland is worth a visit.

http://www.cs.nyu.edu/overton/genearound...

http://www.iho-ohi.org/wp-content/waihek...

Then theres Rotorua another tourist haven, for good reason, it is admidst geothermal activity and so theres several places that you can visit to see sulphur pools, geysers and all sorts of amazing natural occurences!

http://www.leeabbamonte.com/wp-content/u...

Bay or islands and coromandel are north of auckland for some more beautiful beachy scenery.

http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/to...

http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1285978-...

Also of course you wouldn't miss Wellington the capital city and the bottom of the north island - if you were just doing the north island it woul;d be worth the 3 hour ferry trip across cook straight into the marlborough sounds at the top of the south island, to picton (or vice versa)

http://marktanner.com/art/wellington-lar...

Napier and hastings also worth a visit, and taupo.

http://www.lakesdhb.govt.nz/Images/uploa...

Answer 5

If you have a look at http://holidays-in-newzealand.com I have just added two pages of New Zealand scenery with a written overview and some videos. You will get some good ideas here.

You will probably start from either Auckland or Christchurch.I'll start from Christchurch. Must sees:

Milford Sound, Te Anau, Doubtful Sound - do do the underground power station , Wanaka, Queenstown. If you a are backpacker you will no doubt be wanting to try some of the adrenaline rush type activities such as the Shotover Jet, Bungy jumping and maybe a trip to a Lord of the Rings site at Glenorchy.?

The west coast is beautiful.I love the kotuku, Hokitika is a great spot, Punakaiki Rocks,  and across to Christchurch through one of the Passes.Arthurs Pass is a nice trip.Especially on the Tranz Alpine.

If you go to Dunedin the Albatross colony and yellow eyed penguins on the Otago Peninsula, with Larnarch castle make a good day.

Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo, should be on your list. Whale watching and swimming with dolphins at Kaikoura en route to Picton. Nelson is a nice city so try some wineries, go out to the Abel Tasman National Park for a hike, or kayak. Kaiteriteri Beach is lovely.

Across to Wellington - Te Papa our national museum, wander the city, cable car to Botanic gardens and city views, Oriental Parade. Maybe walk around Red Rocks. North to Taupo via National Park. Do some walks - maybe Tongariro Crossing if you are fit and free for a day with the correct gear and weather. Huka Falls, then on to Rotorua for some thermal activity and Maori culture. From here Waitomo Caves - try black water rafting - great fun! North to Auckland. Many things to do in Auckland - Auckland museum and Maritime museums are both good. Go up Sky tower.Take a trip out to Rangitoto Island and walk or ride on small train to the top.

Waiheke Island for some beaches, wine and good food.

North to the Bay of Islands, Waitangi, Kerikeri and Russell.All historic places in new Zealand.You may want to do a day trip up to Cape Reinga.

Back down through the Waipoua forest with  the huge kauri trees.Matakohe museum is well worth a visit on the way. You may want to detour out from Warkworth to some beaches or wineries.

This is but a few suggestions - it really would depend on your interests.

If you have any more questions you can email on my contact page.

Have a great holiday!