The islands are located in the Southern Pacific Ocean and east of Australia, and south of the islands of New Caledonia and Fiji. It consists of two major land masses (North and South islands). NZ is a developed country famous for its rich and sustainable agriculture, emphasis on a green society and its volcanic eruptions, geothermal pools, glaciers, wines, milk and lamb.

The north island visit in New Zealand (NZ) is highly recommended. There is so much to see and experience there. Starting with the bustling metropolis of Auckland, NZ is a picturesque place with interesting mountains, geothermal pools, glow caves and the renowned Hobbit village from the film Lord of the Rings.

North Island 

Auckland

Like any city you will find that Auckland is a bustle of tourists and locals going about their affairs. Visit the sea walk and the botanical gardens for a tidbit of the food and flavors of Auckland.

About an hour ferry ride from the city you can visit amazing wineries on Waiheke island. Several famous wineries are located on the island. The Casita Miro  is a Spainish-inspired  winery where you can enjoy the Miro-inspired art of the owner while you sip delicious wines….and enjoy the magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean. It is also possible to walk or bike to other nearby wineries.

Hamilton

About 2 hours’ drive south, is the quiet town of Hamilton where you can watch the boat races and drive to the famous Waitomo, where you can visit limestone caves. As you explore the caves, the guide will show the stalagmite and stalactite formations, test the acoustics in the inner chamber.  you will hop on a boat to experience the amazing glowworms on the ceilings and walls of the underground river.

Rotorua and Taupo

Maori culture is very strong and evident in these two towns. We visited a Maori Village near our hotel in Rotorua. We had one of the most invigorating hot pool experience in the- Hells Gates  mud bath and spa. We were allowed only 20 minutes to lather our bodies in sulfur drenched mud, dry for a few minutes and then soak in the pools. You can spend much longer in the pools however. We took a guided tour of the village, ate corn cooked in the steaming hot waters of the geothermal springs, watched the geyser and strolled through the cemetery where graves are constructed above ground so that the bodies are not cooking in steam.

In Taupo, the geothermal springs, contain different minerals than in Taupo but they are as relaxing and enjoyable. The Huka Falls that emanates from the abundant amount of water from the Waikato River is a place one should not miss. This falls is unlike any other, we have seen, Its low in height but the millions of gallons of water cuts through a natural narrow gorge which amplifies the thunderous movement of the water. There are trails along the river for both cyclists and hikers alike.

Wellington: The capital of NZ and a port city on the south end of the north island. The city is a destination for cruise ships and where you can take the interisland ferry to the South Island.

You can enjoy exploring the cafes, bars and restaurants in this city. We tried Deluxe Cafe and we were surprised at the good quality of the coffee. We had the most delicious seafood and crab meal in the waterfrontCrabshack restaurant in Wellington.

South Island

Marlbourough Valley

On our drive from Picton ferry we stopped in the Malbourough valley—-the famous wine region, for lunch.  The Cozy Cow restaurant did not disappoint; we had a great lunch and tasted a few wines from this vineyard. The Marlborough region has some of the largest wineries because of the soil and climate. The Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are famous grapes from the region.

Lake Tekapo

On the way to Queestown, we stopped at Lake Tekapo, a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains, with an observatory and a great coffee shop.

Queenstown

Located on the shores of lake Wakatipu and surrounded by beautiful mountains. It is a hub of adventure and fun outdoor activities such as trout fishing, scenic tours, trails and much more. We spend the night at a lakeside cabin on lake Wakatipu. It was unforgettable—-amazingly clear skies and peaceful. In the morning we visited the Instagram famous “ thatwanakatree” to also take some pictures for this site. In Queenstown , we hopped onto the floating bar for a drink, listen to the music and soaked in the atmosphere. We had one of the best gelato and indulge in several bars of chocolates at Patagonia —- a lakeside ice-cream and cholate shop. 

Lavender Farm: We visited the botanical gardens, and  a lavender farm and gardens. We were totally  taken aback  by the immensity of the plants, flowers and blooms. Everything was large and beautiful. Below are a few pictures of what we saw.

Doubtful Sound

One of the most unforgettable experience we had in NZ was our overnight cruise in Doubtful Sound.  We  drove from Te Anau to Manapouri where we boarded a boat that took us across the lake. Our pilot gave us a brief history lesson of Lake Manapouri including the construction of the hydroelectric station. We were then picked up by a coach whose driver provided us a narrated history of the Fiordlands  and Doubtful Sound while we drove over the Wilmot Pass.

It was a rainy and cloudy day, as we boarded the Fiordland Navigator. We went through hidden waterways, saw numerous waterfalls and bottlenose dolphins. As the evening came, we dropped anchor in a quite cove for the night. Before dinner, we were invited by the captain and crew to explore the shoreline in Kayaks, boat or remain onboard the ship—-Some people even went for a swim in the frigid water. After a restful night, we had breakfast and cruise back to port in Manapouri.  

Oamaru

Oamaru is a beautiful town surrounded by mountains and ocean. It is famous for penguins and whale watching in NZ. We visited the blue penguin encounter center, which was a short walk from our hotel. They have an interactive exhibits with information about the blue penguins and outdoor courtyard seating overlooking the ocean. The seats are strategically orientated to observe the blue penguins up close as they ascend the slope each evening. The blue penguins are very small animals and maybe the smallest of all the penguins. They swim ashore in a blob of bodies, then waddle up the slope to their respective burrows. As we walked home we could see several ambling alongside the road as the excited tourists snapped pictures and video.

Christchurch

Our last stop in the South island was Christchurch the gateway city to Antartica, that host and support people and equipment for several countries. The city has a very popular botanical garden, with an expansive collection of roses, dahlias, and tropical plants.

Christchurch is surrounded by mountains, has accessible beaches and is well connected to Australia by air. It is an enjoyable place, with many things to do and see, whether you like the outdoor or the city life.