You could hire one, not through the rental company but through a specialist outfit like this one: http://www.gps-hire.com.au/site/

Or you could purchase one when you arrive at one of the major appliance stores. e.g. Harvey Norman claims to have a Navman 200 GPS Navigator with Australian and NZ maps for AUS $123. The stores are in both Australia and NZ. Dick Smith is another store which is likely to stock similar or same items - JB Hi-Fi is another one.

Questions like this one are likely to get very opiniated answers on the local techie forum here called the Whirlpool Forums. Here is some relatively up to date (Sept '12) discussion on GPS' for Australia and NZ. http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1983198

Great advice thank you will pick one up when I get over there. I could then give it away in the airport on departure to an inbound person and feel better then having rented one! I will google these stores and pick one up in Christchurch when I get there.

Any idea/thoughts on a Cell phone? I will need to make some calls as many places require that I call and reconfirm/update my reservations.

With only one week in New Zealand and three weeks in Australia any ideas on the best way to get a cell phone since my us one is also not compatable? Someone has said to just buy a phone cards, but not sure how easy it is to find a public phone anymore.

I wouldn't bother with a GPS in NZ. I'd think a GPS would be a wasted expense for only a week. Just pick up a map when you arrive. Seriously...it's just not that difficult to get around.

And yeah, I know, those of us who still use maps and would never dream of traveling with a cell phone are a dying breed.

Enjoy NZ and OZ - beautiful places.

Cell phones here are called mobile phones - or just mobiles.

Are you sure it's not compatible? Don't you just buy a sim card? I recall using our American cell phones here but it wasn't me doing all the unlocking and faffing about so I could be well out of date.

If you find that you can just buy a sim card, when you arrive go to the Visitor Information centre in the airport and they have them for sale.

Or try here: http://www.newzealandsimcard.com/ if you'd like to do it all in advance.

You can use phone cards on your hotel phone. Saves heaps of $ but not really designed for visitors - more for home use. Not sure about NZ but you are right, here in Australia trying to find a public phone box now is a bit like looking for dinosaur bones.

Thanks, I am a map person and have heard New Zealand is easy to get about and that the people are very helpful. Getting out and away is the main reason I am going it on my own, rather then with a tour.

Would also love being without a phone and (may still do so) however in the world today and going it alone, I am now responsible for making, changing and confirming reserveations.
Seems that everyone now just "assumes" and expects that you can do it on the fly with your mobile. Part of my problem is that I do have an old non compatable us technology phone.
However like the dive group in Port Douglas told me "no need to book so early, just give us a call on your mobile when your over here"

Any more ideas or experiences please let me know.
Thanks again to all.