Any Kiwis out there?

[HTSmith]

I just spent the last two weeks traipsing around your South Island. There's a lot of places I haven't been but it has to be one of the most beautiful places God has created on this earth. Friendly and helpful people-- even to folks that speak Southern Anglish. Hoping to see the North Island if my health holds up. Only negative is I blew my new gun budget for the next few years

 

[Kiwishooter]

Well you picked the best part of New Zealand to see, I'm biased as I live in the South but to me it is the best part of NZ.
Did you do the overnight cruise in Doubtful Sound?

 

[HTSmith]

Didn't do that one. Started out in Christchurch, then down to Oamaru, Dunedin, Queenstown, Lake Takepo and back to Christchurch. Mostly hiking and sightseeing. Wish it wasn't so dang far from NC.

 

[joshb]

I hope you brought a fly rod! Lot’s of beautiful streams and rivers to fish. In my mind, hiking is reserved for getting to a remote spot to fish.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I'm based in the north, but I will be visiting the far south for a while after Xmas. It really is the best part of the country - but the North Island is pretty cool too.

 

[HTSmith]

I hope you brought a fly rod! Lot’s of beautiful streams and rivers to fish. In my mind, hiking is reserved for getting to a remote spot to fish.

Funny thing, we did a lot of hiking around lakes and the Pacific beaches but never saw anyone fishing. It's early spring there, so maybe the time of year. I can birds nest a conventional reel. No telling what would happen with fly gear.

 

[ShtrRdy]

My wife and I were able to visit the South Island in the early 90's. Very beautiful country. Started in Christchurch . Then drove a rental car to the west coast staying at a dairy farm one night on the way. Then stayed at two places along the west coast before heading inland toward Queenstown. Stayed several nights in Queenstown while taking several tours into fiord-land. Very memorable.

 

[HTSmith]

Driving on the wrong side of the road was one of the hardest things I ever did. Dang near freaked out at the first double lane roundabout.

 

[joshb]

2013-14? My wife “announced” we were going to New Zealand. I did some investigation and decided the best trip ever would be to rent a small camper and drive from River to River so I could fish and she could cook for me.
She found a cruise ship that went around the islands, stopping at different towns to see the touristy stuff.
Guess which way we saw New Zealand?
It really is beautiful country.
The flight from the States is a killer!
The ship was nice.

 

[HTSmith]

Guess which way we saw New Zealand? Not hard to guess.

It really is beautiful country.
The flight from the States is a killer! Totally agree!

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Driving on the wrong side of the road was one of the hardest things I ever did. Dang near freaked out at the first double lane roundabout.

We don't drive on the wrong side...

 

[HTSmith]

We don't drive on the wrong side...

Well I reckon that is a fair point.

 

[D Coots]

After competing on the South Island in 2017 we spent 9 days touring around. Spent a couple days in Christchurch with 409 friends then headed for the south tip. Beautiful country, great folks.

26 hour flight....Hawaii was close to half way from Iowa.

 

[HTSmith]

Wonder how long it takes to shear all those sheep?

 

[saunaking]

I'm fortunate to have a daughter that married a Kiwi. That made me start to visit the country starting in 2017 for the winters as retirement got close. Watched the 2019 worlds for the sling shooters at Trentham, and the national matches in January 2023 at the same location.
Will leaving in December to spend with my daughter and family in Auckland, than traveling to the south Island to spend Christmas with my partner that I met last year in Nelson, back up to the North Island for the nationals at Trentham in January, and than to Nelson until May. Lovely country, great wine and fun people to hang out with!

 

[Grey Kiwi]

Always happy to see our friends from USA over here. Including friends we have yet to meet.
Watch out for our dodgy roads. Badly neglected by our present Commie Govt.
But yep, the folks are friendly, the scenery is fine, fishing and shooting is great.
The South Island for sure if you have limited time.
Lots of large game animals here...including Sika, Whitetail, Elk/Wapiti, Red Deer, Fallow, Tahr, Chamois, even some Moose!
But no snakes or bears. We don't 'do' snakes and bears!

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Wonder how long it takes to shear all those sheep?

An introduction to New Zealand farming. Fred Dagg is an NZ institution, here portrayed by Kiwi legend John Clarke. He later moved to Aussie and passed away not so long ago. There's a lot of content on YouTube if you search for him.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

More John Clarke - Kiwi humour.

 

[RDavies]

When I saw the header asking if there were any Kiwis out there, my thoughts were that most Kiwis I have had the pleasure of meeting were "out there" metaphorically speaking.

 

[Kiwishooter]

Didn't do that one. Started out in Christchurch, then down to Oamaru, Dunedin, Queenstown, Lake Takepo and back to Christchurch. Mostly hiking and sightseeing. Wish it wasn't so dang far from NC.

I live in Dunedin and would've recommended some awesome scenery and must do's to see in the South Island.
Looking at your list of places you visited you've missed the best parts of the South Island and need to come back to the South Island to see the treasures we have, the West Coast, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, TranzAlpine train trip, Kaikoura, The Catlins, Nelson and Stewart Island to name a few.

I've also been to the US, visited 26 states and met a lot of people............Kiwi