"Must Sees" in New Zealand?

[Menfolk]

If she is single she is in for a treat. The combination of Polynesian and Caucasian genes have resulted in some good looking guys. Kiwi men are ruggedly handsome and walk around like bronzed Adonis. Think 6 foot plus tall rugby playing giants with bulging muscles, tans and tribal tattoos. Ladies and gays enjoy NZ for this reason.

Sadly for the guys and lesbians the reverse is not true. Kiwi women tend to be pear shaped and with the ruddy cheeks of hobbits. What's worse their dress sense seems to consist of polar fleece jackets and tracksuit pants. Sadly the countries isolation has lead to a paucity of competition for the gentlemen's attention and the girls know they dont need to doll themselves up to get a man. They have no competition for 3000 kilometers!!

[drinking]

You have to see the locals drinking, very funny, especially when the fall over each other and start fighting.

Also, you *must* see them when they lose *anything* to Australia or England, ESPECIALLY rugby.  Never will you see so many grown men (and women!) THROW THEIR PHONES at the big screen showing the game!

Amazing sight - dozens of phones flying through the air at once, swearing, crying, drinking, fighting.

Ah, New Zealand, the failed colony of old!

Hi All:

A friend of my best friend just contacted me from the U.S. She is planning to spend a year's sabbatical in New Zealand, starting in January.

Since I live in Sydney (which is right next door to New Zealand ), surely I have loads of suggestions of things she should not miss, right?

Unfortunately, I have yet to visit the beautiful land of Kiwis. Anyone care to share their all time favorite places in New Zealand?

Thanks so much. In return, I'm willing to offer a Californian's perspective on South Dakota, which is just over a few hills...

Cheers,

Caligirl

[see this]

Go to Mount Ruapehu in the Tongariro National Park. Stay at the Chateau Tongariro - lovely!

[Who Har]

You have to see the locals drinking, very funny, especially when the fall over each other and start fighting.

Also, you *must* see them when they lose *anything* to Australia or England, ESPECIALLY rugby.  Never will you see so many grown men (and women!) THROW THEIR PHONES at the big screen showing the game!

Amazing sight - dozens of phones flying through the air at once, swearing, crying, drinking, fighting.

Ah, New Zealand, the failed colony of old!

Remind me- when do we ever lose rugby to England?  Maybe 3 times in the last 100 years?  NZers regard England in rugby in about the same way that Brazilians regard Scotland in Soccer. Of course we respect the Aussies and South Africans who are great manly sporting nations.

Failed colony?  Does that explain why every second person you meet in old blighty wants to migrate to NZ?  The only failure NZ has is the quality of some of its whingeing working class British migrants.

[my two cents]

I never lived there, vacationed on South Island for 3 weeks, but if I were to go back I would defintiely spend more time in the Southern part of South Island.  While Christchurch is the largest city, it seemed to me the least interesting part of South Island scenery wise, but I agree Akaroa was nice.

I enjoyed the isolated parts of South Island the most, the people are nice, friendly, and unpretentious, and many of them have interesting jobs and stories to tell.  While I don't think I would ever live in NZ, going to the countryside for a sabbatical sounds like it would be extremely refreshing after a lifetime spent in big cities.

[Lester25]

Let me put in my votes for Rotorua - especially the geysers and hot springs - and Napier on Hawkes Bay. A week there, visiting vineyards, chilling on the beach, and seeing the amazing bird colony at Cape Kidnappers wiuld certainly leave your friend well "chilled".

Oh and the Milford Track as well - quite spectacular but you have to book.

[Wine Country]

One has to visit one (or more) of the wine regions, such as Malborough, Hawkes Bay, or even near Queenstown.

One that is close to Wellington is Martinborough. You drive over a mountain range from wet and windy Wellington into a dry rural region called Wairarapa. Martinborough is a small village in the middle of the wine region that you can use as a base to visit the wineries.  Plenty of cool cafes and resturants, and rustic old wooden cottages that can be stayed in. Some also converted into spas.

Many NZ wineyards will be set up for visitors with tasting centres, resturants,gardens, giftshops etc. Best thing to do is get a designated driver or take a minibus tour

[Caligirlnotloggedin]

Many thanks for all of the suggestions!

[achilles_ath]

My list based on a 3 week driving trip many years ago:

- Auckland
- Paihia (Bay of islands)
- Taupo
- Rotorua
- Wellington (big city but en route to the South island)
- Nelson, the sunniest place in NZ with an awesome beach
- Fox glacier and Franz Joseph , must do Lake Mathieson here in addition to the glacier.
- Wanaka
- Queenstown: bungy, shotover jet, river rafting, para sailing, trekking, skiing
- must try the trek to Milford Sound
- Dunedin
- Christchurch

[you forgot....]

.... the phone throwing and temper tantrums

My list based on a 3 week driving trip many years ago:

- Auckland
- Paihia (Bay of islands)
- Taupo
- Rotorua
- Wellington (big city but en route to the South island)
- Nelson, the sunniest place in NZ with an awesome beach
- Fox glacier and Franz Joseph , must do Lake Mathieson here in addition to the glacier.
- Wanaka
- Queenstown: bungy, shotover jet, river rafting, para sailing, trekking, skiing
- must try the trek to Milford Sound
- Dunedin
- Christchurch

[...]

Remind me- when do we ever lose rugby to England?  Maybe 3 times in the last 100 years?  NZers regard England in rugby in about the same way that Brazilians regard Scotland in Soccer. Of course we respect the Aussies and South Africans who are great manly sporting nations.

Failed colony?  Does that explain why every second person you meet in old blighty wants to migrate to NZ?  The only failure NZ has is the quality of some of its whingeing working class British migrants.
[/quote]

Don't forget the massive All Black choke every time there is a Rugby World Cup.

[Fir goodness' sake]

Remind me- when do we ever lose rugby to England?  Maybe 3 times in the last 100 years?  NZers regard England in rugby in about the same way that Brazilians regard Scotland in Soccer. Of course we respect the Aussies and South Africans who are great manly sporting nations.

Failed colony?  Does that explain why every second person you meet in old blighty wants to migrate to NZ?  The only failure NZ has is the quality of some of its whingeing working class British migrants.

Don't forget the massive All Black choke every time there is a Rugby World Cup.
[/quote]