Need some help planning our travel to New Zealand, please give me some ideas.

[possumhead]

DH, DD and I are planning to go to New Zealand in August/September time. We would like to base ourselves over there for approx 3 to 4 months, but are planning on travelling for 6 months in total.
We would love some ideas of where else to go either on route or on way home.
DD will be 2years 7 months in August, so would love ideas of where is good to go with toddler. Also considering renting (or buying) camper van whilst in NZ.
My Geography is not my strong point so if anyone has ideas of a practical route then that will be very helpful (especially if you have done this yourself with toddler). I know it will be down to personal preference in the end, but just after ideas.
Thanks in advance.

Oh wow - lucky you. We have been looking into moving out there, but my eyes begin to melt after reading all the endless pages of info on various websites.

One has to go and see it in the flesh! Anyway, I read a book a while ago called 'A land of two halves' by Joe Bennett.
Its his story of hitchhiking from top to bottom of NZ.

I've got friends in the Bay of Plenty, which sounds amazing, I have heard Nelson is beautiful. It all sounds good!

Have a fab trip

Thanks for your replies ladies. It does sound very exciting. I know a few people who have travelled Australia and NZ and only hear how wonderful and beautiful it is.
I supose I just feel a bit daunted by the organising of it all and just want ideas or tip when travelling there with a toddler.
Sue - I think Hawaii on the way home and a stay in a nice hotel could just finish the trip beautifully

You need MrsJC - she's just moved out there!

We had an amazing holiday in the Cook Islands on our way back from NZ it was beautifully un-developed.

SueW - we stayed at Wanaka - breathtakingly beautiful isn't it. We were there in the winter.