Time needed to travel: 1-2 months
This country is probably the safest, and easiest country to travel through in the world! Almost every 
international flight flies into Auckland, which is located towards the top of the north island. This airport is busy all day and night since it is receiving flights from all over the world that have left from different time zones. It is possible to get a flight down to Queenstown from Auckland, but most of the time people travel by land to get to the south island. New Zealand consists of two separate islands that offer unbelievable natural beauty!
New Zealand has a lot of different natural sites in such a small area. You are able to see both the Mountains and the beach in the North island at Mount Maunganui. You are able to go black water rafting through a caves in Waitomo that feature glow worms on the top of the ceilings. You can also see natural mud pits, gysers and huge sulfur lakes around Rotorua. It actually smells like rotten eggs around the most of the city! One of the best one day trek in the world is located right outside Taupo. It is called the Tongariro Crossing. It is a 17km trek that includes "Mount Doom," that was featured in 
the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. You are also able to see the breath taking Fox glacier in the south island. There is limitless natural beauty in New Zealand! If you love the outdoors then New Zealand is the place you want to be!
New Zealand offers some of the worlds best thermal pools. These hot springs/pools are very relaxing and very inexpensive! I would suggest that you at least try it out one time on your trip through New Zealand. Some of the sites are free while you have to pay to get into other destinations. Here is a web site that will allow you to see 
where all the springs are located in New Zealand: Hot springs.
All three movies from The Lord of the Rings, were filmed on both the north and the south islands New Zealand. They were all filmed simultaneously, and at different spots around the country. There has been a huge boom in tourism in New Zealand due to these movies. There are actually tours dedicated solely to showing tourist these sites. One specific company is called Wanaka Sightseeing.
New Zealand is also very famous for adventure sports! Queenstown, which is located in the south island, is the most famous city in the world for bungee jumping! It has a 141 foot bungee jump off of the Kawarau Bridge over the Kawarau River. Each jump will approximately cost you $150 NZ dollar, but 
it is definitely worth the rush! You are also able to go sky diving, white water rafting, and hiking all around the Queenstown area.
The nightlife in New Zealand varies greatly depending on what city you are staying in. When you are outside of the major cities it will seem very low key. If you are in Auckland, Wellington, or Queenstown you will have no problem finding a place to go out. Those cities offer clubs, bars, and live music!
Most popular way to travel through New Zealand:
The Bus and Bus tours
There are two main companies that run bus tours throughout the North and South islands of New Zealand. The two companies are the Kiwi Experience and Magic Bus tours. These two companies are similar in the way that they run their business. They offer different tour options that allow you to travel only parts of the north island, only parts of the south island, or a package that allows you to 
travel all the north and all the south island. The tour includes a driver, that is basically your tour guide. These drivers are usually a young guy or girl that are a lot of fun. They basically stop at every spot that is a tourist attraction throughout both islands. When you are driving they turn on the stereo, and allow you to play your own CD's throughout the day too.
The bus tour is set up so that when you purchase your ticket it is good for 1 year. So you can take as long as you want to travel through New Zealand on the tour that you select. Both companies allow you to hop on and off as many times as you'd like to. All you have to do is tell the driver at the end of the day how long you are staying in that particular city, and then you will have to let the bus company know what day you want to leave. That will reserve a seat for you on that day you selected. These bus tours are the best way to meet other travelers and see the country of New Zealand without having to worry about transportation. I would suggest that you ask about discounts when you buy your ticket.
This is the best option for somebody who is traveling by them self!
There is also a regular bus system that runs throughout New Zealand. The major bus company that has routes between the north and south island is called Intercity. These buses are nice and very convenient. They offer a variety of options that allow you to customize your trip.
Renting or buying cars/camper vans
If you want to be on your own daily schedule, and not worry about meeting a lot of other travelers then I would suggest renting or buying a car with other travelers. This option does allow you to be your own tour guide, and select what sites you want to see daily. You can definitely see a lot more of the country by traveling farther each day and not following a set tour route.
If you rent a camper van then you will not have to pay for a hostel every night. A camper van will allow you and some friends to split the cost of the car, gas, and the nights stay. New Zealand can be expensive so this is a good idea to save money.
Hitchhiking
Believe it or not hitchhiking is a popular way to travel through New Zealand. Although the roads are not full of people hitchhiking you will start to see that people are doing it there and that it is safe to do. I would suggest that if you do not feel comfortable doing this then have a friend with you the first time or two. If you are a female I would suggest that you have a male with you so that the driver assumes you guys are a couple. You can always talk to other travelers who have done this for tips on what they have done.
If you are trying to hitch a ride then you should not be in the middle of town where there is a lot of traffic or in the middle of the highway. You should try to be near rest areas or at the on ramp. This will allow the car to have plenty of room to stop to pick you up. The most dangerous part of hitchhiking is when a car is pulling of the road to pick you up. Just remember that you don't have to accept a ride from somebody who has pulled over. If you don't feel comfortable just wait for the next car.
Train
There is a train that runs from the north to the south island, but it is not as easy to travel through the country as the other options listed above.
Popular destinations in New Zealand
New Zealand: Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Tongariro Crossing Christchurch, Queenstown, and Stewart Island
