need kiwi advice

Hello. Next year around March my wife and daughter (less than 1 year old) are planning a big trip on our parental leave time. We would love to go to New Zealand for 4-6 weeks. We would like to do things like hike and camp and enjoy the famed beauty of New Zealand.

So, we would like to know what is the cheapest way to get down there (flying out from Montreal probably), what do you recommend we do, where to go, is there some sort of Canada-New Zealand health care agreement, what about the transport, are car rentals expensive? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
Dan aka Doug

I was in newzealand a few months ago... I can tell you to make sure you go to cape reinga and bay of islands, as its beautiful up there... Auckland is a lovely city, and quite a nice place to land and introduce urself to newzealand.. erm.... lake taupo is lovely, lots to do there too... rotarua stinks, but you might enjoy the mauri cultural evening