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Hi all, I posted not too long ago asking for itinerary help for the North Island. Now I need new help! A friend is recommending upon arrival in Auckland I get onto another plane and go directly to Christchurch. My dilema is that I will be arriving on May 24, at 5:40AM. I have to be back in Auckland on May 31 for a flight to Tahiti at 1:05PM. So it looks like I have a total of 6 nights. I'd love to do a kiwi experience tour and not sure if I have enough time. As well my friend and I party a lot, so where is the night life better and is the nightlife good 7 nights a week? We want to see as much as possible in the time we have...Please help point me in the right direction, all thoughts are appreciated. Thank you from NYC!
If you want to go to the South Island and party then Queenstown is the place. You'll get gorgeous scenery, lots of outdoors things to do , bungy jumping, shotover jet boat plus you can go on trips to Milford Sound. If you have time head up the west coast to Mt Cook and the glaciers.
You can fly from Christchurch to Queenstown on air new zealand. You can also probably fly directly back Queenstown to auckland, check out air new zealands website.
Don't stay in Christchurch, I thought it was very dull (sorry local kiwis out there)
Scenery in South Island is MUCH better. Especially if you are into the outdoors.
But <1 week, you'll probably have to be picky on the places you visit in South Island.
Queenstown is definately a good location. Every1 raves about it, with good reason. It just lovely down there. In summer and especially during winterfest. You will be a month too early though. (http://www.winterfestival.co.nz/) Great party!!!
Anyways partying is wherever you want make it. (Crowd of people do help too)
Queenstown is more backpackers crowd. Almost every1 is a tourist down there.
Nightlife in NZ will definately be lacking as compare with NYC. Nothing a few beers can't solve ;)
I can only comment of the nightlife in Auckland. Haven't travelled down to south island for a while.
Pub scene: Some brew their own beer. Something to try. They don't go on to too late into the night
For club/dance scene: Usually Kiwis don't come out to play till the Thursdays. Be warn, they don't come out till 1 am as well. Hence behavior is very much like the nocturnal flightless bird.
PM me if you need more info about North Island, or Auckland.
Christchurch like Dunedin have a lot of beautiful buildings. And if that sort of thing interests you... Definately Queenstown if you go to the South Island.
I did some of South Island in 6 days by plane, coach and train. Flew from Auckland to Queenstown, where you'll find good nightlife every evening, daytrip to Milford Sound back to Queenstown fro yet another ligvely evening, then on to FoxGlacier and a night at the hotel, next day from Fox Glacier to Greymouth and on top the TranzApline (train) over to Christchurch and one night in hotel, further on by train to Kaikoura for some dolphinswimming and a night on a hotel, and then by train to picton and boat across the Cook Straight to Wellington where i picked a flight to Aukland and of to Samoa.
Just to give you an idea that you'll be able to do and se a lot in 6 days.
