ABLE TASMAN COAST TRACK 
WHEN
TO GO. Since New Zealand is south of the equator the seasons are in
reverse of those in the north. Since many people get extra time
off in December that is when most people think about going however, I'd
rather wait. In March you can often find air fairs considerably cheaper
than those in December. Often you will see adds for round trip air fare
from Los Angeles to Auckland for 800$. In April and March there are a
lot less people so you might enjoy yourself more. If you're going to be
staying in the huts, which there are a number of, you might get better
sleep without all those snoring people around. There are also a number
of shuttle buses that can take you to the trailheads. Most of these
buses stop running at the end of April. GETTING AROUND. There are number of bus companies that provide service to trailheads. InterCity Coachlines is the largest, traveling throughout the islands. You can buy a Flex-Pass that can be used for travel time on their routes. The Magic Travellers Network is an award winning bus company with flexible travel and discounts at the hostels. It also goes to a lot of the popular destinations. If it doesn't go where you want it can at least get you near it. From there you can catch one of the many other bus companies to your destination. The New Zealand Tourism website has a full listing of all companies.
WHERE TO STAY. You can stay at any number of hotels, but if you're on a budget you've got some great options. A backpacker in other parts of the world is usually a person traveling around with a pack, staying at hostels. New Zealand has a large number of these hostels and you can save a lot of money staying at them. If you don't mind sharing a room with others you can stay for around 15 dollars a night. You can sometimes get a private room for about 30 dollars. You won't get a private bathroom but what do you expect for that amount. You might get a TV though, it just depends on the hostel. You might get a continental breakfast but for the rest of your meals you'll have access to a kitchen. You'll just have to clean up after yourself. If you plan on staying in a hostel for a number of nights you might want to join the BBH (Budget Backpacker Hostels). By doing so you'll get a discount when you make reservations through their site.
WHERE TO FIND INFO AFTER YOU ARRIVE. The i-Site is the place to find information when in New Zealand. You'll find them in most towns of any size that a tourist might want to visit. You can find out where to hike and probably get a permit. You can also find out about the conditions etc. They'll also have information on where to stay, and how to get someplace.
THINGS TO REMEMBER. If you're driving a car in New Zealand you'll be driving on the left. Thats the easy part. The hard part is one particlar law concerning the right of way at intersections with no signal or stop sign. When approaching an intersection and someone coming from the opposite direction and has their turn signals on to turn you must stop to let them turn even though there is no light or stop sign. They do this to prevent traffic backing up behind a car waiting to turn. Two big problems with this law. One is that people visiting aren't use to it, and New Zealanders going to other countries are used to it. Your cell phone probably won't work in New Zealand so check with your provider before leaving. Otherwise you should be able to find a pay as you go phone for about 100$ New Zealand. If staying at a hostel you might even find someone selling their phone if they're leaving the country. If you plan on traveling a lot overseas you could buy a GSM or CDMA phone. More about these global phones can be found by doing a search on the internet.
LINKS
Nelson Lakes Shuttles
Able Tasman Sea Shuttle
Able Tasman info site
Marahau Water Taxi
Tongariro Circuit aka Mt Doom
Tongariro Northern Circuit