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New Zealand

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Fodor's Essential New Zealand
Whether you want to explore Auckland, bungee-jump in Queenstown, or ...

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From the Bay of Islands' pristine beaches in the north to the soaring pinnacles of Milford Sound in the south, New Zealand is a stunner. Glaciated mountains, steaming volcanoes, and lush forests give adventurers a vast array of ecological playgrounds to explore. While hikers retreat to 14 national parks, bird-watchers find their bliss on peaceful Stewart Island. But it's not all parks and rec. M?ori enclaves display deep native heritage, idyllic vineyards produce world-class wines, and vibrant dining and arts scenes thrive in cities like Auckland and Wellington.

Fodor's Essential New Zealand
Whether you want to explore Auckland, bungee-jump in Queenstown, or ...

View Details

Fodor's Travel Award

FODOR'S FINEST

The Best Hotels in Asia & the Pacific

Huka Lodge Taupō, New Zealand

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Fodor's Travel Award

FODOR'S FINEST

The Best Hotels in Asia & the Pacific

Huka Lodge Taupō, New Zealand

Find a Hotel

Fodor's Travel Award

FODOR'S FINEST

The Best Hotels in Asia & the Pacific

Huka Lodge Taupō, New Zealand

Top Destinations

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Upper South Island and the West Coast

The South Island has been carved by ice, water, and tectonic uplift, all processes still rapidly occurring. Here, the mellow farmland greens and jumbled forest-covered...

Christchurch and Canterbury

With its vast food basket, water, and natural resources, Canterbury could be its own country. The expansive coast, fertile plains, and snow-lined Alps not only...

The Southern Alps and Fiordland

There are hundreds of glaciers locked in the Southern Alps, slowly grinding their way down to lower altitudes and melting into running rivers of uncanny...

Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty

Beautiful sandy beaches, lush native forests, and some steamy geothermal activity make the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty quite a departure from urban Auckland. Many...

Wellington and the Wairarapa

Wellington has developed the lively, friendly, and infectious spirit of a city coming into its own. From the windswept green heights overlooking New Zealand's capital...

East Coast and the Volcanic Zone

When you get to Rotorua, after a trip through the rolling, sheep-speckled fields of the Waikato and the wild Mamaku Ranges, the aptly named "Sulfur...

North Island's West Coast

The North Island's West Coast encompasses a diversity of landscapes: top surfing beaches; world-renowned limestone caves; and two national parks, one centered on a volcanic...

Auckland

Auckland is called the City of Sails, and visitors flying in will see why. On the East Coast is the Waitemata Harbour—a M?ori word meaning...

Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island

Otago Province takes up much of the southeast quadrant of the South Island and has two distinct regions, each a drawcard in its own right...

Christchurch

Earthquakes aside, the face of Christchurch is changing, fueled by both New Zealand residents drawn from other centers as well as immigrants, attracted by rebuild...

Wellington

Wellington, the seat of government since 1865, is between the sea and towering hillsides that form a natural arena with the harbor as the stage...

Northland and the Bay of Islands

Northland is the place to go when you seek more than great restaurants and shopping. You'll be best served on a trip here by taking...

Queenstown

Set on the edge of the glacial Lake Wakatipu, with stunning views of the sawtooth peaks of the Remarkables mountain range, Queenstown is the most...

Dunedin

Clinging to the walls of the natural amphitheater at the west end of Otago Harbour, the South Island's second-largest city is enriched with inspiring nearby...

Tauranga

The population center of the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing cities. Along with neighboring town, Whakatane, this seaside city also...

Stewart Island

Stewart Island, home to New Zealand's newest national park, Rakiura, is the third largest and most southerly of New Zealand's main islands, separated from the...

Palmerston North

Palmerston North—or "Palmy" as the locals call it—is home to several major educational and research institutes. Thanks to these, students make up one-third of the...

Wanaka

On the southern shore of Lake Wanaka, with some of New Zealand's most striking mountains behind it, Wanaka is the welcome mat for Mount Aspiring...

Nelson

Relaxed, hospitable, and easy to explore on foot, Nelson has a way of always making you feel as though you should stay longer. You can...

Blenheim

Many people come to Blenheim (pronounced bleh-num by the locals) for the wine. There are dozens of wineries in the area, some with stylish cellar...

New Plymouth

New Plymouth serves one of New Zealand's most productive dairy regions as well as the gas and oil industries. This natural wealth translates into an...

Rotorua

Visitors tend to have a love-hate relationship with Rotorua (ro-to-roo-ah). Millions of them—both from New Zealand and abroad—flock in each year, sometimes embracing and sometimes...

Invercargill

Originally settled by Scottish immigrants, Invercargill has retained much of its turn-of-the-20th-century character, with broad main avenues (Tay Street and Dee Street) and streetscapes with...

Napier

The earthquake that struck Napier at 10:46 am on February 3, 1931, was—at 7.8 on the Richter scale—the largest quake ever recorded in New Zealand...

Rotorua Environs

The countryside near Rotorua includes magnificent untamed territory with lakes and rivers full of some of the largest rainbow and brown trout on Earth. From...

Thames

The peninsula's oldest town, Thames has evolved from a gold-mining hotbed in the late 1800s to an agricultural center. Locals have a saying that when...

Westland/Tai Poutini National Park

Westland/Tai Poutini is a place of extremes, from the highest mountains to most ancient rain forest, and certainly extreme precipitation. Try to allow more than...

Coromandel Town

Coromandel town became the site of New Zealand's first gold strike in 1852 when sawmill worker Charles Ring found gold-bearing quartz at Driving Creek, just...

Gisborne

The M?ori name for the Gisborne district is Tairawhiti (tye-ra-fee-tee), "the coast upon which the sun shines across the water," and Gisborne is indeed the...

Hawke's Bay

Bounded by the Kaweka and Ruahine ranges, Hawke's Bay is known as the fruit basket of New Zealand. You can't travel far without seeing a...

Taupo

The tidy town of Taupo is the base for exploring Lake Taupo, the country's largest lake. Its placid shores are backed by volcanic mountains, and...

Picton

The maritime township of Picton (population 4,000) is a popular boating spot and has two sizable marinas, the smaller at Picton Harbour and the much...

Kaikoura

The town of Kaikoura sits at the base of a peninsula that juts into the ocean from the east coast, and is backed by the...

Whanganui

A major gateway to Whanganui National Park, Whanganui is worthy in its own right. Its compact center has lively streets with shops and galleries, plus...

Greymouth

The town of Greymouth is aptly named—at first take, it's a rather dispirited strip of motels and industrial buildings stretched along a wild beach. It...

Whakatane

For yet another chance to laze on the beach, Whakatane (fah-kah-tah-ne) is indisputably the North Island's sunniest town. The harbor here was a landfall site...

Martinborough

The pleasant town of Martinborough embodies the changes that have taken place in the Wairarapa as a result of the burgeoning wine industry. The town...

Methven

Methven's main claim to fame is as a ski town. It's a one-hour drive from Christchurch and the closest town to Mt. Hutt, which has...

Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula

Sheep graze almost to the water's edge in the many small bays indenting the coastline of Banks Peninsula, the nub that juts into the Pacific...

Te Anau

Lake Te Anau (tay-ah-no), which is 53 km (33 miles) long and up to 10 km (6 miles) wide, is the largest lake in New...

Raglan

It's hard to think of a more laid-back, welcoming spot than Raglan. On the drive out, tune in to radio station Raglan FM 98.1 to...

Golden Bay and Takaka

The gorgeous stretch of coastline that begins at Separation Point, in Abel Tasman National Park, and runs westward past Takaka to Farewell Spit is known...

Waitomo

Waitomo is a busy little village located a short drive from the main highway. Above ground, the surrounding hills are a mix of native bush...

Hanmer Springs

People used to come to Hanmer Springs to chill out with quiet soaks in the hot pools and to take gentle forest walks, but things...

Paihia and Waitangi

As the main vacation base for the Bay of Islands, Paihia is an unremarkable stretch of motels at odds with the quiet beauty of the...

Mackenzie Country and Lake Tekapo

You will know you have reached the Mackenzie Country after you cross Burkes Pass and the woodland is suddenly replaced by high-country tussock grassland, which...

Kerikeri

Kerikeri is often referred to as the cradle of the nation because so much of New Zealand's earliest history, especially interactions between M?ori and Europeans...

Arrowtown

Arrowtown is tucked into a corner at the foot of the steep Crown Range. It’s a quaint village that takes pride in the history of...

Otago Peninsula

The main items of interest along the claw-shape peninsula that extends northeast from Dunedin are an albatross colony and Larnach Castle. The road on the...

Masterton and Environs

Masterton is Wairarapa's major population center, and, like Martinborough to the south, it's in a developing wine region. There's not much to do in the...

Whitianga

As you descend from the hills on the Coromandel's east coast, you'll enter Whitianga township. Here you'll find Buffalo Beach, named for the British ship...

Murchison

Surrounded by high mountains and roaring rivers, this small town is in some big country. With Nelson Lakes National Park to the east, Kahurangi National...

Hokitika

Hokitika is one of the larger towns along the West Coast, with the pounding ocean before it and bush-covered hills behind. It's a place of...

Whangarei

The main center in Northland is the Whangarei (fahng-ar-ay) District; Whangarei Harbour was traditionally a meeting place for M?ori tribes traveling south by waka (canoe)...

Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park is a stunning-yet-accessible swath of idyllic beaches and estuaries backed by a hinterland of native beech forests, granite gorges, and waterfalls...

Westport

One of New Zealand's oldest ports sits at the mouth of the mighty Buller River. Once a boomtown for two separate gold rushes, it's now...

Around Hahei

The beaches, coves, and seaside villages around Hahei make for a great day of exploring—or lounging. If you're craving a true beach vacation, consider basing...

Russell

Russell is regarded as the "second" town in the Bay of Islands, but it's far more interesting, and pleasant, than Paihia. Hard as it is...

Whanganui National Park

The Whanganui, the longest continually navigable river in New Zealand, flows through one of the country’s largest remaining areas of native lowland forest, much of...

Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park

Endless rolling hills, bungy jumps off high bridges, the glittering Skytower of Auckland . . . so you think you've experienced the grandeur of New...

Timaru

Timaru, whose name comes from the M?ori "Te Maru" (shelter), began life as two towns, one called Government Town and the other Rhodestown. The two...

Waipara Valley

Once known for its hot, dry summers and sheep farms, the Waipara Valley is now an established vineyard area. The local Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot...

Milford Sound

Fiordland National Park's most accessible and busiest attraction is Milford Sound; in some ways it's also the most dramatic. Hemmed in by walls of rock...

Lyttelton

Lyttelton, a sleepy port town, was the arrival point for many of the early Canterbury settlers. The Canterbury Pilgrims' landing place is marked by a...

Motueka

Motueka (mo-too-eh-ka) is a horticultural center—hops, kiwifruit, and apples are among its staples. As a major gateway to two national parks, Kahurangi and Abel Tasman...

Waihi to Paeroa

The southern Coromandel is bounded by the historic and scenic Karangahake Gorge and smaller, adjoining Waikino Gorge. State Highway 2 wends its way through the...

Egmont National Park

Rising 8,261 feet above sea level, Mt. Taranaki dominates the landscape of this national park. It's difficult not to be drawn toward it. The lower...

Mapua

Though Nelson's a bustling city, it retains a rural quality. Overlooking Tasman Bay and the foothills of the Bryant and Richmond ranges behind, open farmland...

Karamea

North of Westport, the coastline is squeezed between high mountain ranges and pounding surf. The highlight of the tiny settlements along this stretch is Karamea...

Hokianga and the Kauri Coast

A peaceful harbor moves inland into the Hokianga region. It's a quiet area with small towns, unspoiled scenery, and proximity to the giant kauri trees...

Tongariro National Park

Tongariro has a spectacular combination of dense forest, wild open countryside, crater lakes, barren lava fields, and rock-strewn mountain slopes. Its rugged beauty and convenient...

Geraldine

For years, this lovely town has been a favorite stop on the road to Aoraki/Mt. Cook; these days, it's becoming a magnet in southern Canterbury...

Katikati

The small town of Katikati was built on land confiscated from local M?ori after the 1863 land wars and given to Irish Protestant settlers by...

Whangamata

The Coromandel Ranges back Whangamata (fahng-a-ma-ta), another harborside town, with a population of around 3,500. Once a town of modest houses, it's been discovered by...

Havelock

Known as the Greenshell mussel capital of the world (Greenshells are a variety of green-lipped mussel), Havelock is at the head of Pelorus and Keneperu...

Cambridge

For many travelers, Cambridge provides a good lunch break on their way elsewhere. But this cute town, with its historic buildings and rural English character...

Stratford

Sitting under the eastern side of Mt. Taranaki, Stratford is a service town for surrounding farms. Its streets are named after characters from Shakespeare's works...

Tairua

Tairua is one of the larger communities along the coast, and one of the prettiest, nestled beside an estuary, harbor, and hills, with an ocean...

Te Urewera National Park

New Zealand's fourth-largest national park protects the biggest area of native forest remaining on the North Island. The ancestral home of the Tuhoe people, its...

Twizel

A service town to its core, Twizel was built in 1968 as a base for workers constructing a major hydroelectric power plant. When the hydroelectric...

Punakaiki and Paparoa National Park

Paparoa National Park extends from the forest-covered Paparoa Range inland, to the coast. With steep bluffs, limestone basins, canyons, caves, and fluted rock, it's a...

Kahurangi National Park

New Zealand's second-largest national park, Kahurangi is 1.1 million acres of marbled mountains with fluted rock forms, arches, shafts, and sinkholes (featured in the Lord...

Palliser Bay and Cape Palliser

This, the most southerly part of the North Island's coast, can be a wild and desolate area in winter. But the lighthouse and seal colony...

Arthur's Pass National Park

Established in 1929, Arthur's Pass was the South Island's first national park. Follow in the footsteps of ancient M?ori hunters, 1860s gold rushers, and 1990s...

Colville and Beyond

To reach land's end in the very north of the Coromandel Peninsula—with rugged coastline, delightful coves, and pastures—take the 30-minute drive from Coromandel up to...

Nelson Lakes National Park

Spread around mountains and two spectacular glacial lakes, Rotoroa and Rotoiti, the Nelson Lakes National Park also extends to high alpine passes and rocky peaks...

Warkworth

A sleepy town on the banks of the Mahurangi River, Warkworth was established in 1853. With lime mined from the local river, it became the...

Oamaru

In Oamaru's port district New Zealand's best-preserved collection of historical landmarks still gleam with ornate, limestone Victorian facades. During the second week of November the...

Kapiti Island

Paraparaumu is the departure point for one of Wellington's best-kept secrets: Kapiti Island. A protected reserve since 1897, the island is a fantastic place to...

Lake Manapouri and Doubtful Sound

Just 20 minutes south of Te Anau, Lake Manapouri has long had the reputation as one of New Zealand's prettiest lakes. The lake is hemmed...

Whakaari (White) Island

With its billowing plumes of steam, the active volcano of Whakaari (White) Island makes for an awesome geothermal experience. The island is New Zealand's only...

Hawera

This quiet country town, a hub for the farming community, provides a close look at the local history and way of life. Brush up on...

Maketu

About halfway between Tauranga and Whakatane is the small seaside village of Maketu, one of the area's least-developed places and one of the first points...

Mount Aspiring National Park

Roads only skirt the edge of this huge park, which compels you to hike, boat, and fly to see it. Only a winged, hoofed super-creature...

Nga Motu–Sugar Loaf Islands

About 17,000 seabirds nest in the Nga Motu–Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area, located just off shore from the Taranaki Port, near New Plymouth. Shearwaters...

Upper South Island and the West Coast

The South Island has been carved by ice, water, and tectonic uplift, all processes still rapidly occurring. Here, the mellow farmland greens and jumbled forest-covered...

Christchurch and Canterbury

With its vast food basket, water, and natural resources, Canterbury could be its own country. The expansive coast, fertile plains, and snow-lined Alps not only...

The Southern Alps and Fiordland

There are hundreds of glaciers locked in the Southern Alps, slowly grinding their way down to lower altitudes and melting into running rivers of uncanny...

Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty

Beautiful sandy beaches, lush native forests, and some steamy geothermal activity make the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty quite a departure from urban Auckland. Many...

Wellington and the Wairarapa

Wellington has developed the lively, friendly, and infectious spirit of a city coming into its own. From the windswept green heights overlooking New Zealand's capital...

East Coast and the Volcanic Zone

When you get to Rotorua, after a trip through the rolling, sheep-speckled fields of the Waikato and the wild Mamaku Ranges, the aptly named "Sulfur...

North Island's West Coast

The North Island's West Coast encompasses a diversity of landscapes: top surfing beaches; world-renowned limestone caves; and two national parks, one centered on a volcanic...

Auckland

Auckland is called the City of Sails, and visitors flying in will see why. On the East Coast is the Waitemata Harbour—a M?ori word meaning...

Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island

Otago Province takes up much of the southeast quadrant of the South Island and has two distinct regions, each a drawcard in its own right...

Christchurch

Earthquakes aside, the face of Christchurch is changing, fueled by both New Zealand residents drawn from other centers as well as immigrants, attracted by rebuild...

Wellington

Wellington, the seat of government since 1865, is between the sea and towering hillsides that form a natural arena with the harbor as the stage...

Northland and the Bay of Islands

Northland is the place to go when you seek more than great restaurants and shopping. You'll be best served on a trip here by taking...

Queenstown

Set on the edge of the glacial Lake Wakatipu, with stunning views of the sawtooth peaks of the Remarkables mountain range, Queenstown is the most...

Dunedin

Clinging to the walls of the natural amphitheater at the west end of Otago Harbour, the South Island's second-largest city is enriched with inspiring nearby...

Tauranga

The population center of the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing cities. Along with neighboring town, Whakatane, this seaside city also...

Stewart Island

Stewart Island, home to New Zealand's newest national park, Rakiura, is the third largest and most southerly of New Zealand's main islands, separated from the...

Palmerston North

Palmerston North—or "Palmy" as the locals call it—is home to several major educational and research institutes. Thanks to these, students make up one-third of the...

Wanaka

On the southern shore of Lake Wanaka, with some of New Zealand's most striking mountains behind it, Wanaka is the welcome mat for Mount Aspiring...

Nelson

Relaxed, hospitable, and easy to explore on foot, Nelson has a way of always making you feel as though you should stay longer. You can...

Blenheim

Many people come to Blenheim (pronounced bleh-num by the locals) for the wine. There are dozens of wineries in the area, some with stylish cellar...

New Plymouth

New Plymouth serves one of New Zealand's most productive dairy regions as well as the gas and oil industries. This natural wealth translates into an...

Rotorua

Visitors tend to have a love-hate relationship with Rotorua (ro-to-roo-ah). Millions of them—both from New Zealand and abroad—flock in each year, sometimes embracing and sometimes...

Invercargill

Originally settled by Scottish immigrants, Invercargill has retained much of its turn-of-the-20th-century character, with broad main avenues (Tay Street and Dee Street) and streetscapes with...

Napier

The earthquake that struck Napier at 10:46 am on February 3, 1931, was—at 7.8 on the Richter scale—the largest quake ever recorded in New Zealand...

Rotorua Environs

The countryside near Rotorua includes magnificent untamed territory with lakes and rivers full of some of the largest rainbow and brown trout on Earth. From...

Thames

The peninsula's oldest town, Thames has evolved from a gold-mining hotbed in the late 1800s to an agricultural center. Locals have a saying that when...

Westland/Tai Poutini National Park

Westland/Tai Poutini is a place of extremes, from the highest mountains to most ancient rain forest, and certainly extreme precipitation. Try to allow more than...

Coromandel Town

Coromandel town became the site of New Zealand's first gold strike in 1852 when sawmill worker Charles Ring found gold-bearing quartz at Driving Creek, just...

Gisborne

The M?ori name for the Gisborne district is Tairawhiti (tye-ra-fee-tee), "the coast upon which the sun shines across the water," and Gisborne is indeed the...

Hawke's Bay

Bounded by the Kaweka and Ruahine ranges, Hawke's Bay is known as the fruit basket of New Zealand. You can't travel far without seeing a...

Taupo

The tidy town of Taupo is the base for exploring Lake Taupo, the country's largest lake. Its placid shores are backed by volcanic mountains, and...

Picton

The maritime township of Picton (population 4,000) is a popular boating spot and has two sizable marinas, the smaller at Picton Harbour and the much...

Kaikoura

The town of Kaikoura sits at the base of a peninsula that juts into the ocean from the east coast, and is backed by the...

Whanganui

A major gateway to Whanganui National Park, Whanganui is worthy in its own right. Its compact center has lively streets with shops and galleries, plus...

Greymouth

The town of Greymouth is aptly named—at first take, it's a rather dispirited strip of motels and industrial buildings stretched along a wild beach. It...

Whakatane

For yet another chance to laze on the beach, Whakatane (fah-kah-tah-ne) is indisputably the North Island's sunniest town. The harbor here was a landfall site...

Martinborough

The pleasant town of Martinborough embodies the changes that have taken place in the Wairarapa as a result of the burgeoning wine industry. The town...

Methven

Methven's main claim to fame is as a ski town. It's a one-hour drive from Christchurch and the closest town to Mt. Hutt, which has...

Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula

Sheep graze almost to the water's edge in the many small bays indenting the coastline of Banks Peninsula, the nub that juts into the Pacific...

Te Anau

Lake Te Anau (tay-ah-no), which is 53 km (33 miles) long and up to 10 km (6 miles) wide, is the largest lake in New...

Raglan

It's hard to think of a more laid-back, welcoming spot than Raglan. On the drive out, tune in to radio station Raglan FM 98.1 to...

Golden Bay and Takaka

The gorgeous stretch of coastline that begins at Separation Point, in Abel Tasman National Park, and runs westward past Takaka to Farewell Spit is known...

Waitomo

Waitomo is a busy little village located a short drive from the main highway. Above ground, the surrounding hills are a mix of native bush...

Hanmer Springs

People used to come to Hanmer Springs to chill out with quiet soaks in the hot pools and to take gentle forest walks, but things...

Paihia and Waitangi

As the main vacation base for the Bay of Islands, Paihia is an unremarkable stretch of motels at odds with the quiet beauty of the...

Mackenzie Country and Lake Tekapo

You will know you have reached the Mackenzie Country after you cross Burkes Pass and the woodland is suddenly replaced by high-country tussock grassland, which...

Kerikeri

Kerikeri is often referred to as the cradle of the nation because so much of New Zealand's earliest history, especially interactions between M?ori and Europeans...

Arrowtown

Arrowtown is tucked into a corner at the foot of the steep Crown Range. It’s a quaint village that takes pride in the history of...

Otago Peninsula

The main items of interest along the claw-shape peninsula that extends northeast from Dunedin are an albatross colony and Larnach Castle. The road on the...

Masterton and Environs

Masterton is Wairarapa's major population center, and, like Martinborough to the south, it's in a developing wine region. There's not much to do in the...

Whitianga

As you descend from the hills on the Coromandel's east coast, you'll enter Whitianga township. Here you'll find Buffalo Beach, named for the British ship...

Murchison

Surrounded by high mountains and roaring rivers, this small town is in some big country. With Nelson Lakes National Park to the east, Kahurangi National...

Hokitika

Hokitika is one of the larger towns along the West Coast, with the pounding ocean before it and bush-covered hills behind. It's a place of...

Whangarei

The main center in Northland is the Whangarei (fahng-ar-ay) District; Whangarei Harbour was traditionally a meeting place for M?ori tribes traveling south by waka (canoe)...

Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park is a stunning-yet-accessible swath of idyllic beaches and estuaries backed by a hinterland of native beech forests, granite gorges, and waterfalls...

Westport

One of New Zealand's oldest ports sits at the mouth of the mighty Buller River. Once a boomtown for two separate gold rushes, it's now...

Around Hahei

The beaches, coves, and seaside villages around Hahei make for a great day of exploring—or lounging. If you're craving a true beach vacation, consider basing...

Russell

Russell is regarded as the "second" town in the Bay of Islands, but it's far more interesting, and pleasant, than Paihia. Hard as it is...

Whanganui National Park

The Whanganui, the longest continually navigable river in New Zealand, flows through one of the country’s largest remaining areas of native lowland forest, much of...

Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park

Endless rolling hills, bungy jumps off high bridges, the glittering Skytower of Auckland . . . so you think you've experienced the grandeur of New...

Timaru

Timaru, whose name comes from the M?ori "Te Maru" (shelter), began life as two towns, one called Government Town and the other Rhodestown. The two...

Waipara Valley

Once known for its hot, dry summers and sheep farms, the Waipara Valley is now an established vineyard area. The local Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot...

Milford Sound

Fiordland National Park's most accessible and busiest attraction is Milford Sound; in some ways it's also the most dramatic. Hemmed in by walls of rock...

Lyttelton

Lyttelton, a sleepy port town, was the arrival point for many of the early Canterbury settlers. The Canterbury Pilgrims' landing place is marked by a...

Motueka

Motueka (mo-too-eh-ka) is a horticultural center—hops, kiwifruit, and apples are among its staples. As a major gateway to two national parks, Kahurangi and Abel Tasman...

Waihi to Paeroa

The southern Coromandel is bounded by the historic and scenic Karangahake Gorge and smaller, adjoining Waikino Gorge. State Highway 2 wends its way through the...

Egmont National Park

Rising 8,261 feet above sea level, Mt. Taranaki dominates the landscape of this national park. It's difficult not to be drawn toward it. The lower...

Mapua

Though Nelson's a bustling city, it retains a rural quality. Overlooking Tasman Bay and the foothills of the Bryant and Richmond ranges behind, open farmland...

Karamea

North of Westport, the coastline is squeezed between high mountain ranges and pounding surf. The highlight of the tiny settlements along this stretch is Karamea...

Hokianga and the Kauri Coast

A peaceful harbor moves inland into the Hokianga region. It's a quiet area with small towns, unspoiled scenery, and proximity to the giant kauri trees...

Tongariro National Park

Tongariro has a spectacular combination of dense forest, wild open countryside, crater lakes, barren lava fields, and rock-strewn mountain slopes. Its rugged beauty and convenient...

Geraldine

For years, this lovely town has been a favorite stop on the road to Aoraki/Mt. Cook; these days, it's becoming a magnet in southern Canterbury...

Katikati

The small town of Katikati was built on land confiscated from local M?ori after the 1863 land wars and given to Irish Protestant settlers by...

Whangamata

The Coromandel Ranges back Whangamata (fahng-a-ma-ta), another harborside town, with a population of around 3,500. Once a town of modest houses, it's been discovered by...

Havelock

Known as the Greenshell mussel capital of the world (Greenshells are a variety of green-lipped mussel), Havelock is at the head of Pelorus and Keneperu...

Cambridge

For many travelers, Cambridge provides a good lunch break on their way elsewhere. But this cute town, with its historic buildings and rural English character...

Stratford

Sitting under the eastern side of Mt. Taranaki, Stratford is a service town for surrounding farms. Its streets are named after characters from Shakespeare's works...

Tairua

Tairua is one of the larger communities along the coast, and one of the prettiest, nestled beside an estuary, harbor, and hills, with an ocean...

Te Urewera National Park

New Zealand's fourth-largest national park protects the biggest area of native forest remaining on the North Island. The ancestral home of the Tuhoe people, its...

Twizel

A service town to its core, Twizel was built in 1968 as a base for workers constructing a major hydroelectric power plant. When the hydroelectric...

Punakaiki and Paparoa National Park

Paparoa National Park extends from the forest-covered Paparoa Range inland, to the coast. With steep bluffs, limestone basins, canyons, caves, and fluted rock, it's a...

Kahurangi National Park

New Zealand's second-largest national park, Kahurangi is 1.1 million acres of marbled mountains with fluted rock forms, arches, shafts, and sinkholes (featured in the Lord...

Palliser Bay and Cape Palliser

This, the most southerly part of the North Island's coast, can be a wild and desolate area in winter. But the lighthouse and seal colony...

Arthur's Pass National Park

Established in 1929, Arthur's Pass was the South Island's first national park. Follow in the footsteps of ancient M?ori hunters, 1860s gold rushers, and 1990s...

Colville and Beyond

To reach land's end in the very north of the Coromandel Peninsula—with rugged coastline, delightful coves, and pastures—take the 30-minute drive from Coromandel up to...

Nelson Lakes National Park

Spread around mountains and two spectacular glacial lakes, Rotoroa and Rotoiti, the Nelson Lakes National Park also extends to high alpine passes and rocky peaks...

Warkworth

A sleepy town on the banks of the Mahurangi River, Warkworth was established in 1853. With lime mined from the local river, it became the...

Oamaru

In Oamaru's port district New Zealand's best-preserved collection of historical landmarks still gleam with ornate, limestone Victorian facades. During the second week of November the...

Kapiti Island

Paraparaumu is the departure point for one of Wellington's best-kept secrets: Kapiti Island. A protected reserve since 1897, the island is a fantastic place to...

Lake Manapouri and Doubtful Sound

Just 20 minutes south of Te Anau, Lake Manapouri has long had the reputation as one of New Zealand's prettiest lakes. The lake is hemmed...

Whakaari (White) Island

With its billowing plumes of steam, the active volcano of Whakaari (White) Island makes for an awesome geothermal experience. The island is New Zealand's only...

Hawera

This quiet country town, a hub for the farming community, provides a close look at the local history and way of life. Brush up on...

Maketu

About halfway between Tauranga and Whakatane is the small seaside village of Maketu, one of the area's least-developed places and one of the first points...

Mount Aspiring National Park

Roads only skirt the edge of this huge park, which compels you to hike, boat, and fly to see it. Only a winged, hoofed super-creature...

Nga Motu–Sugar Loaf Islands

About 17,000 seabirds nest in the Nga Motu–Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area, located just off shore from the Taranaki Port, near New Plymouth. Shearwaters...

Auckland

Auckland is called the City of Sails, and visitors flying in will see why. On the East Coast is the Waitemata Harbour—a M?ori word meaning...

Christchurch

Earthquakes aside, the face of Christchurch is changing, fueled by both New Zealand residents drawn from other centers as well as immigrants, attracted by rebuild...

Wellington

Wellington, the seat of government since 1865, is between the sea and towering hillsides that form a natural arena with the harbor as the stage...

Queenstown

Set on the edge of the glacial Lake Wakatipu, with stunning views of the sawtooth peaks of the Remarkables mountain range, Queenstown is the most...

Dunedin

Clinging to the walls of the natural amphitheater at the west end of Otago Harbour, the South Island's second-largest city is enriched with inspiring nearby...

Tauranga

The population center of the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing cities. Along with neighboring town, Whakatane, this seaside city also...

Wanaka

On the southern shore of Lake Wanaka, with some of New Zealand's most striking mountains behind it, Wanaka is the welcome mat for Mount Aspiring...

Palmerston North

Palmerston North—or "Palmy" as the locals call it—is home to several major educational and research institutes. Thanks to these, students make up one-third of the...

Nelson

Relaxed, hospitable, and easy to explore on foot, Nelson has a way of always making you feel as though you should stay longer. You can...

Blenheim

Many people come to Blenheim (pronounced bleh-num by the locals) for the wine. There are dozens of wineries in the area, some with stylish cellar...

New Plymouth

New Plymouth serves one of New Zealand's most productive dairy regions as well as the gas and oil industries. This natural wealth translates into an...

Rotorua

Visitors tend to have a love-hate relationship with Rotorua (ro-to-roo-ah). Millions of them—both from New Zealand and abroad—flock in each year, sometimes embracing and sometimes...

Invercargill

Originally settled by Scottish immigrants, Invercargill has retained much of its turn-of-the-20th-century character, with broad main avenues (Tay Street and Dee Street) and streetscapes with...

Napier

The earthquake that struck Napier at 10:46 am on February 3, 1931, was—at 7.8 on the Richter scale—the largest quake ever recorded in New Zealand...

Thames

The peninsula's oldest town, Thames has evolved from a gold-mining hotbed in the late 1800s to an agricultural center. Locals have a saying that when...

Coromandel Town

Coromandel town became the site of New Zealand's first gold strike in 1852 when sawmill worker Charles Ring found gold-bearing quartz at Driving Creek, just...

Gisborne

The M?ori name for the Gisborne district is Tairawhiti (tye-ra-fee-tee), "the coast upon which the sun shines across the water," and Gisborne is indeed the...

Taupo

The tidy town of Taupo is the base for exploring Lake Taupo, the country's largest lake. Its placid shores are backed by volcanic mountains, and...

Picton

The maritime township of Picton (population 4,000) is a popular boating spot and has two sizable marinas, the smaller at Picton Harbour and the much...

Hawke's Bay

Bounded by the Kaweka and Ruahine ranges, Hawke's Bay is known as the fruit basket of New Zealand. You can't travel far without seeing a...

Kaikoura

The town of Kaikoura sits at the base of a peninsula that juts into the ocean from the east coast, and is backed by the...

Whanganui

A major gateway to Whanganui National Park, Whanganui is worthy in its own right. Its compact center has lively streets with shops and galleries, plus...

Greymouth

The town of Greymouth is aptly named—at first take, it's a rather dispirited strip of motels and industrial buildings stretched along a wild beach. It...

Whakatane

For yet another chance to laze on the beach, Whakatane (fah-kah-tah-ne) is indisputably the North Island's sunniest town. The harbor here was a landfall site...

Martinborough

The pleasant town of Martinborough embodies the changes that have taken place in the Wairarapa as a result of the burgeoning wine industry. The town...

Methven

Methven's main claim to fame is as a ski town. It's a one-hour drive from Christchurch and the closest town to Mt. Hutt, which has...

Te Anau

Lake Te Anau (tay-ah-no), which is 53 km (33 miles) long and up to 10 km (6 miles) wide, is the largest lake in New...

Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula

Sheep graze almost to the water's edge in the many small bays indenting the coastline of Banks Peninsula, the nub that juts into the Pacific...

Golden Bay and Takaka

The gorgeous stretch of coastline that begins at Separation Point, in Abel Tasman National Park, and runs westward past Takaka to Farewell Spit is known...

Raglan

It's hard to think of a more laid-back, welcoming spot than Raglan. On the drive out, tune in to radio station Raglan FM 98.1 to...

Paihia and Waitangi

As the main vacation base for the Bay of Islands, Paihia is an unremarkable stretch of motels at odds with the quiet beauty of the...

Hanmer Springs

People used to come to Hanmer Springs to chill out with quiet soaks in the hot pools and to take gentle forest walks, but things...

Waitomo

Waitomo is a busy little village located a short drive from the main highway. Above ground, the surrounding hills are a mix of native bush...

Kerikeri

Kerikeri is often referred to as the cradle of the nation because so much of New Zealand's earliest history, especially interactions between M?ori and Europeans...

Mackenzie Country and Lake Tekapo

You will know you have reached the Mackenzie Country after you cross Burkes Pass and the woodland is suddenly replaced by high-country tussock grassland, which...

Arrowtown

Arrowtown is tucked into a corner at the foot of the steep Crown Range. It’s a quaint village that takes pride in the history of...

Whitianga

As you descend from the hills on the Coromandel's east coast, you'll enter Whitianga township. Here you'll find Buffalo Beach, named for the British ship...

Murchison

Surrounded by high mountains and roaring rivers, this small town is in some big country. With Nelson Lakes National Park to the east, Kahurangi National...

Westport

One of New Zealand's oldest ports sits at the mouth of the mighty Buller River. Once a boomtown for two separate gold rushes, it's now...

Whangarei

The main center in Northland is the Whangarei (fahng-ar-ay) District; Whangarei Harbour was traditionally a meeting place for M?ori tribes traveling south by waka (canoe)...

Hokitika

Hokitika is one of the larger towns along the West Coast, with the pounding ocean before it and bush-covered hills behind. It's a place of...

Russell

Russell is regarded as the "second" town in the Bay of Islands, but it's far more interesting, and pleasant, than Paihia. Hard as it is...

Timaru

Timaru, whose name comes from the M?ori "Te Maru" (shelter), began life as two towns, one called Government Town and the other Rhodestown. The two...

Milford Sound

Fiordland National Park's most accessible and busiest attraction is Milford Sound; in some ways it's also the most dramatic. Hemmed in by walls of rock...

Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park

Endless rolling hills, bungy jumps off high bridges, the glittering Skytower of Auckland . . . so you think you've experienced the grandeur of New...

Motueka

Motueka (mo-too-eh-ka) is a horticultural center—hops, kiwifruit, and apples are among its staples. As a major gateway to two national parks, Kahurangi and Abel Tasman...

Lyttelton

Lyttelton, a sleepy port town, was the arrival point for many of the early Canterbury settlers. The Canterbury Pilgrims' landing place is marked by a...

Karamea

North of Westport, the coastline is squeezed between high mountain ranges and pounding surf. The highlight of the tiny settlements along this stretch is Karamea...

Hokianga and the Kauri Coast

A peaceful harbor moves inland into the Hokianga region. It's a quiet area with small towns, unspoiled scenery, and proximity to the giant kauri trees...

Whangamata

The Coromandel Ranges back Whangamata (fahng-a-ma-ta), another harborside town, with a population of around 3,500. Once a town of modest houses, it's been discovered by...

Geraldine

For years, this lovely town has been a favorite stop on the road to Aoraki/Mt. Cook; these days, it's becoming a magnet in southern Canterbury...

Katikati

The small town of Katikati was built on land confiscated from local M?ori after the 1863 land wars and given to Irish Protestant settlers by...

Cambridge

For many travelers, Cambridge provides a good lunch break on their way elsewhere. But this cute town, with its historic buildings and rural English character...

Havelock

Known as the Greenshell mussel capital of the world (Greenshells are a variety of green-lipped mussel), Havelock is at the head of Pelorus and Keneperu...

Tairua

Tairua is one of the larger communities along the coast, and one of the prettiest, nestled beside an estuary, harbor, and hills, with an ocean...

Stratford

Sitting under the eastern side of Mt. Taranaki, Stratford is a service town for surrounding farms. Its streets are named after characters from Shakespeare's works...

Palliser Bay and Cape Palliser

This, the most southerly part of the North Island's coast, can be a wild and desolate area in winter. But the lighthouse and seal colony...

Colville and Beyond

To reach land's end in the very north of the Coromandel Peninsula—with rugged coastline, delightful coves, and pastures—take the 30-minute drive from Coromandel up to...

Twizel

A service town to its core, Twizel was built in 1968 as a base for workers constructing a major hydroelectric power plant. When the hydroelectric...

Kahurangi National Park

New Zealand's second-largest national park, Kahurangi is 1.1 million acres of marbled mountains with fluted rock forms, arches, shafts, and sinkholes (featured in the Lord...

Oamaru

In Oamaru's port district New Zealand's best-preserved collection of historical landmarks still gleam with ornate, limestone Victorian facades. During the second week of November the...

Warkworth

A sleepy town on the banks of the Mahurangi River, Warkworth was established in 1853. With lime mined from the local river, it became the...

Hawera

This quiet country town, a hub for the farming community, provides a close look at the local history and way of life. Brush up on...

Maketu

About halfway between Tauranga and Whakatane is the small seaside village of Maketu, one of the area's least-developed places and one of the first points...

Auckland

Auckland is called the City of Sails, and visitors flying in will see why. On the East Coast is the Waitemata Harbour—a M?ori word meaning...

Christchurch

Earthquakes aside, the face of Christchurch is changing, fueled by both New Zealand residents drawn from other centers as well as immigrants, attracted by rebuild...

Wellington

Wellington, the seat of government since 1865, is between the sea and towering hillsides that form a natural arena with the harbor as the stage...

Queenstown

Set on the edge of the glacial Lake Wakatipu, with stunning views of the sawtooth peaks of the Remarkables mountain range, Queenstown is the most...

Dunedin

Clinging to the walls of the natural amphitheater at the west end of Otago Harbour, the South Island's second-largest city is enriched with inspiring nearby...

Tauranga

The population center of the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing cities. Along with neighboring town, Whakatane, this seaside city also...

Wanaka

On the southern shore of Lake Wanaka, with some of New Zealand's most striking mountains behind it, Wanaka is the welcome mat for Mount Aspiring...

Palmerston North

Palmerston North—or "Palmy" as the locals call it—is home to several major educational and research institutes. Thanks to these, students make up one-third of the...

Nelson

Relaxed, hospitable, and easy to explore on foot, Nelson has a way of always making you feel as though you should stay longer. You can...

Blenheim

Many people come to Blenheim (pronounced bleh-num by the locals) for the wine. There are dozens of wineries in the area, some with stylish cellar...

New Plymouth

New Plymouth serves one of New Zealand's most productive dairy regions as well as the gas and oil industries. This natural wealth translates into an...

Rotorua

Visitors tend to have a love-hate relationship with Rotorua (ro-to-roo-ah). Millions of them—both from New Zealand and abroad—flock in each year, sometimes embracing and sometimes...

Invercargill

Originally settled by Scottish immigrants, Invercargill has retained much of its turn-of-the-20th-century character, with broad main avenues (Tay Street and Dee Street) and streetscapes with...

Napier

The earthquake that struck Napier at 10:46 am on February 3, 1931, was—at 7.8 on the Richter scale—the largest quake ever recorded in New Zealand...

Thames

The peninsula's oldest town, Thames has evolved from a gold-mining hotbed in the late 1800s to an agricultural center. Locals have a saying that when...

Coromandel Town

Coromandel town became the site of New Zealand's first gold strike in 1852 when sawmill worker Charles Ring found gold-bearing quartz at Driving Creek, just...

Gisborne

The M?ori name for the Gisborne district is Tairawhiti (tye-ra-fee-tee), "the coast upon which the sun shines across the water," and Gisborne is indeed the...

Taupo

The tidy town of Taupo is the base for exploring Lake Taupo, the country's largest lake. Its placid shores are backed by volcanic mountains, and...

Picton

The maritime township of Picton (population 4,000) is a popular boating spot and has two sizable marinas, the smaller at Picton Harbour and the much...

Hawke's Bay

Bounded by the Kaweka and Ruahine ranges, Hawke's Bay is known as the fruit basket of New Zealand. You can't travel far without seeing a...

Kaikoura

The town of Kaikoura sits at the base of a peninsula that juts into the ocean from the east coast, and is backed by the...

Whanganui

A major gateway to Whanganui National Park, Whanganui is worthy in its own right. Its compact center has lively streets with shops and galleries, plus...

Greymouth

The town of Greymouth is aptly named—at first take, it's a rather dispirited strip of motels and industrial buildings stretched along a wild beach. It...

Whakatane

For yet another chance to laze on the beach, Whakatane (fah-kah-tah-ne) is indisputably the North Island's sunniest town. The harbor here was a landfall site...

Martinborough

The pleasant town of Martinborough embodies the changes that have taken place in the Wairarapa as a result of the burgeoning wine industry. The town...

Methven

Methven's main claim to fame is as a ski town. It's a one-hour drive from Christchurch and the closest town to Mt. Hutt, which has...

Te Anau

Lake Te Anau (tay-ah-no), which is 53 km (33 miles) long and up to 10 km (6 miles) wide, is the largest lake in New...

Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula

Sheep graze almost to the water's edge in the many small bays indenting the coastline of Banks Peninsula, the nub that juts into the Pacific...

Golden Bay and Takaka

The gorgeous stretch of coastline that begins at Separation Point, in Abel Tasman National Park, and runs westward past Takaka to Farewell Spit is known...

Raglan

It's hard to think of a more laid-back, welcoming spot than Raglan. On the drive out, tune in to radio station Raglan FM 98.1 to...

Paihia and Waitangi

As the main vacation base for the Bay of Islands, Paihia is an unremarkable stretch of motels at odds with the quiet beauty of the...

Hanmer Springs

People used to come to Hanmer Springs to chill out with quiet soaks in the hot pools and to take gentle forest walks, but things...

Waitomo

Waitomo is a busy little village located a short drive from the main highway. Above ground, the surrounding hills are a mix of native bush...

Kerikeri

Kerikeri is often referred to as the cradle of the nation because so much of New Zealand's earliest history, especially interactions between M?ori and Europeans...

Mackenzie Country and Lake Tekapo

You will know you have reached the Mackenzie Country after you cross Burkes Pass and the woodland is suddenly replaced by high-country tussock grassland, which...

Arrowtown

Arrowtown is tucked into a corner at the foot of the steep Crown Range. It’s a quaint village that takes pride in the history of...

Whitianga

As you descend from the hills on the Coromandel's east coast, you'll enter Whitianga township. Here you'll find Buffalo Beach, named for the British ship...

Murchison

Surrounded by high mountains and roaring rivers, this small town is in some big country. With Nelson Lakes National Park to the east, Kahurangi National...

Westport

One of New Zealand's oldest ports sits at the mouth of the mighty Buller River. Once a boomtown for two separate gold rushes, it's now...

Whangarei

The main center in Northland is the Whangarei (fahng-ar-ay) District; Whangarei Harbour was traditionally a meeting place for M?ori tribes traveling south by waka (canoe)...

Hokitika

Hokitika is one of the larger towns along the West Coast, with the pounding ocean before it and bush-covered hills behind. It's a place of...

Russell

Russell is regarded as the "second" town in the Bay of Islands, but it's far more interesting, and pleasant, than Paihia. Hard as it is...

Timaru

Timaru, whose name comes from the M?ori "Te Maru" (shelter), began life as two towns, one called Government Town and the other Rhodestown. The two...

Milford Sound

Fiordland National Park's most accessible and busiest attraction is Milford Sound; in some ways it's also the most dramatic. Hemmed in by walls of rock...

Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park

Endless rolling hills, bungy jumps off high bridges, the glittering Skytower of Auckland . . . so you think you've experienced the grandeur of New...

Motueka

Motueka (mo-too-eh-ka) is a horticultural center—hops, kiwifruit, and apples are among its staples. As a major gateway to two national parks, Kahurangi and Abel Tasman...

Lyttelton

Lyttelton, a sleepy port town, was the arrival point for many of the early Canterbury settlers. The Canterbury Pilgrims' landing place is marked by a...

Karamea

North of Westport, the coastline is squeezed between high mountain ranges and pounding surf. The highlight of the tiny settlements along this stretch is Karamea...

Hokianga and the Kauri Coast

A peaceful harbor moves inland into the Hokianga region. It's a quiet area with small towns, unspoiled scenery, and proximity to the giant kauri trees...

Whangamata

The Coromandel Ranges back Whangamata (fahng-a-ma-ta), another harborside town, with a population of around 3,500. Once a town of modest houses, it's been discovered by...

Geraldine

For years, this lovely town has been a favorite stop on the road to Aoraki/Mt. Cook; these days, it's becoming a magnet in southern Canterbury...

Katikati

The small town of Katikati was built on land confiscated from local M?ori after the 1863 land wars and given to Irish Protestant settlers by...

Cambridge

For many travelers, Cambridge provides a good lunch break on their way elsewhere. But this cute town, with its historic buildings and rural English character...

Havelock

Known as the Greenshell mussel capital of the world (Greenshells are a variety of green-lipped mussel), Havelock is at the head of Pelorus and Keneperu...

Tairua

Tairua is one of the larger communities along the coast, and one of the prettiest, nestled beside an estuary, harbor, and hills, with an ocean...

Stratford

Sitting under the eastern side of Mt. Taranaki, Stratford is a service town for surrounding farms. Its streets are named after characters from Shakespeare's works...

Palliser Bay and Cape Palliser

This, the most southerly part of the North Island's coast, can be a wild and desolate area in winter. But the lighthouse and seal colony...

Colville and Beyond

To reach land's end in the very north of the Coromandel Peninsula—with rugged coastline, delightful coves, and pastures—take the 30-minute drive from Coromandel up to...

Twizel

A service town to its core, Twizel was built in 1968 as a base for workers constructing a major hydroelectric power plant. When the hydroelectric...

Kahurangi National Park

New Zealand's second-largest national park, Kahurangi is 1.1 million acres of marbled mountains with fluted rock forms, arches, shafts, and sinkholes (featured in the Lord...

Oamaru

In Oamaru's port district New Zealand's best-preserved collection of historical landmarks still gleam with ornate, limestone Victorian facades. During the second week of November the...

Warkworth

A sleepy town on the banks of the Mahurangi River, Warkworth was established in 1853. With lime mined from the local river, it became the...

Hawera

This quiet country town, a hub for the farming community, provides a close look at the local history and way of life. Brush up on...

Maketu

About halfway between Tauranga and Whakatane is the small seaside village of Maketu, one of the area's least-developed places and one of the first points...

Upper South Island and the West Coast

The South Island has been carved by ice, water, and tectonic uplift, all processes still rapidly occurring. Here, the mellow farmland greens and jumbled forest-covered...

Christchurch and Canterbury

With its vast food basket, water, and natural resources, Canterbury could be its own country. The expansive coast, fertile plains, and snow-lined Alps not only...

The Southern Alps and Fiordland

There are hundreds of glaciers locked in the Southern Alps, slowly grinding their way down to lower altitudes and melting into running rivers of uncanny...

Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty

Beautiful sandy beaches, lush native forests, and some steamy geothermal activity make the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty quite a departure from urban Auckland. Many...

Wellington and the Wairarapa

Wellington has developed the lively, friendly, and infectious spirit of a city coming into its own. From the windswept green heights overlooking New Zealand's capital...

East Coast and the Volcanic Zone

When you get to Rotorua, after a trip through the rolling, sheep-speckled fields of the Waikato and the wild Mamaku Ranges, the aptly named "Sulfur...

North Island's West Coast

The North Island's West Coast encompasses a diversity of landscapes: top surfing beaches; world-renowned limestone caves; and two national parks, one centered on a volcanic...

Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island

Otago Province takes up much of the southeast quadrant of the South Island and has two distinct regions, each a drawcard in its own right...

Northland and the Bay of Islands

Northland is the place to go when you seek more than great restaurants and shopping. You'll be best served on a trip here by taking...

Rotorua Environs

The countryside near Rotorua includes magnificent untamed territory with lakes and rivers full of some of the largest rainbow and brown trout on Earth. From...

Greater Christchurch

Some of Christchurch's most popular attractions lie around the outskirts of the city. To the southeast, the Christchurch Gondola takes passengers from a terminal in...

Masterton and Environs

Masterton is Wairarapa's major population center, and, like Martinborough to the south, it's in a developing wine region. There's not much to do in the...

Otago Peninsula

The main items of interest along the claw-shape peninsula that extends northeast from Dunedin are an albatross colony and Larnach Castle. The road on the...

Around Hahei

The beaches, coves, and seaside villages around Hahei make for a great day of exploring—or lounging. If you're craving a true beach vacation, consider basing...

Waipara Valley

Once known for its hot, dry summers and sheep farms, the Waipara Valley is now an established vineyard area. The local Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot...

Waihi to Paeroa

The southern Coromandel is bounded by the historic and scenic Karangahake Gorge and smaller, adjoining Waikino Gorge. State Highway 2 wends its way through the...

Mapua

Though Nelson's a bustling city, it retains a rural quality. Overlooking Tasman Bay and the foothills of the Bryant and Richmond ranges behind, open farmland...

Greater Wellington

Located beside the airport, the movie-making town of Miramar sits 9 km (6 miles) southeast of Wellington. Extending north of the city, the Hutt Valley...

Lake Manapouri and Doubtful Sound

Just 20 minutes south of Te Anau, Lake Manapouri has long had the reputation as one of New Zealand's prettiest lakes. The lake is hemmed...

The 309 Road

Although named for a journey that used to (apparently) take 309 minutes, the 309 Road cuts right across the peninsula and is now the shortest...

Tapu–Coroglen Road

The 28-km-long (17-mile-long), intermittently paved Tapu–Coroglen Road turns off State Highway 25 in the hamlet of Tapu to wind into the mountains. It's a breathtaking...

Upper South Island and the West Coast

The South Island has been carved by ice, water, and tectonic uplift, all processes still rapidly occurring. Here, the mellow farmland greens and jumbled forest-covered...

Christchurch and Canterbury

With its vast food basket, water, and natural resources, Canterbury could be its own country. The expansive coast, fertile plains, and snow-lined Alps not only...

The Southern Alps and Fiordland

There are hundreds of glaciers locked in the Southern Alps, slowly grinding their way down to lower altitudes and melting into running rivers of uncanny...

Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty

Beautiful sandy beaches, lush native forests, and some steamy geothermal activity make the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty quite a departure from urban Auckland. Many...

Wellington and the Wairarapa

Wellington has developed the lively, friendly, and infectious spirit of a city coming into its own. From the windswept green heights overlooking New Zealand's capital...

East Coast and the Volcanic Zone

When you get to Rotorua, after a trip through the rolling, sheep-speckled fields of the Waikato and the wild Mamaku Ranges, the aptly named "Sulfur...

North Island's West Coast

The North Island's West Coast encompasses a diversity of landscapes: top surfing beaches; world-renowned limestone caves; and two national parks, one centered on a volcanic...

Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island

Otago Province takes up much of the southeast quadrant of the South Island and has two distinct regions, each a drawcard in its own right...

Northland and the Bay of Islands

Northland is the place to go when you seek more than great restaurants and shopping. You'll be best served on a trip here by taking...

Rotorua Environs

The countryside near Rotorua includes magnificent untamed territory with lakes and rivers full of some of the largest rainbow and brown trout on Earth. From...

Greater Christchurch

Some of Christchurch's most popular attractions lie around the outskirts of the city. To the southeast, the Christchurch Gondola takes passengers from a terminal in...

Masterton and Environs

Masterton is Wairarapa's major population center, and, like Martinborough to the south, it's in a developing wine region. There's not much to do in the...

Otago Peninsula

The main items of interest along the claw-shape peninsula that extends northeast from Dunedin are an albatross colony and Larnach Castle. The road on the...

Around Hahei

The beaches, coves, and seaside villages around Hahei make for a great day of exploring—or lounging. If you're craving a true beach vacation, consider basing...

Waipara Valley

Once known for its hot, dry summers and sheep farms, the Waipara Valley is now an established vineyard area. The local Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot...

Waihi to Paeroa

The southern Coromandel is bounded by the historic and scenic Karangahake Gorge and smaller, adjoining Waikino Gorge. State Highway 2 wends its way through the...

Mapua

Though Nelson's a bustling city, it retains a rural quality. Overlooking Tasman Bay and the foothills of the Bryant and Richmond ranges behind, open farmland...

Greater Wellington

Located beside the airport, the movie-making town of Miramar sits 9 km (6 miles) southeast of Wellington. Extending north of the city, the Hutt Valley...

Lake Manapouri and Doubtful Sound

Just 20 minutes south of Te Anau, Lake Manapouri has long had the reputation as one of New Zealand's prettiest lakes. The lake is hemmed...

The 309 Road

Although named for a journey that used to (apparently) take 309 minutes, the 309 Road cuts right across the peninsula and is now the shortest...

Tapu–Coroglen Road

The 28-km-long (17-mile-long), intermittently paved Tapu–Coroglen Road turns off State Highway 25 in the hamlet of Tapu to wind into the mountains. It's a breathtaking...

Westland/Tai Poutini National Park

Westland/Tai Poutini is a place of extremes, from the highest mountains to most ancient rain forest, and certainly extreme precipitation. Try to allow more than...

Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park is a stunning-yet-accessible swath of idyllic beaches and estuaries backed by a hinterland of native beech forests, granite gorges, and waterfalls...

Whanganui National Park

The Whanganui, the longest continually navigable river in New Zealand, flows through one of the country’s largest remaining areas of native lowland forest, much of...

Egmont National Park

Rising 8,261 feet above sea level, Mt. Taranaki dominates the landscape of this national park. It's difficult not to be drawn toward it. The lower...

Tongariro National Park

Tongariro has a spectacular combination of dense forest, wild open countryside, crater lakes, barren lava fields, and rock-strewn mountain slopes. Its rugged beauty and convenient...

Te Urewera National Park

New Zealand's fourth-largest national park protects the biggest area of native forest remaining on the North Island. The ancestral home of the Tuhoe people, its...

Punakaiki and Paparoa National Park

Paparoa National Park extends from the forest-covered Paparoa Range inland, to the coast. With steep bluffs, limestone basins, canyons, caves, and fluted rock, it's a...

Nelson Lakes National Park

Spread around mountains and two spectacular glacial lakes, Rotoroa and Rotoiti, the Nelson Lakes National Park also extends to high alpine passes and rocky peaks...

Arthur's Pass National Park

Established in 1929, Arthur's Pass was the South Island's first national park. Follow in the footsteps of ancient M?ori hunters, 1860s gold rushers, and 1990s...

Mount Aspiring National Park

Roads only skirt the edge of this huge park, which compels you to hike, boat, and fly to see it. Only a winged, hoofed super-creature...

Westland/Tai Poutini National Park

Westland/Tai Poutini is a place of extremes, from the highest mountains to most ancient rain forest, and certainly extreme precipitation. Try to allow more than...

Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman National Park is a stunning-yet-accessible swath of idyllic beaches and estuaries backed by a hinterland of native beech forests, granite gorges, and waterfalls...

Whanganui National Park

The Whanganui, the longest continually navigable river in New Zealand, flows through one of the country’s largest remaining areas of native lowland forest, much of...

Egmont National Park

Rising 8,261 feet above sea level, Mt. Taranaki dominates the landscape of this national park. It's difficult not to be drawn toward it. The lower...

Tongariro National Park

Tongariro has a spectacular combination of dense forest, wild open countryside, crater lakes, barren lava fields, and rock-strewn mountain slopes. Its rugged beauty and convenient...

Te Urewera National Park

New Zealand's fourth-largest national park protects the biggest area of native forest remaining on the North Island. The ancestral home of the Tuhoe people, its...

Punakaiki and Paparoa National Park

Paparoa National Park extends from the forest-covered Paparoa Range inland, to the coast. With steep bluffs, limestone basins, canyons, caves, and fluted rock, it's a...

Nelson Lakes National Park

Spread around mountains and two spectacular glacial lakes, Rotoroa and Rotoiti, the Nelson Lakes National Park also extends to high alpine passes and rocky peaks...

Arthur's Pass National Park

Established in 1929, Arthur's Pass was the South Island's first national park. Follow in the footsteps of ancient M?ori hunters, 1860s gold rushers, and 1990s...

Mount Aspiring National Park

Roads only skirt the edge of this huge park, which compels you to hike, boat, and fly to see it. Only a winged, hoofed super-creature...

Stewart Island

Stewart Island, home to New Zealand's newest national park, Rakiura, is the third largest and most southerly of New Zealand's main islands, separated from the...

Kapiti Island

Paraparaumu is the departure point for one of Wellington's best-kept secrets: Kapiti Island. A protected reserve since 1897, the island is a fantastic place to...

Whakaari (White) Island

With its billowing plumes of steam, the active volcano of Whakaari (White) Island makes for an awesome geothermal experience. The island is New Zealand's only...

Nga Motu–Sugar Loaf Islands

About 17,000 seabirds nest in the Nga Motu–Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area, located just off shore from the Taranaki Port, near New Plymouth. Shearwaters...

Stewart Island

Stewart Island, home to New Zealand's newest national park, Rakiura, is the third largest and most southerly of New Zealand's main islands, separated from the...

Kapiti Island

Paraparaumu is the departure point for one of Wellington's best-kept secrets: Kapiti Island. A protected reserve since 1897, the island is a fantastic place to...

Whakaari (White) Island

With its billowing plumes of steam, the active volcano of Whakaari (White) Island makes for an awesome geothermal experience. The island is New Zealand's only...

Nga Motu–Sugar Loaf Islands

About 17,000 seabirds nest in the Nga Motu–Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area, located just off shore from the Taranaki Port, near New Plymouth. Shearwaters...

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Upper South Island and the West Coast

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Auckland

East Coast and the Volcanic Zone

Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island

Wellington and the Wairarapa

Christchurch and Canterbury

North Island's West Coast

The Southern Alps and Fiordland

Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty

Northland and the Bay of Islands

Upper South Island and the West Coast

Auckland

Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty

North Island's West Coast

Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island

Upper South Island and the West Coast

Christchurch and Canterbury

East Coast and the Volcanic Zone

Northland and the Bay of Islands

The Southern Alps and Fiordland

Wellington and the Wairarapa

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