New Zealand Wrap-upSummary:
New Zealand, with all its natural beauty, is the perfect place for those who love being in the outdoors. Hiking through the numerous National Parks never gets old, it’s possible to spend a month straight in the National Parks and still not see all of them. However, for those looking for more excitement, or do not like getting a little dirty, New Zealand is probably not the place for you.
We thought the National Parks in South America were pristine, but they pail in comparison to New Zealand. The Department of Conservation, or DOC, has taken their job very seriously throughout the years by protecting the natural environment along the trails, including the removal of predators who threaten the natural vegetation. The hard work has definitely paid off for New Zealand; all of the parks we visited were gems in their own way.
Autumn is the best time to visit in our opinion; the fall colors that can be found when traveling across the inland of the North and South Islands reminded us of what you see in autumn along the North-Eastern states in the US. The leaves are vibrant red, rusty orange, yellow and a little green. As soon as you reach the coastal areas along the Tasman and Pacific the colors disappear and turn into vibrant green flora. The colors were worth the trip by themselves.
Top Sites in New Zealand:
Abel Tasman National Park—we had a beautiful trek, or tramp (as Kiwis call it), through the National Park with Dustin and Shelby. The weather was absolutely perfect—sunny every single day. Each curve in the perfect trail brought something new such as a massive grove of silver ferns, giant red mushrooms, or crystal waterfalls.
Autumn is the best time to visit in our opinion; the fall colors that can be found when traveling across the inland of the North and South Islands reminded us of what you see in autumn along the North-Eastern states in the US. The leaves are vibrant red, rusty orange, yellow and a little green. As soon as you reach the coastal areas along the Tasman and Pacific the colors disappear and turn into vibrant green flora. The colors were worth the trip by themselves.
Top Sites in New Zealand:
Abel Tasman National Park—we had a beautiful trek, or tramp (as Kiwis call it), through the National Park with Dustin and Shelby. The weather was absolutely perfect—sunny every single day. Each curve in the perfect trail brought something new such as a massive grove of silver ferns, giant red mushrooms, or crystal waterfalls.
Milford Sound—this would probably be number one site if we were able to hike one of the many treks through the region. This wasn’t possible due to the inclimate weather conditions this time of year (May). We made a day trip into the National Park with its numerous waterfalls, rainbows and green moss holding the trees into place in the former home of enormous glaciers. This is definitely worth a trip to Te Anau for the natural beauty in every direction.Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers—the two glaciers are special in their own way and everyone should see both. Even if you are short on time, make sure you do a quick hike to the base of each glacier for a chilling experience.
Bay of Islands—we had a perfect day on the Bay, making our experience tremendous. The 
bay cruise is well worth the time and money—especially if you get to go through the infamous Hole in the Rock. The scenery is amazing as you venture across the bay into the Pacific Ocean.
bay cruise is well worth the time and money—especially if you get to go through the infamous Hole in the Rock. The scenery is amazing as you venture across the bay into the Pacific Ocean.Dunes on Sandfly Beach in Dunedin—this is a short drive along the Otago Peninsula from Dunedin, but definitely worth the time. If you are lucky, you might even see the yellow-eyed penguins coming in after a day in the water. Hiking the dunes prove to be a challenge for those looking for one.
Top Meals in New Zealand (in chronological order of visit):
Roti Malaysian Espresso Café—Wellington. I couldn’t get this place out of my mind the rest of the trip in New Zealand. The Malaysian/Indian flavors mixed together are incredible. We ordered curry wrapped in roti with a different type of curry to pour over the top. We never found another place like this one in New Zealand, or we would have been there every night!
Top Meals in New Zealand (in chronological order of visit):
Roti Malaysian Espresso Café—Wellington. I couldn’t get this place out of my mind the rest of the trip in New Zealand. The Malaysian/Indian flavors mixed together are incredible. We ordered curry wrapped in roti with a different type of curry to pour over the top. We never found another place like this one in New Zealand, or we would have been there every night!
Matterhorn—Wellington. This place serves traditional fresh local fare. The elegant, yet eco-friendly, décor was very comfortable even though the restaurant boasts a lumberjack theme. We ordered an array of dishes from fish to beef to chicken and every dish hit the mark. We accompanied the meal with a bottle of local Pinot Noir which only added to the perfect meal.
Bar Delicious—Nelson. We stumbled upon this place by accident and boy were we happy we did. We had three excellent menu items including black bean soup, pumpkin raviolis and roasted chicken with stuffing. The black bean soup had tasty pieces of chorizo to add a little spice. It was a perfect fall meal after coming out of two nights in Abel Tasman.
Cook ‘N’ With Gas—Christchurch. This was the best meal we had in New Zealand. The relaxed environment in the Victorian building made the dining experience very enjoyable. The restaurant is one of the original buildings from the retired University across the street. In addition to the numerous awards hanging on the wall, there is an array of beer bottles, beer posters and wine bottles. The restaurant has an extensive beer and wine list including several New Zealand boutique beers. The ingredients are fresh and local, in fact, some of the greens came from our waitress’ father’s farm—that is fresh!
Best Experience:
Abel Tasman National Park was the best experience in New Zealand. We tramped (or trekked) along the coves of the Tasman Sea, camped on the beach and experienced the unique fauna in the area, all with Shelby and Dustin. One night we camped right on the beach looking out at Tonga Island.
Best Experience: Abel Tasman National Park was the best experience in New Zealand. We tramped (or trekked) along the coves of the Tasman Sea, camped on the beach and experienced the unique fauna in the area, all with Shelby and Dustin. One night we camped right on the beach looking out at Tonga Island.
Don’t Miss these Towns:
Wellington (North Island)—the capital of New Zealand has a population of around 200,000, making it very manageable. The city has great restaurants, good coffee, and an international feel to it is on the water and is built up into the hills overlooking the bay.
Queenstown (South Island)—this is an adrenaline junkie’s wet dream. All of the extreme 
sports are here—bungee jumping, luge and jet boating. Not to mention the great snow they get for boarders in the winter time. The town is touristy, but has a very small town feel that still makes it comfortable.
sports are here—bungee jumping, luge and jet boating. Not to mention the great snow they get for boarders in the winter time. The town is touristy, but has a very small town feel that still makes it comfortable.Nelson (South Island)—this town is perfect to explore New Zealand’s wine region and travel to Abel Tasman. The downtown area is pretty hip with cutting edge restaurants including Bardelicious.
Dunedin (South Island)—this is a college town with a great vibe to it. Explore the hills, including the steepest hill in the world, for a little butt burn. Watch out for the ghosts in some of the hostels. Dunedin is a perfect location to explore the Otega Peninsula including Sandfly Beach, well worth a trip!Not Worth the Stop:
Cape Reinga—the lighthouse is beautiful, but the long, rough drive up to see it isn’t worth the time. There are plenty of other sites in New Zealand that are worthwhile.
Rotorua—unless you have your heart set on a mud bath, there really isn’t a reason to stop in Rotorua except to break up the drive, if required. The city’s many sulfur pools make the town reek of rotten eggs in every crevice possible—sewer grates, man holes and an occasional toilet.
Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki & Paparoa National Park—the rocks are nice to see if they’re on the way to where you are going, but not really worth an extra trip to see them. This is part of a National Park though, so there are plenty of other walks in the area.
Best Breweries:
Sawmill Cafe & Brewery. Leigh. This small little brewery is operated by a husband and wife. He is the brew-master and she manages the retail portion of the operation. There is also a café on-site.
Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki & Paparoa National Park—the rocks are nice to see if they’re on the way to where you are going, but not really worth an extra trip to see them. This is part of a National Park though, so there are plenty of other walks in the area.
Best Breweries:
Sawmill Cafe & Brewery. Leigh. This small little brewery is operated by a husband and wife. He is the brew-master and she manages the retail portion of the operation. There is also a café on-site.
Dux de Lux. Queenstown and Christchurch. Several excellent microbrews on tap; a sampler platter is available if you can’t decide.
Mac's Brewery at Shed 22. Wellington. Excellent location right on the water front. The brewery was acquired by Maceshin, but the beer is still top-notch. Try the Sassy Red, it’s my favorite.
Best Lodging:
Note: These are places we personally stayed. All prices are estimates at the time of our visit and are displayed in USD.
Top 10 Holiday Parks—there are locations all over New Zealand. The Top 10 parks have a bed for every budget from campers to campervans, basic cabins with communal facilities, ensuite cabins and apartments that hold up to 8 people. The basic cabins worked out very well for us, costing a little more than a campsite, but providing a roof and enough space to store our gear. A few of them even had a refrigerator, toaster and hot water maker. All the parks were very clean, including the communal facilities, and each had their own touch. The parks are individually operated. Prices varied between $25-45.00 per night.
Best Lodging:
Note: These are places we personally stayed. All prices are estimates at the time of our visit and are displayed in USD.Top 10 Holiday Parks—there are locations all over New Zealand. The Top 10 parks have a bed for every budget from campers to campervans, basic cabins with communal facilities, ensuite cabins and apartments that hold up to 8 people. The basic cabins worked out very well for us, costing a little more than a campsite, but providing a roof and enough space to store our gear. A few of them even had a refrigerator, toaster and hot water maker. All the parks were very clean, including the communal facilities, and each had their own touch. The parks are individually operated. Prices varied between $25-45.00 per night.
Mercure Hotel. Wellington. This was a perfect place to stay after several nights of camping. The Mercure is built into a hill in Wellington providing great views of the water from the upper floors. Of course, we were on the 1st floor and couldn’t see anything, but we had our own 
bathroom and a comfy bed. Price $85 for Queen ensuite.
Coachman Backpackers. Christchurch. The place opened in 2005 and barely made the latest edition of Lonely Planet. The place is comfy with dorms and double rooms. We paid $5 more for a queen room which was pure luxury for us. There is a communal kitchen and TV room for all guests. There is usually a movie playing at night in the TV room. Price: $60 for Queen ensuite.
bathroom and a comfy bed. Price $85 for Queen ensuite.Coachman Backpackers. Christchurch. The place opened in 2005 and barely made the latest edition of Lonely Planet. The place is comfy with dorms and double rooms. We paid $5 more for a queen room which was pure luxury for us. There is a communal kitchen and TV room for all guests. There is usually a movie playing at night in the TV room. Price: $60 for Queen ensuite.
Misc. Trivia Questions:
1. # of Top 10 Holiday Parks we stayed at during our five weeks in New Zealand?
2. # of nights in Top 10 Holiday Parks?
3. Total KMs traveled on the North Island?
4. Total KMs traveled on the South Island?
5. # of nights our tent almost floated away?
6. # of waterfalls we saw while driving through New Zealand?
7. # of rainbows we saw while driving?
8. # of Sandfly bites?
9. # of times per day we applied DEET to help prevent sandfly bites?
10. # of crazy Kiwi drivers on the road?
Answers: 1.) 10, 2.) 19, 3.) 2050, 4.) estimated at 2500, 5.) 1, 6.) too many to count, 7.) at least 5 (not including Milford Sound), 8.) too many to count 9.) at least three, 10.) all of them!
Miscellaneous Items:
Use the Information Centers located in almost every town. They are excellent sources for booking tours, finding a deal on a caravan/rental car and local lodging. They are very efficient and friendly. They can also help with itinerary questions and have numerous glossy brochures for tourist activities all over New Zealand.
Get a Top 10 Holiday Park or BBH membership as soon as you arrive in New Zealand. Each card gives you 10% off per night of lodging (up to $30 per visit) and offers discounts on some of the tourist activities in the area. For example, the Te Anua Top 10 Milford Sound tour is $10 off for cardholders. The Top 10 card is $30 and well worth it! The card is valid in Australia at all Big 4 parks.
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