Only 8 Days?! What to do?

I'm going to be in NZ the last 1.5 weeks of the year and I'm suffering paralysis from analysis there's just so much to see and do. So I'm asking for advice on how to best spend my time? I'm a 29 y/o guy who really likes hiking and the like, but would be pretty happy scuba diving as well. If it's any help, I don't mind renting a car or booking internal flights. Time is the real issue here.

Thanks all.
-Enfuego

I would either go north to the Bay of Islands or South to Queenstown. How about deciding on the one thing you would like to do most and based on that we could give you some suggestions around it. You need to decide pretty soon as you need to book your accomodation now as this is the busiest time of year in NZ.

If I just wanted to do hiking, what would you suggest then given the severe time constraints? Mt. Cook looks fantastic but I'd lose a day in transit each way. Is there decent hiking on the north island? Thx.

There are a couple of walks in the NI but the problem is they are in the middle of the island and there is not anything else around them. I would go to Queenstown. You can fly direct from Ak on Qantas which takes 2 hours or on Air NZ . Then you can choose between the Kepler, Milford or Routeburn tracks (3 to 4 days). That leaves you some time to enjoy Queenstown and surrounds.

What airport are you flying into? What kind of scenery do you prefer for tramping (the Kiwi word for hiking) - bush/forest, alpine stuff? The tracks suggested above need to be booked and might already be fully booked. Check availability online at the Department of Conversation (DOC) website. This website is fabulous and can also give you an impression of tramping possibilities in the various parks on both islands. On the North Island, you could do the 2day-er Northern Circuit in Tongariro National Park (DOC rates it as a 3day-er but you can easily walk the first two days in one day with 8hours). The track offers tussock as well as volcanic, rocky scenery. You could then go and enjoy some coastline at Coromandel Peninsula for a change of scenery. Unfortunately, I cannot give any advice on scuba diving possibilities. Down south, the Routeburn track is indeed spectacular, takes up three days and can be combined with a trip to Milford Sound. It's a track through beech forest and over an alpine pass with awesome views. Your base could be Queenstown, which has an airport. Flying into Auckland, you would need to fly down there. Flying into Christchurch, you could think about driving one way, perhaps taking the detour to Mt Cook village from where f.ex the Hooker track (short/ day walk) leads further into the valley towards Aoraki/ Mt Cook.

If you fly into Auckland I'd say head north. Eight days will allow you to do a fairly relaxed driving tour of Northland and you could get some diving done in Bay of Islands. However, you need to make a decision fast and get somewhere booked as stuff gets book ed up fast that time of year.

Yeah, I'm flying into AKL. Thanks for the tips - I guess at this point much of the decision making will be based on availability more than anything else. As far as tramping is concerned, the more rugged/alpine the better, in case people have any further tips.

Tongariro NP might not be what you'd call alpine but the volcanic scenery is quite unique and provides for a spectacular backdrop. Although the Nothern Circuit is a Great Walk, it does not require reservation (bring a bedroll along in case the matresses are all taken). The DOC website has infos on how to buy your ticket for staying in the huts. There are a few mountain ranges on the North Island south and west of lake Taupo with ridge walking above the tree line and some spectacular scenery but I don't know about public accessibility with shuttle buses etc. The mountains down south are certainly more rugged and dramatic, Mt Aspiring NP, Fiordland, Nelson Lakes NP maybe. Northland is flat!
I cannot remember at what time I did my bookings for a Dec/Jan tour but as a single traveller willing to stay in dorms in hostels/backpackers, I'd say you will be fine doing your reservations at some point in Nov or the start of December.

dude go dolphin swimming in the bay of islands! plus a new wreck has just been scuttled in the bay too so you'll cover both bases!

Maybe you can find a few ideas here - http://www.yougodo.com/Search.aspx?cc=NZ</a>

For someone who likes rugged alpine tramping and has 8 says to spare from Auckland, I say head down and walk the Tongariro Northern Circuit, one of NZ's 'Great Walks' and possibly the only walk in the North Island that really rivals those in the South. It's spectacular and so different from anything else in the country. It takes about 4 days to walk. On the 'Tongariro Crossing' section there will be hundreds of other walkers, but for the other 3 days it should be pretty quiet. Walking between Ruapehu and Ngaruhoe is awesome! You could then take a few days to drive back North, stopping in Taupo to see the Huka Falls and maybe taking in Rotorua as well.