Good friend of mine from LA moved to NZ a couple of years ago; he's opening a microbrewery/pub in the town of Nelson (undoubtedly named for the supergroup). He wants to fly me there to play at the grand opening, an offer I can't refuse---never been in that neck of the woods. People I know who travel a lot say the Kiwis are the FriendliestFuckers on Earth. The trout fishing is fantastic. Anything else I should know? Oh yeah---can you buy codeine over the counter like you can in Canada? Might have to bring an extra suitcase.

need a tambourine player?

I'll be watching this thread as well. Heading there in February. Going to Napier on Hawkes bay on the east coast of the north island. It was leveled by an earthquake in 1931 and rebuilt almost entirely in art deco architecture. Every Feb. they have a big art deco fest.

Prepare for disappointment.

Back in my formative years I spent two months living in Dunedin, student teaching 5-7 year old Kiwis. What a fantatisc place. Spent basically no time on the North Island, except for coming in and out of Auckland Airport. Both of you guys should try to get down into the heart of the South Island - the Southern Alps and maybe even the Fjordlands on the west coast.

Thanks but won;t discourage me. Going to stay with my girlfriend's old neighbors. So it's about rekindling friendship and chilling on the other side of the world enjoying summertime in the dead of winter.

Just finalized plans for the trip. Heading there mid February.

The south island sounds tempting but looks like it'll be tough to get down there. I'll be working on the itinerary in the meantime and will keep it in mind.

We just got back from three weeks there in November. One week on the north island and two on the south. Could have used more time on the south. Parts of the north island are breathtaking but almost none of it holds a candle to the south. Get there if you can!

Damn, ok...I gotta figure out how to work that in.

'New Zealand: don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed'

let's say you had the opportunity to go to new zealand for 2-3 days. is it worthwhile? i'll be in australia with a couple days to kill and have been considering jumping over there just for a weekend, or so.

Awaiting Netflix to send me Rudy Maxa's episode on NZ, plus I downloaded Bourdain's No Reservation episode. After viewing them, I'll sit down with the Eyewitness Travel guide and a book on Lord Of The Rings locations and map out the itinerary, with Napier in Hawke's Bay on the east coast of the north island as base camp.

Rob, holy shit... you've got me geeking out here. Since you're doing the LoTR thing, you've got to hit the South Island a bit. I feel like a bunch of the Rohan scenes were filmed in the Southern Alps, and if I'm not mistaken I looked for rocks along the banks of that river where Arwen Evenstar tells the Nine, "If you want him, come and claim him"

No Magnets... that's a tough one. You're not going to be able to do much in that time. The main reason is that it's hard to get around... if you have a rental car, expect to spend SEVERAL hours in the car between each major site. I know this is a small country, but it's extremely mountainous (especially the SI) and the roads ain't great - as far as I know, not a single two-lane highway. Not that this is a bad thing, but it may make it hard to do a quick jaunt.

21 hours by car from Napier on the north island to Queenstown on the south, including the 3 hour ferry ride. No way we can do this by car in the time we have. Looking into any sort of plane we might be able to take.

Napier is pretty far away from everywhere else really. Definitely take a flight from Napier to Queenstown (http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz) but I recommend renting a car while you're there.

Do you ski? Go skiing.

edit: I forget I'm in the Northern Hemisphere sometimes, don't go skiing.

Nah, don't ski.
I just love hiking and the national parks here in the US. I know the southern island has some gorgeous geography.
Forget who said up thread to prepare to be bored. Ha. Apparently not a fan of natural beauty.

We don't go clubbing. And Napier is known for its cafe culture and surrounding wineries. Damn, I can't wait.

Yeah, we're flying Air New Zealand from LAX straight to Auckland. And then renting a car to drive to Napier. Probably will stop in Rotorua.

We'd leave the car in Napier at our friends and then maybe fly down and get around via public transport down there. Could be that we never get down there though. Alas, I won't let it disappoint me.

If you like wine then Napier is definitely worth going to. (Can't say I've ever noticed much cafe culture there though).

How long do you have to get from Auckland to Napier? You're looking at a day of driving there. The best drives aren't on the direct route either. If you can stop overnight try to get over to the Coromandel, and if you have another try get south of Taupo and down to Tongariro. The Bay of Plenty coast is also great driving. Too much!

Great tips. Yeah, we are thinking we'll spend the night somewhere on the way to Napier.

RG, how long are you going to be there in total? Every time this thread gets bump I just live vicariously through you... hope you don't mind!

We'll be in the country for 9 days.

Honestly, to do anything involving the SI you'd need at least 3-5 days. I think you should cut your losses and find as much to do in the NI as you can. I've always regretted the fact that, in my two times in the country, the only NI experience I've had at all is flying in and out of Auckland. You're a lucky fella!

Well, I am going to investigate flights to Queenstown. If we do 3 days there, that still leaves us 6 days at our home base of Napier. We will definitely be in Napier for most of the Art Deco fest. My mission in the next couple of weeks is to find a 30's suit and hat. Everyone dresses the part for the fest.

Damn, you've got me jealous. You'll be having the time of your life, and meanwhile we'll be having... mid-February in Ohio. Wow.

With your three days in Queenstown, I suggest you drive to Milford and go sea kayaking. It was one of the highlights of our trip. The drive from TeAnu to Milford is unbelievable. It was about 2+ hours from Queenstown to TeAnu and then about 2.5 to Milford (if you don't make any stops, which you will). We stopped and did a couple of hikes on the way to Milford and on the way back. Queenstown is the NZ equivalent of Boulder. Really cool scene. Lots of good restaurants/cafes. While in Queenstown we pretty much just hung out locally except for a half day of horseback riding.

The town of Nelson is on the north end of the south island, right across the Big Water from the town of Wellington (town motto: "Where's the Beef?), and that's where Jim M*., one of my oldest, dearest (read: longest-suffering) friends just opened his microbrewery/pub. It's called Golden Bear, and, knowing him, the beer is probably outstanding; he's been brewing at the semi-pro level for about ten years prior. The room is beautiful--he was a first-rate cabinetmaker back in the USA (he got me Frank Gehry as a client, among others), and he did most of the pub himself.
A good guy, super friendly, and he's been living in NZ for several years now---if you happen to get there, tell him johnnie coolrock sent ya---you'll either get a guided tour of the area or be removed roughly from the establishment.
Still haven't got an answer from anybody (even him) on whether you can buy codeine over the counter there. Hydrocodone, a/k/a Nazi science's gift to the working man---even better. This will definitely affect my luggage arrangement when I travel there, not to mention how long I can sit still and fish. (You probably aren't a fish-head, but the trout fishing there is reputed to be just about the best in the whole wide world.) In the words of Chuck Berry, "give me information, please."
I still don't know when I'm going there; probably sooner than later. Can't wait. I want to sell my soul to a Tasmanian Devil.




*There are two American Jims there, so make sure ya get the right guy, Jim M., not Jim H, or P(re) M(enstrual) me for names, addresses, credit card numbers, etc.

ps: Bring along a Barbie doll, and when you see a really short dude, throw it at him, while saying, "Hey, let's throw another Barbie on the shrimp!"
Always wanted to do that.
Never mind, that's Australia.

Looks like a trip to your friend's brewpub will have to wait until a future visit to the southern island.
We've pretty much ruled out trying to do both islands in one trip.
We'll do Rotorua on the way from Auckland to Napier. Spend 5 days as Napier as home base to stay with friends, do the art deco fest and make day trips to wine country, the volcano, maybe Wellington at the southern tip, some other stuff. Then head to the northland, Bay of Islands, Russell, etc. This is all north of Auckland and the warmest place in the country. Lots of swimming, snorkeling, sailing, etc. Then head back to Auckland for the last day or so.

Here's a taste of the south island for you then -

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3417/323911...3cca0c914_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/323911..._eed11b4afe.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3321/323911..._114537be50.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/323828..._7a3ca27f6a.jpg

Yes, yes, I know what I'll be missing in not traveling to the south island. We just don't have the time. We want to spend 5 days in middle and southern north island where my girlfriend's friends live. Then as it turns out they are into going with us up to the Bay Of Islands and Auckland for the remaining 5 days. It's all good.

There's a site where Kiwis pick their must see spots in their homeland. The first two are down Queenstown way on the south island but the third is Bay Of Islands.

Only days away. Looks like we'll be chillin' in LA for about 24 hours to ensure we make our flight to Auckland. I am a bit nervous about getting behind the wheel on the opposite side and driving down the opposite side of the road too.

Be super cautious while crossing the street on foot then, too--you'll be looking left instead of right, might get creamed.

this literally takes about three seconds to adjust to.

The driving on the opposite side of the road thing is really no big deal. Especially since everyone else is doing it. After the first day I never really gave it much thought.

Oh and one more thing - be ready for some good brew. Lots of small brewers combined with a favorable exchange rate equates to some fun evenings.

It's not so much the driving part, because as JTM said, you're just following other people. It's the turning. I had to keep reminding myself which side of the road to end up on when I turned.
The car I had in Ireland was a stick shift, which I didn't think would be a problem as I had a stick shift at home. But I'm on the wrong side of the car on the wrong side of the road and I'm shifting left handed. It was a lot to keep straight at first.

Good luck!

That's why I lined up an automatic.

Well, it's going on 8am Tuesday here. Getting on line has been a hassle. The places we've stayed either had not net or a slow connection like here. I have to sit on a picnic table across the street from our room. Albeit I'm staring out at the islands in the Bay Of Islands. Truly gorgeous here.

I would post pics but as I say the connection is lousy. Not even blogging. Anyway, too much to do than find a coffee house with a better speed.

So glad we didn't do the south island as it's been rainy and cooler than usual for this time of year. Here in the northern tip it's about 80 and sunny everyday.

Oh, and my prediction on best picture held true. Yeah, I know Mitch, not a bold pronouncement.

Unless you're stoned & jaywalking maybe.