Guess you weren't bustin', then
Once took a tour from Singapore to Malacca, and on the way stopped at a tile factory which boasted "The Most Beautiful Toilets in the World"' Beautiful they may have been. Clean they were not. Never got to go inside, the smell stopped me before I got to the door. Someone should write a book on 'Toilets of the World'. Actually, they probably have.

andrewb: Don't worry there is life after kids, I promise! My husband and I took a fantastic 25th anniversary trip to New Zealand in February 2007! WOW!

Let me think...New Zealand on a budget...this was our second NZ trip. The first trip was on a budget, early in our marriage with a 2-year-old. The second was a splurge trip.

For a "free" scenic flight over the Mt. Cook region, plan to fly into or out of Queenstown either when you arrive in New Zealand or when you depart to return home. We flew LAX to Auckland to Dunedin. (Not as scenic). But on the way home we flew Queenstown to Auckland to LAX...and it was a beautiful clear day, and the Queenstown to Auckland segment of the flight was just incredible! I felt like it was the bonus plan! (Well you know what I mean...we had to pay for the flight, but it was just our flight home, as opposed to paying extra for a special scenic flight.)

In my opinion, to save money, I would skip the glacier hikes, skip the dolphin encounter, and skip the seal swim. Instead I would concentrate on places like Te Anau, as a base for exploring Fiordland...all along Milford road, between Te Anau and Milford Sound, there are many places to stop and look and hike for free. Then it is definitely worth the money to book either the Milford Sound boat or the Doubtful sound overnight. We did both...the Milford Sound day-boat on our first trip, which we thought was amazing. Then the Doubtful sound overnite for our second trip (anniversary), which was incredible. Yes we thought the Doubtful sound overnite was worth the money...

From Queenstown there are many things to do. Drive towards Glenorchy, where it is beautiful and peaceful. Hike part of the Routeburn track, you can hike a few hours and turn around and go back to your car, no need to overnight.

The sw coast, on the south island, is beautiful and has a lot of remote stretches that we became especially fond of. There isn't a lot of lodging in that area so be sure to pre-book or you could get stuck with no lodging...we know someone who had to spend the night in their car! You can walk to places like Monro beach for free...beautiful beach. I think November is when you can see penguins at Monro Beach, but please look that up...I am not certain I remember the correct month. Monro Beach is on the sw coast near the Wilderness Lodge Lake Moeraki.

Enjoy your time in paradise!

vbca -

Yep, someone has already written a book called "Toilets of the World"

http://www.amazon.com/Toilets-World-.../dp/185894337X

Ran across an article for the book a few weeks back and thought it would make a great coffee table book...

andrewb -

We've visited the South Island of NZ several times, and as far as organized tours, the highlight of all those trips was the heli-hike on Fox Glacier - most likely because we'd waited so long to take the trip (bad weather/cancellations on previous trips). Good things come to those who wait - the day we finally made the helihike, we were blessed with the best weather the area had seen in four months!

The Dart River Safari was also a highlight, and we liked it much better than the Shotover Jet. Dart River is a scenic ride with a few spins tossed in for good measure, whereas Shotover Jet is a short, fast paced adventure with lots of spins and thrills.

We've took a half day wine tour in Blenheim several years ago with Highlight Tours - it was great fun, only four of us on the whole trip, great tour guide. A guided tour is a great option if you want to visit several wineries in a day as you've got a built in designated driver.

We've since taken many self-guided wine tours in OZ and NZ, we just limit ourselves to one or two a day for obvious reasons.

Much of what NZ has to offer comes free of charge - there are incredible walks everywhere. We like to walk small sections of multi-day trails as day hikes - Abel Tasman, Queen Charlotte Track, Routeburn, Kepler, Heaphy, etc.

Put on your boots, load up your backpack and hit the trails - you'll see NZ at its finest and will make some great NZ memories.

Shorten time in Queenstown and stay in Te Anau. From there a day trip to Doubtful or Milford is NOT exhausting. Both have stunning scenery. Milford MUCH more traveled. We enjoyed Doubtful because it is the "road less traveled". You can purchase cruise tickets for Doubtful Sound while in Queenstown. Lots of trekking opportunities right outside of Te Anau also...

Wonder if Milford ranks #1 among New Zealanders in poll because it is the more traveled... Can't help but wonder if those who have done both would more likely choose Doubtful #1.

MUCH less expensive place to stay in Te Anau is Holiday Park -- Great place for "The Young" and those of us "Young at Heart".

The Glowworm Cave Cruise out of Te Anau is is also worth it !

Then if you want to spend the money you saved via Te Anau take a Jaguar Tour around Dunedin -- you will both be able to gawk. And you will feel like royalty !

Thank you for all the replies! I have read most of your trip reports and gotten great information. Looks like we are going to definitely do the Doubtful Sound and Milford Soung. Dart River tour sounds great too. I hope to finalize an itinerary this week so I can begin booking hostels, a car, side trips, ect.
2 quick questions- does anyone have an opinnion on the Abel Tasman kayak trips- which is best? We would love to do a day that covers alot, including the seal colonies. Also- has anyone rafted the Kaituna River? For some reason I am dead set on doing it but need to convince the wife. Is it dangerous??

Thanks again for the great advice.

Haven't done either, but found this photo essay from someone who rafted the Kaituna. I can undersand your wife's reluctance...

http://www.tiny.cc/kaituna

Andrewb~ Please consider kaying at Milford Sound with Roscoes Kayak Tours, which can be booked right in Te Anau or Queenstown. We LOVED it. You can still do the boat trip as well, but the kayak trip gives you such a great perspective and they have all the right equipment you need. In NZ, we have rented a few rudderless kayaks by mistake, and found the need to double check the offered equipment ahead of time. Roscos has all the right gear for your adventure.

Overnight Doubtful sound trip includes a short kayak and visit to the seal colony. Well worth the cost. A definite highlight of our November trip. Dart River safari also outstanding.

Andrewb - good idea to find out other persons recommendations for the "Best of the Best", however, I always find that some of the BEST places, are the ones that YOU DISCOVERED.
eg. we drove the Themed Highway (North Island) called Forgotten Highway, which goes from just near Mt.Taranaki (New Plymouth) to Taupo, through some of the most beautiful farming country, and along this road, we came to a small village, I think it was called Whamponia or similar, and we stopped at the old pub, and met a couple slowly driving around NZ, working & sightseeing in a homemade camper van/truck. They travel about 60 kms per day (talk about the slow boat to China), but a what interesting couple they were, and sitting on the pub verandah, talking to this couple & their advertures, & looking down the road where hardly a car or tourist comes/or goes, was quite fascinating.

Tropo; we took that road too as had been the more conventional way several times - didn't realise its called Forgotten Highway; but how apt. Hardly saw another car all day from Lake Taupo to Stratford where we spent night. Gorgeous scenery and I think the pub you're talking about is at Whangamonamona (sp?)

Pat, it is a lovely drive, lots of bends as you would know, but HARDLY ANY TRAFFIC, which we loved. I think the NZ Tourist people named it the Forgotten Highway, as most tourists drive along the busy highways. I think someone somewhere once said, "I took the less travelled road,......something" (can't remember the full saying now, but you get my gist)
No the village isn't spelt that way, but your close, I must look for my NZ maps.
Did you get a chance to drive the East Cape, from Gisborne right around to the Bay of Plenty, another quiet/less travelled road in NZ, with marvellous coastal scenery, some nice old Maori churches, and the largest New Zealand Christmas Tree. We stopped at a village near East Cape itself, and the general store is unbelievable, the owner is a character to.

That would be The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost:

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there, Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Melnq8 - thats it, many thanks, and its so true.

I also like that saying, "Getting there is part of the journey"

We savour every part of our trips, from airports, people watching, plane watching, meeting people in the aircraft, driving & seeing something new & interesting each day, meeting interesting people on the way and sharing one anothers experiences.

To andrewb: You have received lots of advice and sounds like you are zeroing in on your itinerary. I'm a little late getting in here, but I would also strongly recommned the splurge on Doubtful Sound overnight. THE highlight of our trip. (Search my name, you'll find my reports.)
With over 400 inches of rain a year you have to expect rain. But most waterfalls are only present during the rain, so there are some trade offs. There was actually a dusting of snow in the morning higher up on the mountains. It was beautiful, and the swirling mist and absolute quiet was something to behold.
Te Anau is beautiful little town and we thoroughly enjoyed the views across the lake and several nice restaurants.
We stayed at the Campbell Lodge, and right next door is a back packer lodge that my son stayed in.
See http://www.teanaubackpackers.co.nz/
Looked pretty nice. Both properties are facing the lake, and provide beautiful views and settings.
You can see my pictures at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/calbill...7594209116164/