Attractions

Rotorua

The name Rotorua or ROTO-VEGAS as everyone else calls it!

Rotorua is a city with hot geothermal spots steaming everywhere which makes it the GEOTHERMAL WONDERLAND of New Zealand and geographically stretching in to both the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions.

This city is thriving in rich Maori culture. Maories make up a third of this population , bigger than anywhere else in New Zealand. They will traditionally cook you a hangi meal in their earth oven made out of hot stones and wet ferns. In Rotorua you are surrounded by geothermal mudpools, waterfalls, red wood forests and geysers erupting on a daily basis.

All though Rotorua smells like rotten eggs (aka Sulphur) it is the heartbeat of New Zealand as far as adventure goes. White water river rafting here offers the highest commercially rafted waterfall drop, Tutea Falls at 7m! Gondalaz, luges, Ogo's, bubbling mud pools, hot springs and heaving markets has made this a tourist hot spot, literally, of New Zealand. You can even skydive over this magical land to get the bigger picture!

17 lakes provides the best fishing opportunities, its a mountain bike heaven and a multi sport playground...a VEGAS in so many way!


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Mt Maunganui


Mt Maunganui

the most popular spot for both New Zealanders and tourists to visit over the summer season for obvious reasons! Mount Maunganui is located atop a sandbar that connects Mauao (THE MOUNT – situated at the end of the sandbar) to the mainland. The thin strip is 3 blocks wide at its thinnest part and are loaded with bars, restaurants, hotels and activities. This formation gives the residents beautiful white beaches (main Beach) on the one side hosting every water sport you can think of, and the harbour (Pilot Bay) on the other side which has cruise ships visitors almost all year round.

Moturiki Island also known as "Leisure Island" is the small strip attached with a man made sand bridge to the main beach. Fishing or jumping off the cliff here is an every day occurrence. It also provides a beautiful angle on The Mount and to watch the surf.

Pilot Bay is on the harbour side of the strip and is most popular by locals for fishing off the harbour deck or launching your boat to go the neighbouring island, Matakana, for a surf. This harbour also hosts up 78 cruise ships visits per year, which is a huge boost for the local economy. A number of water activities which includes, swimming with dolphins, Orca sightseeing, harbour cruises and snorkel adventures to the legendary Mayor Island are also operated from these docks.




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Gisborne


Also known as "Tairawhiti" - the light shines on the water - Gisborne is the first city in the world to see the sunrise of each new day.

A tourist hotspot as Gisborne and the surrounding areas is home to some of the best surf spots in New Zealand. If yo are a surfer, you would have heard of Gisborne before as it offers some world class beach breaks. There is a Harbour and rivers running through the city which add to the already water based atmosphere that makes this place so special.

There are great accommodation options and even free camping for all vehicle types parked right alongside the Turanganui river in the center of town. Take a look at campermate for directions

There are many restaurants and bars in the city with a good nightlife over weekends and a wine culture as Gisborne is home to some of the worlds finest wines.

The region is home to around 45,000 people and is around 3 hours from Tauranga and Rotorua and 2.5 hours from Napier.




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Wellington


Wellington is situated at the North Island’s southernmost point on the Cook Strait. For this reason it has been nicknamed Windy Wellington. It is the capital city of New Zealand and is home to the national parliament known as the Beehive.

Boasting with a waterfront promenade, sandy beaches and the iconic red Wellington Cable Car, Wellington also hosts the ZEALANDIA SANCTUARY. ZEALANDIA is a 225 hectare valley with native birds, reptiles and wildlife and is a MUST VISIT!

Wellington has been branded as the 'coolest little capital in the world' and New Zealand's favorite destination. With its award-winning restaurants, cultural attractions and fast increasing numbers of cruise ships visiting yearly, the economy is definitely booming!

What Wellington is also known for, is EARTHQUAKES! A number of fault lines runs directly through the centre of Wellington. In 1855 Wairarapa was a magnitude 8.2 earthquake, the most power ever recorded in New Zealand and altered the landscape of the Wellington region.




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Taranaki


The region of Taranaki lies on the West coast of the north island and is named after its main geographical feature, the stratovolcano of Mount Taranaki. It is the second highest mountain in New Zealand and last erupted in the 18th century forming a perfect cone. New Plymouth is the biggest city in the region, housing a population of 74,184.

The region is home to some of New Zealands best surfing spots, picking up a heap of west coast swell and due to the curve of the coastline, there is always a favourable wind direction somwhere if you are willing to drive.
Alot of the surfing spots have freedom camping near by, making it a good place to visit and surf on a budget.

Climbing Mt Taranaki is a bucket list tick for many and is a big achievement to get to the top, therefore, attracting tourists and hikers from all walks of life. There is a base cafe to stock up on food and drinks and have a chat with some fellow climbers. A must do when visiting New Zealand.




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Queenstown


Renowned for adventure, fun and relaxation Queenstown is a sophisticated holiday resort set in the magnificent landscapes of the Southern Alps of New Zealand. It is a charmed area tucked into a picturesque bay on the shores of Lake Wakatipu surrounded by majestic mountains and views.

Rugged mountains, lakes and crystal clear air and endless activities from bunjee jumping to wine trails, jet boating to tramping, dining out to skiing, the only hard part about visiting Queenstown is trying to fit everything in. The compact and sophisticated downtown is always a buzz with café's/bars and excellent shopping. With four distinct seasons and over 160 licensed bars and cafés, Queenstown never runs out of reasons to celebrate, all year round, any night of the week.

It is also home to 3 Top Ski Resorts of New Zealand, The Remarkables, Coronet Peak and Cardrona Alpine resort which is only a mere 47mins away in Wanaka. New Zealands top winter sports competition and largest recurring event, The Audi quattro Winter Games NZ, is held in Queenstown. Free to watch, this is your chance to see the world’s best compete for glory in freeskiing, snowboarding, alpine ski racing, cross-country skiing and curling. Then enjoy our on-mountain WGNZ music festival featuring some of NZ’s top live bands and DJs.

All of this together makes Queenstown a bucket list dream!




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Wanaka


The name Wanaka gets its name from Lake Wanaka as it is situated on the southern end of the lake. Lake Wanaka is the third largest of the Southern Lakes. It is 45 km long and is as much as 312 metres deep.

The town is very much a snow resort town as it is situated in between two snow resorts Treble cone snow resort and World famous Cardrona Alpine Resort

Wanaka is like a sister city to Queenstown and is a good place to relax for a couple of days, no matter what time of year. It’s a great place to chill out, with lots of hiking and mountain biking options around the lake in summer and ski/snowboarding options in winter.

Great waterfront dining and bars all walking distance from one another makes for a good night out all year round.





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Raglan


If you're a surfer and somebody says "New Zealand", You will automatically think of Raglan World famous left hand point break that attracts surfers from all over the Globe.

The area has been inhabited for at least 800 years and was originally known by the Māori people as Whaingaroa

A rugged coastline creates a perfect rockform along the peninsula that is ideal for long perfect waves, Raglan is the ultimate surf town with a great surfer vibe and surf shops that makes a statement about how passionate the town is for surfing.

The center of town is situated alongside the Waingaro river which connects the town to the ocean where boats launch from the wharf which has a fish n chip shop that is a must if you feeling the hunger pains after surfing all day..

Check out "Kevs Place" for accommodation, as they are situated up the hill overlooking raglan that has a sunset experience to die for. Most affordable option in Raglan with cabins from $40 per night or camping only $10 per person.




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Coromandel


The Coromandel Peninsula is most definitely one of the BIGGEST attractions of New Zealand.

It is 40km wide at its broadest point and with its steep and hilly features it is largely covered in rainforest. Due to the nature of the land, the Coromandel's polulation clusters over five towns (Coromandel, Whitianga, Thames, Tairua and Whangamata) with around 1000 inhabitants. The 1970s saw thousands of hippies relocate from large cities around New Zealand to the Coromandel in search of an environmentally friendly lifestyle. The Coromandelwas also formerly largely known for its gold mining industries.
This beautiful Peninsula with its numerous small islands and island groups lying offshore offers so many natural luxuries! Hot Water Beach is known for digging your own bathtub in the sand where hot water from the underground hot springs meet the cold water of the ocean for a perfect temperature. Alot of the surfing spots have freedom camping near by, making it a good place to visit and surf on a budget.

Cathedral Cove in the Te-Whanganui-a-Hei Marine Reserve can only be reached by foot or boat and is an underwater wonderland for snorkeling and diving. It is the most photographed rock in NZ and with good reason....it is breathtaking!
The very popular town called Whangamata is a must-do! Not only has it got great waves for surfing but it also has Donut Island (Whenuakura Island).

Donut Island is accessible by kayak, sup or boat and it is a large collapsed volcanic blow hole that has created a turquoise lagoon in the centre of the island, surrounded by fauna and flora. Pure MAGIC!




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