HOLIDAY IN NEW ZEALAND   >   PACIFIC  


New Zealand is a country of two major islands and a number of smaller islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, 2000 km southeast of Australia.

New Zealand is responsible for the self-governing states of the Cook Islands and Niue and administers Tokelau and the Ross Dependency.

Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Eastland, Far North District, Northland [ Tai Tokerau ], Southland & Stewart Island, Ruapehu

Capital City of new Zealand : Wellington


car hire, hotels, tour operators - new zealand tours, travel guides, travel to new zealand

links


Campsites

  AA New Zealand Travel Guides
Holiday accommodation parks and camping grounds
  VIP backpackers

Car Rental New Zealand

 
Hostelbookers.com is one of the worlds largest online booking services for hostels. All hostels you see here are offering realtime prices and availability.

  AA New Zealand Travel Guides
Backpacker lodges, bed & breakfast establishments, guest houses, hostels, homestays and farmstays
  Bed & Breakfast Rotorua

Motorhomes

  New Zealand Motorhomes
New Zealand Motorhomes specialising in motorhome, campervans, RV and 4WD hire and rentals. They guarantee the best rates, widest choice and most helpful service. New Zealand Motorhomes select from all motorhomes available in New Zealand, ensuring the very best arrangements for you. Airport transfers are also available where detailed.
  Wilderness Motorhomes
Wilderness Motorhomes says that they have left no stone unturned in designing and assembling great motorhomes that will set you on the road to an awesome experience in New Zealand.

National Parks

  Fiordland/Re Anau
  Milford Sound

Snow Holidays in New Zealand

  Air Safaris
  Franz Josef Glacier
  Snow.co.nz

Travel Agents / Tour Operators / New Zealand specialists

 
New Zealand holidays & New Zealand accommodations from hiking in the spectacular National Parks to touring the North & South Islands. All theNew Zealand holidays are from specialist operators & accommodation owners committed to conservation & the environment.

   -   Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington

 
Holidays to New Zealand in North Island and South Island.
In North Island hotels in the resorts of Auckland, Coromandel, North Island, Northland - Bay Of Islands, Rotorua and Wellington.
In South Island hotels in the resorts of Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Jozef Glacier and Queenstown.

 
Create your perfect trip to New Zealand  -   Flight, Hotel and Car

 
*   New Zealand - South Island Sojourn
New Zealand's South Island is a land of jaw-dropping contrasts: snow-capped mountains, shining lakes, hidden coves and plunging fjords. It's like a giant outdoor playground, and however you travel through this Tolkien-worthy landscape -feet, bike or boat - it'll leave you breathless.
Highlights : Christchurch, Tranz Alpine Railway, Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau & Milford Sound.



  Aat Kings    -   Touring & Sightseeing Australia & New Zealand
  Bungy jumping   -   Skippers Canyon
  Dolphin Encounter
Dolphin Encounter takes you to swim with the dusky dolphins in their natural environment, or watch their acrobatic displays from the comfort of our boat. The pod sizes of the resident dusky dolphins range in the hundreds along the Kaikoura coastline and we have an impressive success rate in locating these marine mammals.
  Whale Watch
Whale Watch is New Zealand's only marine-based whale watching company offering visitors an exciting up -close encounter with the Giant Sperm Whale at all times of the year. Whale Watch scheduled tours operate daily.
Whale Watch is located in the town of Kaikoura - a scenic two and a half-hour drive north from Christchurch in New Zealand's South Island.

Travel Guides New Zealand / Related books

New Zealand (Lonely Planet Country Guides)
Charles Rawlings-Way 
Paperback: 748 pages; Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 15th edition edition (17 Sep 2010); ISBN-10: 1741794730; ISBN-13: 978-1741794731.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: New Zealand
Kate Hemphill (Author)
DK Eyewitness New Zealand travel guide will lead you straight to the best attractions this exciting country has to offer. Packed with photographs, illustrations and detailed maps, discover New Zealand region by region; from the glistening glaciers on the West Coast to the surfers' paradise Central North Island.
Hardcover: 400 pages; Publisher: Dorling Kindersley (1 April 2010); ISBN-10: 1405350385; ISBN-13: 978-1405350389.

The Rough Guide to New Zealand
Paul Whitfield (Author)
The Rough Guide to New Zealand is the essential guide to this spectacular country, with lively coverage of its coolest cafés, most vibrant nightlife, best sights and hotels and tastiest restaurants and bars. Everyone from the country rambler to the fearless adventurer, wine buffs to Lord of the Rings fanatics are catered for in this comprehensive guide; with colour sections providing a guide to New Zealand's highlights - whether exploring Maori culture, getting stuck into adventure sports or keying into the country's unique ecology. There's thorough coverage of New Zealand's magnificent scenery: craggy coastlines, sweeping beaches, primeval forests, snow-capped mountains and bubbling volcanic mud pools. You'll also find historical and cultural information – even teaching you how to do the world-famous haka. The Rough Guide to New Zealand is rounded off with detailed town maps to help you get around and stunning photography that brings this extraordinary country to life. Make the most of your time on earth with The Rough Guide to New Zealand.
Paperback: 868 pages; Publisher: Rough Guides; 7 edition (1 Sep 2010); ISBN-10: 1848365233; ISBN-13: 978-1848365230.

Transport  / How do I travel to New Zealand

  Auckland International Airport   -   21 km from the town Auckland
  Christchurch International Airport   -  10 km from Christchurch
  Invercargill Airport 
Close to the southern tourist attractions of Queenstown, Fiordland, Stewart Island and The Catlins. Air New Zealand operates regular scheduled services connecting Invercargill with most other New Zealand airports. Regular scheduled services to Stewart Island are operated by Stewart Island Flights.
  Nelson Airport [ IATA: NSN, ICAO: NZNS ]
New Zealand's fourth busiest commercial airport. Nelson airport is the home base of Air Nelson [ regional air routes ]
  Wellington International Airport   -   8 km from Wellington

  

  Ebookers   -  
Book cheap flights to Auckland at ebookers and benefit from discounted airfares. View their latest offers and book your flights, accommodation, car hire and insurance online

  Flight tickets / Bargain Flights to New Zealand 
Price comparison possible.

  Tranz Rail   -   New Zealand Railways

  Intercity Coachlines   -   bus
  Newmans Coachlines   -   bus

Road Atlas New Zealand (AA Road Atlas)
Fully updated, this atlas presented in A3 format provides super-clear road mapping of New Zealand. Each page is titled with its geographical location so you can turn to the page you need more easily. There is additional information on distances, journey times, map symbols, route-planning and key-to-map pages making this the perfect reference for motoring through New Zealand.
Paperback: 164 pages; Publisher: AA Publishing; 3rd Revised edition edition (4 Jan 2010); ISBN-10: 0749565470; ISBN-13: 978-0749565473.


Links

  New Zealand Travel & Business

  Wellington   -   Capital City of New Zealand   -   Wellington City Council

  Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty region is truly blessed by nature, where fertile lands and rain forests meet the clear blue Pacific, in a climate devoid of extremes.
  Canterbury
Canterbury is home to nine diverse districts each with their own unique identity and charm, the garden city of Christchurch and the world's best provincial rugby team.
  Eastland
  Far North District
  Fiordland / Te Anau
Some of the most wild and dramatic scenery in the world can be found in Fiordland  -  one of the largest National Parks in the world and a World Heritage area. Fiordland is renowned as the home of Mitre Peak and its Fiords. Also well know are the Great Walks [ the Milford Track, Routeburn Track, and Kepler Tracks ], within the Fiordland National Park and Mount Aspiring National Park.
From north to south: Milford Sound, Sutherland Sound, Bligh Sound, George Sound, Caswell Sound, Charles Sound, Nancy Sound, Thompson Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dagg Sound, Breaksea Sound, Dusky Sound, Chalky Inlet and Preservation Inlet. See Destination Fiordland.
  Hawkes Bay Wine Country
Long hot summers and mild sunny winters make Hawke's Bay the perfect year round holiday destination. Whether it's a romantic break, family fun in the sun, action and adrenalin, or a backpack adventure, you'll find it in Hawkes Bay Wine Country.
Ranging from Mahia in the North through to Porangahau in the South, the region boasts more than 70 vineyards, fabulous fresh produce and gourmet delights.
Hawke's Bay also offers a wide range of activities and attractions to suit all ages, plus stunning landscapes with a unique wildlife, distinct architecture, a vibrant arts community and a rich cultural heritage.
  Hurunui-district [ North Canterbury ]
Located not far from Christchurch the Hurunui district offers diverse landscape, a rich country lifestyle and award-winning attractions such as the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa.
The main beaches are at Leithfield, Amberley, Motunau and Gore Bay and there are recreational lakes at Lake Sumner, Lake Taylor and Lake Tennyson. See Visit Hurunui.
  Northland (Tai Tokerau)
Birthplace of the Nation, the meeting place of two oceans, home of the Bay of Islands with it's myriad of emerald island jewels set in sapphire waters, majestic kauri trees and so much more.
  Southland and Stewart Island - Southland
Spirit of a nation. If you're looking for a destination that offers quality against quantity then Southland is that destination. See also West Coast  -  South Island
  Ruapehu
The Ruapehu district is located on the North Island's volcanic plateau and is New Zealand's only volcanic alpine environment.
  The Coromandel   -   New Zealand's favourite destination
Explore the beaches, the coastline forests. Indulge in fresh homegrown food and seafood.
The Coromandel, a scenic finger of land reaching into the sea, is one of those places -  breathtaking and unforgettable.  The Coromandel is where Kiwis go on holiday!  Renowned worldwide for its natural beauty - misty rainforests and pristine golden beaches, the Coromandel is blessed with hundreds of natural hideaways, making it an ideal place to slow down, relax and unwind. See Thecoromandel.com. 

  Cook Islands  -   Cook Islands Government   -   Tourism Cook Islands  =  Kia Orana

  Tokelau   -   Tokelau Government   -   located in the South Pacific
Tokelau consists of three atolls located about 483 km north of Western Samoa. Atafu is the northernmost atoll, 92 km north of Nukunonu, which in turn lies 64 km north of Fakaofo.

  Auckland   -   Auckland City Council
Auckland is a sophisticated, cosmopolitan city that offers an abundance of activities for the adventurer, the nature follower, the backpacker or the pleasure seeker.
  Cambridge   -   24 km southeast of Hamilton in the North Island, N.Z.
Located in the center of the Waikato. Cambridge is ideally situated as a base from which to explore the region.
Hamilton International airport is less than 20 minutes drive away. The Bay of Plenty, Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua and Waitomo are all within an hours drive.
  Christchurch City Council   -   Garden City   -   Christchurch   -   east coast of the South Island
To the east lie the open ocean and Banks Peninsula, featuring sheltered bays, sandy beaches, bush clad valleys, rocky coastline and high, wild places.
To the west, past fertile plains and braided rivers, are forested foothills and lakes. Beyond them lie the tallest mountains in Australasia, the Southern Alps, strung out parallel to the coastline. Mountain passes with delightful alpine villages break the almost impenetrable divide and deliver the traveller to the west coast. There is a choice of western routes and plenty of ski areas on the way.
A journey north reveals green rolling hills, forests and long, empty beaches, with the whale-watching centre of Kaikoura about 2 hours' drive away, whilst an excursion to the south passes through farmland and crosses two more of Canterbury's pristine rivers, ideal for fishing in, whitewater rafting or kayaking down. Mt Hutt, the premier commercial ski area close to the city, lies to the south west. A day off-piste here gives opportunity for jet boating, fishing, horse riding or a round of golf.
  Dunedin
Soaring cathedral spires, a magnificent Flemish-style railway station, a nineteenth-century castle, old university buildings and a neo-gothic convent are among the city's architectural treasures.
  Gisborne   -   city in northeastern New Zealand
The city still has its rural charm and is a popular holiday spot. Gisborne is situated at the north end of Poverty Bay. The white cliff headland of Young Nick's Head at the other end of the bay is visible from the city. Gisborne is named after an early Colonial Secretary William Gisborne. See Tourism Eastland.
  Hamilton
Hawke's Bay - Touristik Hawkes Bay
Located on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, Hawke's Bay Wine Country is New Zealand's leading food and wine region. With over 2200 hours of sunshine, Hawke's Bay is a year-round holiday destination with an eclectic mix of visual and sensory experiences.
The twin cities of Napier and Hastings provide a wide variety of attractions for visitors.
  Hastings   -   in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island
Located some 20 km inland from the neighbouring port city of Napier. The two are often grouped together as "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities".
The Hastings district has a long history of a food producing region, and is commonly referred to as the 'Fruit Bowl of New Zealand'. The fertile plains surrounding the city have grow an abundance of stone fruit and  vegetables. It's a growing base of New Zealand's Red Wine industry. See Hawkes Bay Wine Country.
  Hanmer Springs  
Hanmer Springs Village is New Zealand's premier alpine spa destination. Located in the South Island of New Zealand, Hanmer Springs is best known for the award-winning Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa, where visitors enjoy pampering and relaxation amongst beautiful alpine vistas. See Official website Hanmer Springs & Hurunui District
  Hutt City   -   southern end of the North Island  -  2nd largest city in Wellington Region
Hutt City has a rich Maori heritage and thriving Marae. The area is made up of numerous suburbs with their own unique characteristics. The fertile valley of the city is lush with parks and gardens and the surrounding hills have some of the best walking tracks and mountain biking tracks in the region.
Safe swimming beaches delight crowds of young and old during summer and year-round visitors and locals enjoy the trip around to Pencarrow to Turakirae Head to glimpse the seal colony.
  Invercargill   -   southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand
Commercial centre of the Southland region. It's located in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River and sits amid rich farmland that is bordered by large areas of conservation land and marine reserves, including Fiordland National Park.
  Kaikoura
Kaikoura is a special place of lush pastures and towering, snow covered peaks that fall to the sea. This rare magic continues just offshore where a deep undersea canyon combines with unusual sea currents to attract an extraordinary abundance of marine life, the most famous being the Sperm Whale.
Kaikoura often hosts the world's largest dolphin - the Orca - and is home to the world's smallest and rarest - the Hector's. Kaikoura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand including 13 species of Albatross, 14 varieties of Petrels and 7 types of Shearwater.
  MacKenzie
The Mount Cook Mackenzie is where you will enjoy majestic mountain scenery, wide open tussock lands and turquoise blue lakes.
Dest. : Fairlie [ eastern gateway to the Mckenzie Country ], Lake Tekapo [ with te clearest, darkest and most spectacular night sky in New Zealand ], Aoraki Mt Cook [ at 3754 metres, new Zealand's highest mountain ], Twizel [ springboard for a holiday with easy access to Aoraki Mount Cook ]. See Aoraki Mount Cook Mackenzie District and Mackenzie District Council
  Manakau   -   industrial suburb of the city of Auckland
Framed by 320kms of sparkling coastline, stretched between the Manukau and Waitamata Harbours, beautiful rolling countryside rubs shoulder to shoulder with Auckland's true urban authenticity. With beautiful gardens, vineyards and dining, Manukau is a great place to unwind. See Welcome2manukau.co.nz. 
  Marlborough
From its strategic position at the top of the South Island, Marlborough is an ideal weekend playground and holiday destination.
  Napier
Napier and the surrounding Hawke's Bay region have a typical Mediterranean style climate with some of New Zealand's highest sunshine hours. This makes the region famous for its high producing vineyards, apple and stone fruit orchards and wide range of horticultural crops.
  Nelson  -   on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay
The city of Nelson is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island.
Nelson is surrounded by mountains on three sides with Tasman Bay on the other. The region is the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park, Kahurangi National Park, Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa in the Nelson Lakes National Park. It is a centre for ecotourism as well as adventure tourism with a high reputation among caving enthusiasts due to several prominent cave systems around Takaka Hill and Mounts Owen and Arthur, which hold the largest and deepest explored caverns in the southern hemisphere.
This sunny region at the top of the South Island is sometimes described as the Santa Fe of New Zealand. See Nelson City Council
  Palmerston North City Council  -  Tourism Palmerston = Destination Manawatu
Situated on the banks of the Manawatu River nestled at the foot of the impressive Tararua Mountain Range.
The City's central location places it within easy two hour drives of the North Islands Central Plateau skifields, the beaches and wineries of the Hawkes Bay, Mount Taranaki and historic Maori sites of the Taranaki region, and the rural splendour of the Wairarapa.
Mother nature has endowed Manawatu area with endless opportunities to experience the great outdoors, from short walks in splendid native bush, half day walks through the spectacular Manawatu Gorge, to tramping in the majestic Ruahine, or Tararua Ranges. Museums, gardens and arts & crafts abound, with many cottage industries to be discovered in the beautiful Pohangina Valley. The area provides every type of accommodation - top class hotels, motels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, home and farmstays. An excellent array of restaurants and bars to suit all palates are a popular feature of the city.
  Porirura   -   city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand
Located immediately north of the city of Wellington. A large proportion of the population commutes to Wellington, so it may be considered a satellite city. It almost completely surrounds Porirua Harbour at the southern end of the Kapiti Coast. The eastern (Pauatahanui) inlet of the harbour is notable for its world-class estuarine values. See Discover Porirua and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
  Queenstown   -   resort town in Otago in the south-west of South Island
It's the Southern Hemisphere's premier four season lake and alpine resort. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on the shores of crystal clearLake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and surrounded by majestic mountains. Queenstown's stunning scenery is inspiring and revitalising. See Official website of Queenstown New Zealand
  Raglan   -   small beachside town located 48 km west of Hamilton
The New Zealand town of Raglan is best known for its surf. Not far from Raglan [ ca. 8 km ] is a series of surf breaks including Indicators, Whale Bay, Manu Bay, Vortex Bay. Manu Bay was featured in the 1966 movie The Endless Summer. The area is home to Bridal Veil Falls [  a popular tourist destination ] located 20 km southeast of the township.
  Rotorua 
Kia ora! A warm "Hello" from Rotorua, the spirit of New Zealand.
  Queenstown
Scorched summer climate, long leisurely days. Adventures in the water, on land, in the air. Go exploring, hiking, golfing, fishing, swimming, picnicking, shopping, wining, dining. Summer in Queenstown and the Southern Lakes means long, hot holidays where the outdoor living is seriously good.
  Waitakere
On 1 November 2010, Waitakere City and the Waitakere City Council was abolished and was included into a single Auckland city.

  Te Puna web Directory 
Te Puna Web Directory is the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa's listing of New Zealand and Pacific Island web sites

  Albatrosses.com   -   Otago Peninsula
  Bay of Islands
  Geyserland.co.nz   -   Waiotapu geysers
  Lake Tepako   -   where adventure comes naturally / homeland of Shrek the sheep
Lake Tekapo, in the heart of the Mackenzie Country, in New Zealand's central South Island. New Zealand's most popular tourist route, State Highway 8, passes through Lake Tekapo and provides exquisite views of New Zealand as it should be viewed, 'naturally'.
Mt Cook is only a short distance from Lake Tekapo and the cluster of New Zealand's highest peaks border the lake and provide a beautiful backdrop to some of the best views in the world.
Shrek the sheep became famous in 2004 when he, after six years hiding in caves in New Zealand, was finally caught. Shrek was then shaved on television. After shaving the animal was 27 pounds lighter. The famously shaggy sheep died in June 2011. See Tekapotourism.co.nz. 
  Kiwirecovery.org.nz
  Penguin.net.nz   -   pinguins
  Polynesian Spa
  News from New Zealand   -   New Zealand Herald   -   newspaper
  News   -   Nelson Mail
  Radio   -   Echo Radio   -   The Dutch Network Trust
  Weather   -   Metservice New Zealand
  Working / Jobs in NZ   -   Jobs in New Zealand
  Whalewatch co.nz

Cuisine / New Zealand Cooking

The traditional Maori feast provides a delightful mouth watering sensation. The unique and tantalizing Hangi combines a great tasting mixture of kumera (sweet potato), lamb, chicken, wild game, pork, beef and potato. The preparation process involves the digging of a large hole, lined with hot stones and covered in vegetation. The food is placed on top and sprinkled with water before the underground furnace is sealed with remaining vegetation and fresh earth. The hot stones aid in the generation of heat and steam to complete the cooking process.

National desert is pavlova, a meringue treat boasting lashings of whipped cream and sliced fruit.

History of New Zealand

New Zealand was first discovered about 1000 years ago by the great Polynesian navigator Kupe who sailed here from his homeland Hawaiki. He named the islands Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud. Kupe returned to Hawaiki and left instruction on how to get here.
About 400 years later Maori arrived back in Aotearoa with seven great canoes and began to populate the North Island.

  New Zealand's History   -   Wikipedia
  Pre-European, European explorers, Whalers and sealers, Colony and Dominion. See also the timeline of New Zealand history and the history of Oceania

  NZHistory.net.nz
NZHistory.net.nz aims to be your first port of call when you voyage the World Wide Web in search of information on New Zealand history.

Music, Art & Culture, Events

  Centre for New Zealand Music   -   interesting links
information centre promoting the music of New Zealand through a range of services, projects and activities.

  Culture of New Zealand
  Maori Culture at Wikipedia

  Maori Treasures Complex
The complex comprises the Visitors Centre with Studios and Art Walk, the Galleria Cafe and the Gallery Store. The complex also includes the teaching spaces of the Konae Aronui Wananga - a specialist Maori Art School.
  World of Wearable Art
The World of WearableArt™ and Classic Cars Museum is an iconic 'must see' Nelson NZ visitor attraction that celebrates two distinctly different passions. A world class collection of classic cars can be viewed alongside incredible wearable works of art from all around the globe.

  Nelson Arts Festival   -   Annual art event   -   City of Nelson 
National and international theatre, dance, cabaret, music and talks.
  Rhythm & Vines [ End of the Year, New Zealand ]
Summer festival amongst the hills of Gisborne, the first place in the world to see the sun.
Located on the North Island's sunny East Coast, Gisborne is the main centre of the Eastland region and has the highest amount of sunshine hours in New Zealand. Add to this its brilliant white sand beaches and good waves and you have one of the country's favourite holiday spots.


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