New Zealand
Travel New Zealand - a country with some of the most varied and dramatic terrain in the world.
New Zealanders sometimes refer to their country as "God Zone," a rather prideful twist on the phrase "God's Own." If you like gorgeous scenery and gutsy people, you'll agree with them. Travel New Zealand and you’ll discover some of the most varied and dramatic terrain in the world, from glaciers and fjords and beaches to mountains and meadows and rain forests. If you're so inclined, you can admire the breathtaking scenery while skiing, surfing, horseback riding, mountain climbing, hiking (which the locals call "tramping") or kayaking.
And if those pursuits aren't exciting enough, during your New Zealand holiday you can try some of the adventures the Kiwis (as New Zealanders are called) have invented: You can bungee jump off cliffs or bridges; paddle through white-water rapids; rocket through narrow caverns on jet boats; or strap yourself inside a giant plastic ball and roll down a hillside.
If you prefer more leisurely activities, you can still enjoy New Zealand's natural wonders by strolling on its pristine beaches, sailing along its picturesque coastline, fishing in its crystal clear rivers and lakes, exploring magical vineyards, dining on the freshest seafood, scuba diving, soaking in thermal baths or settling in to one of the magnificent lodges which complement this land of magnificent vistas.
New Zealand is one of the quirkiest, quaintest, craziest places on earth. It's one of the most favoured holiday destinations of the new millennium, and even whilst still there, you'll be planning your next New Zealand holiday back.
North Island
The North Island's beautiful landscape comprises pristine lakes and is home to cosmopolitan cities. Although a mecca for backpackers and bungee jumpers, New Zealand’s North Island also appeals to the rich and retired who come for the bountiful trout fishing and the new 'superlodges' - small country hotels in remote and beautiful places.
North Island walking tracks are less commercial than those of the South Island and require a little more planning. The terrain is generally less mountainous than on the South Island.
Cosmopolitan Auckland, the largest Polynesian city in the world, is the home to a wide range of shops and restaurants, as well as busy harbours and beautiful beaches. The best views of the city can be seen from Auckland's Sky Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the southern hemisphere, and from Mount Eden's summit, the highest point in the city.
As for Wellington, New Zealand's seemingly staid capital, turns out that it does have an up-beat side. This is manifested by its determined attempt to shake off the dowdy, conservative image, reinventing itself first as a city of gourmands (it has more bars, restaurants and cafés per head than New York) and latterly as the home of New Zealand's hobbit-led film industry. By basing himself here, Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson has guaranteed the future of 'Welliwood'.
South Island
The South Island offers an unparalleled variety of scenery - snow-capped peaks that tower over sun-parched plains, mesmerising waterfalls that cascade deep down into fjords and translucent glaciers that melt into serene lakes. New Zealand’s South Island is also the home to vast sheep stations, vineyards and welcoming cities. Larger than the North Island, it is much less populated, leaving great expanses of land to be discovered on your own.
For train enthusiasts the popular railway trip, the TranzAlpine, departs from Christchurch every day along 223.8 kilometre-long tracks, through 16 tunnels and over five viaducts, arriving in Greymouth on the South Island's western coast. The scenic route takes you across the South Island Canterbury Plains, farmland, and the gorges and rivers.
Some of the world’s most popular and spectacular walks are part of the appeal of the South Island: the Milford Track is the most famous track that stretches for 55 kilometres from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound; the Routeburn Track, almost as popular as the Milford for its beautiful mountain scenery, 40 kilometres in Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks; Abel Tasman Coast Track which takes walkers along beaches and bays on the South Island's northern coast, the Nelson and Marlborough regions.
Self drive tours are a pleasure around the South Island, especially when you can choose a day of blazing sunlight and intermittent scudding clouds, where you can drive through valleys, farmlands and hills, past turquoise lakes and dramatic mountains. The drive can reflect the essence of the South Island – complete enjoyment in awe-inspiring landscapes.
