Destination for families: New Zealand

New Zealand: a country of around 5 million people (but 25 million sheep), isolated in the Pacific Ocean, with its closest neighbour, Australia, over 1500 kilometeres away. Yet this relatively small nation is famous for so many things: its Maori population, rugby, the haka, white wine, stunning landscapes, adrenalin activities such as bungee jumping, flightless kiwi birds, and even Hobbits (all of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies were filmed here). Known as the ‘land of the long white cloud’, New Zealand is composed of two islands of roughly the same size – North Island and South Island. These two islands have such vastly different characters and offer so many diverse things to see and do that you’d need a few months to do them justice. But for those of you who don’t have that luxury, here are some of spots that you have to see in this amazing country.

North Island

Auckland

Although not New Zealand’s capital like many mistakenly believe, Auckland is the country’s largest city and home to one of its largest harbours. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a lot of Auckland’s life takes place on the water. For example, you can take a trip on a breath-takingly fast yacht that took part in the America’s Cup, an international yachting race that has taken place every 4 years since 1850. Auckland’s stadium, Eden Park, is the home stadium of New Zealand’s world-famous rugby team, the All Blacks, who are famous for their pre-match Maori war dance called the ‘haka’.

Bay of Islands

About 200km north of Auckland, the Bay Islands is a region with a subtropical micro-climate that is known as ‘the winterless north’. It’s a great location for taking boat trips, diving, snorkelling, and seeing dolphins in the wild. The Bay of Islands is also not too far from Ninety Mile Beach (which is actually 88 miles long) where you can take a 4WD tour along the beach which is registered as a road.

Rotorua

Nicknamed ‘Roto-sewer’ by some people, Rotorua is the centre of geothermal activity, hence the sulphurous smells that abound here. You can do tours to see shooting geysers and bubbling hot mud pools in the surrounding countryside, and the area is a great place to visit a Polynesian spa. Rotorua is also a centre for Maori culture and so is an ideal place to learn about traditional New Zealand culture.

Lake Taupo

Interestingly, Lake Taupo is about the size of Singapore, and the nearby area is a popular location for rafting, fishing, and hiking. One of its classic hikes is the Tongariro Crossing, on which hikers pass over the ridge of an active volcano, Mount Tongariro, and hopefully get stunning views of the Emerald Lakes. Lake Taupo is also an area of geothermal activity so it’s a good spot to take a dip in a natural hot spring or in spring-fed commercial baths.

Coromandel Peninsula

Known for its pristine beaches and misty forests, the Coromandel is a favourite with lovers of nature and wildlife as it’s a place where you can see whales, dolphins, penguins, and many species of birds. It’s a popular area for fishing, kayaking, and hiking and famous for its unique tourist destination, Hot Water Beach, where geothermal activity means you can dig a hole in the sand and then soak in a homemade bathtub full of seriously hot water.

Wellington

Famous for its café scene and award-winning restaurants, New Zealand’s capital is also home to the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, an innovative and interactive museum on Wellington’s waterfront where you can learn all about the country’s history, culture, arts, and natural environment. It’s also one of the best bases for doing a Lord of the Rings tour, as many of the films’ iconic settings are relatively close by.

South island

Abel Tasman National Park

Sitting right at the top of New Zealand’s South Island is a smaller but beautiful national park named after the Dutch explorer, Abel Tasman. It’s a popular region for seeing fur seals, dolphins and penguins, as well as participating in outdoor activities such as sea kayaking. It’s also close to two of New Zealand’s most famous wine regions, Nelson and Marlborough, where you can taste and buy some of the world’s finest sauvignon blanc.

Christchurch

When you arrive at New Zealand’s second largest city, Christchurch, it feels like you could be in the university town of Cambridge in England. You can travel along its River Avon by punt (a flat-bottomed boat that you propel by pushing a pole against the riverbed), just like in Cambridge, admiring the historic buildings line along the way. It’s also home to the International Antarctic Centre, where you can learn about the South Pole and its exploration, see penguins, and even experience an artificial polar storm at -18C in a ‘storm dome’.

Kaikoura

If you want to see whales, then Kaikoura should probably be top of your list. Towards the top end of the South Island, this seaside town is the centre for boat and helicopter tours to see gigantic sperm whales. You can even do a trial flying lesson in a single propellor plane and see whales at the same time. Kaikoura is also a good spot for fishing and enjoying New Zealand’s delicious crayfish.

Dunedin

Named after Edinburgh by the Scottish immigrants who moved here in the 1850s, Dunedin has a wet and cool climate that must have made them feel very at home! Nevertheless, the city is a great place to visit for its Victorian and Edwardian architecture and its thriving restaurant and bar scene. It’s also a great base for doing tours to see the wildlife on the nearby coastline where you can see sea lions, fur seals, yellow-eyed penguins, and maybe even an albatross.

Queenstown

If there’s one thing that Queenstown is famous for other than its stunning alpine scenery, it’s the adrenalin activities that are everywhere that you look. Here you can do one of the world’s tallest bungee jumps, kayak over a waterfall (in a tandem kayak with an experienced guide), do a tandem skydive from 5000 metres, or ride on a jet boat over scarily shallow water. If that’s not enough, Queenstown also has a host of Michelin-starred restaurants and is a great base for seeing the endangered kiwi birds at Kiwi Park.

Wanaka

Although less well known with foreign tourists, Wanaka is a popular spot with New Zealanders. As well as having a beautiful lake, it’s become a centre for the arts and all things alternative. In Wanaka you can sit on a sofa or in an old car to watch a film at an outdoor cinema, have your mind bent at Puzzling World, or do a tandem skydive over some of New Zealand’s most impressive scenery. Wanaka is also another dream destination for foodies who like to eat some of the world’s freshest produce.

Franz Josef Glacier

The South Island is one of the most southerly inhabited places on Earth, so it’s perhaps no surprise that you can ski here in the winter. However, it’s also home to two of the most accessible glaciers in the southern hemisphere: the Franz Josef glacier and the Fox glacier. Of these, Franz Josef is the most developed for tourism and offers glacier tours that include hikes from the base or helicopter trips that enable you to hike on the more pristine higher regions of the glacier.

Milford Sound

Looking like the fjords in Norway, Milford Sound is famous for its stunning rainforest surroundings, waterfalls, and colonies of fur seals, penguins and dolphins. You can explore the fjord by water on a boat tour or overhead by plane or helicopter. Milford Sound is a photographer’s dream and a must-see if you’re in the South Island.

Described by one travel writer as ‘the world in one country’, New Zealand offers something for everyone. The only thing certain is that, when you’ve visited this country once, you’ll insist on returning!