it seems a bit weird to be making an entire country a travel trend, but get over it, because new zealand is quickly becoming a top spot for travelers. long known for it’s great hiking and backpacking, the country is now a top destination for foodies and luxury travelers.
made up of two main islands, the north and the south, new zealand is home to a number of indigenous species and a wide range of climes: from rainforests to snow-covered mountains, from golden sand beaches to rocky shores, from volcanoes to stunning fjords.
auckland is new zealand’s biggest city. it’s at the north end of the north island, and the majority of international flights will land here. a temperate climate in auckland means that it’s nice year round, with average temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees fahrenheit. with plenty of shopping and bar districts within a newly regenerated downtown, it’s very easy to spend a few days in auckland when you first land here.
kiwis are very proud of their native culture – the maori – and you’ll find most signs in both maori and english. the war memorial museum is here, located within the domain, a sprawling, hilly park in the centre of the city, just off parnell. and it’s not all culture in the museum: there are extensive flora, fauna and geological exhibits, including a well-informed interactive volcano exhibit. if you’re there on a weekend, walk down into the parnell farmer’s market and enjoy a street lunch amongst the vendors.
your evenings will be taken up by exploring the many bars and restaurants that auckland has to offer, namely within the new wynyard quarter or the recently restored britomart district. both are waterfront neighbourhoods, and both will be packed.
renting a car is easy to do in new zealand, or if you plan to spend a few months there, you might consider buying a used car. head south toward taupo and rotorua, in the heart of the volcanic hills of the north island. fans of lord of the rings will notice some familiar peaks, but every visitor will enjoy the geothermal pools, and breathtaking scenery. take time to wander through the craters of the moon park, try your hand at the hole in one golf challenge on lake taupo, immerse your family in maori culture at the maori village near rotorua, or rent a bicycle and explore on your own.
at the far end of the north island is the country’s capital city, wellington. once bland and not a must-see, wellington is now a hot foodie spot. celebrity chefs and wannabes alike are heading to the vibrant city to enjoy some of the best coffee, craft beers, wines and food that the country has to offer. and it’s not at all staid semi-british food. think thai, vietnamese, french, italian, turkish.
the national museum, te papa, is located in wellington, and it’s well worth a visit. permanent exhibits include one on maori culture; current exhibitions include air new zealand and gallipoli. another popular tourist attraction is the cable car, a ten-minute ride that takes you from lamnton quay to the botanic gardens and suburban kelburn.
the south island has a lot to offer as well. from the golden sand beaches of abel tasman national park, outside nelson, where you can take guided kayak or paddleboarding trips, or tackle a two-day hike in and back, to the marlborough wine region, along the coast to kaikoura for incredible whale and dolphin watching, down to christchurch, which is still rebuilding after a devastating earthquake in 2011 (it’s now one of the top destinations) across to the west coast, where you’ll find stunning glaciers (fox and franz josef), down further to wanaka and queenstown, tucked high in the southern alps and known as the gateway to milford sound and fjordland, to the central otago wine region, known mostly for pinot noir, and across to dunedin. at the far southern tip is invercargill and stewart island.
dunedin is home to otago university, so expect a lot of young people. dunedin and it suroundings are also home to some of the rarest wildlife in the world: the yellow-eyed penguin and the little blue penguin, to name two. it’s a hip city, full of a vibrant coffee and craft beer culture, similar to wellington. invercargill boasts the title of one of the world’s southernmost cities, at latitude 46.4 degrees south. it’s considered the gateway to the southland region of new zealand. it’s predominantly a farming and service centred community with a lot of scottish influence, similar to dunedin. access to stewart island, a multicultural island of about 400 people of norse/scottish/maori descent, is by ferry or small plane. they call themselves the island of tranquility, and if you’re looking for a unique vacation spot, this is it.
so, travel trends: new zealand. did i miss anything? do you have a favourite hot spot you like in new zealand? tell me!
for more information on queenstown, read my destinations post. {auckland and wellington coming soon}