travel
The South Island
Queenstown
Surrounded by majestic mountains
and set on the shores of crystal clear
Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is one
of New Zealand’s most exciting and
beautiful destinations. The area
offers a range of adventure activities
including bungy jumping, jetboating,
white-water rafting, rock climbing,
mountain biking, hiking and a variety
winter snow sports.
Thrill-seekers can take a ride
on the gondola to the top of Bob’s
Peak and then catch the luge
or paraglide back down. Scenic
light planes and helicopters fly
over mountains, stunning fiords,
glaciers and turquoise-blue lakes.
Queenstown caters for tourists
on a wide range of budgets, from
some of New Zealand’s finest food ‘Sulphur City’ from becoming one of backpacking to luxury. It also has
and wine at one of the many vineyards the most popular tourist spots on the a lively restaurant and bar scene
while enjoying sea views. Waiheke North Island. Sitting within the Pacific and plenty of galleries and shops.
Island is a 40-minute ferry ride from Rim of Fire, Rotorua is a geothermal downtown Auckland. Once on the wonderland featuring bubbling mud Christchurch
island, there are public buses and pools, shooting geysers, colourful A resilient city that is the largest
taxis, or you can hire a mountain bike, lakes, clouds of steam, natural hot in the South Island, Christchurch is
motor scooter or car. Vehicles and springs, crystal-clear streams and currently being reconstructed after
bikes can also be taken on the ferry. magical forests. the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes which
Another pleasant day trip is
destroyed many of its buildings. New
Rangitoto Island which is just 25 landscapes and volcanic activity buildings and businesses are opening
minutes by ferry from Auckland. visitors can enjoy an invigorating soak constantly, and the hype about the
Rangitoto is the youngest and largest in a natural hot stream or indulge in a city makes it a vibrant, modern,
of Auckland’s 48 volcanic cones, wellness getaway at a luxurious spa. creative and progressive destination.
and is home to the world’s largest Rotorua’s most popular attraction, pohutukawa forest. This iconic island, the ‘Skyline Gondola’ is a scenic ride a charming, leafy place with lots
with its distinctive symmetrical cone to the top of Mount Ngongotata of parks, reserves, museums
is popular with hikers, kayakers and where you can enjoy panoramic views and galleries for you to visit. In
sight-seers. over Lake Rotorua, the city and the Christchurch, you are never too far
steaming landscape below. away from the mountains or the sea
Rotorua
Visiting Rotorua is like landing
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After admiring the distinctive
Other popular North Island
destinations include Lake Taupo, The
on another planet but its persistent Bay of Plenty, The Coromandel, The
‘eggy’ smell hasn’t stopped the Bay of Islands and Wellington.
travel
Known as the ‘Garden City’, it is
and it’s quite possible to go snow-
skiing and surfing all in one day!
Other popular South Island
destinations include Dunedin,
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