Bustling cities and wild nature
On the North Island, bustling cities form the portal to improbably diverse natural landscapes. From the north Auckland you are in half an hour in the native rainforest of the magical Waitakere Ranges and sails or kayaks in no time between whales, penguins, dolphins and marlins in Bay of Islands' clear blue waters. Northeast beckons Coromandel, a hippie-like peninsula where kaurie trees grow, you stay overnight in a 'bach' and on Hot Water Beach you can dig your own spa. Slightly lower await the clouds and steam-shrouded streets of Rotorua, a city adorned by the Maori with their art, culture and history.
The geothermal centre of the island is Tongariro National Park, a spectacular area where emerald lakes, ancient lava flows, steaming craters, colorful silica terraces and peculiar alpine gardens compete for attention. On the East Coast, in Hawkes Bay you can enjoy abundant wine tastings in a sun-drenched backdrop of beautiful landscapes and stunning architecture. Along the West Coast, the long and powerful waves invite you to surf mecca Raglan and the epic barrels in the bays of Taranaki scream to be ridden.
From southern Wellington is a scenic drive across the Remutakas Range that leads through the winelands from Martinborough to Cape Palliser, which is home to an impressive colony of NZ fur seals. Also, the special Kapiti Island is very worthwhile, where some of the most endangered bird species live and the protected waters are filled with abundant marine life. Where the world can't find you...
