Hi there BlackByrd....well I would recommend coming for a 3 month visit if you can....that will give you time to explore all the country loosely....and give you a good idea where you might like to live...and work...but definately come and visit us!!!!

From the brief look I had at your profile.... make sure you spend a good amount of time in Wellington.... and be here for a full moon for our drumming, fire, bellydancing get together.. there is plenty of art, theatre, music, tramping, rock climbers.. yadda yadda... big crew of burners here too if your into burnung man stuff ( by the contacts I'd say you know the scene) were putting together an art piece at BRC this year....

Basicly the best way to experience NZ is to drift around and go with the flow rather than have a regimented timetable of where you're gonna be doing what you've got planned.... there's a good backpackers network here... you'd be better off to avoid doing too much of the tourist stuff if you're thinking of staying... most of the really fun stuff happens in remote little spots and it really comes down to who you know.... join kiwiburn.tribe.net
as another way to find out what's goin on and hook up with some similar souls...

When's this trip likely to happen?