Thanks for your help! We are going to drive down to Wellington then fly to Christchurch and explore

Planning a trip to New Zealand in Nov for 13 days not counting travel days. We were thinking of using the train system as a way to travel virtual tours real estate throughout the country, see lots of sights, and avoid all the driving. We are considering the 14 day pass that allows for travel on both islands (with the ferry in between of course) and ability to stop off and stay in the towns as we like. Does anyone have any thoughts on this and/or reviews? We are also traveling with a young child. We would probably plan on going North to South, then fly back to Auckland to fly home.
The train is often ignored, last time I looked it was a expensive virtual tours real estate way to travel. The train runs down the middle of the north island but does not stop anywhere overly interesting. I have not done that section but its suppose to be very scenic. You would miss out on the main North Island tourist traps such as Rotorua. But its a quick and relaxing way to "see" the north Island.
Six or Seven days traveling by train, then hire a car at Greymouth then drive south to see the Glaciers and across Haast pass for a few days in Central Otago before driving to your preferred airport (Queenstown, Dunedin or Christchurch) to fly back to Auckland.
Thanks for the info. It does not seem like the train will work for at least the north island due to its scheduled. We are now deciding on flying to the south island virtual tours real estate and then driving virtual tours real estate around to see the sights. Our next dilemma is whether to drive around and then fly back to the north island, or to continue to drive north and take the ferry. The ferry is the same if not more expensive than the flight and longer at 3 hours. Is the ferry enjoyable (scenic?) and does it tend to take much longer with lines and delays?
Unless its rough the ferry is normally a bit quicker then schedule. You basically have to arrive a hour before the ferry leaves. The first half through the Marlborough Sounds is scenic, often see dolphins. Going across the strait virtual tours real estate itself is a bit boring.
Flying is almost cheaper and is much faster. Flying from Wellington into Nelson, Blenheim on discount fares normally costs around $89 and around $69 to fly into Christchurch. While the cheapest ferry option is around $55
Unfortunately apart from a few scenic tourist lines in the South Island our train system virtual tours real estate is now somewhat pathetic. Air fares are inexpensive so check out Air New Zealand and Jetstar websites, they often have special deals. Also look at Naked Bus, this is a good way for you to get to more of the popular sights and is very inexpensive. Why not fly to Dunedin first, travel across to Queenstown and make your way north instead of vice versa. This way you may also get a free rental car for two days Queenstown to Christchurch, then Wellington to Auckland, have a look at the main rental car sites for any deals. The car companies like to have their cars taken north again as most people go north to south as Auckland is the main airport.
Thanks for your help! We are going to drive down to Wellington then fly to Christchurch and explore the south island. I'm still undecided about Rotorua. We could fly rather than make a long drive in between Auckland and Wellington. Thinking about seeing the beaches in the cormmandel area then head to Wellington versus heading south along the North island to see caves and Rotorua. We have a two year old with us... worth seeing or tourist trap?
Rotorua is more then just the geothermal virtual tours real estate sites although they are the main attractions, it also has same of the best reenactments of historical Maori cultures. Plus the two wildlife parks gives good looks at same of our rarer species.
I completely disagree with you Melnq8 because besides the thermal areas Rotorua has lots of other interests as well. The kiwis at Rainbow Springs plus all the other native birds and flora there, the buried virtual tours real estate village at Lake Tarawera, the working Maori arts and crafts centre at Whakarewarewa, easily possible to take an infant to as well. Or the Agrodome to see the sheep dogs in action, there's lots in Rotorua yes, it's a tourist spot but hardly a tourist trap.
Thanks for all the opinions- they are so helpful! My concern was that the geothermal sights may be more of a hassle with a very active almost two year old. Then we saw a very expensive $65 dollar entry fee for the hobbitown attraction. virtual tours real estate So my concern was that all the wildlife parks and thermal spas may all be quite expensive and not too worthwhile with such a young child. Also, I am pregnant and cannot really be around the volcanic fumes in Tongariro. I remember those signs in Hawaii virtual tours real estate with warnings. So, we were thinking of beaching it instead. If these assumptions are not correct, I love to hear all the opinions out there! Also does Rotorua smell stinky in the hotels/loging area?
They are quite expensive, I think rainbow springs was around $30 for a 24hr pass. Did get discount vouchers from the hotel I stayed at which saved $5 from each attraction. Can not remember pricing for the other attractions but they are probably similar.
If you purchase from the info centre in Rotorua which is easy to find you can get 2 for 1 deals, last time in Rotorua in March this year I got Paradise Valley Springs and Te Puia dinner and Maori concert as a deal. So worthwhile to call in there first.
Thanks to everyone for all the great help! We are going to camp out in Coromandel for a couple of days and try to get rid of the jet lag. Then fly down to wellington and then the South island for the driving and scenic sites. Wish we had months so we could see it all!
North Is - variety of scenery, better temps, beaches, volcanic regions virtual tours real estate etc but there is only the one main train service. I'd take a bus mostly or a train to National Park from Auckland. From there you could do the Tongariro Crossing/head to Taupo and Rotorua etc.
Be aware that the official Kiwi Rail Scenic Journeys website suppresses the cheaper fares if you browse with non-NZ IP address, so to get around this and buy the cheaper fares online, see the advice on www.seat61.com/NewZealand.htm virtual tours real estate under 'How to buy tickets'
We flew into Aukland, drove to Hamilton (our daughter was a student there) and used Hamilton as a base to tour Rotoura and surrounding areas, well worth seeing! Then took the train to Wellington and the ferry to Picton and train to Christchurch (pre earthquake). Took the train from there over Aurthur virtual tours real estate Pass and then drove to Te Anu and Milford sound. Then down through Queenstown virtual tours real estate and around the bottom of the island virtual tours real estate to Duneden. Then flew back to Aukland and toured the northern part of the North Island by car. All forms of travel were easy, driving in New Zealand is not difficult, think America in the 50s, and many things are more accessible than by train. I would consider mix and match. Have fun, I envy you. It a spectacular country! Of everywhere we have been, and we travel virtual tours real estate a lot, it is the place I would most like to live. It's just far away from the US.