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.
Dunedin is a great city, full of atmosphere and interesting corners. Don't miss the Otago Museum and especially the Royal Albatross Center.
I love Hastings so much, I stayed and worked there with my son, Kevin, in 2006 and 2007 and it was a great experience to work in the orchard farms, including a month working in a blueberry pack house. We made lots of friends from all over the world and learned some of their languages too. I really hope that one day I have the chance to go back there again or to work there again.
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.
Queenstown is definitely a party town - there's a lot of fun to be had here so make sure you pop in.
Roxburgh is a nice town with friendly people. It's very far from the next city Alexandra (40 kms).
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.
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.
Twizel is a cool place. I recommend taking bikes or hiring them because it is really fun biking around Twizel.
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.
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.
Taupos a very cool place - I would definitely recommend at least 3 days there. It has lots of free walks and stuff to do.
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.
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.
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.
