NEW ZEALAND

Sightseeing Extravaganza

Blessed New Zealand

New Zealand is as close to paradise as it gets on this earth. Whether you're looking for a thrilling adventure, a sightseeing extravaganza, or the chance to explore a countryside that is richly blessed in natural beauty, New Zealand is the place for you.

THE AREA

Many visitors begin their holiday in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. Although Auckland has a true big-city feel, Mother Nature has blessed the area with many natural wonders. Take a day trip from Auckland to see and explore a rainforest, volcanoes, and gorgeous beaches. Another option is to explore the nearby Matakana coast. Escape from the city and enjoy bountiful vineyards and wineries, a honey center, art galleries, and boutique shopping. You won't want to miss out on a glass-bottomed boat ride through the Goat Island Marine Reserve!

THE CULTURE

The Kiwi culture is vibrant and alive in the South Island town of Queenstown. Adventurers flock to this city for the chance to sky dive, jet boat, and bungee jump. However, this city is also famous for more calm and relaxing ventures such as a thriving art community, botanical gardens, a tranquil waterfront, and a plethora of buildings and sites for history lovers to enjoy and explore.Your once-in-a-lifetime vacation starts and ends in New Zealand. Don't pass up your chance to visit and explore paradise.

#NZMustDo

New Zealand is jam-packed with things to do. The hardest part of planning your holiday will be deciding which to do first!

BUNGY

Take a leap of faith on a bungy at the original Kawarau Bungy site, or New Zealand's highest at the top of the Nevis (both in Queenstown). Or for a completely different style of bungy, why not try the Auckland Harbour Bridge or Taupo Bungy on the Waikato River. As the home of bungy, New Zealand doesn’t disappoint!

OFF-ROAD DRIVING

Buckle-up, hold tight and head out on a scenic wilderness off-road adventure on one of New Zealand’s comprehensive network of back-country roads and tracks. Or why not try your luck on the colossal sand dunes of the popular Ninety Mile Beach in Northland.

STARGAZING

If you come in winter, you might be lucky enough to catch the symphony of colour that is the Aurora Australis. Identical to the Northern Lights, this phenomenon is caused by the collision of atoms and energy-charged particles above the North and South Poles. These collisions are brought to life by spectacular sheets of purple, green, yellow and blue that dance silently across the night sky. The Southern Lights are seen mainly in the southern half of the South Island, in and around Lake Tekapo, Dunedin, Queenstown, Southland and Stewart Island. To maximise your chances, aim for a clear winter's night sky close to a new moon in either July or August.

SKIING

The Christchurch – Canterbury region stretches from ocean to Alps, contrasting sweeping plains and mountain peaks. Just 1 ½ hours from Christchurch, Mt Hutt is a giant amongst giants that boasts the longest ski season in New Zealand. Nearby Porters is a haven for learners on up.

Top Events in NZ

Whether you're into beer, culture, sport, or all of the above, add a New Zealand event to your itinerary. Browse by category and start planning your trip!

JANUARY/FEBRUARY: BIG DAY OUT

New Zealand’s biggest mainstream music festival tours around the country in the middle of summer. Some of the biggest acts from round the world perform on multiple stages in what is always one of New Zealand’s ‘biggest days out’.

JANUARY – WORLD BUSKERS FESTIVAL

Any festival tagline that says ‘expect the unexpected’ has to be good, and the World Buskers Festival is not just good, it’s great. In to its 18th year over 300,000+ attend each year making Christchurch one of the places to be.

MARCH – AUCKLAND CUP WEEK

Australia has the Melbourne Cup. New Zealand has the Auckland Cup. This is a thoroughbred racehorse competition competed over 3,200 metres. It is the equivalent of the ‘Grand National’. Go on, take a punt…

MARCH/APRIL: BALLOONS OVER WAIKATO

It doesn’t take much to explain this festival. It is balloons over Waikato. Done. OK, a little bit more. It is based in Hamilton and is the biggest hot-air balloon event in New Zealand. There are competitions too, and it’s free to enter.

APRIL: FESTIVAL OF COLOUR

The Southern Lakes Festival of Colour is a biennial celebration of the arts set against the beautiful backdrop of Central Otago lakes. The festival is based in Wanaka but also includes Queenstown, Luggate, Hawea, Cromwell and Glenorchy, so wherever you are in NZ you’ll be covered.

APRIL: ANZAC DAY

A national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who died in honour for their country.

MAY: NZ INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL

This is the biggest comedy festival in NZ and it is in its 19th year, featuring hundreds of comedians from all over the world. If you want comedy in NZ then Wellington is the place to be.

JUNE/JULY: MATARIKI FESTIVAL

Otherwise known at the Maori New Year, the Matariki Festival is a celebration of Maori culture, language, spirit and people. This annual event in Auckland has a broad range of such as art workshops & displays, flax weaving, kapa haka performances, music, storytime, movies & many other events.

OCTOBER: AUCKLAND INTERNATIONAL CARNIVAL

Experience the dazzling spectacular of ‘Carnival’! Two day festival extravaganza, offering visitors the opportunity to experience the melting pot of cultures and people that makes Auckland unique. Costume parade, entertainment shows, masquerade ball, stalls & much more.

Travel to New Zealand

AIRPORTS

You can fly between all New Zealand cities and most major towns using domestic air services. Air New Zealand and Jetstar are the main providers. Their services are complemented by regional airlines, charter companies and scenic flight operators. New Zealand has many regional airports, making it easy to get around the country.

SELF-DRIVING

Exploring New Zealand’s beautiful landscapes by car, campervan or motorhome is a popular way to get around. Even if you’re used to driving in other places, you need to be well aware of things like weather extremes, narrow, windy roads and different road rules before you begin on your journey. We drive on the left hand side of the road and our vehicles seat the driver on the right. Always drive on the left hand side of the road in New Zealand. If you’re used to driving on the right hand side of the road, this can be a challenge to remember especially when pulling out into traffic. Remember - if you are driving, you must be seated in the middle of the road – your front seat passenger will be the on edge of the road.

RAIL

Trains are not a common form of public transport in New Zealand; however there are three main train lines operated by KiwiRail: Auckland to Wellington (Northern Explorer), Picton to Christchurch (Coastal Pacific), and Christchurch to the West Coast (the TranzAlpine - considered one fo the most scenic rail journeys in the world). Train tickets start from around NZ$49 per person.

BUS

Buses are the cheapest and most common form of public transport available for travelling between towns and cities. Intercity and Naked Bus are the two main providers of this service, and fares start from around NZ$10. Although not public transport, hop-on hop-off buses are also a popular way to get around New Zealand, especially among backpackers. Choose your pass and make up your itinerary as you go along.

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