| | Milford Sound is a sparkling water-meets-land gem among the fjordlands of New Zealand's South Island. Giant green fjords, carved by glaciers and cascading with waterfalls, jut out of the deep blue ocean and take the breath away of all who ride shipboard among them. You can travel to Milford Sound by the Milford Road, New Zealand's remotest highway, and take either a daytime or an overnight cruise... |  |
| Hokitika is located on wild West Coast of the South Island. It started life as a ‘boom town’. First came the Maori in search of greenstone. Then came the Europeans in search of gold. These days, tourists come in search of scenery, history and adventure. Surrounded by rainforest and wetlands, Hokitika has the Tasman Sea to the east and Arthurs Pass National Park the west. And to the south lies the... |
| You're probably thinking -New Plymouth, what's the matter with old Plymouth? Stoically lounging on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island, this medium sized city isn't an assault on the Pilgrim's disembarkation point, or any other buckle-shoed aspect of their fellow new world cousins. Rather, New Plymouth presents itself as a congenial, out of the way outpost in the outskirts of Kiwiland.... |  |
| The whale watching capital of New Zealand, Kaikoura sits on the east coast of the south Island midway between Picton and Christchurch. This booming seaside town was founded by whalers in the 1840s and whaling has been its focus ever since. But todays whaling involves cameras rather than harpoons. Numerous companies provide whale watching tours from the sea and the air. |
| Capital city. Windy City. City of the Arts. Wellington wears many hats and does it well. From a vibrant café and arts culture to seat of government, there is much to see and do in Wellington. Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand, sitting on the waterfront, is a must see. As is Cuba Street, with its collection of eclectic shops, galleries, eateries. With its cable car, hilly topography and... |  |
| If you fly to New Zealand on an international flight, you'll likely fly into Auckland, the nation's biggest city (at 1.3 million, Auckland comprises one third of New Zealand's entire population). Though tucked into that far corner of the south Pacific, Auckland is bustling, up-and-coming, and quite beautiful: a coastal town strewn across blue harbors and forested hills, full of a clean, green set... |
| Visitors to the North Island of New Zealand should not miss the sulphurous town of Rotorua, couched directly atop a giant crack in the Earth's surface and therefore rife with geothermal activity. In and around the town, you can see natural cauldrons of boiling mud, neon-green mineral pools, silky sulphur hot springs, the Champagne Pool (hot orange, forest green, and pouring a thick column of... |  |
| Queenstown is the colorful, crisp centerpiece to New Zealand's South Island, serving as a destination in itself as well as an excellent jumping-off point to the many adventure-travel amazements that lie behind every mountain peak and along every fjord in New Zealand. Start in Queenstown if you want to go bungee jumping, trekking, boating, kayaking, cycling, or skiing, or just start there and stay... |  |
| Stewart Island, New Zealand's third largest, is the birding capital of New Zealand and home to Rakikura National Park (whose Maori name means, appropriately, "Land of the Glowing Skies"). It feels like a dinosaur sanctuary. Towering ferns, elaborate bird calls, and velociraptors. Yep, lots of velociraptors. Did I mention ferns? |  |
| New Zealand's southernmost city is a sleepy town with hints of the American Old West. A large central park frames the town's museum, home to the elderly tuatara lizard named Henry and a curious exhibit about 1970s Auckland crossdressers. A drive from any point of downtown will take you through the flat, neat grids of single family homes which open up to stretches of farmland and long sandy... |  |
| Christchurch lies on the eastern edge of the Canterbury Plains in the middle of the South Island. Featuring gothic stone buildings, a meandering river, and many parks and gardens, Christchurch is considered by some to be more English than England. But amidst the historic building and gardens lives a vibrant street scene, with plenty of streetside cafes, wine bars, art galleries and shops. Street... |  |
| Gateway to the South Island, Picton sits at the head of the Queen Charlotte Sound. It is the start of the South Island section of State Highway One and is the terminal for the inter-island ferry and the coastal pacific train. A picturesque small town full of cafes and galleries, Picton is a hive of activity during the summer as visitors come and go on the ferries across Cook Strait or into... |  |
| Nelson is one of the sunniest places in New Zealand. Located in Tasman Bay , this small town is home to over 300 full time artist and craftspeople. Opportunities abound to visit artists at work, gallery gaze, and shop at quaint and alternative shops that line the streets of Nelson. Nelson was also the birthplace of the Montana Wearable Arts Festival and Awards that have been held since 1987.... |  |
| Punakaiki is small, charming town that extends several kilometers along the coast of New Zealand's South Island. It mainly caters to the tour buses and coach services that stop for half an hour to allow their passengers to stroll along the famous and mysterious Pancake Rocks, although an overnight stay in the hamlet comes recommended. With hiking, caves, and ocean break a stone's throw away,... |  |
| Blenheim is a town that fulfils the cliché ‘looks can be deceiving’. A first glance, the town seems unremarkable, a flat and depressing looking place. But scratch the surface and you will find a town buzzing with activity. Blenheim is popular with tourists, a great place to base yourself as you visit the numerous world class wineries surrounding the township. Winemaking in this region is big... |
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