New Zealand is a land of immense and diverse landscape. You’ll see things here that you won't see anywhere else in the world.
Within a day or two’s drive you can see spectacular glaciers,
picturesque fiords, rugged mountains, vast plains, rolling hills,
subtropical forests, a volcanic plateau, and miles of coastline with
sandy beaches. Much of these landscapes are protected by
National Parks with thousands of kilometres of walks and trails opening their beauty to the public.
New Zealand's position straddling two tectonic plates has given us
awe-inspiring geothermal areas and volcanoes, some of which are still
active. Lake Taupo is the result of one of the largest and most
destructive volcanic eruptions in the world. Visit Rotorua and you will
see this geothermal activity close up with spouting geysers, hot water
pools, and bubbling mud.
New Zealand has 15,000 kilometres of blissfully uncrowded coastline with
a diversity all of its own. The West Coast is rugged and untamed with
many black-sand beaches, while the East Coast has gentle gold-sand
beaches, quiet coves and harbours dotted with islands.
New Zealand's national parks cover more than 30,000
square kilometres, full to the brim with beautiful, natural scenery
ready to explore.
Visit New Zealand’s national parks if you want to discover the natural
soul of the land. The real gems of this country, the national parks
preserve the natural heritage, forests, wildlife and landscapes, close
to – and in some cases, exactly – as it was before man was here.
10Coromandel Peninsula
This
north-eastern peninsula is famous for its white and golden sand beaches
that frame magnificent coastal scenery, forests perfect for days of
exploration and other natural wonders. Start your visit in Thames, a
small but picturesque city with a rich history of gold mining. Don’t
miss a stop at Hot Water Beach, where visitors can dig their own hot
pool from the springs under the sands.
9Abel Tasman National Park
Located
on the northern tip of the country’s South Island, this vast national
park is a hiker’s dream. Closed to vehicles, one must enter by boat,
foot or small plane, but the trip is well worth it. While traversing the
mountainous terrain, blue penguins, wekas, oyster catchers, wood
pigeons and other rare birds can all be seen.
8Sky Tower
The
Sky Tower is an observation and telecommunications tower located in New
Zealand’s largest city. At a height of 328 meters (1,076 ft) it is the
tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere and the Sky
Tower has become an iconic structure in Auckland’s skyline. The tower
offers views of up to 80 km away and fine dining in the Orbit revolving
restaurant.
7Napier Art Deco
Napier,
a small city in Hawke’s Bay on the North Island’s east coast, is famous
for its eye-catching art deco architecture. Most of Napier was leveled
by an earthquake in 1931. The rebuilding period coincided with the
short-lived Art Deco era and as a result Napier’s architecture is
strikingly different from any other city in the world. Thousands of
tourist visit Napier every February for the Art Deco Weekend, an event
dedicated to the style, vintage cars, picnics and the soapbox derby.
6Kaikoura
This
small coastal town on the South Island is a haven for seafood lovers.
You can spot fur seals, dolphins, sperm whales and albatrosses off the
shore, then indulge in a feast of fresh crayfish, mussels, blue cod and
more. Land lovers can take a wilderness walk through the untamed and
dramatic Kaikoura forest.
5Franz Josef Glacier
This
glacier, located within Westland National Park in the southwest, is one
of the world’s most accessible. Visitors can walk right up to the foot
of the massive glacier or take a helicopter ride over the dazzling Ice
Age remnant. Together with Fox Glacier it is one of South Westland’s
major drawcards for tourists.
4Rotorua
Rotorua
is known as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. There are numerous
geysers and hot springs in and around the city. Many of these are in
parks and reserves. Natural eruptions of steam, hot water and mud
occasionally occur in new locations. Nearby Wai-O-Tapu is also a popular
tourist attraction with many hot springs noted for their colorful
appearance, in addition to the Lady Knox Geyser.
3Tongariro National Park
The
first national park of New Zealand, Tongariro is known for its
surprises and extremes. The park’s diverse range of ecosystems includes
tranquil lakes, active volcanoes, herb fields, untamed forests and
desert-like plateaus. Start your trek at the Whakapapa Visitor Center,
just a three hour hike from the stunning Taranaki Falls. The short hike
will take you through scrubland and forest and across the lava line of
volcanic eruptions from hundreds of years ago.
2Bay of Islands
The
Bay of Islands is one of the most popular holiday destinations in New
Zealand. The picturesque area contains 144 islands, many secluded bays
and some great sandy beaches. This beautiful bay has an abundance of
marine life including whales, penguins, dolphins and the big marlin. Not
surprisingly, it is a popular tourist spot for sailing yachts on world
cruises and international sport fishermen.
1Milford Sound
Milford
Sound is among the most famous tourist attractions in New Zealand.
Lying at the most northern and accessible end of Fiordland National
Park, Milford sound offers some of the world’s most staggering coastal
scenery with its dramatic peaks and dark blue waters. The area’s
frequent downpours only enhance this South Island beauty, sending
numerous waterfalls cascading down the cliffs.
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flickr/Bruno [BRA]
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flickr/Alex Can On
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