What are the best places to see in New Zealand?

What has more natural beauty and more things to do -North or South Island? I'm not interested in bungee jumping or parasailing, but more like hikes through mountains as beautiful and green as the ones where they filmed Lord of the Rings,lol,and lakes and forests. And I've heard a lot about thermal spas in NZ. I also wouldn't mind spending just a few days in a big city for shopping and sightseeing. I'd also like the names of hotels or resorts in whatever area you suggest. I only have 2 weeks to fit everything in!
Any help would be appreciated! Thanks a bunch in advance!

Defiantly do the South Island !

You are spoilt for choice in NZ that鈥檚 for sure. I spent half my life there and 鈥榖een there done that鈥?on most things. Since I lived in the south island (which is better anyhow) I鈥檒l give you some ideas鈥?

Regions 鈥?
Marlborough - "the wine and food capital of the country"
Nelson/Golden Bay - "hops and crops and crafts"
Canterbury - "Christchurch . . . a garden city more English than England
The West Coast - "a heritage of mining shapes the land and the people"
Mount Cook to Wanaka - "magnificent mountains and picture-perfect lake, winter sports and the worlds most beautiful fighting machines"
Queenstown and Central Otago - "the adventure centre of the Pacific"
Dunedin - "The Antipodean Edinburgh "
Fiordland "a raw, elemental, awe-inspiring landscape"
Southland - "of oysters, tuataras, bootleg hooch . . . and solitude"

Marlborough / Picton 鈥?The Sounds - http://www.destinationmarlborough.com A lot of walking tracks to choose from such as the Queen Charlotte Track - http://www.qctrack.co.nz

Nelson, top of the South Island 鈥?http://www.nelsonnz.com A must is the Abel Tasman National Park, http://www.abeltasmaninformation.co.nz sand beaches, stary at Awaroa Lodge, http://www.awaroalodge.co.nz at the end of the track swim with the seals, http://www.sealswim.com 鈥?. You can hike down one way and take an aqua taxi back or even kayak.

Whale watching is in Kaikoura. http://www.kaikoura.co.nz
http://www.whalewatch.co.nz

Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa - 90 minutes drive north of Christchurch http://www.hanmersprings.co.nz

Christchurch, the garden city - http://www.christchurchnz.net/visitchch
The Gondola is great - http://www.gondola.co.nz
Christchurch's International Antarctic Centre - http://www.iceberg.co.nz

Franz Joseph Glacier - http://www.franzjosefglacier.com

Wanaka 鈥?Lake Wanaka - http://www.lakewanaka.co.nz/index.cfm/Ho...

And The Milford Sounds for extraordinary scenic beauty ! http://www.fiordland.org.nz

If you google 'lord of the rings tours' in Queenstown - you will come up with MANY options. Filming was also done in the Kahurangi National Park - Golden Bay NZ, Wellington and Rotorua as many tours also.
Have a great trip

south Island- Wellington, Fjords of south island, whole place is beautiful

If youre a Lord of the Rings fan, Hobbitville is there. Sorry cant be more help but you can try googling that?

Make sure to go hike the abel tasman trail, northwest south island, at least part of it, starting in golden bay - beautiful! The mountains down the west coast of south island are gorgeous, but the biting flies can be miserable.

Visit Christchurch, it is an interesting place. It is the largest city in the South Island. In general, the city has many notable buildings, monuments, many parks & gardens, restaurants, cafe and arts scene.

Easiest way to explore the city center is to take the Christchurch Tram. The tram will pass by many significant city center sights. Some places to visit at the Cathedral Square, Christ Church Cathedral, victory square, botanic gardens, city mall for shopping, bridge of remembrance, Arts centre, punting on Avon river and many more.

After visiting the city center, visit the nearby Port Hills and Lyttleton. Christchurch is considered as the most English of cities outside England. The cist layout is easy to navigate on foot or bicycle. It is a nice place to visit and I believe you will love it.

Hope that my brief introduction gave you some idea of this place as I have been there twice.

Some information on Christchurch.
http://www.fibcool.com/cheap-flights/200...

Believe me. Two weeks is just not enough time to take it all in. Better to select one area and do it properly than to try and do everything. It cannot be done. Select some highlights from the New Zealand tourist web sites and treat your first trip like an hors d'oeuvre and come back for the main course on the next trip and even for desert later for the parts you did not get to see before.

Check out the Tourism New Zealand web site and then home in on your special interests from there.