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Big Carrot
Maybe not so much Dont Miss as Impossible to Miss, this roadside tribute to Ohakunes biggest crop was erected in 1984 and quickly became one of NZ’s most hugged ‘Big Things’. Carrots were first grown in the area during the 1920s by Chinese settlers, who cleared the land by hand and
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Ake Ake
Wine tastings are free with lunch or purchase of wine. The restaurant (mains $28 to $34, lunch platters $25 to $48) is one of Northlands best, but phone ahead for opening hours outside of the summer months. Free overnight parking is available in the vineyard grounds for self-contai
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Baldwin St
The world’s steepest residential street (or so says the Guinness Book of World Records ), at its peak Baldwin St has a gradient of 1 in 2.86 (19°). From the city centre, head 2km north up Great King St to where the road branches sharp left to Timaru. Get in the right-hand lane and
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Agrodome
Learn everything you need to know about sheep at the Agrodome. Shows include a parade of champion rams, a livestock auction, and shearing and doggy displays. The tour lets you check out farm animals including, among others, sheep. Other agro-attractions include a shearing-shed muse
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Gondola
Take a ride to the top of Mt Cavendish (500m) on this 945m cable car for wonderful views over the city, Lyttelton, Banks Peninsula and the Canterbury Plains. At the top theres a cafe and the child-focused Time Tunnel ride through historical scenes. You can also walk to Cavendish Bl
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Tawhiti Museum
The excellent Tawhiti Museum houses a collection of exhibits, dioramas and creepily lifelike human figures modelled on people from the region. A large collection of tractors pays homage to the areas rural heritage; theres also a bush railway and a Traders & Whalers boat ride (e
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Putiki Church
Across the City Bridge from town and 1km towards the sea is the Putiki Church (aka St Paul’s Memorial Church). It’s unremarkable externally but, just like the faithful pew-fillers, it’s what’s inside that counts: the interior is magnificent, completely covered in Māori carvings and
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Wellington Zoo
Committed to conservation, research and captive breeding programs, Wellington Zoo is home to a menagerie of native and exotic wildlife, including lions and tamarins. The nocturnal house has kiwi and tuatara. ‘Close encounters’ allow you to meet the big cats, red pandas, giraffes an
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Kuirau Park
Want some affordable geothermal thrills? Just west of central Rotorua is Kuirau Park, a volcanic area you can explore for free. In 2003 an eruption covered much of the park (including the trees) in mud, drawing crowds of spectators. It has a crater lake, pools of boiling mud and pl
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Tongariro National Trout Centre
Around 4km south of Turangi, this DOC-managed trout hatchery has polished educational displays, a collection of rods and reels dating back to the 1880s, and freshwater aquariums displaying river life, both nasty and nice. A gentle stroll along the landscaped walkway leads to the ha
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Gibbston Valley
The areas oldest commercial winery (established in the early 1980s), Gibbston Valley makes excellent pinot noir and has a large visitor complex incorporating a restaurant and a cheesery. Tours of the winery and the impressive wine cave leave on the hour from 10am to 4pm. In summer,
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Albert Park
Hugging the hill on the city’s eastern flank, Albert Park is a charming Victorian formal garden overrun by students from the neighbouring University of Auckland during term time. The park was once part of the Albert Barracks (1847), a fortification that enclosed 9 hectares during t
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Gold Discovery Centre
Waihi’s superb new Gold Discovery Centre tells the area’s gold-mining past, present and future through interactive displays, focusing on the personal and poignant to tell interesting stories. Holograms and short movies both feature, drawing visitors in and informing them through en
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Otatara Pā Historic Reserve
Wooden palisades, carved pou (memorial posts) and a carved gate help bring this pa (fortified village) site to life. An hour-long loop walk across grassy hills passes barely discernible archaeological remains but affords terrific views of the surrounding countryside. From the city
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Orana Wildlife Park
Orana describes itself as an open range zoo and youll know what they mean if you opt to jump in the cage for the lion encounter (an additional $45). Theres an excellent, walk-through native-bird aviary, a nocturnal kiwi house, and a reptile exhibit featuring tuatara. Most of the 80
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Stony Batter Historic Reserve
At the eastern end of the island, privately owned Stony Batter has WWII tunnels and gun emplacements that were built in 1941 to defend Auckland’s harbour. The 20-minute walk from the car park leads through private farmland; bring cash for the entry fee. At the time of writing the t
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Monteith’s Brewing Co
The original Monteiths brewhouse may simply be brand HQ for mainstream product largely brewed elsewhere, but it still delivers heritage in spades through its excellent-value guided tour (25 minutes, includes generous samples; four tours daily). The flash tasting room-cum-bar is now
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Otorohanga Kiwi House & Native Bird Park
This bird barn has a nocturnal enclosure where you can see active kiwi energetically digging with their long beaks, searching for food. This is one of the only places where you can see a great spotted kiwi, the biggest of the three kiwi species. Brown kiwi are also on display, and
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Lost Gypsy Gallery
Fashioned from remaindered bits and bobs, artist Blair Sommervilles intricately crafted automata are wonderfully irreverent. The bamboozling collection in the bus (free entry) is a teaser for the carnival of creations through the gate (young children not allowed, sorry…). The buzz,
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Rawhiti Cave
The ultimate in geological eye-candy around these parts are the phytokarst features of Rawhiti Cave, 15-minutes drive from Takaka (reached via Motupipi, turning right into Glenview Rd, then left into Packard Rd and follow the signs). The rugged two-hour-return walk (steep in places
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