Visiting wineries in New Zealand

A friend is currently working in Auckland in New Zealand and she is looking for recommendations for wineries to visit either in North Island or South Island. Does anyone have any suggestions?

North:

Bilancia and Trinity Hill in Hawkes Bay (same winemaker/ownership, I believe)
Craggy Range - might be worth planning an appointment in advance, but IMO they do a stunning range across the board (ranging from some killer Rieslings to Syrah)
Palliser Estate in Martinborough

South:

Lawson's Dry Hills in Marlborough - a personal favourite of mine (and they do some of the best Riesling and Gewurz I've had in the New World)
Felton Road in Otago if an appointment can be made
Gibbston Valley
Quartz Reef
Valli Bannockburn

I was there back in 2006. I sell quite a few here in Oregon. Some others that I would add would be Ata Rangi in Martinborough, Saint Clair, Villa Maria, and Nautilus in Marlborough, Neudorf in Nelson, and Pegasus Bay and Mountford in Waipara. A new one that I am just getting introduced to is Pyramid Valley in North Cantebury. There are just so many great wineries there. We only made it to Martinborough, Marlborough, and Nelson when we were there.

Pyramid Valley's phenomenal. Didn't think of them, but I had no idea they were available for visits. If you can arrange something (and like Riesling) - well worth the trip!

Neudorf's also worth keeping an eye open for - they do some great Pinot.

Don't forget that there are quite a few that are worth a visit within an hours drive or ferry ride of Auckland.

Matua Valley, Kumeu River, Coopers Creek, West Brook in West Auckland. Ransom Wines, Heron's Flight and several others in Matakana, about an hours drive north. Passage Rock, Peninsula, Stonyridge (if they can afford it), Mudbrick and others on Waiheke Island.

Don't leave home until you've seen the country.
http://www.wineoftheweek.com/regions/aboutnz.html#reg