Regional Overview


Discover the reason international visitors are ranking New Zealand as the best 'holiday of a lifetime'. Awaiting you are two extraordinary islands: the North Island, a mystical place of rolling hills, lakes and legends, steaming thermal pools and rainforest, where golden beaches drape the coastline and the next colourful town or city, bursting with great shopping and cuisine, is just around the corner; and the South Island, a chance to escape the ordinary and find a magical land where the air is pure, the lakes an unearthly shade of blue and the horizon watched over by untamed mountains cloaked in forest; a place of world-class wineries, cosy lodges and charming resorts. From Cape Reinga, where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean crash together and swirling seas form an eerie backdrop to a place steeped in Maori legend to the culture capital of Wellington, the North Island is a place where nature knows no bounds.
Temperate to subtropical in climate, the North Island invites visitors year-round. It's easy to navigate, with excellent roads and public transport. Highlights of the North Island range from unspoilt natural features to high culture. Make sure your visit takes in the steaming heart of the island and its astounding thermal activity: geysers, mud pools and hot springs. Underground activity also features in Waitomo, where caves offer adventure and enchantment. Delve into legend with an exploration of Maori culture. Pacific Island people who journeyed to these shores in waka (large canoes) many centuries ago, Maori developed a unique society. You'll find opportunities to taste this magic all around New Zealand, but Rotorua is particularly renowned for cultural experiences.
No visit to this country would be complete without setting foot in its magnificent native forests. Having evolved in isolation for millions of years, many of New Zealand's plants and birds are unique. You can take a scenic walk by yourself but a guide will help you unravel some of nature's mysteries. The North Island also offers a huge variety of beaches, from sparkling golden bays to wild coastlines with great surfing breaks.
When you're ready to discover the latest in New Zealand culture, start your search amongst the bright lights of the North Island's largest cities. Auckland, the Style Capital of the nation, features more restaurants, cafes and bars per capita than New York. It enjoys a unique setting on two harbours and has been described as 'a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city that offers an abundance of activities for the adventurer, the nature follower, the backpacker or the pleasure seeker'. Wellington, meanwhile, has a style all its own. Set on its own harbour and surrounded by hills, this is where New Zealand's politicians get down to business. Intriguingly, it's also a place for unique fashion and art, cafes, museums and a culture that embraces the individual. From one end to the other, New Zealand's North Island embraces a diversity of natural and cultural features that is simply mind-blowing.
Which makes the South Island's variety all the more incredible. Discover a place where the most indulgent fantasies of an unspoilt world become reality. Renowned for natural beauty, this paradise is dominated by a rugged landscape that brims with contrast. From the north, where forest extends down to sandy shores, to the south, brimming with natural produce, the South Island offers countless opportunities to go where nature still rules. There's no need to forgo the comforts of civilisation (unless you want to) because South Islanders like to balance wilderness with the best of food, wine and accommodation. Whatever your budget, there are many accommodation options in the towns, resorts and cities scattered against the wild backdrop. The region is well served by public transport and the uncrowded roads are a delight to drive.
Within two hours of Christchurch International Airport you can ski, play golf, bungy jump, go rafting, mountain biking, wind surfing, whale watching, visit world class wineries and gardens, or enjoy the delights of a cosmopolitan city. Every part of the island has its own angle on outdoor adventure. In the north, in Marlborough and Abel Tasman, sheltered coves offer safe swimming and kayaking, while the forest nudging the beach is ideal for walking. A sunny climate makes Blenheim a renowned wine-producing region, while the coastal town of Kaikoura is the base for whale-watching and other adventures. In Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island, fantastic cafes and restaurants intertwine with history. The Aoraki Mount Cook and Mackenzie region is dominated by mountains and blue lakes. In Otago, enjoy the lakeside resorts of Queenstown and Wanaka where you can dine in a world-class restaurant before a panorama of lake and mountains. In winter, the mountains offer fantastic skiing.
Dunedin is set on a stunning harbour where wildlife lives side-by-side with people. This is a city with strong roots in the past. Further on, at the tip of the mainland, Bluff is the jumping-off point to the smallest of New Zealand's three major islands. To truly experience the untamed beauty of nature, your travels must include a visit to the West Coast. In this region you'll find an abundance of scenery to convince you there are places where nature's power still holds sway.