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Recommendations for New Zealand

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    We're thinking of visiting New Zealand next Fall--which would springtime down there. I haven't made any plans yet. If there is a recommendation that you care to share with me for places to stay, eat or see, I'd be forever grateful. Thank you in advance.

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    A wonderful destination! A few suggestions:-

    As you will probably fly into Auckland, stay at the Ascott Metropolis. Lovely studio rooms with great views of the city and harbour, and if you want to you can cook your own food and sample New Zealand's stunning wines in your room. Visit the smart suburb of Parnell (a short taxi ride) for good shops and cafes - and Antoine's - still probably the best restaurant in town.

    Fly to Taupo - only an hour - to New Zealand's largest lake formed from a cataclysmic volcanic explosion aeons ago. Taupo
    Lake Taupo and Mt Ruapheu

    Stay at The Terraces Hotel or the very smart Huka Lodge. Hire a car (Hertz will leave one for you at the airport) and drive round the lake to the Ruahapeu National Park with its still smoking volcanos (last eruption 1996). Eat at The Bach (one of my seven favourite restaurants - see another discussion)

    Taupo
    The Bach<>

    Fly on to Christchurch and eat at one of the chic places on Oxford Terrace beside the River Avon and visit the wonderful Botanic Gardens. I have only stayed in Christchurch many years ago and don't have any first-hand recommendations for hotels.

    Christchurch
    Oxford Terrace

    Christchurch
    The Botanical Gardens

    Fly on to Queenstown for endless unbelievable scenery
    Queenstown
    Queenstown

    as well as a multitude of sporting activities.

    Stay in a studio at Oaks Shores Apartments overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the aptly-named Remarkables.

    Queenstown
    Oaks Shores with The Remarkables in the distance

    Book a bus/fly journey to the magnificent Milford Sound.

    Milford Sound
    Milford Sound

    Visit some of the great wineries in the Arrowtown area such as Chard Farm, or drive further back into Central Otago for the world's lovliest Pinot Noirs.

    Book to return next year!

    Thanks from: zenera, Whirt
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    Herry, this is absolutely fantastic! Thank you so much for taking the time to include your photos. This is exactly what I was looking for.

    Do you happen to know how far in advance one usually needs to reserve a table at The Bach?

    Also, regarding the Ascott Metropolis and the Oak Shores Apartments. Are these full-service hotels with daily maid service and/or breakfast? Or are we on our own for that sort of thing?

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    So glad it helps. As you can probably tell, I love the place and long to go back.

    Taupo is small and so I don't think you need to book The Bach more than a day or two ahead. Go at a local time to catch the sunset over the lake (and try to drink the Mt Difficulty, which is absolutely the best Pinot Noir I have ever tasted....)

    The Ascott Metropolis is a full service hotel that happens to have apartment-like rooms, so breakfast, laundry, room service etc are all available.

    Oaks Shores may be more self-catering. I can't remember as I preferred to make my own breakfast and always ate out in the evening in and around Queenstown. The website should clarify.

    Have fun!

    Herry

    PS If you click on the photos, you will be taken to my Flickr page. There you can click on All Sizes to see the photos properly

    Thanks from: Whirt
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    Ah, New Zealand! Lucky you!

    As a general rule, don't hold major expectations for any of the towns - the scenery is where its at. The restaurants are, in general, really good no matter where you are.
    In Auckland, take a boat out to Waiheke Island which is about 30 mins away and quite beautiful and relaxed.
    Head south. Visit the Waitomo Caves if you can to tour caves full of glowworms. Definitely see Lake Taupo although the town of Taupo isn't that special. I agree with Herry - The Bach is fantastic. I just turned up without a reservation but it is probably worth giving them a buzz in advance. Check out some of the volcanic sites but avoid the tourist trap of Roturua.
    Tongariro National Park is impressive, south of Lake Taupo.
    Wellington is worth seeing - like a mini San Francisco. Take a ferry across to Picton in the South Island and drive 30 mins to Marlborough, the famous wine district. I recommend visiting Seresin, Huia, Dog Point, Spy Valley, Isabel Estate, Fromm, and of course the legendary Cloudy Bay.

    The north of the island has some beautiful beaches near Nelson. If you head south down the west coast, have a meal overlooking the sea at The Bayhouse, Tauranga Bay, near Westport. Further south, visit Punakaiki Rocks and continue to Fox and Franz Josef glaciers.
    Head over the mountains to Wanaka which is nicer place to stay than the busy Queenstown. I can recommend staying at Waimana (www.waimana.co.nz) for self-catering apartments run by a lovely couple. Good value and they know everything going on. If you're into skydiving, try out the local business there - stunning views and the best rush ever.

    The wineries of Central Otago are great for Pinot Noir - Peregrine, Chard Farm, Two Paddocks, Felton Road, Mount Difficulty, lunch at Gibbston Valley too.

    You must see Milford Sound. Fly for a day trip from Wanaka or Queenstown, otherwise drive and stay the night in Te Anau.

    If you get the Christchurch, head a couple of hours west to Lake Coleridge which is an undiscovered gem and feels the most remote. Stay at Terrace Downs (www.terracedowns.co.nz)

    On the other side of Christchurch is Akaroa which is a stunning peninsula which a lot of charm. Take the dolphin cruise and eat at Dooberry.

    Definitely hire a car for the whole time. Be prepared for a different world out there - developed but not. Luxury has a different meaning out there and you only really realise that when you leave.

    Have a great time!

    Thanks from: Herry Lawford, Whirt
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    A few suggestions:

    In Marlborough, we've had good experiences staying at the Old Convent (http://www.convent.co.nz/). As the name would indicate, it's a converted old convent that's been moved into the vineyards. It has a lot of charm, very helpful staff, and an excellent location.

    Also in Marlborough is one of the very best restaurants in New Zealand at the Herzog Winery (see http://www.herzog.co.nz/dining/). It's one of the true luxury fine-dining experiences you can have in New Zealand, and we found the food and wines to be quite good. A more casual option is Gibb's (http://www.gibbs-restaurant.co.nz/).

    About an hour from Queenstown is one of my absolute favorite places in New Zealand, River Run (http://www.riverrun.co.nz/). It's a lovely place to stay, with the intimacy and most of the luxury of many of the ultra-expensive lodges in New Zealand, but at fraction of the price. Wanaka isn't nearly as touristy as Queenstown, but spending a few days here would be a great way to relax for a day or two in the midst of your itinerary (and it's in easy driving distance of the Central Otago wineries and much of the Queenstown region's adventure sports). Definitely eat there as well, if possible.

    Thanks from: Herry Lawford, Whirt
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    Since everyone rightly recommends Queenstown as a destination, one short side trip to Arrowtown is a must while you are there, and not just for the wineries. Two of the best restaurants in New Zealand can be found on the main street there. They are better than nearly all other eateries in Queenstown and it's only about a 15 minute drive away.

    Saffron (http://www.saffronrestaurant.co.nz/) and the Postmaster's House (http://www.postmastershouse.com/) are on the opposite ends of the charming main street. Both offer terrific food and ambience. The Postmaster's House has an excellent wine list as well, with a few of the top very hard to find NZ Pinot Noir's.

    Be sure you spend an hour or two walking the main street during the day. Lots of interesting shops and historic buildings.

    Thanks from: Whirt
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    These are terrific recommendations, all of you. Thank you so much. And Herry, your flickr photos are brilliant. Thank you, once again.

    It looks like we have some decisions to make in the near future. It's becoming rather clear to me that I could make dozens of trips to New Zealand and continuously discover new treasures each and every time.

    Everyone's suggestions have gotten me well on my way to laying out our plans. Anyone else who cares to add to this thread, please do. I will be sure to check it regularly.

    Thanks from: Herry Lawford
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    Well, since you asked, I noticed Huka Lodge in Taupo received a short mention. The fact of the matter is that along with Kauri Cliffs in the Far North, this is the best place in NZ to stay. Frankly, if any lodge can be considered perfect in the world, it would be Huka Lodge, for many reasons. Food, service, rooms, setting, activities, interesting guests, etc.

    You hear a lot about Blanket Bay near (a word used advisedly in this context) Queenstown, but it's not even close to the quality of Huka Lodge. Splurge and spend at least 2 nights there. You will never forget it.

    Other than that, Taupo is forgettable, except for the hilarious "Super Loo" and also if you are into wine. Scenic Cellars' underground cellar is an unbelievable find in the most unexpected location. Crazy, but great. http://www.sceniccellars.co.nz/

    Thanks from: Herry Lawford, Whirt
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    I'll second dmdoyle's comments on Blanket Bay. We found it unimpressive. It's in a truly beautiful spot, and the building itself is quite nice, but we found the service a bit cold and certainly didn't see anything to recommend the extremely high prices.

    Our experience with the service could just be that they didn't quite know what to do with us--we were younger than most of the crowd and certainly less fabulous than the handful of other youngish people there. The staff seemed to make good friends with the older folks and be appropriately demure with the fabulous people, but seemed to be only going through the motions with us.

    Thanks from: Whirt
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    You will absolutely feel young again after you visit New Zealand. Did you know it is the youngest country in the world? I recommend you do both the north and south island. I found http://www.foreveryoungnz.com very useful as a guide.

    Thanks from: Whirt

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