We are leaving for NZ on June 19th and will spend 3 days in Christchurch and 3 days in Queenstown. We then travel to Hobart for 6 days, Melbourne 6 days, Sydney 7 days, Cairns <BR>6 days and Brisbane (visit relatives) 7 days. <BR>We have booked the Tramcar Restaurant in Melbourne in advance. However, we do plan to <BR>do Milford Sound, Great Ocean Road and day trips to the Great Barrier Reef. We plan to book any other tour day by day depending on the weather. Any "must do / must see" suggestions? <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR>Michael

Hi Michael <BR>It all depends on what you like to do and if you are into restaurants more. <BR> <BR>If food is a big thing we really enjoyed the following: <BR>1. Christchurch - Canterbury Tales <BR>2. If doing a day trip to Akaroa (french fishing village, one of my favorite places) C'est La Vie. Written up in the NY papers and it was wonderful (only about 8 tables in 2 sittings and a BYO place)Although they are not open all year. <BR>3. Sydney has wonderful restaurants. Two of our favorites were for lunch the restaurant in the heart of the Botanical gardens (the barramundi was terrific) and in the Rocks, Rockpool. There is also an italian restaurant in the Rocks that I cannot remember its name that was very good. Rock pool recommended it when they were booked. <BR> <BR>As far as activities: <BR>Sydney - We really enjoyed the Harbour Bridge climb. There were 4 of us and reservations were recommended. Also we did an Aussie Bush tour, that included Breakfast with the Kangaroos that was fun. <BR>Queenstown - Jet boating is great fun. Also the Gondola ride to the top gives a wonderful perspective of the area. They have a buffet that is quite large and not bad. <BR> <BR>Have a great trip.

hi michael, <BR>in queenstown, make sure you take the gondola to the top of the hill - there are fabulous views of the city surrounded by the remarkables mountain range and lake wakapitu. avoid pot au feu restaurant. as cute as it looks, the management was very rude to us! if you have a taste for sushi or japanese food, go to minami jujisei. really great food. <BR>as for milford sound, i would rent a car and drive on your own and try to do an overnight trip on the sound on the wanderer. we were told it rains in milford & te anau over 200 days a year and if we didn't go on the overnight trip, we would have never seen the beautiful peaks of milford sound. the drive up to milford itself is glorious. it was nice being in our own car and stopping whenever we wanted. if you do want to do an overnight, book ahead; those trips sell out quicker than the day trips. <BR>for the gbr, i would play that trip depending on the water conditions. when you arrive in cairns (or port douglas), check to see when the water is calmest, then book the trip accordingly. i also loved mossman gorge, the daintree river cruise and the drive up to cape tribulation. all these trips you can do on your own with a rental car. <BR>while in sydney, go on a day tour of the blue mountains and a night harbour cruise. there are also some wineries that are around sydney as well. <BR>have fun, <BR>tina <BR>

Mary Ann & Tina <BR> <BR>Thank you for the suggestions. <BR> <BR>Michael

Hi Michael: <BR>In Christchurch I recommend Oxford on Avon restaurant and The Chancery on Lane. Both close to Cathedral Square. <BR>Both excellent food and very reasonable. Christchurch has a gondola that is well worth the ride. Spectacular view. Lyttleton Harbor is close to the gondola and also well worth the visit. <BR> <BR>In Queenstown be sure to take the dinner cruise on Lake Wakipitu aboard the TSS Earnslaw. Roaring Meg's and Cow Lane are both good restaurants. Meg's is more formal while Cow Lane is a pizza joint. Their home made Italian bread is mouth watering. <BR> <BR>In Hobart I'm sure you're going to visit Port Arthur Historical Site. If you're in Hobart on Saturday don't miss Salamanca Market. <BR>John <BR> <BR>