Description
An island nation in the Pacific Ocean composed of two significant landmasses, the North Island and the South Island aside from about 600 smaller islands, New Zealand is glorious with its ancient rock formations, glacial fjords and gentle evening light. JRR Tolkien may or may not have had New Zealand in mind when he created Middle-earth, but its celluloid version sure did. What with the filming of The Lord of the Rings series spread out over its 150 locations that combine a maze of national parks, jagged cliffs, dales and lake front villages. A teeming biodiversity as a result of its geographic isolation for millions of years and a vibrant Maori culture are characteristic of a land that has drawn as much tourist interest as it has excited cultural anthropologists and explorers. With a capital in Wellington in the North Island, home to stunning waterfront precincts, brightly painted timber houses and sunny beaches, New Zealand is a breathtaking amalgamation of the old world and the new, of splendid natural landscapes and working harbours, of cultures that are as old as the Polynesians and as contemporary as any world-class metropolis.
Outside of being home to some world-class skiing and surfing destinations, New Zealand is one of the world’s foremost hiking getaways, locally known as tramping, owing to its ancient forests, lake-side trails, mountains, beaches, majestic fjords and the presence of the Southern Alps in the South Island.
When curating New Zealand tour packages, ensure you plug in some of its most stunning trails such as Heaphy and Milford Tracks and a bunch of others in the South Island. There are treks through some of its most pristine wilderness such as the Mount Aspiring National Park, the Aoraki National Park and culminating in Fiordland National Park in the South Island. Walking among towering beech forests past craggy peaks, plunging river valleys, and stopping every now and again to spot a native bird, will open you up to the majestic Kiwi wilderness. New Zealand’s volcanoes are a favourite of hikers; one such being the Tongariro Northern circuit. You can even head to the Stewart Island and pursue an isolated trek and experience stunning sea inlets and mudflats. Oban, its only town on the Halfmoon Bay, presently uninhabited can be reached by a trek through the island, or perhaps a boat ride.
A ski holiday in New Zealand is highly sought-after for the quality of snow and the world-class ski zones. Christchurch-Canterbury in the South Island is hailed the best ski destination in New Zealand. A 90-minute drive from Christchurch will bring you to Mt Hutt known for its open slopes, steep descents, and open powder runs for an accomplished skier. Experience the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps, try out the local cuisine, go on a night skiing adventure. A winter spent in Queenstown and Wanaka will be extremely fulfilling for the ski-lover.
Another significant reason surfers make a beeline for New Zealand is the beach breaks it offers across its surf spots in the Northern and Southern Islands. The top pick in the North Island is Raglan. Down the west coast you will find a superb swell that seems to go on and on. Even the Taranaki Peninsular has spectacular swell borne out by perfect wind conditions. This is on Surf Highway 45. Despite the harsh winter of the South Island, surfers come in horde and settle around Christchurch and Dunedin for the quality of swell and its relatively crowd-free coasts. Kaikoura in the South Island is another spot for fantastic beach breaks and reefs. Against frosted peaks and an open sky, there is nothing more a skier can ask for.