Denise - Thanks for the tip about the toe warmers will check out REI for some.

Kiwi Girls - I have never been to the North Island (I hope to one day) but I have been to the South Island in the Winter and it was a tad chilly there to say the least. My husband and I toured the S Island camping before we were married and it really tested out our snow tent. He actually proposed on that trip and I figured if we hadnt killed it each other putting up our tent in the dark and rain/sleet/snow then we were probably a match made in heaven.

I love what I have seen of NewZealand, you sure are lucky to live in such a beautiful place.