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Milford Sound: The Milford Track starts from the head of Lake Te Anau, crossing Mackinnon Pass and descends to Milford Sound with a side trip to the 630 metre high Sutherland Falls. Milford Sound is a fiord, whose granite walls tower to the skies. Even the road into Milford via the Eglinton and Upper Hollyford valleys, is a scenic extravaganza with beech forest climbing steep slopes to snow-capped summits. In winter the Homer Tunnel approaches can be a complete whiteout fairytale scene. Mitre Peak is a glaciated, sheer-sided slab of rock, shaped like a pyramid, which soars 1,700 meters to the sky. The waterway's entire 22 km length is enclosed with similar vertical rock faces topped by mountain peaks. It is a mystical, breathtaking scene and is perhaps New Zealand's most iconic landmark.
Franz Josef: Franz Josef Glacier is the focal point for the Westland National Park and the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. It is an unusually steep and heavily crevassed glacier and is the world's steepest and fastest flowing commercially guided glacier.
Fox Glacier Region: The Fox Glacier, about 14 kilometres long, drops from 2750 metres above sea level to about 245 metres. Both glaciers are fed from the same neve (snow catchment area), which is located on a plateau high in the Southern Alps. The neve is up to 300 metres deep and forces its huge mass down under gravity. As the glacier moves the intense pressure it creates opens up crevices and splits in the ice.
Mount Cook: At 3754 metres (12316 ft) this is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Mt. Cook is a continuous source of attraction for tourists, mountaineers and skiers alike. Enthusiasts can be transported to the high snow by ski planes and skiing is a year round activity. Flights are also available to view the scenery and walks can be taken in the area to enable visitors to enjoy the natural splendour.
Queenstown: Situated on the shores of the beautiful Lake Wakatipu and nestled in a superb alpine setting, Queenstown is a year round holiday destination, where each season brings a distinctive mood. Tourists from around the world throng the narrow streets of the town, creating an extremely cosmopolitan atmosphere, which despite its modern hotels, shops and restaurants retains much of its colonial appearance. One early resident described it as "A town fit for a Queen" which was to lead to the name by which the town is now known.
Beautiful Bay of Islands: The world famous Bay of Island with its sheltered anchorages and temperate climate has attracted sailors from around the world for over a century. Sleepy bays, protected inlets, sweeping stretches of golden sandy beaches, clear waters overflowing with an abundance of fish life... this is the essence of the Bay of Islands, a favourite with cruising yachtsmen.
Coromandel Peninsula: The Coromandel, New Zealanders favourite destination, is within an hour's drive of the major centres of Auckland and Hamilton and their International Airports and yet the region is a world away from the hustle and bustle of those cities. Fabulous golden and white sand beaches with magnificent coastal scenery, a rugged, forest cloaked interior waiting to be explored are just some of the natural attractions that have people returning to The Coromandel time after time.
Kaikoura: The seaside settlement of Kaikoura, situated midway between Christchurch and Picton on the rugged east coast of New Zealand's South Island, is overlooked by majestic mountains, which are snow-capped for many months of the year. The unique combination of mountains and sea offers stunning coastal alpine scenery and a host of ecotourism oriented activities like whale watching, dolphin swimming, walks and much ore. Kaikoura is a relaxing place and offers cultural attractions with great gastronomic experiences.
Picton: Picton is the base for aquatic activities, including dolphin watch eco tours, and fishing excursions. The pretty port town is the terminal for the Cook Strait ferry and is well supplied with accommodation, cafes and restaurants, offering local seafood specialties.
Auckland: The largest and most populous city of New Zealand is one of the most exciting waterside cities in the world. It is a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city that offers an abundance of activities for the adventurer, the nature follower, the backpacker or the pleasure seeker. A mere stroll down its main artery Queens Street is normally not enough, as exploration of its heart - the magnificent harbour would be necessary. Auckland is surrounded by water and covered by volcanic hills. The city has attracted immigrants from Asia, over the recent past which in turn has helped give Auckland a more cosmopolitan feel than any other New Zealand city.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves: For more than 100 years the Glowworm Cave of Waitomo has attracted millions of people from all over the world. A small glowing insect no bigger than an average mosquito has fascinated and intrigued people from all walks of life. In an average year, 400,000 people travel to Waitomo to experience the trip of a lifetime. Well laid out scenic tracks through beautiful native bush surround the Caves, offer pleasant walks of varying distances.
Rotorua: This is one of the most famous destinations in New Zealand, and has a long history of welcoming visitors. From the moment people arrive in Rotorua they know they're somewhere quite different. There is a scent of sulphur in the air, and at nearby geothermal hotspots there are spouting geysers, acrid-smelling mud pools bubbling and belching, and warm geothermal pools and ponds that create a kaleidoscope of colour.
Christchurch: The charm of Christchurch is derived from the River Avon, which runs through the center of the town and also many of the suburbs. Walks along the banks of the Avon create and almost rural atmosphere right in the heart of the city.
Whakarewarewa: It is a thermal village, where the Maoris prepare and cook food using natural steam vents, bathe in mineral springs, and entertain tourists with traditional Maori song and dance. Attractions are the world famous penny drivers, the pohutu and the Prince of Wales geysers.
Dunedin: Dunedin, New Zealand's oldest city possesses a unique combination of cultural riches, fine architecture, and world famous wildlife reserves on the Otago peninsula. Soaring cathedral spires, a Flemish style railway station, fine banks, office banks, a nineteenth century castle, old university buildings and a neo-gothic convent are amongst the city's architectural treasures. Its art galleries and museums contain some of the best collections in New Zealand.
Wellington: It is a picture perfect city set between a magnificent harbor and rolling green hills. It is also a compact city where funky shops, exciting galleries and great restaurants are within easy walking distance.
Westland National Park: Westland National Park includes a complete cross-section of the landscape of the South Island of New Zealand, west of the main divide, from the highest summits of the Southern Alps down to the sea. At Fox and Franz Joseph it is possible to get good views of the glaciers from high points, and to go very close to the glaciers' terminal tongues. A few longer walks lead to places above the snowline with extensive views of the glaciers, the main divide, the lowland forests and the sea. Westland National Park retains some of the most extensive tracts of native forest in New Zealand, especially lowland rimu and kahikatea forest. There is a choice of walks to discover and enjoy these magnificent places. Especially popular are the walks to Lakes Matheson and Gault. These two small lakes are set in old moraines and surrounded by dense forest, their dark waters reflecting perfect mirror images of the glaciated peaks of the Southern Alps. There is a large heron colony in the park.
Introduction 25 Reasons to visit New Zealand Main Attractions
Visas
Itineraries:
10 Days Wonderful New Zealand
10 Days South Island with Abel Tasman National Park
16 Days Romance and Adventure
23 Days Best of New Zealand
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