New Zealand
New Zealand Travel Information
New Zealand is the youngest country on earth, being the last major landmass to be discovered.
It consists of three main islands. The North Island, The South Island and Stewart Island (the lesser known situated in the South).
New Zealand
Slightly bigger in size than the UK, New Zealand is famous for its breathtaking scenery, stunning walks, adventure activities and world class food and wine.
Filling the space in this country are mountains, glaciers, lakes, volcanoes, sulphur springs, fjords, rainforests and the ocean.
Although Wellington is the capital city and is situated at the lower end of North island it seems that more well known is the beautiful harbour city of Auckland. This is likely to be your arrival point into the North.
The Maori make up 14% of the total population of New Zealand and the "European Kiwis" dubbed "Pakeha" by the Maori make up the majority.
The Maori culture is an important part of life in New Zealand and includes traditional and contemporary crafts. Their art and carvings depict the stories and legends of the Maori.
New Zealand Travel and Flight Information
THE NORTH ISLAND
Smaller than the South with a warmer climate and home to approx two thirds of the New Zealand population.
PLACES TO VISIT
Waiheke Island - (35 minutes by ferry from Auckland) is a picturesque blend of farmland, forest, beaches, vineyards and olive groves. There is a great range of activities on Waiheke. Options include sightseeing, mountain biking, sea kayaking, a relaxed vineyard tour and much more.
New Zealand National Museum of Te Papa in Wellington.
Explore Napier's renowned art deco and indulge in the excellent Hawkes Bay Wineries.
Cruise the Bay of Islands and discover local marine wildlife.
Explore customs and traditions of the Maori culture by visiting a local Marae. The Marae is a sacred open meeting area.
Visit one of the many geothermal attractions in Rotorua, a wonderland of hot geysers, bubbling mud pools and silica edged thermal pools.
THE SOUTH ISLAND
PLACES TO VISIT
Snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps.
Tranzalpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth - one of the worlds greatest scenic railway journeys.
Milford Sound - an overnight cruise is the ideal way to experience this area of the Fiordland National Park.
Abel Tasman - The smallest yet most popular National Park.
Iconic walks - Milford or Routeburn tracks.
Golden Sand Beaches, waterways and vineyards all dominate the sun soaked north.
Home to Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain and within only a short walking distance the Tasman Glacier, New Zealand's largest glacier.
AUCKLAND
The "City of Sails" is sandwiched between two harbours and said to possess the highest number of boats per head of population. Visit the Skytower, the city's most striking landmark. At 1078 ft tall it is the tallest building in the Southern hemisphere. The city is also surrounded by 50 extinct volcanic peaks.
BAY OF ISLANDS
A drive north of Auckland will take you to this breathtaking area , home to 144 stunning and mostly deserted islands. Clear blue seas, golden beaches and secluded bays make this region an ideal place to relax. Wildlife includes dolphins, penguins, whales, marlin and gamets. Also take time to discover the areas colourful history and well preserved relics. Take a cruise to explore the "Hole in the Rock" and the historic port of Russell.
The Coromandel and Pacific Coast
Surrounded by ocean the Coromandel region is one of the country's most ruggedly beautiful, with waterfalls, secluded hot springs and huge expanses of wind swept beaches.
THE VOLCANIC CENTRAL PLATEAU of the North Island
This is a geo thermal wonderland in a rare and mystical place including the areas of Rotorua and Taupo.
ROTORUA is a popular holiday resort and the major centre for Maori culture. There are endless photo opportunities in this area to capture the mass of thermal activity including the bubbling rock pools, spouting geysers, and the healing mineral pools.
TAUPO is growing a reputation for golfers with several courses in the region and it is also home to the largest lake in New Zealand "Lake Taupo".
TONGARIRO National Park
South of Lake Taupo this is one of only twenty places in the world awarded dual world heritage listed status as a national and cultural icon. It is home to three volcanoes and world class walking tracks
HAWKES BAY and NAPIER
Hawkes Bay is the start of New Zealand’s wine country. Indulge in wine tasting, alfresco dining, long walks and Maori culture. Then venture into Napier, an attractive seaside town with an art deco style of architecture.
WELLINGTON
New Zealand’s vibrant capital city boasting "TE PAPA" the state of the art national museum. The city is also widely regarded as a centre for arts, night life and culture.
Part of Wellingtons charm is its close proximity to nature, nestled between a stunning harbour, forested hills and seaside village. Extending just 2km in diameter it is a true "walking city".
MARTINBOROUGH
A charming village synonymous with some of New Zealand's finest red and white wines. A sleepy village with gourmet restaurants, it is the perfect place to relax in a for a couple of days on your tour. Learn about how wine is made on the Martinborough trail guided tour.
BLENHEIM
Home to the annual food and wine festival each year. An ideal base to explore the regional wineries many of which are within easy cycling distance.. Visit the glorious public gardens.
MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS
A convoluted maze of waterways which consists of three Sounds, Queen Charlotte, Keneperu and Pebrus. Admire the deep coves, secluded bays, untouched forest and native bush. Wonderful walks allow you to take in the coastal scenery or for the more adventurous you could take a kayaking trip.
NELSON and ABEL TASMAN
This region enjoys the highest number of sunshine hours in the country. Nelson is the gateway city nestled between sweeping beaches and the northern edge of the Southern Alps. It is home to many fine cafes, restaurants, galleries and interesting shops.
Abel Tasman is the smallest and most popular National Park. Walk the full length of the coastal track in just a few days, admiring and enjoying the remote sandy beaches.
KAIKOURA
Home to the best whale watching on the South island. Kaikoura is a seaside settlement overlooked by majestic mountains, snow capped for many months of the year. The town offers a host of eco-tourism oriented activities.
CHRISTCHURCH
This city is based around the cathedral and is known as the "most English city outside of England". Familiarise yourself with the city by taking a ride on a historic tram circling the inner city. Also known as the "Garden City" due to the stunning botanic gardens and tree lined avenues which reflect the vivid colours of the ever changing seasons.
STEWART ISLAND
The country's third largest island and the most southerly land mass before Antarctica. You can travel there by air or by ferry and revel in the crisp air, amazing scenery and abundant wildlife. A large portion (85%) of this island has been designated a National Park and you will find over 150 miles of walking trails.
WEST COAST and THE GLACIERS
Famed as New Zealand's Pioneer heartland. Legends and stories from the past cling to every dramatic feature of this landscape. With five national parks there is much to see from New Zealand's highest mountains, lowest glaciers, lowland forests, wildest beaches, longest caves and most stunning natural rivers.
PUNAKAIKI and see the incredible "Pancake Rocks" formed over millions of years - watch the huge plumes of water spewing up from the blowholes as the tide comes in.
Also worth a visit is HAAST where there is a whole wildlife paradise and glorious turquoise blue river.
FOX and FRANZ JOSEF GLACIERS
Nowhere in the worlds temperate zones are there glaciers as accessible as these two. View these awe-inspiring glaciers as the ice cascades down the valley to the sea. They are the largest of 60 glaciers in Mount Cook National Park and there are a variety of options in which to see them. Take a guided glacier walk, a climbing experience, a heli-hike or a scenic flight landing on the snow!!
ARTHURS PASS
Situated midway between Canterbury and Westland, connecting the South Islands West and East Coasts this is the highest of three roads that cross the Southern Alps.
MOUNT COOK and LAKE TEKAPO
Mount Cook is New Zealand's highest peak known to the Maoris as AORAKI. It is 3755 metres high and considered one of the most iconic images of the country.
Lake Tekapo is a turquoise glacial lake at the heart of the Mckenzie District.
SOUTHERN LAKES
This area runs from the dramatic landscapes of Fiordland in the South to the rugged mountains and international four season resort of Queenstown and to Lake Wanaka in the North.
DUNEDIN lies to the east known as the "Edinburgh of the South". Discover its history and its Scottish roots. Right on its doorstep is the OTAGO PENINSULA, home to a wonderful variety of bird life including the only mainland breeding colony of albatross and the rare yellow-eyed penguin.
LAKE WANAKA - the ideal destination for outdoor adventures and soothing relaxation. Surrounded by spectacular scenery of Mount Aspiring National Park. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking and kayaking.
Lake Wanaka, New Zealand
QUEENSTOWN
Trying to fit so many available activities in this town will be tricky. With its reputation as the adventure capital of the world Queenstown has an "anything is possible" atmosphere with bungee jumping to wine trails, hiking to jet boating and dining out on world class wine to heli-skiing.
Tucked into a picturesque bay on the calming shores of Lake Wakatipu this town hasn't forgotten how to unwind either. Treat yourself to a pamper in an exclusive spa, relax in one of the many bars or enjoy some of the worlds best food and wine.
TE ANAU and FIORDLAND
The exceptional beauty of this landscape has led to the Fiordland National Park being recognised as one of the worlds greatest wilderness areas. An overnight cruise is the ideal way to explore this vast and remote region. Try the "Milford" or "Doubtful" Sound. Be enthralled and stunned buy the power of nature, from its endless stretches of shimmering lakes and granite peaks to its tumbling waterfalls, forested valleys and lonely fiords.
Walking in this area is truly sensational.
TE ANAU is the gateway to the Fiords and although is a small town it has varied shops and many fine restaurants.
Book your holiday or tour to New Zealand with Hessle Travel. Give us a call for more information or prices.
