New Zealand | Destination Guide & Travel Advice

Kia Ora

Comparable in size to Great Britain or Japan, New Zealand has a total population of just 4 million people, which makes it one of the worlds less crowded countries. Broken up into the North and South Island, this glorious haven is where you will encounter everything from snow-capped mountains, to steaming volcanoes, to pristine coastlines, to dramatic fiords and lush rainforests. Could all this be true? Oh yes…you’re about to get a taste of the delicious, the delectable, New Zealand. Kia Ora (“may you be well and healthy” in Maori).

Both the North and South Island are equal in spectacular scenery, with an abundance of wildlife, history and culture to keep you occupied.

In the North Island:

• Auckland - Take to the water, explore Auckland and its surrounding islands in the Hauraki Gul
• Bay of Islands - Visit the tropical rainforest and luxurious beaches of Northland
• Rotorua - Start your adrenaline adventure by whitewater rafting in Rotorua
• Taupo - Try your hand at trout fishing in Taupo, one of the last, truly wild trout fisheries in the world.
• Tongariro - Do the famous Tongariro Crossing
• Waitomo - Visit the world famous Waitomo Caves and see the glowworms.
• Wellington - Feed your cultural side in the country's capital and bohemian quarter, Wellington.
• Rest of North Island
  
  • Hahei - visit the beautiful Hahei on the Coromandel Peninsula
  • Raglan - learn to Surf in Raglan

In the South Island:

• Abel Tasman National Park - discover golden sandy beach paradise
• Christchurch - Visit glaciers and relax amongst Christchurch's beautiful gardens
• Dunedin - walk up one of  the steepest residential streets in the world!
• Franz Josef - see the famous Glacier up close
• Kaikoura - swim with dolphins or go whale watching
• Fiordland National Park - get your hiking boots out
• Queenstown - Challenge your fears and let the adrenaline consume you in Queenstown with extreme adventure
• Stewart Island - a birdwatchers paradise, spot wild kiwi birds!
• Wanaka - take to the skies in beautiful Wanaka
• Other South Island
  • Milford Sound - balance your yin and yang in Milford Sound with it's breathtaking mountains and waterfalls
  • Ulva Island - see native NZ birds near Stewart Island

Unmissable New Zealand

Due to being about a tenth of the size of Australia, New Zealand is often seen as a stop off point for people en route to, or leaving Australia and many backpackers only give a few weeks of their travel time to the country. Although a whistle-stop tour of New Zealand can be done in a matter of weeks, there is so much to see and do a year is often not enough.

The greatest thing about New Zealand is that even after one week you feel like you have lived here for years. It's no wonder New Zealand is in Lonely Planets Top Ten Destinations to Visit in 2010.