The country’s Pacific Rim cuisine is based on its abundance of wonderful fresh produce. Tender lamb, beef, pork, venison, succulent green-lipped mussels, Bluff oysters, crayfish (lobster), paua (abalone), whitebait, scallops, salmon, deep-sea fish and, of course, kiwifruit.
Visiting the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island is always a unique experience filled with many wonders. On this occasion we stayed in the small community of Charleston. Charleston was founded during a major gold rush in 1867 and the remains of around 99 hotels have recently been discovered.
The area around Waitangi, was also the birthplace of viticulture. The British Government representative James Busby planted a vineyard near the Treaty House in 1832 and made the first New Zealand wines.
The extensive Waikato and King Country areas in the Central North Island embrace important farming industries and tourism treasures like the sparsely populated Coromandel Peninsula and the stunning Waitomo Caves. The region is well endowed with adventure tourism sites and sports venues, including 46 golf courses.
The 'Top of the South' has a well above average share of the good things in life - record sunshine hours, golden sand beaches, superb fruit, fine wine, food and seafood and over 300 dedicated craftspeople. The region is paradise for outdoor adventure lovers with its national parks, alpine lakes, stunning coastline as well as 8 excellent golf courses.
A capital city could not be placed in a more dramatic setting than the rugged bush-clad hills and magnificent sheltered harbour of Wellington. The leafy suburbs that sprawl across Wellington's steep hillsides allow precious little space for golf courses, so only four are close to the city centre.
The lower North Island embraces the prosperous farming districts of Wanganui, Rangitikei, Manawatu and Horowhenua. The landscape sweeps dramatically down from mountain ranges into fertile alluvial plains devoted to agricultural and pastoral industries. Most farming districts support a popular classic country golf club
Within each geographic region we have made general comments about the course quality, playing conditions and facilities of a number of the popular and prominent courses as a guideline for what you can expect to find.
Gisborne bathes in the glory of being one of the first places in the world to greet the sun and the first landing place of the famous explorer Captain Cook. Far from exhibiting signs of [...]
The wild West Coast stands apart from the rest of the country as a region where the pioneering spirit and rugged individualism are distinctive characteristics of the people. The narrow 600 km strip of coastal lowland is hemmed in by towering ramparts of the Southern Alps and the tumultuous breaking swells of the Tasman Sea.
Canterbury is the perfect adventure playground with a myriad of exciting outdoor activities between the coast and the Alps. Where else could you see and do so much within two hour's drive of an international airport? Ski and snowboard, swim with dolphins, gaze in awe at sperm whales, soak in luxurious thermal pools
