Recommended New Zealand Itineraries

I know a lot of people travelling to NZ either do not have much time to see the sights, or underestimate the actual size and scope of the country.
Does anyone have suggestions for itineraries that fit in as much as possible in a certain time?

Bearing in mind that the most spectacular scenery is generally well away from the cities, I tend to suggest back roads and more rural accommodation when I'm asked where to go.

Here's one from me:
3 weeks in NZ, rental car or campervan.
[Day 1] Fly in to Auckland (generally most convenient)
Stay one night if necessary, to find your feet. Time in the morning to have a nosy round the city and check out galleries and museums - tomorrow's not a long drive.
[Day 2] Drive south to Waitomo (195km, 3hrs)- the cave formations and glow-worms are pretty cool. There's a B&B on the Waitomo/Main Road corner (Big Bird) that has an ostrich farm, and Ross there used to be a Dept. of Conservation ranger and has a wealth of knowledge about local flora and fauna. He might even take you to a nearby non-commercial glow-worm cave and bush walk!

[Day 3] The next day, I would suggest cutting across to Taupo (170km, 2.5hrs) to see the majesty of Huka Falls (160 cubic metres/sec). Although Taupo will be a convenient place to stop for lunch, and there are many fine cafés, as an overnight stop it doesn't offer anything too exciting. You can only spend so much time looking at the lake! My recommendation is to continue south around the lakeside, and either stick to Highway 1 through the Desert Road (a barren yet beautiful post-volcanic landscape offering views of the Central Plateau mountains), or head off at Turangi to take in the skifield towns of National Park and Ohakune. You get much close to the mountains here, and can drive right up to the skifield areas summer or winter. *In summer and good weather guided crossings of the volcanic area are available though these leave early morning and can account for most of a day.
Either path will take you to the army base town of Waiouru where for the historically inclined there is a splendid military museum that documents the role of the NZ army in past conflicts. Worth a look even for the non-violent types, as it is a fine example of a museum that tells it as it was, without any glorification.
(Taupo-Ohakune-Waiouru 160km, 2.5hrs; Taupo-Waiouru 109km, 1.5hrs)
This night's stay must be the hill-country B&B of Mairenui, just off the main highway at Mangaweka (Waiouru-Mairenui 50km, ¾hr). Mairenui has been running since 1984, and your hosts Sue & David are very well-travelled and delight in making you wish you had more time to stay with them!