How many days for the China visa approval if apply in person at the Chinese Consulate in Auckland

I am holding NZ Passport planning to visit Guang Zhou then travel to other towns, we don't have a specific hotel to stay in yet and will look only when we arrive (kinda like backpacking). Do I need to show the hotel booking to apply for my application? If I pop in to the Chinese Consulate in Auckland to apply in person, how many days will that take to be approve? I have booked my return flights, will that be easier if I get the travel agent who booked our flight to help us to apply?