We're travelling to NZ this December in a campervan (pretty excited!) for around a month. We're flying into Christchurch on the 5th of December and fly out of Auckland on the 3rd of Jan. The only plan we have right now is that we are hiking the Milford Sound track from the 10th-13rd of December.
Some friends have suggested that we spend more time in the South Island than the North Island and based on that we're thinking of taking the Interislander ferry around Christmas time.
South Island
Our itinerary as of now is basically go down the East coast from Christchurch and check out Tekapo/Pukaki/Mt Cook before we start our hike in Milford sound. Then travel up via Queenstown/Wanaka (do some bungee jumping here) and the East Coast and do some hiking/kayaking around Abel Tasman NP.
Any suggestions of other fun activities to do and beautiful hikes etc ? How are Hanmer Springs and Kaikoura ?
North Island
Planning to check out Lake Taupo and some other NP for some good day hikes (any recommendations?). Waitomo is also highly rated for it's glow worm caves and black water rafting.
I know we can't see and do everything but would like to make the most of our time there. Any suggestions and recommendations would be much appreciated, thanks !
I agree about spending more time in the South Island - the scenery there is spectacular.
The Tongariro Crossing is a good day's walk in the middle of the North Island. Further up the North Island, you could check out the east coast towns of Tauranga/Pauanui.. nice scenery and probably some good bush walks around there. The Coromandel has lots of good nature treks - The Pinnacles is a good walk that is possible to do in a day, although you might like to spend the night along the trek.
Rotorua is another place you definately want to stop in at. Not far from Taupo.