New Zealand in a Nutshell

New Zealand Fun Facts:

- There are 4.2 million people and 40 million sheep in New Zealand.

- There are 3,100 glaciers over 100 meters long in New Zealand.

- Current exchange rate is something like $1 USD = $1.32 NZD.

- New Zealand is 268,680 square kilometers, roughly the same area as Colorado.

- Throughout our 10 days with a rental car, which we named The Silver Fox, we drove 2,208 kilometers (approximately 1,368 miles). Krista only got us lost twice.

New Zealand Superlatives:

Best city/town:

Krista - Queenstown. Even though I would never take part in the adventure sports, I loved the walks and shops in this town.

Scott - Queenstown. I would like to visit in the winter - loved Christchurch too.

Best attractions or activities:

Krista - Botanical Gardens in Christchurch and hiking Mt. Iron in Wanaka

Scott - Rugby finals game in Christchurch and Milford Sound

Most overhyped attraction:

Krista - The West coast glaciers

Scott - Geothermal springs in Rotorua

Best decision made in New Zealand:

Krista - To stay in Wanaka for an extra day to catch the All Whites soccer game. Also, selling back our New Zealand Lonely Planet to a used book store in exchange for the Australia Lonely Planet.

Scott - NOT searching high and low to watch the Pats/Colts game at a pub with satellite

Best purchase made in New Zealand:

Krista - Khahi dri-fit pants that zip off just above the knee and become shorts. Apparently these are called "convertible pants" by the savvy travelers. Now Scott and I have matching pants - we have always been so stylish.

Scott - 3 liter box of red wine (portable!) for $17.99 NZD

Biggest surprises about New Zealand:

Krista - Very rural - the “highways” are one-lane roads through mountain ranges and farms. The population of New Zealand is far less that I expected. Lastly, I simply cannot get over how many sheep and cows are in this country.

Scott - Colder than expected for springtime; sparse and expensive Internet; not as cheap as 2001!

Most helpful suggestion we can offer for YOUR trip to New Zealand:

Krista - Get recommendations from the locals - some of our best adventures in New Zealand came out of chatting up the Kiwis.

Scott - Concentrate the majority of your time on the South Island, rent a vehicle and stay as long as you can get away with it.

View New Zealand in a larger map