Turangi is a killer spot for the serious outdoor enthusiast. Tongariro crossing (ranked one of the best day hikes in the world) is just up the road along with tons and tons of fishing opportunities. Just a word of warning, I heard about a lot of cars being broken into here so be mindful of your stuff, especially fishing equipment. The hostels are nothing special but they suffice well enough. Anything you can't find in Turangi, you can find in Taupo up the road. I suggest walking straight to the Tongariro river with a big tungsten bead hare and copper and chucking it into the Major Jones pool!
Queenstown is definitely a party town - there's a lot of fun to be had here so make sure you pop in.
I've been kayaking with Golden Bay Kayaks in Abel Tasman and although it was cheaper than the other kayaking companies it was beautiful and exciting. Even though I was beginner at kayaking, I could see a lot of great views within a half day. Awesome place for swimming and remote beaches. Friendly company stuffs. Love to go there again.
Napier is a really cute place to stay for a few days! There is loads to do including the spa (which is so cheap), the aquarium and mini-golf! There also seems to be a lot of dance classes happening - salsa was really fun. Pubs are good, but not really a clubby place! Had a really good time here!
Methven is a small but beautiful country and ski town. It is situated between beautiful mountains and green fields. The overall atmosphere is friendly (although we didn't see many people). It is not a busy town with nightlife and lots of bars. It has a country feel to it, so if you want to get away from busy and big cities this is a great place. It has lot to offer for those who love the outdoor stuff, and of course is very busy in winter for skiing.
Taupos a very cool place - I would definitely recommend at least 3 days there. It has lots of free walks and stuff to do.
Paihia is actually known as the bay of islands and is a warm coastal town. The bay has 144 islands and is beautiful.
I did the day hike at Tongariro National Park. It was absolutely amazing - sooo beautiful! Bring lots of water and food. It's a small town.
Twizel is a cool place. I recommend taking bikes or hiring them because it is really fun biking around Twizel.
Katikati is in the centre of no where and is at least 30 minutes away from anywhere else. Its main street has about 15 shops all of which have nothing interesting in them. Due to New Zealand's under population situation, the place is a ghost town except on Saturdays when all the overly happy people come out to annoy the small proportion of normal people, who should be smart enough to to stay in their homes.
I spent 6 weeks working in Glenorchy, and it was the highlight of my 6 month stay in New Zealand. I went jet boating with Dart River Safaris, and that was spectacular. I highly suggest a visit.
Roxburgh is a nice town with friendly people. It's very far from the next city Alexandra (40 kms).
Visit the "Physalie," an old oak boat formally owned by famous ocean scientist Jacque-Yves Cousteau. Oliver Mitchell bought the thirty-year-old vessel, lives on it, and serves delicious coffee on deck. The ship is situated at Port Tarhohe near Takaka, Golden Bay.
I was really dissapointed by Raglan. The town is REALLY small and the beach was nice, but not all the trouble that my friends and I put into getting there.
I live in California but was fortunate enough to visit Tokomaru Bay. It is so beautiful and peaceful. The community is friendly and courteous and makes you feel welcome. A wonderful place to relax and enjoy everything around you.
Motueka is a great place. Looks on the map like a small place to pass through on the way to Abel Tasman, but there's a lot to do there and for staying for a while there can't be many better towns in New Zealand. Small but with the facilities and nightlife of a much larger town, extremely friendly and welcoming locals, arguably the best climate in New Zealand, tons to do within easy driving distance. I'd stop here for at least a week and make it your base for exploring Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks. Though this is really the sort of place you'd want to live permanently someday, you don't get the full appeal of it in a few days. Other than the obvious attraction of Abel Tasman, Golden Bay is well worth a trip over the pass to visit Farewell Spit and the Pupu springs (very good on a day with nice weather, far better than you might imagine) among other attractions. What I would most recommend though is the trip up Mount Arthur to the flora carpark (steep, unsurfaced road but…
One of the most interesting tours I've done on my world trip was Murray Baker's volcano tour of Auckland (www.geotours.co.nz). Price is around €40-45. Also useful if you're going on to Hawaii afterwards.
Whangarei is a lot bigger than what we thought it would be. It has a cute city centre, and alot of surrounding suburban areas. It also has a small waterfront area. It is midway between Auckland and the Bay of Islands and a good place to lodge while exploring the surrounding areas.
Dunedin is a great city, full of atmosphere and interesting corners. Don't miss the Otago Museum and especially the Royal Albatross Center.
We found Oamaru to be a happy, friendly place full of history and we look foward to shifting there in the near future. I hope we can make a positive and creative addition to the community.
Arthur's Pass … I loved the pristine beauty of the walks. Try to visit this part of God's country.
Okarito … Out of the way location makes this place very special with the roaring Tasman Sea on one side and majestic views of the Southern Alps on the other side. Sans clouds if you are lucky. It's one of my favorite "off the beaten path" places in New Zealand.
Waiheke Island … I love it with all my heart, my home away from home.
Coromandel Town … The coromandel is often overlooked as it's off the main back packing route, but it was my favourite place so far. Its absolutely stunning and unspoilt, we stayed up in colville on a farm which had lots of bush walks and was great -- the beaches are lovely and the water is crystal clear. There's not many shops when you get away from the town centres so take your own food. It's best to go in summer to make the most of the beaches. Make sure to visit Cathedrale Cove and Hotwater beach on the way back down.
Hokitika … River Play Rafting is a great day out for people seeking a wild thrill on wild waters.
Mitimiti … It is the coolest secluded place and I am proud to say I am from there.
Stewart Island … Do the North-West circuit trek. It's 10 days, lots of mud, but worth every minute.
If possible, do it 'the other way around' (that is, counterclockwise).
Milford Sound … Don't miss out on the beautiful day boat trip here. But it rains here something like 300 days a year so go prepared.
Waitomo … This is a great area to relax in a beutiful countryside location. Take a trip to the local pub and ask the locals what there is to do. You'll be surprised how a day can turn into a week!! Just relax and go with the flow!
Rotorua … Awesome place for Maori and NZ culture and history, but other than that a little boring for my tastes. Zorbing is a must do though!
Kaikoura … Go swim with the dolphins! I did it in mid winter and froze my butt off but it was worth every second. Don't miss out on this beautiful town.
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