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Before you have even left New Zealand, you’ll want to come back.  With its rare volcanic beauty, sophisticated cities and friendly people, the “Land of the Long White Cloud” has come a long way from being a Bed and Breakfast nation.  Though still a good source of gorgeous B & B’s, New Zealand has looked beyond the garden gate and set its sights on adventure.  Because of its compact size, visitors are able to enjoy the abundance of outdoor activities without having to spend a lot of time or money getting there. 

View a selection of Excursions in New Zealand.

Auckland

With more boats per capita than any other city in the world, it is no surprise that Auckland is nicknamed the City of Sails, or that it has hosted two America’s Cup challenges.  Auckland also houses one-third of New Zealand’s population and the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere. Living large just seems to be a part of Auckland’s identity. 

Beneath all the bravado, however, lies a city with culture close to its heart.  Museums dedicated to the nation’s obsession with sailing, share the limelight with those exhibiting 25-metre-long war canoes and other impressive Maori artifacts.  Bustling markets showcasing local crafts are walking distance to a myriad of restaurants specializing in anything from a blend of Asian and Pacific flavors known as “Pacific Rim” cuisine, to the ever popular cheap eat, fish and chips.

Rotorua

Rotorua is overflowing with life. Bizarre pools of boiling mud greet travelers with belches, while the temperamental Pohutu Geyser spurts water 30 meters up into the air.  Rotorua’s geothermal area might be cantankerous, but its people are some of the friendliest in New Zealand and consider hospitality a sacred act.

Manaakitanga is Maori for “feel the spirit,” and this dogma has defined how natives welcome visitors to their backyard for the past 160 years.  One of the best ways to “feel the spirit,” is to tour the Tamaki Maori Village and enjoy a traditional Hangi (earth-oven feast) while watching the fierce Haka (war dance) in the immaculately carved meetinghouse.  After immersing yourself in Maori culture, slip into a relaxing thermal spring or fish cool waters teeming with trout.  Whether you come for the culture or for the comfort, Rotorua promises to keep you captivated.

Wellington

Travel to Wellington and enjoy a backdrop of rolling green hills and a magnificent waterfront.  Wellington was destined to be New Zealand’s entertainment capital.  It is the home to Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s national museum; it hosts the month-long New Zealand International Festival of the Arts and has more restaurants, bars and cafes per head than New York City. 

Amazingly, this flurry of activity exists in a city that is little over 1 mile long and can be traversed in 20 minutes.  Take a cable car up to Kelburn for spectacular views of the city and harbor before wandering the Wellington Botanic Gardens nearby.  Shop funky boutiques or people watch while nursing a cappuccino at the foreshore.

Coromandel

New Zealander’s cherish the coastal hamlet of Coromandel for its rustic tranquility.  Its sheltered bays, peaceful bush walks and a burgeoning arts community are all within a 2-hour drive from Auckland.  Once a thriving gold mining town with a population of over 10,000, Coromandel now houses 1,000 residents, 4 pubs and a family of bottlenose dolphins that love company.

The locals are proud of their pioneering heritage and the Coromandel Mining and Historic Museum contains relics from the town’s gold-fever days.  A pioneer in his own right, artist Barry Brickell built his own railway when he discovered quality clay at the top of a hill but had trouble transporting it to his kiln below. Visitors can take advantage of Brickell’s ingenuity by riding the Driving Creek Railway through a maze of tunnels and bridges, all fringed by a spectacular native forest.

Nelson

Creativity is king in Nelson.  More than 350 artists and craftspeople call Nelson home, and their work is continually being shaped by the area’s ethereal beauty.  Inspired travelers can try their hand at glassblowing, pottery, bone carving, and even Maori flax weaving, while less artistic visitors can stroll through sun-kissed orchards, windsurf at Tahuna Beach, or dine on locally smoked New Zealand seafood.

Napier

One could be forgiven for thinking that they have stepped onto a film set when visiting Napier.  With the largest collection of 1930s Art Deco buildings in the world, Napier could be mistaken for a huge Hollywood sound stage instead of a pretty, New Zealand city.  Cozy cafes huddle next to Spanish mission style shops and the sights are remarkable to behold.

If you can drag yourself away from the dramatic juxtaposition between old and new, visit the seaside playground of Marine Parade, or sample prized New Zealand wines from over 40 boutique wineries in neighboring Hawke’s Bay.

Christchurch

Considered to be the most English of New Zealand’s cities, Christchurch is much more than cottage gardens and cozy squares – it is the gateway to New Zealand’s seductive South Island.  The city’s compact design ensures easy exploration of Christchurch’s attractions, all of which are within walking distance from each other.  Climb the 133 steps to the tower of the city’s gothic gem, Christchurch Cathedral, and enjoy stunning views of the city center below.  Celebrate local culture, crafts and cuisine at the famed Arts Centre, the largest of its kind in New Zealand, or rekindle romance while punting on the tree-lined Avon River.

Franz Josef Glacier

Located in Westland National Park, the Franz Josef glacier region is one of only two places in the world where you can witness fingers of ice touching temperate rainforest.  Hike past icy rivers as they meander down rugged mountains and lush valleys toward the sea.  Explore this arctic playground from the skies and watch the sun dance along glacial lakes.  At the end of the day, travelers wind down with a glass of fine New Zealand wine at one of the area’s luxurious lodges.

Milford Sound

A postcard come to life, Milford Sound is a landscape of pristine peaks mirrored by calm waters.  Towering mountains frame the 22,000-meter long fiord and cruises are often greeted by dolphins playing in its waters.  During the rainy season, Milford Sound becomes a wonderland of mist and cascading waterfalls.  The sight of the 1,695-meter high Mitre Peak peering over the blanketed earth is especially enchanting.  Hiking the Milford Track is one of the must-dos for New Zealanders and tourists alike, and the four-day journey is described by some as the finest walk in the world.

Queenstown

Once a gold-mining camp, people now flock to Queenstown for its promise of recreation rather than riches.  Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu at the foot of the aptly named Remarkable Ranges, Queenstown is a year-round adrenalin rush.  From hiking to bungee jumping, there is an adventure sport for every season and every person at this exciting alpine resort.  For a more leisurely pace, cruise to Walter Peak Station and enjoy afternoon tea while watching a sheep get a haircut, or soak in the scenery while sipping gourmet New Zealand wine.  Queenstown offers a vacation filled with a myriad of enticing activities.
 

Wharekauhau Lodge

Based on a 5,000 acre working sheep station overlooking spectacular Palliser Bay, this lodge offers guests a veritable smorgasbord of outdoor activities whilst indulging in splendid luxury (90 minute drive or 10 minute flight from Wellington).
 

Solitaire Lodge

Nestled on a secluded and elevated promontory this is an ideal location providing breathtaking views across the lake to the grandeur of Mount Tarawera (near Rotorua).

Treetops Lodge

With elegant architectural style derived from New Zealand’s pioneering past, the timber and stone finishes echo the beauty and simplicity of the great outdoors (near Rotorua).

Huka Lodge

Surrounded by magnificent natural beauty, and situated in Taupo. The crystal clear waters of the lake are fed by mountain streams and are home to some of the most sought-after Rainbow Trout in the world (near Rotorua).

Set in the heart of the Hawke's Bay 'Wine Country', surrounded by working orchards and nestled in 20 acres of manicured gardens, Mangapapa is everything a gracious homestead should be (near Napier).

Grasmere Lodge

A high country retreat where luxury and natural splendor come together in the heart of the Southern Alps, to form a whole other world of peacefulness & serenity (near Christchurch).

Located on its own 3,000 hectare nature
reserve/merino sheep farm, the Wilderness Lodge is surrounded by the mountains of Arthur's Pass National Park (between Greymouth and Christchurch).

Situated at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu and built in the grand style of the finest alpine lodges with native timbers and stone. It is the perfect place to visit if you like opulence blended with nature (near Queenstown). 

Click Here for video footage of this property.

This lodge is one of New Zealand’s most private and serene vacation retreats, offering absolute comfort as well as stunning panoramic views. Enjoy a variety of facilities including the Spa Pavilion (near Queenstown).

Few places on earth can match the unique natural setting of this Lodge, located right in the heart of 2.7 million hectares of South West New Zealand World Heritage Area (near Haast, south of Franz Josef).