Quote:
Originally Posted by redsox14
Considering a honeymoon in new Zealand with a possible stop in Fiji. Any and all recommendations are welcome!
|
How long and what time of year? I highly recommend the Fiordlands in the South Island. Milford Sound is amazing in any weather. I’ve never been to Doubtful Sound but heard it’s equally spectacular. Glow worm caves in Te Ano is pretty cool, but not necessarily a must. Wanaka is amazing, Queenstown is touristy but pretty awesome as well. You can check out the wineries nearby in Central Otago, which are known for their reds, specifically Pinot Noir. There’s a little town on the west coast of the South Island called Okarito. Not much there except natural beauty, and it’s a great place to get away from it all.
On the east coast of the SI, there’s a restaurant called Fleur’s Place in Moeraki which is probably literally the best seafood restaurant in the world. I obviously haven’t been to every seafood restaurant in the world, but I grew up going to Maine for vacations and it blows away any seafood place I’ve been to.
The Farewell Spit on the northwest side of the SI is another great place to visit. The whole area is pretty nice with a few good hiking options
.
Wellington is a nice little city to spend some time in (and my home for six years). Easily walkable. Take the cable car for amazing views of the city and harbor. Get fish and chips at Te Aro fish supply. There are many good options for coffee (Wellington and NZ in general is pretty well known for their coffee culture). NZ also has a fantastic craft beer scene. Hashigo Zake and The Malt House are great bars offering the best of NZ craft beer.
The rest of the north island has some high points, but I always recommend people spend most of their time in the South Island. Those high points include some great hiking through Tongariro national park, wine tasting in the Martinborough region (I’m not really a white wine guy, but the sav blancs, chards, and pinot grigios are delicious), the Coromandel (highly rated by kiwis and tourists alike, and incidentally one of the few places in the country I never got to), and the Northland in the summer time (absolutely one of my favorite places in the country).
Hopefully this will give you a good start and would be happy to answer any follow up questions. Again, I recommend spending most of your time in the South Island, especially if you go in the summer months (Nov-Mar).