New Zealand Trip

[Well Refreshed]

I'm going to New Zealand for three weeks in January on a holiday/"learning experience". I'm hiring a car and will be traveling around both North and South Island. What are the "must go see" things. Don't want to come home after trip and somebody says, "You should have gone and seen .........".

Particular areas of interest are grass and grassland management, but please give me anything you think is worth a look.

Thanks

 

[benferg]

sheep, dairy, deer, beef....

???

 

[Well Refreshed]

Sorry, sheep and beef. And a bit of arable as well....

 

[Exfarmer]

Sadly 3 weeks is nowhere near enough.
Would concentrate on S Island Canterbury plains etc
But do some sightseeing too.

Wish I had not got a return ticket when I went

 

[Well Refreshed]

Sadly 3 weeks is nowhere near enough.

Yes, but sadly that is all the time I can afford to be away from our farm.

 

[Farmboymark]

Me and my girlfriend did both islands in three weeks, we camped our way round staying in doc sites (bit like our national trust) cheap sites and totally back to nature with long drop toilets etc, there's a really nice one at Cape renga, top of the north island where the oceans meet.

 

[cowboysupper]

not exactly farming related but the Nevis bungy jump is something you'll never forget!

http://www.bungy.co.nz/the-nevis/the-nevis-bungy

 

[Dap]

For sightseeing the best day I had in South Island was Franz Josef glacier, make sure you do the full day trek as you get to explore the glacier rather than the half day where you just walk on cut out steps at the lower end.

 

[cowboysupper]

For sightseeing the best day I had in South Island was Franz Josef glacier, make sure you do the full day trek as you get to explore the glacier rather than the half day where you just walk on cut out steps at the lower end.

+1. Milford Sound is well worth the visit down in that corner as well.

Climbing Mt Taranaki is another excellent day trek if you happen to take the scenic route down the west.

Unbelievable scenery.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Eiither take the Transalpine train or drive the route, (S Island) an intensive geography crammer of different altitude, climatic zones, geomorphology and land use, from Canterbury Plains to high land farming to moist temperate west coast. Fantastic journey, but try to avoid a low cloud/rain day, makes all the difference to the experience (it was cloudy out and clear back for me).
And get to one of the islands where they have tried to get back as close as they can to pre-settler ecology (eg Tiri Tiri Matangi - day trip from Auckland.

 

[Tractor Boy]

Not very helpful I know, but stuff looking at agriculture and just visit as much as you can. 2 years ago we had 5 weeks and did N Island Auckland , bay of Islands, rotorua, taupo, Wellington then all the way round S island anticlockwise.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Find the skipper of the fish farm supply vessel that may still operate out of Bluff. Slip him or the mate some tininess and get them to take you to Stuart Island via the fish farms in the area. Take minimal decent light-weight hiking gear and some simple fishing hooks, weights and line (Enough to put in a tobacco tin) Plus some beef jerky as emergency sustenance. You can then walk the fantastic route around this place, feeding yourself as you go on the fish you will catch. There are huts dotted about which improve as you walk further. My only regret was that I hadn't any big hooks but being able to catch enough small fish to feed three people was fun in its own right. Watch out for send flies........Have a great time!
SS

 

[devonshire farmer]

Well speaking from experience I would say forget hiring a car and jump on kiwi experience bus (get on the beer son!), nevis bungy definitely worth a go, must go to queenstown for a night on the town, taupo worth a visit as is rotorua and bay of islands (90 mile beach), just too much to mention, love that country and you will defo want to go back!! Oh and the jet boats are worth a shot, forget where but think may be queenstown you will want at least 3 days there if you are an adrenaline junkie!

 

[Beckbury Ben]

Presume you're flying into Auckland, where are you flying back from ?
I'd head to the mainland as soon as you can then head for Nelson, Glaciers, Wanaka , Queenstown, Milford, Gore , Invercargill, Catlins, Dunedin, Christchurch, JD's place, Kaikoura and finish up in Blenheim.

 

[BLG]

You can drop in and see us. We're on the East Coast NI, Gisborne, not on the tourist trail but have a sheep, beef, citrus and cropping farm with great beaches not far away and you're welcome to stay a night or two.

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Presume you're flying into Auckland, where are you flying back from ?
I'd head to the mainland as soon as you can then head for Nelson, Glaciers, Wanaka , Queenstown, Milford, Gore , Invercargill, Catlins, Dunedin, Christchurch, JD's place, Kaikoura and finish up in Blenheim.

BB, your on the money there, thats exactly what I'd suggest, ......with the exception of Gorrrrrre

 

[The Ruminant]

BB, your on the money there, thats exactly what I'd suggest, ......with the exception of Gorrrrrre

Rotorua too, is interesting for Brits - all bubbling mud and hot geisers!

 

[Penmoel]

You can drop in and see us. We're on the East Coast NI, Gisborne, not on the tourist trail but have a sheep, beef, citrus and cropping farm with great beaches not far away and you're welcome to stay a night or two.

Excellent offer well done.

 

[Dave6170]

Great offer. Wish I had TFF when I went t nz

 

[cowboysupper]

You can drop in and see us. We're on the East Coast NI, Gisborne, not on the tourist trail but have a sheep, beef, citrus and cropping farm with great beaches not far away and you're welcome to stay a night or two.

some beautiful beaches round Gisborne and further up north past Tolaga. Perfect place to finish a trip and relax for a couple of days. I bet the weather is scorching at the minute too! Ideal for Rhythm and Vines this weekend!