If it is your first visit to New Zealand, take the time to stay on for a holiday - a short holiday in one of the areas of the North Island listed below or take more time and enjoy the widely diverse and spectacular scenery of the South Island [www.newzealand.com/travel/]
Around Auckland: [www.aucklandnz.com/]
- Bay of Islands & Northlands
- Go swimming with dolphins
- Take the 'Hole in the Rock' cruise to the tip of Cape Brett
- Charter a yacht and make your own adventure in the Bay of Islands, exploring 144 islands and secluded beaches
- Drive up Ninety Mile Beach on your way to the northernmost point of New Zealand and watch the sea collide with the Pacific Ocean
- The Coromandel
- Visit Cathedral Cove, a magical beach framed by a massive natural rock arch
- Pick up a craft trail guide and see over two dozen artisans working in their own studios
- At Hot Water Beach, you can dig in the sand for hot spring water and make your own spa pool
- Tauranga & Bay of Plenty
- Helicopter over or take a boat to White Island, New Zealand's only live marine volcano
- Enjoy first-rate cuisine at Tauranga, a cosmopolitan lifestyle city located at the entrance to a natural harbour
- Visit Mount Mauganui renowned for its surf and swimming beaches
- Rotorua & Taupo
- The Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley can shoot water 100 feet/30metres skyward
- Enjoy a scenic gondola ride to the top of Mount Ngongotaha
- Thermal pools for long hot soaks are everywhere
- Fly-fish the rivers or lakes - hire a guide if you want a sure thing
- Visit Huka Falls and watch as over 200,000 litres of water falls over the cliff face every second
- Walk the Tongariro Crossing (described as one of 10 best 1 day walks in the world)
- Napier & Hawkes Bay
- Enjoy wine tasting at over 30 vineyards, many with a café or restaurant, in the Hawkes Bay region
- Explore Napier - the Art Deco city - one of the largest concentrations of Art Deco buildings
- View Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony, an accessible mainland gannet colony
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| THINGS TO DO |
- Go up the Sky Tower for amazing views of the city and beyond
- Take a luncheon or dinner sailing cruise around Auckland Harbour
- Catch the daily Maori concert and the world largest collection of Maori and South Pacific art at Auckland Museum [www.aucklandmuseum.com]
- Enjoy the nightlife by heading for the narrow arteries of Lorne Street, High Street and Vulcan Lane
- Journey through a wonderland of snow, ice and Antarctic wildlife at Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World and Antarctic Encounter near Mission Bay [www.kellytarltons.co.nz/home]
- Walk to the summit of Rangitoto, a black lava volcanic island [www.rangitoto.org]
- Enjoy wine tasting and beachcombing on Waiheke Island or visit one of the many gulf islands [www.waihekenz.com]
- Browse and enjoy the cafes and restaurants at the Victoria Park Market [www.victoria-park-market.co.nz] or Parnell Village [www.parnell.net.nz] or Devonport Village (take ferry from downtown terminal)
- Learn more about New Zealand's history and culture at the National Maritime Museum [www.nzmaritime.org/home], the Auckland Art Gallery [www.aucklandartgallery.govt.nz] and Howick Historical Village at Pakuranga [www.fencible.org.nz]
- Hire a car or take a 1 day tour to Karekare Beach (40 minutes from Auckland central), wild west coast beach with beautiful rainforest made famous by Oscar winning film The Piano.
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