Two week around NZ

a holiday and travel are the same thing. Concern is that you will spend all your time travelling and only see stuff out of the window.

OP you will be spending most of your time either on transport or asleep! You have had some good advice on here. Forget the North Island you just don't have time. Book a flight to Auckland from the South Island.

You have asked for the advice of people who know NZ well; take it!

Dear Tryfan, I must reassure you that I read all advice seriously.
But you must know that people who "know well" a country (on this ocasion NZ) tend to think a lot of it, this is a usual thing, completely normal, but not all travellers have to do the same.
I will not skip the north island, I like to visit three places there: Wellington, Rotorua and Auckland. So there will be no savings to fly from south to north. Also I like to do the sea crossing, strange but I am this kind of traveller, I like a ferry crossing more that bungy jumping in NZ. Also I need to spend a day on the transalpine train.
So I will do this long travel, even with some changes that will announce here soon.
happy travels,
Anas

the cook strait crossing is well worth it - very scenic.

but we've all said you don't have time this trip to do all you want. So you'll have to go back another time.

it is such a shame to go all that way and never get out of the bus.

"it is such a shame to go all that way and never get out of the bus"
Dear nr 13 I got half of my days, (some seven) out of the bus completely or almost!
Thanks anyway!

OP has already stated they are are not planning a rest, but want to see as much as possible, so there's no point telling them they are seeing to much.
In 3 weeks with kids in NZ in 2010 we saw Auckland, Coromandel, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington, Cook Strait, Marlborough, Picton, QC Track, FJ Glacier, Fox Glacier, Haast Blue Pools, Queenstown and Milford Sound.
Yes, rushed, and moving every few days, but we had a superb time. Some like to spend a week lounging by the pool, others like to see as much as we can.

Last trip to China we were there 10 days. We covered a lot more miles than what anyone in NZ is likely to do at any one time. If you choose the overnight and longer stays carefully, its surprising how much you can see.

Hey-

My boyfriend and I did a whole lot of traveling in only 6 days and still had time to enjoy ourselves. Here's my two cents: The Franz Josef Glacier has melted A LOT and the hike to see it was pretty, but not worth a long wet trek to see a glacier that was already 500 meters up the mountain from where the lookout point was. I'd recommend going to see the Fox glacier instead. There was more to see of it, and you can sign up for a hiking tour and go touch the actual glacier. Plus, there were far fewer helicopters overhead (at Franz Josef the only way to really "see" the glacier is to rent a helicopter which is expensive and not worth it, plus as a result, there are helicopters overhead every minute so the valley is really loud).

Queenstown is nice, but only if you are planning on jumping out of an airplane, I think if you could spend more time at Te Anau and hike around the Fiordlands you may have more of a look at the beauty of natural NZ. The Kepler Track in the Fiordlands can last days and you can stay at lodges in the woods for really cheap (if you're in to that).

I understand the need to see New Zealand, but would caution against traveling too much. No matter where you wind up you'll get a big taste of the country, so enjoy it! Grab a bottle of hard cider (which is everywhere and, I think, even better than some of their white wines) and sit on a mountain top for a while and chill out, you'll be in places of such natal splendor that you may not want to leave immediately.

Good luck!

Thanks all for your comments,
the suggestion (of westwood) to look for naked bus company was very useful.
Now i am fixing details, as my travel to south east asia starts next week, so to go later in new zealand.
Final itinerary in New Zealand:
Day 1: Arrive by plane 15.20 on March 20th at CHRISTCHURCH.
Day 2: Transalpine train to Greymouth, continue by bus to FRANZ JOSEF.
Day 3: FRANZ JOSEF (can change that for Fox Glacier).
Day 4. Travel to Te Anau, Day 5: Tour Milford Sound, TE ANAU.
Day 6: Queenstown, Day 7 travel to CHRISTCHURCH.
Day 8. CHRISTCHURCH (day trip Akaroa).
Day 9: Travel from Christchurch to WELLINGTON, Day 10: WELLINGTON,
Day 11: Travel to Taupo, Day 11 Rototua (posible change: go straigth to Rotorua).
Day 12: Rotorua, bus to AUCKLAND (16.00 - 20.00).
Day 13 AUCKLAND
Day 14: Auckland, fly from airport 18.40.
I hope my plan will work according to my travel interests and my budget!
Anastas

It is 15 days, regret the counting mistake:
Day 1: Arrive by plane 15.20 on March 20th at CHRISTCHURCH.
Day 2: Transalpine train to Greymouth, continue by bus to FRANZ JOSEF.
Day 3: FRANZ JOSEF (can change that for Fox Glacier).
Day 4. Travel to Te Anau, Day 5: Tour Milford Sound, TE ANAU.
Day 6: Queenstown, Day 7 travel to CHRISTCHURCH.
Day 8. CHRISTCHURCH (day trip Akaroa).
Day 9: Travel from Christchurch to WELLINGTON, Day 10: WELLINGTON,
Day 11: Travel to Taupo, Day 12 Rototua (posible change: go straigth to Rotorua).
Day 13: Rotorua, bus to AUCKLAND (16.00 - 20.00).
Day 14 AUCKLAND, Day 15: Auckland, fly from airport 18.40.