If you go to New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND: www.newzealand.com/travel or 866-639-9325.

GETTING THERE: Some airlines, including Qantas and Emirates, fly direct to Christchurch. Air New Zealand's major international routes are to Auckland, on the North Island, with connections to Christchurch. Other South Island locations are also served from Auckland.

GETTING AROUND: Major international car rental companies operate from Christchurch Airport. Local companies, mostly based downtown, offer cheaper options on slightly older vehicles. Numerous companies also offer motor-home rentals, an increasingly popular alternative to motels. (Note that many lesser-used roads are unpaved.) Regular bus services crisscross the country. Views from the rail lines from Christchurch up the Pacific coast to Picton and across the country to Greymouth through the Southern Alps make the journeys highlights of any visit; www.tranzscenic.co.nz.

LODGING: Almost all New Zealand motel units have full kitchens; many will accommodate an entire family. Holiday parks usually offer camping, RV parking and motel units. Especially on the west coast, travelers are advised to book accommodations ahead during the peak Christmas-March season.

OUTDOORS: The Department of Conservation visitors centers offer information on walking, mountain biking, fishing and other activities in national parks and forests, and can help plan itineraries and book huts and campsites. Preregistration is required for some popular multiday walks; www.doc.govt.nz.

INDOORS: The official network of visitors centers, known as i-Sites, provide information on activities, accommodation and transport across the South Island. Christchurch and Dunedin are centers for art galleries and museums. Check out in particular the Otago Museum in Dunedin. Museums are free, although some strongly encourage donations. For shopping: Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson and Queenstown.