New Zealand - Regional Highlights North Island
The North Island (115,000 sq km) is perhaps best known for the unique volcanic plateau at its centre. This thermal belt contains active volcanoes - Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro - and magnificent examples of geysers, boiling mud pools, hot springs and steam vents. In Waitomo District, the Waitomo Caves, with their caverns, underground rivers and glittering glowworms, are one of the island's most popular attractions, while up north the historic Bay of Islands is famous for its scenic islands and secluded coves. The North Island has four national parks - Te Urewera, Egmont, Whanganui and Tongariro - offering a World Heritage Site, thermal fields, hot springs, ski areas, native forest, rivers and historic Maori sites. Wellington is the country's capital, laying claim to the title of Cultural Capital for its wealth of theatre, music and art. The North Island's largest centre is Auckland, a cosmopolitan city known for its vibrant Pacific culture and stunning harbours.
Some notable attractions are: Far North & Cape Reinga
Known as New Zealand's Winterless North, this area is home to rugged Cape Reinga, the country's northern-most tip, and the sweeping sands of 90 Mile Beach. The Bay of Islands
One of New Zealand's most beautiful marine parks, this lovely area offers diving, swimming with the dolphins, sandy beaches and historic villages. New Zealand's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, was signed here in 1840. Hokianga Harbour
This historic harbour on Northland's west coast is known for its massive white sand dunes. Many Maori trace their early ancestry to this area. Waipoua Kauri Forest
On the west coast of Northland, this remnant of native kauri forest is home to the ancient kauri Tane Mahuta (King of the Forest) - thought to be about 2000 years old. Tutukaka Coast
North-east of Whangarei, this beautiful stretch of coast is famous worldwide for its fishing and diving. Auckland
Straddling a narrow isthmus and bounded by the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours, Auckland is also New Zealand's largest city and the world's largest Polynesian city. Known as the City of Sails, it has more boats per capital than any other city in the world. Coromandel Peninsula
This scenic peninsula is popular for its bushclad hills, historic goldmining towns and dramatic coastline, fringed with sandy beaches and pohutukawa (native coastal trees). Waitomo Caves
These limestone caverns are one of the country's best-known attractions, with their eerie underground caverns lit by thousands of glowworms. Rotorua & Thermal Areas
New Zealand's most popular visitor destination offers beautiful lakes, vibrant Maori culture, and unique thermal areas with fine examples of boiling mud pools, spouting geysers and silica terraces. Taupo
New Zealand's trout fishing capital enjoys a scenic location on the shores of Lake Taupo (606 sq km), the country's largest lake. Tongariro National Park
Dominated by three volcanoes, this World Heritage Site contains tussock plains, snow-capped mountains, hot springs and alpine walking tracks. In winter, Mt Ruapehu is the North Island's premier ski resort. Hawke's Bay & Napier
Known for its relaxed lifestyle, sunshine and vineyards, Hawke's Bay has made a splash with its world-class wines. Napier - its main centre - has one of the world's highest concentrations of art deco architecture Wellington
At the head of a scenic harbour, the country's capital enjoys a vibrant arts scene and café culture, and is home to the country's ground-breaking national museum, Te Papa. There are major ferry links to the South Island. South Island
Renowned for its natural beauty, the South Island (151,000 sq km) is blessed with tranquil lakes, rugged mountains, wild rivers and lush forest. A massive mountain chain - the Southern Alps - runs down its spine, taking in the country's highest peak, Aoraki/Mt Cook (3,754 m). Fiordland is a key drawcard for visitors with its glacier-carved landscape of drowned river valleys and towering peaks. The South Island boasts nine national parks - Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes, Kahurangi, Paparoa, Arthur's Pass, Westland, Mount Cook, Fiordland and Mt Aspiring. These majestic wilderness areas incorporate World Heritage Sites, fiords and glaciers, lakes, ski areas, rugged coastline, native forest, and world-class tramping tracks. The South Island's largest city is Christchurch, renowned for its gracious parks and English character. Dunedin, with its Scottish heritage, is the second largest centre, and the country's best-preserved Victorian city.
Some notable attractions are: Nelson/Marlborough
Historic Nelson is famous for its sunshine and wines, while Marlborough's jewel is the spectacular Marlborough Sounds, with their branching river valleys. Marlborough is known for its superb sauvignon blanc. West Coast
This rugged strip of land down the South Island's west coast boasts a wild coastline, lush native forest, mountains, lakes, rivers and the world's most low-lying glaciers, the Fox and Franz Josef. Aoraki/Mt Cook
The nation's highest mountain (3,754m) is part of Mt Cook National Park, a magnificent alpine wilderness containing New Zealand's largest glacier, the Tasman Glacier (28.5km). Fiordland & Milford Sound
This spectacular area of drowned river valleys is best known for the 22km-long Milford Sound, with its tranquil waters and sheer peaks. Te Anau & Milford Track
On the shores of beautiful Lake Te Anau, this resort town is one of the world's walking capitals, famous for the popular Milford Track. Stewart Island
New Zealand's third island lies across the Foveaux Strait at the bottom of the South Island. A haven for native flora and fauna, it is one of the best places to see kiwis live in the wild. Dunedin & Otago Peninsula
Founded by Scottish settlers, Dunedin has some impressive Victorian buildings. The nearby Otago Peninsula is rich in bird and marine life, including the world's only mainland albatross colony. The Catlins
This pristine wilderness area is a well-kept secret, with its unique flora and fauna, rainforest, waterfalls and beaches. Wildlife includes Hector's dolphins, native fur seals and native yellow-eyed penguins.
Queenstown
New Zealand's beautiful adventure capital draws visitors year-round with its adrenalin-pumping outdoor activities, including bungy jumping, jet-boating on the Shotover River, whitewater rafting and skiing. Christchurch
New Zealand's second-largest city has a distinctly English character, with wide, tree-lined street, gracious buildings and lovely parks and gardens. Punting on the Avon River is a favourite past-time in summer, while in winter nearby Mt Hutt draws the skiers. Banks Peninsula
The country's only French settlement, historic Akaroa, is set at the tip of this scenic peninsula with its rolling hills, wineries and wildlife. The world's rarest dolphin, the Hector's, can be found in Akaroa Harbour. Hanmer Springs
This alpine spa town is home to one of the country's most picturesque outdoor thermal springs. Kaikoura
Once a sleepy fishing village, Kaikoura has become a whale-watching mecca, and a major centre for swimming with the dolphins. | 
