​New Zealanders sometimes refer to their country as "God Zone," a rather prideful twist on the phrase "God's Own." But if you like gorgeous scenery and gutsy people, you'll agree with them. New Zealand is blessed with some of the most varied and dramatic terrain in the world—from glaciers, fjords and beaches to mountains, meadows and rain forests, known to New Zealanders as "native bush."

New Zealand consists of two large islands (called the North Island and the South Island), as well as numerous small islands. Both major islands are mountainous with coastal plains. The North Island is more populated and has a warmer, temperate climate, along with vigorous geothermal areas and active volcanoes. The South Island has a more open, spacious feel with spectacular fjords, glaciers, agricultural plains, and hundreds of streams and lakes.

The kiwi is a flightless native bird about the size of a large chicken and, relative to its body size, lays the largest egg of any bird—up to 20% of its body weight. There are six varieties of kiwi; females are always larger and more aggressive than the males. They are active at night, sniffing out worms using tiny nostrils at the end of their long beaks.

When people say kia ora (pronounced kee-a or-a), they are offering an informal greeting in Maori that can be used instead of hello.

New Zealand's "living dinosaur," the Tuatara lizard, has a third eye, an organ under its skin in the middle of the head, which is sensitive to light.

Everyone should visit New Zealand at least once. The country's foremost attractions include great natural beauty, mountains and glaciers, rain forests, beaches, bright blue skies, fjords, fishing, sailing, surfing, scuba diving, skiing, golf, hiking, thermal baths, wildlife and sheep, friendly people, Maori culture, vineyards and fresh seafood.

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Auckland The city is home to New Zealand’s biggest mix of culture, where international food and tradition go hand in hand with the Kiwi way of life. You’ll find foodie favourites, international and local art, and an incredible range of beaches where you can soak up the sun. 

Auckland is tropical in the summer and mild in the colder seasons. The weather can change in a heartbeat, so if it’s not quite your cup of tea, give it an hour. It’s a sprawling city, so it helps if you can get your hands on a car, but there’s loads of public transport to make getting around easy. It’s worth remembering that Auckland is called the City of Sails for a reason; boating is big here, and there are plenty of places to get out on the water.  From Viaduct Harbour you can get aboard a genuine America's cup yacht, go ocean jet boating, take a lunchtime harbour cruise or catch a fishing charter.

Auckland could just as easily be called the City of Volcanoes. There are more than 48 extinct volcanic cones and craters in the region. One of the biggest is Mount Eden. Hike to the top and you'll see many of the other volcanic cones dotted around the landscape. Auckland's volcanoes are a bit special, because they are monogenetic, meaning they erupt only once. The exception is Rangitoto, which erupted several times.

Glow-worms

Waitomo is a village on the North Island of New Zealand. It’s known for its extensive underground cave systems with thousands of glow-worms that light up the caves. 
The glowworms found in the Waitomo and Ruakuri caves are the larvae of a species of gnat called Arachnocampa luminosa, which is unique to New Zealand. Glowworms glow because their tails are bioluminescent – the chemicals they produce react with the oxygen in the air to generate light. They spin sticky threads from the roof of the cave, and use the light from their tails to attract other insects and trap them in the threads for a tasty meal!
The Waitomo Caves are the perfect environment for glowworms, because they are dark, damp, and sheltered. This means the glowworms’ lights can be seen and their feeding threads don’t get dried out or damaged by wind. The river that flows through the caves brings them plenty of insects to catch. The caves are carefully monitored to make sure the glowworms have everything they need.

Rotorua

 Rotorua captures the essence of New Zealand with its geothermal geysers, fascinating Maori culture and rich heritage. The city is positioned on the Pacific Rim of Fire, and is therefore one of the world's most active geothermal areas. Rotorua's volcanic activity has drawn visitors to the region for generations and when it comes to things to do in Rotorua, no visit is complete without exploring its spectacular thermal parks and attractions including spouting geysers, bubbling mud pools and colourful sinter terraces.

It’s also home to a living Maori village and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, with traditional wood carving and weaving schools. The cultural shows are performed by one of Rotorua's leading Kapa Haka groups, Te Pakira. Many of these talented performing artists have followed in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents as Māori performers. Each performance includes Waiata (songs) of our history, Patere (rhythmic chants), stick games, poi dancing, and the world-famous HAKA war challenge. 

Wellington

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is located at the southern tip of the North Island. Known as Windy Wellington and is New Zealand's cool little capital.  This compact and characterful city is packed with cultural activities, one-of-a-kind shops and creative eateries. Did you know that Wellington has more restaurants and cafes per capita than New York? Taxis and public transport make it easy to get around car-free, or you can simply walk.

Wellington's waterfront is a true gem and a great starting point for immersing yourself in its arts and culture. It's easy to pass a day strolling the harbor's edge, ducking into museums and admiring the sculptures along the way.

Lord of The Rings fans should pay a visit to Weta Workshop and Weta Cave; tours offer behind-the-scenes insight into the making of Peter Jackson's famous films. Wellington also happens to be a base for various Middle-earth tours, although the scenery on these may not be on the same scale as their South Island counterparts.

Weather in Wellington is famously finicky, but luckily the city buzzes with outstanding bars, cafes and restaurants. Cuba Street and Courtenay Place are the main hubs of entertainment.

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Kaikoura Delight in the chance to embark on a whale watching cruise, where you may catch a glimpse of the arc of a tail, or a spouting fountain from a blowhole. Here is one of the few areas on Earth where sperm whales can be sighted all year round thanks to the deep Kaikoura Canyon that runs along the coast. 

Blenheim

​Blenheim  Known as a gateway to the wineries of the Wairau Valley to the west. In town, the Marlborough Museum chronicles the development of winemaking, plus early Polynesian settlement of the region. The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre houses filmmaker Peter Jackson’s collection of World War I aircraft, displayed in sets re-creating their flight history.

The Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, the most famous glaciers in New Zealand, are located on the South Island, on the western side of the Southern Alps within Westland National Park. Both are spectacular, especially their proximity to the sea (15 mi/25 km separate the two), but if your time is limited, plan to see at least one. You can walk over the moraine and right up to the edge of the glaciers, but we recommend that you take a guided walk on the glaciers.

Or, if you feel like splurging, take a flight-seeing tour by helicopter or plane (helicopters land on the glaciers and let you out to walk around). Weather conditions can affect the flights at any time of year, but winter weather can also make getting to the glaciers overland from Christchurch—about 315 mi/510 km to the east via Arthur's Pass—or Queenstown difficult, as mountain passes may be closed.

Christchurch This beautiful city has heritage buildings, picturesque parks, cool street art and unexpected adventures, like punting on the River Avon. Christchurch's heritage trams are a fun and easy way to travel around the city's main attractions including the Arts Centre precinct, the Botanic Gardens and colourful New Regent St.

Founded in 1850 as a Church of England colony, it is a picturesque mix of the old, the quasi-old and the somewhat new. Expansive parks lend Christchurch the nickname "The Garden City."

The Avon River curves through the city and its parks, and you can drift along the river in a punt (a shallow-bottomed boat propelled by a long pole), enjoy a picnic lunch on its banks or just take a nice walk.

Queenstown

Queenstown If outdoor adventure is your travel goal, Queenstown is the place to go. Scores of well-equipped and experienced adventure-tour operators there do a good job of organizing activities for you, and the scenic beauty of the surroundings will satisfy even idle vacationers.   Take the Skyline Gondola above Queenstown for a wonderful view of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range. (The Remarkables are particularly beautiful at sunset.) Before heading back down, try the luge track a couple of times.

For even bigger thrills, try bungee jumping off a bridge over the Kawarau River on the road toward Lake Wanaka.  Choices when it comes to jet boating or white-water rafting are available on the Shotover, Kawarau and Dart rivers. The Shotover River has narrow canyons, so it probably offers the greatest thrill value. Opportunities abound for canoeing and kayaking, as well.

For less of a white-knuckle experience, take a walk through Queenstown Gardens or a cruise on the lake on the old steamboat Earnslaw (it's been operating since 1912). Other options include fishing, horseback riding, four-wheel-drive safaris, an excellent golf course and, in winter, excellent snow skiing at nearby Coronet Peak or the Remarkables, as well as at Cardrona and Treble Cone—one or two hours away, respectively.

For a day trip, drive to Arrowtown (an old gold-mining camp with an excellent museum and several greenstone factories) and then over to Lake Wanaka for some fishing. Macetown (a mining ghost town, accessible only by foot, bike or horse) is another option, or closer to town, Glenorchy (at the head of Lake Wakatipu).

​Milford Sound is one of New Zealand's premier natural attractions. Although it's called a sound, it's really a glacier-carved fjord, with sheer mountain cliffs rising up on both sides. Waterfalls spill down the rocks—there can be hundreds after rains. Postcard-perfect Mitre Peak dominates the view if it's not covered in clouds.

When it comes to getting to and from Milford Sound, there are several options. Day trips by bus can be booked from Te Anau (about seven hours round-trip) or Queenstown (12 hours round-trip). More expensive, but much quicker, are flights in small planes from Queenstown. You can also take the bus in and fly out. 

Fiordland National Park encompasses the southwest corner of the South Island and is New Zealand's largest national park. Popular for hiking and hunting, it should only be explored by experienced hikers because of its rugged nature, isolation and frequent bad weather.

Te Anau Lake

Te Anau, a pretty town on Lake Te Anau (the largest lake on New Zealand's South Island), is 105 miles southwest of Queenstown—more or less halfway between Milford Sound and Queenstown. It's also a gateway to Fiordland National Park and the starting point for some of New Zealand's most famous hiking tracks. Weather permitting, float plane trips into the park depart from the lake. If feats of engineering fascinate you, take a guided tour of the huge, underground, hydroelectric Manapouri Power Station.

Dunedin

Dunedin Distinctly Scottish in feel with stone buildings and Victorian houses, Dunedin, New Zealand, lies on the southeast coast of the South Island about 225 miles southwest of Christchurch. This university city claims New Zealand's only castle—Larnach Castle, which overlooks Port Chalmers and the harbor. You'll also find many fine museums and galleries.

Other diversions include guided tours through the Speights Brewery, the Cadbury Chocolate factory, the 130-year-old Botanical Gardens, and the Olveston House (the original home of a wealthy merchant at the turn of the 20th century). Be sure to check out the railway station: Built in 1908 from basalt, it's one of the most photographed rail terminals in the world.

Nature lovers will enjoy the nearby Otago Peninsula, home to the magnificent southern royal albatross (viewing season is late November-late August) and shy yellow-eyed penguins (the world's second-rarest penguin species). The Little Blue Penguin is a common sight on the beaches there, usually at night.​