He said Aung San Suu Kyi showed a great interest in New Zealand - and she loved kiwifruit.
"She said in her gloomiest moments when it was all too hard she asked herself what country she would like to go and live in to get away from it all and decided it was New Zealand. She obviously had a very positive view of us."
Mr McCully described her as an inspiring person considering the sacrifices she had made.
She has spent most of the past 20 years in detention, separated from her British husband and children, for resisting the military regime that took power in 1988.
Her party won power in 1990 elections but were denied the chance to take office.
She was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1991.
Mr McCully also met President Thein Sein, a former general, Foreign Minister U Wanna Maung Lwin and the Speaker.
Myanmar has recently welcomed US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and British Foreign Secretary William Hague as part of a co-ordinated plan of international engagement to encourage further political reform in the country of 55 million people which has been largely isolated by the West.
"We are not big players but we are respected players."
He said he would contact Aung San Suu Kyi after the byelection which would be closely observed by diplomats in Yangon.
"The larger picture here is about strong reform, significant moves towards democratisation, release of political prisoners and increasing freedom including for the media.
"But it's all work in progress."
He said in his talks with the Government offered some development assistance from New Zealand, offering 20 places for the English Language Training for Officials (ELTO) programme.
"We have also been made very much aware of the interest in commercialising agriculture here and they see us as a country that could offer significant assistance in terms of development assistance and commercial partnerships."
Mr McCully will return to New Zealand today and meet new Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr tomorrow.
