My husband and I will be in New Zealand for 15 days in December. We're flying in to Auckland and out of Christchurch.

We certainly want to spend a generous amount of time on the South Island and we're trying to decide how much time, if any, to spend on the North Island.

We are not into thrill-seeking things like bungee
jumping or white water rafting. We really want to
spend some quiet time hiking, eating local food,
seeing beautiful places and getting to know New
Zealand folks. Having just said we want to meet Kiwis, we are not into the family scene, I must say, and we prefer small towns or places that don't feel touristy to crowded scenes. I know we're going in high season, which is all the more reason to choose quiet places, I suspect. We don't want to kill ourselves travelling around too much, but we would like to see plenty of diverse nature, if possible (seems very possible in NZ, which is a big reason we're going!).

We are considered 'budget' travelers here in America, but we are career people and have enough dough to rent cars, stay in mid-range places, etc. We just don't see the need to spend heaps of $$ for luxuries we don't need.

Wondering what people's thoughts are re: North Island vs. south Island, considering what we're looking for. I know Rotorua looks very cool, but
we're wondering if it's different enough to dawdle on the North Island for, or if we should head south right away. We're also interested in Tongariro, but again, wondering if we can get similar experiences on the south island.

Thanks for any thoughtful replies!

To be honest if you only have 15 days in NZ spend the time in the South Island. There are beautiful places to go in the North, Coromandel peninsular and the Bay of Islands to name just two. If you want to see something in the North I'd got to Rotorua, it's pretty close to Auckland so you won't waste too much time travelling but there is so much worth seeing in the South you'd kick yourself if you ran out of time.

Maybe you could do the North Island as a seperate trip.

South Island is awe inspiring ( I guess I should say aweful but the word has changed its meaning. I went walk about in North Island and did the following.

Wineries: go to Hastings for max one two days take a walking tour of the town if you want to see the architecture. Go to Martinborough for the local wines and stay in a B&B again only one to two days , very small very oldfashined village but friendly.

Rotorua is amazing but at the height of the (their summer Dec Jan) it will be busy. The smell is all pervading and worth 1 to 2 days. Getting out of town try the train (the seats are wool covered!)

Try and do a worm cave. Again only worth 1/2 day but amazing as what you see there used exist on river banks in europe and USA in living memory (pollution eh).

Auckland take 3 days, go out in the bay in the rental sail boats, visit the central museum and walk in Devonport (again olf fashioned and just nice) Take a drive up north to the long beach and the swiming up there.

Finally always if in doubt go in a warm water spa, tepid baths (no really) are swimming pools.

Getting around I found internal flights are good for one, trains are better than you expect, cars are cheap to rent but watch out for the NZ right hand turn. Finally tak to tourist info they will really try and help. I wanted to get to Martinborough from HAstings by public transport. They put me on a bus to another town. Then said "wait uner the third oak tree till 3pm" Guess what I got picked up by a guy who was the driver of a bus going to Martinborough and they had organised it all.....

We've just left NZ after spending 1 month travelling the North and South Islands. As a rule of thumb spend 2/3 of time in South and 1/3 in North. We loved the Coromandel Peninsula (didn't get to Bay of Islands) and if you looking for a cool place to stay try Te Puia Lodge on Hot Water Beach (www.hwb.co.nz) an awesome self catering holiday home right on the beach and reasonably cheap. Lake Taupo is nice and not as smelly as Rotorua (although Wai-O-Toma is worth visiting) and you can do the tongariro crossing which is the best one day walk in NZ. In the South there is obviuosly a recognised list of definites places but one worth a look is Golden Bay in the north of the island, quite laid back & great beaches but I suspect may be busy in summer.
Have a great time New Zealand is everything they say it is