hello spaniel
I went on the NZ tour January 2012..I did leave a review so please have a look and see if any of your questions are answered there.
Great tour you will have fun, personally I did enjoy the jet boat, if it's the same company I went on it's not that bad and it is fun...
If you have any questions it doesn't matter how silly they might seem just ask one of us will have an answere I am sure..
very long flight but so worth it, try and sleep as much as you can, keep the fluid up I.e. Water and try and walk around it does help.
Take enough clothes for 10 days there are washers and dryers in some hotels not all of them, so make sure its easy to grab and get a load on as others will be thinking the same.
Try and cat nap where you can there are many hours in the road.
Lots to see and do you are in for a great trip.
have fun
Cindy