Start your holiday in Auckland. Its blend of harbour, islands, Polynesian culture and modern city environment has created a lifestyle ranked amongst the best in the world. Its natural assets have made it a dream destination for all kinds of travellers, no matter what your budget is.
The ultimate adrenaline-pumping action, choose one, choose all: harbour bridge bungy jump; leap off Auckland's famous Sky Tower, 192 metres straight down; or walk the 1.2 metre-wide walkway around the tower instead..
Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World is a wonderland of snow, ice and amazing underwater sights. Travel through the Antarctic Encounter where you'll find colonies of penguins playing in real ice and snow, swimming and plunging beneath the ice cap.
Brunch, lunch, dinner and social evening drinks are popular pastimes in Mission Bay. No matter what season or time of day, Tamaki Drive is always thriving with people dining al fresco with views of the sandy beach, Rangitoto Island and the activities on the harbour.
Diversity is the stand-out feature on what is perhaps New Zealand’s most famous road – K’ Road (short for Karangahape Road). In this quirky precinct, high fashion sits comfortably alongside retro and street-wear stores. Fine art decorates contemporary galleries within ornate heritage buildings. Eclectic eateries intermingle with legendary bars and clubs.
Perfect for people watching, Ponsonby is the trendy suburb to visit funky fashion stores that are intertwined with chic cafes, bars and restaurants. Indulge in shopping sprees in between sips of your latte.
Vineyards, wineries and olive groves are spread throughout Waiheke Island as well as a wide range of activities that include day tours, sightseeing, mountain biking, sea kayaking, art galleries and encounters with local artists.
Awe-inspiring Rotorua
Rotorua is the heartland of New Zealand’s Maori culture with its unique volcanic landscape, living Maori culture, natural hot springs and plenty of options for family fun time.
You can start your day by catching the gondola to the top of Mount Ngongotaha. Then luge down the side of the mountain on one of three purpose-built tracks. If that’s not thrilling enough for you, hop on off-road vehicles for some screaming fun designed for thrill seekers, couples and families.
There are plenty of hot spots in Rotorua. Brilliant colours are a feature of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland's Artist's Palette and Champagne Pool. Lady Knox Geyser plays every day. Watch the famed Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve, where scalding water shoots 30m into the sky. Hell's Gate features the only hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere. Enjoy a family soak at the Polynesian Spa.
Experience an action-packed, highly amusing farm show featuring trained rams, sheep dogs, sheep shearing, cow milking and lamb feeding. Visit Rainbow Springs, where the ponds are full of wild trout. Drop by Kiwi Encounter, the new 'conservation in action' attraction; feed the fish, watch native birds and study the tuatara (unique prehistoric reptiles that are only found in New Zealand).
The Hobbiton Movie Set & Farm Tour in nearby Matamata is based on the original location where Hobbiton was created for filming of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the upcoming Peter Jackson movie The Hobbit. Drive through picturesque views across to the Kaimai Ranges. Your guide will escort you through the ten-acre site recounting the fascinating details on how the movie set was created.
Splashing Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo is home to New Zealand's largest fresh water lake, fascinating geothermal areas, some of the largest silica terraces in the world and the famous Huka Falls. Local attractions include trout fishing, skiing, geothermal parks and the Prawn Park (just beside the beautiful Waikato River) spanning over 6 hectares of land dedicated to pure family fun. Delight in hand feeding baby prawns in the nursery. Then unwind in the geothermal footbath while the kids play on the playgrounds.
Remarkable Ruapehu
The three volcanoes that stand sentinel over the landscape define the Ruapehu region. Everything stems from them; the tussocked desert, the rivers and lakes, and the thermal springs. You cannot ignore these volcanoes. Today they are part of the Tongariro World Heritage Park, New Zealand’s first national park.
The centerpiece is the snow-capped Mount Ruapehu with, alongside, the two smaller cones of Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro. For skiers and snowboarders, Ruapehu is the site of two of the North Island’s best skifields.
Snow pursuits aside, there are many other outdoor and adventure activities in the region. For mountain bikers, there’s the famous 42 Traverse. The area is popular with hunters and, for trout fishers, the small tributary rivers provide excellent if challenging sport.
And then there’s hiking. For sheer scenic incredibility, you must take the Tongariro Crossing. This one-day hike takes you from alpine meadow to mountain summit across a surreal landscape of craters, coloured lakes and volcanic rock.
Delightful Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands encompasses Kerikeri, Waitangi, Paihia and Russell. It offers a multitude of ways to enjoy being in, on and under the water. With a maritime park of over 144 islands and bays with miles of white sandy beaches to explore, it is a very popular fishing and sailing destination and has an incredible marine life.
Swim with the local dolphins and a boating trip to the ‘Hole in the Rock’ – a large rock outcropping near Cape Brett with a hole large enough to boat through. Walk along a red Pohutukawa tree blossom-strewn golden sand beach. Go sailing, diving and snorkeling to experience the exquisite display of marine life. Appreciate the big marlin, whales, dolphins, penguins, gannets and many other species aboard a cruise or dive trip. Have a roaring time at Haruru Falls, a rare horseshoe-shaped waterfall that flows to the legendary 'taniwha' or water monster in the lagoon below.
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