This clean, green, bush-fringed city lies due west of Auckland, nestled in the enveloping folds of the Waitakere Ranges. It's citizens know nothing of grid patterned streets in high-density conurbations. They enjoy a lifestyle that offers the best of both worlds - access to the facilities of metropolitan Auckland.
Kia Ora, welcome to Manukau, the vibrant, diverse and unique regional hub south of Auckland city. This rapidly expanding multicultural city calls itself ‘The Face of the Future’ celebrating youth and vitality and the 55 ethnic groups that call Manukau home. The city centre is very close to Auckland International Airport.
Drive over the Rimutaka Hill from Wellington and you enter a different world as the Wairarapa Valley opens up before you. This is still 'Capital Country' but without the stress. Here you can enjoy a slower pace - a happy blend of latté and lifestyle, wine and wilderness.
Castlepoint, 65 km east of Masterton, is a summer retreat amidst dramatic lagoon and lighthouse scenery where soul-uplifting and mind-clearing walks are de rigueur. The sandy beaches and craggy headlands, mark the only significant break in 300 km of desolate, wind-battered coastline from Cape Palliser to Cape Kidnappers in Hawke's Bay.
Masterton promotes itself as being a 'World Away Over the Hill' but still offers all the amenities for a perfect holiday retreat. The 32 hectare Queen Elizabeth Park is perhaps its most endearing asset for families. Attractions include a superbly designed lake, an aviary, children's playground, mini-golf, swing bridge, glorious gardens and a deer park.
Masterton's commercial centre is strung along three parallel roads - Chapel, Queen and Dixon Streets. The wining and dining scene is excellent with modern restaurants, cafes and bars. The superb Aratoi Art and History Museum has a pleasant cafe. Cafe Solway, behind the Copthorne Resort, is fully licensed with a blackboard menu.
New Plymouth is certainly blessed with an unusual beauty rarely found in other parts of the world. The majestic volcanic cone of Mt Taranaki provides an incredible backdrop to the stunning coastline
Surrounding Districts If you and your friends are up for real adventure then take a ¾ hour drive out of town to Waitomo Caves. Surrounded by picturesque native bush, here is where you can take on more courageous pursuits.
