New Zealand - flight company recommendations, stopovers and trip planning

[rookiemere]

Hi,
So its a bit early but we're thinking of going to NZ for Easter 19 as DS gets slightly longer for his Easter break then so we could go for roughly 2.5 weeks ( including travel).

I have some relatives and friends in Auckland that we want to visit, but other than that are open to suggestions. I've been before a long time ago, but it will be DH and DS's first visit - DS will be 13 by then.

I'd welcome thoughts on who best to book flights with - we're in Scotland if that makes any difference - and where to stop over.

Thanks.

The ferry across Cook Strait was awesome, but we had marvellous weather for it 11 years ago . But we went for three months all told with DS8, travelled the length and breadth of the country, stayed in motels for odd nights but rented houses in the middle of areas we fancied for anything more than three days. Knew a few people to catch up with, and it was a long part of a world trip. Brilliant time, we arrived in early October and left in early January to return, via another month in Sri Lanka (then a war zone, but still wonderful).

Reporting back on our Easter trip. IT WAS AMAZING !!!!!!!
Stayed in some stunning places, lots of activities - zipwires, luge, jetboat - DS1 even did a bungy!!

Visited 3 different thermal pools which we all loved, gloworms, a Maori ‘hangi’ to name but a few. It was wonderful to spend time with our friends too in Christchurch.

Sounds fantastic!
Hoping that will be us next year- just waiting for flights to be released