This is a must see - the world’s youngest geothermal system created by the eruption of Tarawera in 1889. Waimangu is a unique ecosystem that is still intact. Don’t miss Frying Pan Lake (the world’s largest known hot springs), Inferno Crater and the s..

Lady Knox geyser erupts every day at 10:15am, up to 21m, but its punctuality isn’t the only feature of this place. Wai-O-Tapu is also famous for its geothermal wonders such as the 65m in diameter Champagne Pool and its turquoise waters fringed with o..

Majestic Lake Taupo, at 619km 2 the largest body of water in Australasia, is the centre of a major volcanic zone and an inexhaustible trout fishing lake. A wide range of more strenuous activities is also available - from kayaking to bungee jumping.

Three active volcanos - Ruhapehu (2,797m), Ngauruhoe (2,292m) and Tongariro (1,968m) - are set in magnificent Tongariro National Park, on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is your chance for some fantastic downhill skiing, as well as great hiking ..

This picturesque and fertile coastal region is dotted with forty or so wine-growing estates, many with international reputations. While celebrating wine in Hawke’s Bay in the first weekend of February, enjoy the orchards and lavender fields in this m..

Cape Kidnappers south of Hawke’s Bay boasts one of the world’s largest colonies of northern gannets. While it is the scientists’ exclusive preserve at nesting time (June-October), it is open to visitors the rest of the year. Access is via a long sa..

The snow-capped cone of Mount Egmont overlooks the national park of the same name. It attracts skiers, experienced hikers and mountain-climbers, and “Sunday athletes” in its foothills, making it very popular with the inhabitants of New Plymouth. Bewa..

Govett-Brewster Art Gallery is one of the country’s main contemporary art museums. In addition to hosting about twenty exhibitions per year, its also houses the collection of Len Lye, a leading New Zealand artist, sculptor and experimental filmmaker.

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is a perfect prelude to your exploration of the country. You’ll leave feeling fascinated and far more knowledgeable after ideally spending a whole day discovering its virtual landscapes, simulations of eart..

The City Gallery occupies a major place in New Zealand culture, despite being an exhibition space without a permanent collection. New rooms have been added to its Art Deco building. The museum features Pacific Art, traditional and contemporary Maori ..

Shipwreck fans will love the Museum of Wellington City and Sea featuring the wreck of the Wahine ferry, vestiges of the Inconstant (1888), as well as models, films and holographic reconstructions tracing back to a thousand years of local history...

The Old Government Buildings (1876), built out of indigenous kauri trees, are truly impressive in size. But the real seat of power is the Beehive (1964), an amazing copper-topped building where the Prime Minister and his cabinet officiate.

Katherine Mansfield, an icon of New Zealand literature, was born in 1888 in this simple wooden house, restored following an archaeological dig. This literary pilgrimage is also a chance to explore a typical 19C villa in the suburbs of Wellington .

The Marlborough Sounds are a world apart, boasting islands like lacework and peninsulas speckled with magnificent sounds and bays. The string of submerged valleys can be explored by kayak or on foot, on Queen Charlotte Track for instance. A must see.

Marlborough Province is divided into two mountainous areas, the sublime aquatic world of Marlborough Sounds and a valley blessed by Bacchus, the Wairau Valley, which French settlers converted into a wine-growing area famous for its Sauvignon Blancs.

Abel Tasman National Park (225km 2 ) is a coastal paradise inhabited by dolphins, penguins and sea lions, with the forest as a backdrop. The best way to explore the park is by kayak or on foot along the superb and very popular Coast Track. You can ta..

Golden Bay, isolated by mountains, boasts a wealth of handicrafts and natural beauty, including Abel Tasman National Park , Farewell Spit Reserve and the exceptionally pure Waikoropupu (ou Pupu) Springs. Don’t miss this hidden treasure.

Nelson Lakes National Park contains two gems: the glacial lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa, and its 950km 2 of parkland featuring a host of activities including trout fishing, cross-country skiing, mountain climbing, long and short hikes (80 km for the Tra..

Due to lack of funds the construction of Christchurch Cathedral lasted 40 years and wasn’t completed until 1904. Shopkeepers, street artists and makeshift orators enliven the square in front of this Neo-Gothic Anglican sanctuary with an exotic ceilin..

The Canterbury Museum, a stone’s throw from the Botanic Gardens, looks like a large cabinet of curiosities. Colonial and pre-Colonial past, moa skeletons (a legendary bird, now extinct), decorative arts, exploration of the Antarctic (for which Christ..