The Best of New Zealand
New Zealand is an aesthetes dream. Every aspect of the country is beautiful – filled with lush forests, breathtaking beaches, jagged mountains that fall deep into pristine lakes and the awe-inspiring Fiords found in the Fiordland national park. Theres just so much to do in New Zealand and we offer all kinds of ways to explore the country – from tours of Australasia to more localised adventures to go in search of the countrys vast coastline and the intriguing indigenous cultures. Take a look below for just a few of our favourites.
One of our favourite things in New Zealand is the sheer breadth of the scenery – we love to walk through the nine great walks of New Zealand especially Heaphy Track and Lake Waikaremoana and end the day with a plate of some of the finest Maori food available. Maori are the indigenous people of New Zealand and their influence on modern Kiwi life can be seen all over the island, but we think that its the roots of Maori culture that are most interesting to witness and so weve scoured the best places to truly immerse yourself in their culture and will include visits to Rotorua where youll explore a Tamaki Maori Village and a living thermal village, and there will be many opportunities to see Maori arts and cultural events such as haka dances.
New Zealand Food & Drinks? New Zealand is well known for its Craft beers but the coffee is certainly the star – and you should take advantage of the booming coffee culture seen in Auckland through to Queensland. The food is similar in many ways to Australian cuisine though with further influences from the Maori culture, South East Asian, East Asian and South Asian cuisines. Some of our favourite foods are traditional Maori dishes such as Kina (sea urchin) and kumara (sweet potato). Theres a good contemporary food scene too – imagine Pacific Rim style fare but modified to fall in line with Mediterranean and Asian cooking techniques. While youre in the country it would be criminal to not try a bottle or two of New Zealand wine – visit Marlborough to sample the fantastic Sauvignon Blanc, or Aucklands Waiheke Island for the award winning Cabernets.
Milford Sound – If youre visiting the Fiordland, then youll find quite quickly that Milford Sound is the most accessible fiord. Its entirely beautiful with glistening lakes and snowcapped peaks which look their best when dropping through thick layers of mist and fog creating one of the continents most dramatic scenes. One of the best ways to fully experience it is by taking a cruise through the fiord – which not only takes you through the incredible natural scenery but also opens up the chance to do a little dolphins, seal and penguin spotting.
Taupo – The little town of Taupo is situated on the banks of Lake Taupo and though small we adore spending days at a time here – simply strolling the banks of the lake, watching the sun set over the peaks of the Tongariro National Park. Even better though is the beautiful Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park which has an incredible collection of hot pools – perfect for a rejuvenating weekend after a couple of weeks exploring the countryside!
Auckland – Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand, and full of things to explore. It isnt just city life though, youll also find volcanoes and vast lengths of beautiful coastline, contrasting perfectly with the city centre which has a glistening modern skyline framing the neon centre piece – the Sky Tower. If youre a fan of getting beneath the skin of a city then head into the inner-city suburbs and indulge in an infamous Auckland coffee. Afterwards theres nothing better than to take an evening stroll on the Devonport beach which give the most perfect views of the Auckland city skyline.
Cook Islands – Ok – so while not strictly a part of New Zealand – they are easy enough to reach and are a castaways dream come true! These 15 beautiful islands are idyllic and stunning and form some 240 square kilometres of pure, unadulterated paradise. Imagine empty, vast stretches of white sand beaches, lush forestry in the centre of each island and pristine turquoise waters.If you feel the need to escape there is no better place. Its quite literally a paradise on earth.
If youre ready to book your holiday to New Zealand, then youll find that we have a great collection of tours and offers available – take a look here – and remember – when you book with us you can save up to 5%.