-
Mt Eden
From the top of Auckland’s highest volcanic cone (196m) the entire isthmus and both harbours are laid bare. The symmetrical crater (50m deep) is known as Te Ipu Kai a Mataaho (the Food Bowl of Mataaho, the god of things hidden in the ground) and is considered highly tapu (sacred).
-
Auckland Zoo
At this modern, spacious zoo, the big foreigners tend to steal the attention from the timid natives, but if you can wrestle the kids away from the tigers and orangutans, theres a well-presented NZ section. Called Te Wao Nui, its divided into six ecological zones: Coast (seals, peng
-
Civic Theatre
The mighty Civic (1929) is one of only seven ‘atmospheric theatres’ remaining in the world and a fine survivor from cinema’s Golden Age. The auditorium has lavish Moorish decoration and a starlit southern-hemisphere night sky in the ceiling, complete with cloud projections and shoo
-
E Hayes & Sons
We cant think of another hardware shop to have made it into a Lonely Planet guidebook, but in among the aisles of bolts, barbecues and brooms in this classic art-deco building are over 100 items of motoring memorabilia, including the actual motorbike on which the late Burt Munro br
-
Cathedral Cove
Beautiful Cathedral Cove, with its famous gigantic stone arch and natural waterfall shower, is best enjoyed early or late in the day – avoiding the worst of the hordes. From the car park, a kilometre north of Hahei, it’s a rolling walk of around 30 to 40 minutes. On the way there’s
-
Queenstown Gardens
Set on its own little tongue of land framing Queenstown Bay, this pretty park was laid out in 1876 by those garden-loving Victorians as a place to promenade. The clothes may have changed (theyve certainly shrunk), but people still flock to this leafy peninsula to stroll, picnic and
-
International Antarctic Centre
Part of a huge complex built for the administration of the NZ, US and Italian Antarctic programs, this centre gives visitors the opportunity to see penguins and learn about the icy continent. Attractions include the Antarctic Storm chamber, where you can get a taste of -18°C wind c
-
Waiuta
A once-burgeoning gold town abandoned in 1951 after the mineshaft collapsed, remote Waiuta is one of the West Coasts most famous ghost towns, complete with a big old rusty boiler, an overgrown swimming pool, stranded brick chimneys and the odd intact cottage, which face off against
-
Otago Museum
The centrepiece of this august institution is Southern Land, Southern People, showcasing Otago’s cultural and physical past and present, from geology and dinosaurs to the modern day. The Tāngata Whenua Māori gallery houses an impressive waka taua (war canoe), wonderfully worn old c
-
Orokonui Ecosanctuary
From the impressive visitors centre there are great views over this 307-hectare predator-free nature reserve, which encloses cloud forest on the mountainous ridge above Port Chalmers and stretches to the estuary on the opposite side. Its mission is to provide a mainland refuge for
-
Hells Gate & Wai Ora Spa
Known as Tikitere to the Māori, Hells Gate is an impressive geothermal reserve 16km northeast of Rotorua on the Whakatane road (SH30). The reserve covers 10 hectares, with a 2.5km walking track to the various attractions, including a hot thermal waterfall. You can see a master wood
-
Mt Ruapehu
Mt Ruapehu (2797m) is the North Islands highest mountain and one of the world’s most active volcanoes. One year-long eruption began in March 1945, spreading lava over Crater Lake and sending clouds of ash as far as Wellington. On Christmas Eve 1953, the crater-lake lip collapsed an
-
Whakarewarewa Village
Whakarewarewa Thermal Village is a living village where tangata whenua (the locals) still reside, as they have for centuries. The villagers show you around and tell you the stories of their way of life and the significance of the steamy bubbling pools, silica terraces and geysers w
-
Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
A community trust has erected 47km of pest-proof fencing around the triple peaks of Maungatautari (797m) to create the impressive Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari. This atoll of rainforest dominates the skyline between Te Awamutu and Karapiro and is now home to its first kiwi chick
-
Te Puia
This thermal reserve is 3km south of the city centre, and features more than 500 springs. The most famous is Pohutu (‘Big Splash’ or ‘Explosion’), a geyser which erupts up to 20 times a day, spurting hot water up to 30m skyward. You’ll know when it’s about to blow because the adjac
-
Farewell Spit
Bleak, exposed and positively sci-fi, Farewell Spit is a wetland of international importance and a renowned bird sanctuary – the summer home of thousands of migratory waders, notably the godwit (which flies all the way from the Arctic tundra), Caspian tern and Australasian gannet.
-
Larnach Castle
Standing proudly on top of a hill, this gorgeous Gothic Revival mansion was built in 1871 by Dunedin banker, merchant and Member of Parliament William Larnach to impress his wife, who was descended from French nobility. Its filled with intricate woodwork and exquisite antique furni
-
Denniston Plateau
Six hundred metres above sea level, Denniston was once NZs largest coal town, with 1500 residents in 1911. By 1981 there were eight. Its claim to fame was the fantastically steep Denniston Incline, which hurtled laden wagons down a 45-degree hillside.Excellent interpretive displays
-
Lake Tarawera
Pretty Lake Tarawera offers swimming, fishing, cruises and walks. Clearwater Cruises runs scenic cruises and self-drive boat options, while Lake Tarawera Water Taxi & Eco Tours offers boat trips and water taxi transfers (must be prebooked) to Hot Water Beach and for the Tarawer
-
Maketu Marae
From Kawhia Wharf, a track extends along the coast to Maketu Marae, which has an impressively carved meeting house, Auaukiterangi. Two stones here – Hani and Puna – mark the burial place of the Tainui waka (a 14th-century ancestral canoe). You can’t see a lot from the road, but the
Total
840 -travel
FirstPage PreviousPage NextPage LastPage CurrentPage:
38/42 20-travel/Page GoTo Page:
