My wife and I are considering visiting New Zealand this December/January. For a variety of reasons that don't matter here, we can't leave before December 21 (arrive Dec. 23) and must return no later than Jan. 11, 2018 (probably leave early that day, possibly on the 10th).

We know that isn't a lot of time. (One option is to wait a year when we'll have fewer time constraints.) A big factor in figuring how much time we have is knowing how much we'll lose, travel and activity-wise, because of the holidays. It seems there are four official holidays during that time. That's a big chunk of our visit.

Could a kiwi or someone who's familiar with New Zealand tell us what happens there over Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year's and the New Year's Holiday? Will we find attractions open? Restaurants? Transportation? (We'd rather not rent a car if we don't have to.) Other thoughts about this?