Danny de Hek

Seeking adventure in the great outdoors - want to physically challenge yourself on a scenic river? Taranaki offers all this in abundance and markets itself effectively as a special place with real people and a great lifestyle.

Southern New Zealand embraces some very dramatic coastlines, braided river valleys, golden-brown tussock hills and glaciated slopes of the Southern Alps.

The lower North Island is characterised by prosperous farming along the western coastal plains and the expansive hill country sheep stations on the Wairarapa Coast.

Visit a chosen land where warmth, hospitality, fine wines and gourmet foods delight visitors all year round. Marlborough has a beautiful varied landscape of golden tussock downland, rich green beech forests, wide braided rivers and stark lofty mountains.

Towering peaks, dense rainforest and broad coastal plains dotted with exquisite kayaking lakes like Brunner, Kaniere and Ianthe (remnants of the Ice Age) characterise mid Westland.

New Zealand's subtropical northern peninsula is nothing less than a water sports paradise. This natural playground is stunningly beautiful and embraces 1,000 kms of unspoilt coastline, eight glorious harbours and hundreds of offshore islands.

From the blue Pacific, across the patchwork quilt of Canterbury Plains to the snow-caped Southern Alps, this region is a mighty adventure playground.

Enter the untouched wilderness of New Zealand’s South West World Heritage Area. It is a vast pristine nature-lover’s paradise, filled with the grandeur and spectacle of Mt Cook, the Southern Alps and the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers.

If you want to go deeper, steeper, wetter and wilder in the wilderness this is the place for you. North Westland has almost limitless adventure possibilities - whitewater rafting, underground tube rafting, heli-rafting, jet boating, caving, mountain biking and horse trekking.

South of Auckland’s Bombay Hills is a land of lush green valleys where the air is crisp and clear - the home of restful dairy cows and galloping thoroughbred champions.

Drive one hour north of Christchurch and you enter a rural lifestyle of irresistible charm. North Canterbury is an exquisite part of New Zealand where you will find ample space for complete recreation and rejuvenation.

Wanganui, the 'River City', nestles at the mouth of the broad tidal Whanganui River. This beautiful garden city is noted for its heritage walks, reserves, fine arts, culture and its outstanding museum.