Auckland wasn't anything special so I'd try go elsewhere, depending on jetlag and time available;
- Zion Wildlife Gardens if you're into animals, the club encouter tour was worth every new zealand dollar. This you can do as a day trip from Auckland.
- Drive to Waitomo for the caves and/or Rotorua for geothermal and Mauri sights. I think one could do morning drive to Waitomo, half-day caving in the afternoon, stay overnight, drive to Rotorua for the sights, overnight and drive back to Auckland. We did the afternoon caving in Waitomo and drove to Auckland before sun set.
In Waitomo one can do the easy tours (no real caving) or something for real in the caves. In Rotorua we liked the Orakei Korako cave and thermal park more than the better known Wai-O-Tapu. But both are easy to visit on the same trip.
I cannot say much about the places we didn't do but I believe there are stunning coastal areas on the north island as well and easily accessible from Auckland. Also the Lake Taupo area is supposed to be stunning.
South Island; Thanks for the pointer to Wilderness. We might consider them as well in February..
Christchurch is a nice city but a week isn't that long time to drive around the island. I'd pick up the camper on saturday and be on the way sunday at latest. If you have the time, I think driving to the north (Nelson & co) is worth the trip but we haven't been there (yet). I think rest of route depends how you want to experience the glaciers. It takes a day to drive from CHC to the glaciers.
From CHC to the arthur's pass (or north, Nelson & co), down to the glaciers, Wanaka, Queenstown, perhaps a tour to Milford Sound, by the coast up to the north and back to CHC.
OR
From CHC south to Lake Tekapo, perhaps an air tour around Mt Cook and glaciers, down to Queenstown, Milford Sound, along the coastline back to CHC. (With this route you don't go to the westcoast)
NZ is all about the wonders of nature so you need to stop frequently to see and feel something. You see a sign of something, stop there, walk 15 minutes to the forest and there's something worth the visit there. Other things they do well are the activities, plenty and everywhere for every taste. They have excellent maps in NZ, with all the sights marked and everything.
Check out
http://www.aatravel.co.nz/101/index.php for 101 Must-Do's in NZ.