The Bay of Islands, New Zealand’s finest maritime park and the birthplace of our nation, owes its existence to the great melt that ended the last Ice Age. The rising sea drowned many river valleys leaving 144 ridge tops exposed as islands in a harbour of breathtaking beauty.
Come with us on a discovery tour of New Zealand’s often unseen but worthwhile destinations, travelling from North Island to South Island. On the way we will feature interesting towns and local activities for you to enjoy.
New Zealand’s most easterly city is the prosperous centre of the sun-drenched Eastland Region. Gisborne was known to the Maori as Tairawhiti - ‘the coast where the sun shines across the water’ and in fact the city is the first place in the world to greet the sun each day.
Napier and its pleasant sister city, Hastings make up one of New Zealand’s most attractive regional centres. They serve an area of vividly green rolling hills, alive with sheep and river flats enriched with orchards, market gardens, vineyards and olive groves
This friendly west coast city is the gateway to a prime dairying region that has a most spectacular backdrop, Mt Taranaki (also known as Mt Egmont). New Plymouth is not only rich in farming and alpine scenery but also in arts and crafts, parks and gardens.
Blenheim has just about everything a visitor could wish for - access to a wine trail of 70 vineyards, crystal clear fishing streams, high mountain peaks and native beech forests as well as secluded bush-fringed bays in the stunning Marlborough Sounds.
New Zealand’s largest lake is an immense volcanic crater fed by many sparkling rivers brimming with trout. It is one of the best rainbow and brown trout fisheries in the world. Lake Taupo is dominated by the active volcanoes of Tongariro National Park.
Nelson occupies an extraordinary corner of the South Island, bounded by golden sand beaches and the northernmost slopes of the Southern Alps. The region is richly endowed with scenery, tranquil waters, rich pastures, orchards, vineyards and clay quarries.
Our largest South Island centre has won international aclaim as the ‘Garden City’ and the ‘Most English City in New Zealand’. Christchurch is a very charming and graceful city that values its heritage, culture, arts and environment.
The wild and wonderful West Coast of the South Island is a narrow strip of primeval forest between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea. Greymouth township is the ‘Heart of the Coast’, served by an airport, regular coach links with Christchurch.
This self-styled ‘Adventure Capital of the World’ nestles in the midst of an alpine world that is both visually stunning and physically exhilarating. Queenstown is the destination of choice for the thrill seekers of the world.
Glacier Country is a very special part of New Zealand that has World Heritage Area status. Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier are two charming villages (24 km apart) set amongst some of New Zealand's most spectacular scenery.
