Originally Posted by wanderlust_jules
I would highly recommend getting to Abel Tasman National Park, via Kaikoura, if you are renting a car. Its at the top of the south island and you can see the North Island across the channel. ABSOLUTELY amazing place... lots of outdoorsy things (tramping, kayaking, beaching) but not much in the way of lodging or food so its a camper-van spot.
Agreed, it is a beautiful part of NZ and very unpopulated (and uncrowded). About 30 miles away there is lots of accomodation and restaurants (in Nelson) so visiting here is possible without camping (and well worth it). But this is about as far from "which city to visit" as you can get in NZ (there really isn't a village there, much less a city).