Hey Milly,

If you get the chance in NZ, spend a couple of days (at-least) at Tryphena on Great Barrier Island. This is a two-hour ferry ride from downtown Auckland but takes you to one of the most remote, laid back, and beautiful parts of coast and forest in NZ.

The Barrier has awesome bush and beaches, is rugged in the north, but more sheltered in the south. It is kind of a mini NZ, with all kinds of coast from rugged, fjord-like harbours in the north to sheltered bays in the south and wide open surf on the east coast. Don't expect it to be bustling, though - only a few thousand people live out there and there are only a few kilometres of sealed road on the island. The locals are friendly, though, and there are a couple of pubs on the beaches. It is made special by the lack of possums and deer which means that the forest is in the condition that the rest of the NZ bush once was, but unfortunately isn't quite anymore. I would recommend staying at Stray Possum Backpackers in Trypehna. They have a bus to provide transport round and you lend you sports gear, snorkeling gear and all that.

Whatever you do, I hope you have a good time in NZ. It's an awesome country.