How should a first-time traveller plan New Zealand without overpacking it?
New Zealand rewards restraint. Pick one island well, or give both islands enough time; the trip gets worse when every lake, glacier, film-location pin and coastal detour demands a night.
Answer
Start by deciding what kind of New Zealand you want, not how many pins you can fit. The South Island gives the big alpine-road-trip drama; the North Island gives geothermal country, beaches, culture, caves and city-to-city variety. Both can be brilliant, but they do not combine neatly in a short trip once driving, ferries, flights, weather and recovery days enter the plan. The classic mistake is treating scenic roads as empty space between highlights. In New Zealand, the road is part of the highlight and part of the cost. A tighter route with two-night stops will usually feel richer than a route that proves you have seen both islands from behind a windscreen.