White Island
White Island Imagine walking on one of the world’s most accessible marine volcanoes, where the ground hisses beneath your feet and pools of thick, bubbling mud spring up from the sulfur-tinged Earth. This is the scene on White Island off the coast of Whakatane, where a lunar landscape full of geot
Whangaroa Harbour
Whangaroa Harbour Whangaroa Harbour is a coastal town that defines the beauty of the Northland. Quieter than Paihia in the Bay of Islands and set amidst rolling green hills, Whangaroa Harbour is a laidback retreat full of anglers, hikers, and divers. The fishing here in this protected harbor is so
Wellington’s Greenbelt
Wellington’s Greenbelt In the Fellowship of the Ring, Wellington’s Greenbelt is where the hobbits nervously hide when escaping the evil Black Rider. In real life, however, Wellington’s Greenbelt is an agreeable area of protected open space in the hills. Given the tracts of undeveloped land, this a
Wanaka
Wanaka This small, but lively resort town serves as the gateway to World Heritage Area, Mt Aspiring National Park and New Zealands fourth-largest lake. Whether you’re looking for peace and quiet or adventures, a long list of options is waiting, and most come with lake and mountain views.With four
Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley
Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley In a region teeming with geothermic attractions, the Wairakei Natural Thermal Valley has a lot of competition, but while the scenery doesn’t quite live up to the mind-blowing landscapes of the nearby Craters of the Moon or Orakei Korako Cave, the park is still one o
Waipahihi Botanical Gardens
Waipahihi Botanical Gardens If you’ve spent a few days exploring New Zealand’s barren geothermal fields and steaming mud pools, you’ll likely be glad for a change of scenery and exploring the lush Waipahihi Botanical Gardens is the perfect antidote. Ablaze with color, the 35-hectare park is bursti
Volcanic Activity Center
Volcanic Activity Center From ground-shuddering earthquakes to lava-spewing volcanoes, New Zealand has seen it all and if you’ve ever wondered how the unearthly geothermal landscapes of Taupo and Rotorua were created, pay a visit to Taupo’s Volcanic Activity Center. Designed not only to tell the e
Town Hall
Town Hall Grandiose in its Baroque design, Auckland’s Town Hall is one of Queen Street’s most prominent and notable buildings. Constructed back in 1911, the Town Hall is one of Auckland’s best venues for musical performances and shows, as its concert chamber is considered to have some of the best
Torlesse Wines
Torlesse Wines Torlesse Wines is one of the older wineries in the Waipara Valley and owns the title of being the first winery in Waipara to bottle with a screw cap instead of a cork. It started with one wine, and now all of Torlesse Wines have screw caps.The winery produces a dozen wines including
The Court Theater
The Court Theater You can’t mention the Christchurch arts scene without also mentioning the Court Theater. Founded in 1971, this professional theater company has provided the people of Christchurch with generations of quality theater. With numerous shows annually and on most nights of the year, th
The Chasm
The Chasm When visiting New Zealand’s Milford Sound, you’d be forgiven for driving straight through from Te Anau and simply just wanting to get there. After all—Milford Sound is one of the world’s most stunningly scenic areas, and it’s hard to bottle the excitable urge to get there as fast as you
Te Paki
Te Paki Located on the Aupouri Peninsula, Te Paki is the northernmost region in New Zealand and hosts one of the nation’s most diverse ecosystems. It’s home to rare–and endangered–flora and fauna, such as the giant flax snail and Bartlett’s rata tree. Ranging from coastal dunes to tall forest
Sulphur Point
Sulphur Point The first thing you notice when you arrive in Rotorua isn’t the natural beauty; instead—it’s the smell. From the moment you set foot in this North Island hot spot, the pungent smell of rotten eggs seems to waft in the air like a cloud. Don’t worry— it doesn’t take long to get used to
St Pauls Anglican Cathedral
St Pauls Anglican Cathedral Set smack in the middle of Dunedin’s Octagon—and thereby the center of town—St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral is unlike any other in New Zealand. First constructed in 1862, the cathedral endured an entire century of half-completed jobs, often because the building party even
St Patricks Cathedral
St Patricks Cathedral Located smack in the middle of Auckland’s downtown, St Patrick’s Cathedral stands in stark contrast to the glitzy city skyline. Founded back in 1841 along with Auckland itself, modern day Auckland has literally grown around the Catholic cathedral. The original structure was m
Stardome and Auckland Observatory
Stardome and Auckland Observatory When native Maori arrived in New Zealand from islands in French Polynesia, they used the stars to find their way across the vast Pacific. Today, nearly 1,000 years after those Polynesian explorers landed on Auckland’s shores, it’s still possible to study the stars
Staglands Wildlife Reserve
Staglands Wildlife Reserve There’s nothing like taking a ride on a donkey cart to remind you that you’ve escaped the city. These rides are just a small portion of the adventures found at the Staglands Wildlife Reserve on the outskirts of Wellington, where families are playfully paired with nature.
Skywalk Auckland
Skywalk Auckland Few places on earth offer the spectacular 360-degree views and thrilling adrenaline spike of Skywalk Auckland. Stationed more than 190 meters above the surrounding New Zealand city, Skywalk and Skyjump bring the adventure this nation is known for into city limits. Daredevil t
SkyJump
SkyJump Most visitors to Auckland at some point in their visit spend a couple of minutes staring up towards the SkyTower. At 1,076 ft. in height, it’s not only the highest structure in New Zealand, but it’s an iconic pinnacle which serves as the centerpiece of the famous Auckland skyline.For the t
Silo Park
Silo Park This free public space located in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter gets its name from the abandoned silos that tower around the park’s grassy field. During summer months, locals gather here to enjoy evening outdoor cinema, as well as live performances that include dance, music and theater.&nbs
