NORTH ISLAND The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area of the country. It is also New Zealand's most populous city with approximately 1.3 million residents, over a quarter of the country's population, and demographic trends indicate that it will continue growing faster than the rest of the country. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world. It is a conurbation, made up of Auckland City (excluding the Hauraki Gulf islands), North Shore City, and the urban parts of Waitakere and Manukau cities, along with Papakura District and some nearby urban parts of Rodney and Franklin Districts. In Maori its name is Tamaki-makau-rau, or the transliterated version of Auckland, Akarana. Auckland lies between the Hauraki Gulf of the Pacific Ocean to the east, the low Hunua Ranges to the south-east, the Manukau Harbour to the south-west, and the Waitakere Ranges and smaller ranges to the west and north-west. The central part of the urban area occupies a narrow isthmus between the Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea and the Waitemata Harbour on the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the few cities in the world to have harbours on two separate major bodies of water. Auckland is popularly known as the "City of Sails" because the harbour is often dotted with hundreds of yachts and has more per capita than any other city in the world, with around 135,000 yachts and launches estimated. Around 60,500 of the country's 149,900 registered yachtsmen also come from the Auckland Region. Viaduct Basin also hosted two America's Cup challenges (2000 Cup and 2003 Cup), and its cafes, restaurants, and clubs add to Auckland's vibrant nightlife. With the sheltered Waitemata Harbour at its doorstep, Auckland sees many nautical events, and there are also a large number of sailing clubs in Auckland, as well as Westhaven Marina, the largest of the Southern Hemisphere. High Street, Queen Street, Ponsonby Road, and Karangahape Road are also very popular with urban socialites. Newmarket and Parnell are up-market shopping areas, while Otara's and Avondale's famous flea markets and Victoria Park Market offer a colourful alternative shopping experience. Newer shopping centre-type developments in the Auckland area tend to be outside of the older city centres, with Sylvia Park (Sylvia Park, Auckland City), Botany Town Centre (Howick, Manukau City) and Westfield Albany (under construction as of 2007) (Albany, North Shore City) being the three largest. The Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Centre host conferences and cultural events such as theatre, kapa haka, and opera. Auckland also boasts a symphonic ensemble in the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra. Many national treasures are displayed at the Auckland Art Gallery, such as the work of Colin McCahon. , while many other significant cultural artefacts reside at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the National Maritime Museum, or the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT). Exotic creatures can be observed at the Auckland Zoo and Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World. Movies and rock concerts (notably, the "Big Day Out") are also well patronised.
NORTH OF AUCKLAND. Not to be missed - The area immediately to the North of Auckland is known as Northlands. In our opinion you should allow several days to fully cover Northlands, you will not be disappointed. Because of the warm and frequently hot climate it lacks the snow slopes of the South but holds great historical interest as the cradle of European settlement, it also boasts countless sandy beaches and bays, clear water and good scenery. The two main roads from Auckland to the North heading off via the Auckland Bridge are the Hwys A1 and A12. The A12 takes you via Dargaville and the Northlands Conservation Park (South and North). If you want to fully cover this area you can stop over at Whangarei known as “the Northlands Best kept secret”. However if on the outward journey you would prefer to proceed from Auckland direct to Paihia on the Hwy A1 you can make the return journey from Ahipara to Auckland via the Rawene Ferry and Dargaville. Perhaps you might consider a day trip (up early/ home late!) from Auckland to the Whangarei area via the Kauri Forest as follows. Taking the Hwy A1 from Auckland pass through Warkworth and in approx 48 Km - 30 Miles turn left onto the A12 at Brynderwyn and follow this road to Dargaville . Continue on the A12 and pass through the Waipoua Kauri Forest area (within the Northland Conservation Area) and stop off to view “Tane Mahuta”, God of Forest – over 51 metres tall. This is about 84 Kms or 60 miles . Continue on the A12 for 60 kms – 37 miles and join Hwy A.1 for the 75 km - 46 mile journey to Whangarei.“Whangarei Harbour” is a delightful spot where after exploring the town and locality you can take a drive to overlook the harbour. Take the A15 from Whangarei and look for an unclassified side road into Marsden or One Tree Point to witness the beauty of Whangarei Heads and Bream Bay. Re-join the A1 or continue on this minor road to Ruakaka where, if time permits, you can stop off to visit New Zealand’s only Oil refinery and see the interesting scale model display before re-joining the Hwy A1 and continuing back to Auckland. This section is around 180 Kms – 112 miles. The round trip is approx 450 Kms – 281 miles which allowing for sightseeing/photo’s/comfort stops and lunch will take you around 11/12 hours.
Why not consider a longer trip North ? Auckland to Paihai is approx 149 Miles – Driving time 4.5 hours allowing for two 20 minute “comfort station” stop offs. Take Hwy.A1 - Auckland Bridge and head out of the City. Continue on Hwy 1 and after 35 miles at Warkworth. The visitors Centre is in Baxter Street and they will point you in the direction of Mahurangi Honey Centre which is in Perry Road. There you will find the largest Bee Observatory in the World (we believe) where you can watch tens of thousands of bees hard at work making honey. There are some interesting gifts in the gift shop and naturally there is a café. Another stop off is around Whangarei some 68 miles further on (see separate section for Whangarei highlights). After passing through Whangarei you might wish to consider a coastal detour to see Sandy Bay to view from a distance Poor Knight Island. A very pretty area. You leave Whangarei on A1 then take a right towards Glenbervie and continue past Kiripaka, Ngungura, Tutukaka, Matapouri to Wooleys Bay. You can get back to the A1 via Waipaipai and Marua but be warned THIS WAS a metalled unsealed road! The final leisurely final stage to Paihia (70 miles) on the A1 /A11 should take you approx an hour and a half. Paihia (Bay of Islands) is only a short drive away from Waitangi where a visit to the Treaty Grounds is educational, you can also photograph a genuine preserved War Canoe and amaze at it’s length. Waitangi also houses Kelly Tarlton’s famous “Tui” museum of shipwrecks and if you are into Kayaks, Coastal Kayakers— Tel: 09-402 8105—offer half or full day tours of the Mangrove forest and Hururu Falls. They were based opposite the tall ship “Waitangi”. The next day, the less adventurous can take an all weather boat trip which departs Paihia daily at 10.00 am and returns at 4pm (remember to take your own picnic lunch) for “ the Cream Trip and Hole in the Rock” . You cruise through the natural beauty and peacefulness of Bay of Islands and on some trips Dolphins and other wild life can be sighted. The Hole in the Rock through which you pass and Cathedral Cave will doubtless be the highlights of this trip. You will also find Bird Island fascinating and the Skipper will stop over at one of the islands to allow you to stretch your legs. It is not necessary to proceed further North by car as you may take a coach from Paihia to cover the famous ninety mile beach and Cape Reinga area. Being so close to the famous beach you can enjoy the area to the full. The local booked day excursions are less expensive than those from Paihia. “Wood Crafts” can be purchased from the factory at Kaitaia which is the cheapest in New Zealand. Splendid Maori and other Wood Crafts cost less then the price charged at the main tourist spots elsewhere. If you decide to stay in Ahipara/Kaitaia proceed back to Auckland by either Hwy A1 via Kaitaia (202 Miles) or if you prefer to visit the Waipura Kauri Forest then from Ahipara take the inner road via Manukau, Herekina. Aworoa, Te Karea, Kohukohu. Cross on the Ferry to Rawene and drive a short distance to Omanaia to link up with Hwy A12 towards Dargaville
Rotorua—Steeped in the history and legend of the Maori people as a place of creation, Rotorua is one of the most geothermal active places on the face of the Earth. Lake Rotorua is at the centre of the North Island of New Zealand and in the surrounding area you can see many incredible natural sights including geysers, hot springs and seething pools of hot mud that ooze up to the surface. An understandably popular place to spend a few days while touring New Zealand, Rotorua is a unique region where the myths of the Maori people were first written, amid the prehistoric landscape and volcanoes nature.
As one of the premier holiday destinations in the southern hemisphere, there is plenty to see and do for visitors to the unique area no matter what their interests. If you are a fan of natural processes, then the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve is the place to go to see the world in action, but there are also places where you can lie back and enjoy the naturally heated water in a spa bath, or be covered in the sulphurous mud from deep within the earth. Slightly further away from Rotorua, you can visit Lake Taupo, which boasts some of the best fishing in the southern hemisphere - especially for brown trout, and further South in the volcano area of the Tongariro Crossing, you can hike through perhaps the most stunning landscape anywhere.
If you are keen to see the Maori culture then head to Te Tawa Ngahere Pa where you can listen to traditional tribal songs and enjoy a traditional Maori Hangi Feast organised by Go-Kiwi Travel and Tamaki Tours. There is nowhere like Rotorua anywhere in the world, a place so filled with myth, yet so active too. The region is somewhere that no visitor to New Zealand should miss out on. The Tamaki Maori and Heritage Villages Rotorua and Christchurch the cultural experience the world is talking about. Tamaki offer the South Pacific’s gateway to the world of ancient Maori and proud warriors where you can journey back in time to a Pre-European lifestyle experience of customs and traditions and enjoy the night’s festivities as you are treated to a banquet of succulent foods cooked the traditional Maori way and rediscover the Maori village as it comes alive to the sound and activities of tribal songs, dances, myths and legends and browse throughout the largest after hours tribal market place.
Wellington
Wellington stands at the south-western tip of the North Island on Cook Strait, the passage that separates the North and South Islands. On a clear day the snow-capped Kaikoura Ranges are visible to the south across the strait. To the north stretch the golden beaches of the Kapiti Coast. On the east the Rimutaka Range divides Wellington from the broad plains of the Wairarapa, a wine region of national acclaim. Wellington is the southernmost national capital city in the world, with a latitude of about 41°S. It is more densely populated than most other settlements in New Zealand, due to the small amount of building space available between the harbour and the surrounding hills.
Wellington has very few suitable areas in which to expand and this has resulted in the development of the surrounding cities in the greater urban area. Because of its location in the roaring forties latitudes and its exposure to omnipresent winds coming through Cook Strait, the city is known to Kiwis as "Windy Wellington". Wellington is home to Te Papa Tongarewa (the Museum of New Zealand), the Museum of Wellington City and Sea, the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Museum, Colonial Cottage, the New Zealand Cricket Museum, the Cable Car Museum, Old Saint Paul's, and the Law School (largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere) and the Wellington City Art Gallery. Wellington has become home to a myriad of high-profile events and cultural celebrations, including a biennial International Festival of the Arts, annual International Jazz Festival, and major events such as Cuba Street Carnival, New Zealand Fringe Festival, Summer City, New Zealand Affordable Art Show, numerous film festivals, and World of Wearable Art. The local music scene has produced bands such as The Aviators, The Phoenix Foundation, Shihad, Fly My Pretties, Fat Freddy's Drop, The Black Seeds, Fur Patrol, and Trinity Roots. The New Zealand School of Music was established in 2005 through a merger of the conservatory and theory programmes at Massey University and Victoria University of Wellington. New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Nevine String Quartet and Chamber Music New Zealand are based in Wellington.
Wellington is home to the National Opera Company, City Gallery, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, St James' Theatre, Downstage Theatre, Bats Theatre, the Arts Foundation of New Zealand and the New Zealand International Arts Festival. The city's new arts centre, Toi Poneke, serves as a nexus of creative projects, collaborations, and multi-disciplinary production. Arts Programmes and Services Manager Eric Vaughn Holowacz and a small team based in the Abel Smith Street facility have produced ambitious new initiatives such as Opening Notes, Drive by Art, the annual Art splash Festival, and new public art projects. The city is also home to experimental arts publication White Fungus Magazine. Wellington is also home to groups that perform Improvised Theatre and Improvisational comedy, including Wellington Improvisation Troupe (WIT), The Improvisers and youth group, Joe Improve, Poet Bill Man hire, director of the International Institute of Modern Letters, has turned the Creative Writing Programme at Victoria University of Wellington into a forge of new literary activity. Te Whaea, New Zealand's university-level school of dance and drama, and tertiary institutions such as The Learning Connexion, offer training and creative development.
SOUTH ISLAND
It would be folly not to mention, other than Queenstown and Fiordland other interesting spots on the South Island, but time and space has to be taken into consideration but a mention of the following will wet the appetite for this delightful area of New Zealand. The Abel Tasman & Marlborough sound region is delightful. Cruise around the Abel Tasman Peninsula with Abel Tasman Enterprises from Kaiteriteri /Motueka departing around 8.30am and returning at 2.30pm approx. This trip is undertaken by a fast sea catamaran ferry boat which is also used to deliver goods and newspapers to places en-route. Some Passengers will disembark at various points and other embark. You will remain onboard and are advised to take food with you. You will marvel at the skill of the Captain and crew. Deliveries and passenger transfers are made using a towed inflatable fast speed LAUNCH, which is handled superbly in all types of weather conditions. On this Cruise you can expect to see lots of marine life, dolphins, seals and maybe even a whale. The peninsular is not accessible by car so everyone arrives by boat and then walks the National Park area. Similar type cruises can be taken from Nelson and Havelock.
CHRISTCHURCH
When our Managing Director first visited New Zealand, he landed at Port Lyttleton and caught a steam train to Christchurch glimpsing his first views of this splendid country as he travelled. That was in the 50’s and there have been many changes since, but Christchurch was and still remains a garden city and probably the most English city outside of England. He fell in love with Christchurch as you will ... To enjoy the city to the full you should arm yourself with as much information as possible. On arrival by car follow the signs for the Visitor Centre on corner of Worcester Blvd and Oxford Ter (phone: 03 379 9629), there are also Centres at both the International and Domestic airports.
Walking - The Avon river gently meanders through the city and it is worth strolling along the banks. After several blocks you will pass house after house with spectacular “very English suburb” flower gardens which really make you feel at home. If you wish you can hire a single or double canoe or let someone else take the strain and enjoy being punted along the river. Starting from the visitor centre take a two hour guided walk through the city. Visit the Cathedral and at 1pm, if he is still around, listen to the “Wizard of Christchurch” a very funny character dressed for the part propped up on his step ladder, informing, humouring, annoying, or out manipulating his daily audience. Visit the “Canterbury Museum” with its fabulous Hall of Antarctic Discovery (and an upstairs café for the odd cuppa), Air Force World, Dr.Heins Classic Car Collection, Science Alive and The Canterbury of New Zealand Sports Museum. At the Art Centre, which is a little like Covent garden in London, there are many entertainers and small restaurants/cafes. Christchurch has an Art Gallery – Robert McDougall behind the Canterbury Museum on Rolleston Ave. The Centre of Contemporary Art is at 66 Gloucester St. and no visitor to Christchurch will forget a visit to the International Antarctic Centre where you will find a realistic stimulation room of Scott’s base (very cold) and the history of the Antarctic exhibitions to date. The building actually hosts and acts as a base for the current New Zealand, United States and Italian Antarctic programs. It can be found at Christchurch International Airport on Orchard Road (take some time to take the lift to the roof of the departure lounge and do some plane spotting whilst here!). There are so many attractions in Christchurch it would take pages to record them all, the VISITORS GUIDE will put you fully in the picture. Finally, enjoy a trip on the Christchurch Gondola by taking a free shuttle bus from the Antarctic centre or drive to Ferry road where you can experience outstanding 360-degree views of the city, Banks Peninsula, Canterbury Plains and the distant Alps and enter the very interesting and informative Time Tunnel.
Parks & Gardens - As you would expect in a garden city there are many beautiful gardens for you to enjoy The Botanic Garden, Hagley Park and Mona Vale Homestead complete with an historic mansion are all a gardeners delight, 18 Km north of the city is the 1 Sq Kilometre Orana Park, New Zealand's largest wildlife park. On Hussey road, Harewood you will find the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve where you can view Kiwi’s in an outdoor environment.
Scenic drives – It is worth picking up a leaflet with detailed map to enjoy this to the full as it offers great views of Sumner, Lyttelton Harbour Estuary, the Seaward Kaikoura Range to the north, Christchurch City, Canterbury Plains, and the distant snow-capped southern alps. Take the 45 km scenic Northern Summit Road circuit. From the city centre, follow high street east onto Ferry road, heading along the old main road to Lyttelton. Go through Sunmer and up Evans Pass but instead of continuing along the main road down into Lyttelton, turn right (south) onto spectacular Summit Road. Be sure to stop at the Bridle Path. Just meander along this road and enjoy. If on your return you fancy a cruise, you can take an afternoon 40 minute scenic water tour which departs at 2-45pm daily. Return to the city along Summit Road, turn right at the “Sign of the Kiwi” on Dyers Pass Road and continue down through Victoria Park with its impressive rock gardens to the “Sign of the Takahe” a great place to stop for morning or afternoon tea or a smorgasbord lunch, it is on the corner of Dyers Pass Road and Victoria Park Road. From here continue through the attractive suburb of Cashmere via Hackthorne Rd onto Colombo St., which leads back to Cathedral Sq. There is also a Southern Summit Scenic Drive, part of which includes the above drive, and is all contained in the “drive” leaflet available from the Visitors Centre.
Entertainment – Bars and Nightclubs abound. There is a Casino, the Southern Ballet and Dance Theatre, and many cinemas. In summer there is outdoor entertainment in the parks and at New Year, Mardi Gras in Cathedral Square.
Eating out – Restaurants come and restaurants go and whatever we recommend is “as was”. Food is only as good as the person who cooks it and sadly “Chefs” get itchy feet and are frequently head hunted and on the move, so our notations are purely suggestions based on “as was”…..do give them a try. Most of the city centre cafes and tearooms serve light continental style breakfasts, you will not find many serving Bacon and Egg. For that you need to stay in an hotel or there is a walk-in for the general public at The Hereford Hotel and the YMCA . For light lunches try Pastels Café, 77 Hereford Street or the botanical gardens Tea Kiosk. There are so many places you will not go hungry. Canterbury Tales (Park Royal Hotel) has wonderful food, top service and is for special occasions. Mainstream Café (Colombo Street) is a vegetarian restaurant, try the Kumara and Pumpkin Balls with the Sesame sauce if it is still on the menu. Another excellent vegetarian restaurant is DUX DE LUX (Cnr Hereford & Montreal Street) it also has live entertainment. MONTEBELLO'S RESTAURANT at the Christchurch Gondola is great especially on a clear night before and after sunset. A good "all you can eat" for the price Restaurant, is the SEQUIOA 88 at the Redwood Hotel (Main North Road). Huge selection of food, and excellent value. IL FELICE RESTAURANT (Lichfield Street) - for scrumptious Italian fare, LONE STAR CAFE in Manchester Street, for large helpings at reasonable prices, and last but certainly not least SPAGGALIMIS Pizza restaurant, 155 Victoria Street where you can get good home baked pizza’s at reasonable prices.
Queenstown
is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin lake shaped like a staggered lightning bolt, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains. There are various apocryphal accounts of how the town was named, the most popular suggesting that a local gold digger exclaimed that the town was "fit for Queen Victoria". It is sometimes disparagingly referred to as "Vegas by the Lake" for a perceived fixation on commerce-oriented tourism, especially adventure and ski tourism. It is popular with young international and New Zealand travellers alike. The town is the largest centre in Central Otago, but for some administrative purposes it is considered part of Southland. According to the 2006 census, the usually resident population of the Queenstown urban area (including Frankton and Kelvin Heights) is 10422, an increase of 22.1% since 2001. Its neighbouring towns and districts include Arrowtown, Wanaka, Alexandra, and Cromwell. The nearest cities are Dunedin and Invercargill. A resort town, Queenstown is a centre for adventure tourism. Skiing, jet boating, bungee jumping, mountain biking and tramping are all strong promotional themes. Along with Mount Ruapehu, Queenstown is a major centre for snow sports in New Zealand, with people from all over the country and many parts of the world travelling to ski at the four main mountain ski fields (Cardrona Alpine Resort, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Treble Cone). In recent years Queenstown's hostels have become a popular destination for young Australian and American tourists. Queenstown provides adventure tourism during the day and a vibrant nightlife scene during the evenings. Locally, Queenstown has a reputation as one of New Zealand's wine and cuisine centres. Neighbouring, historic Arrowtown features excellent restaurants and bars, and Queenstown lies close to the centre of a small wine producing region, reputed to be the world's southernmost. Pinot noir produced in this area fetches premium prices. Queenstown Airport has scheduled flights to Auckland, Christchurch and Sydney year-round and Wellington, Melbourne and Brisbane seasonally. Queenstown and the surrounding area contain many locations used in the filming of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.
