New Zealand Travel Guide

The whole world has a soft spot for New Zealand. It is beautiful and charming, not far from the east coast of Australia it is never-the-less a world away. Comprised of two main islands, the imaginatively names North and South Islands, NZ has roughly the same land area as the UK, but just a fraction of the population.

The land of the long white cloud, as it is known has been inhabited by the Maori for over 1000 years and their unique and fascinating culture is still a major feature of the nation despite European settlement. The Maori traditions are alive and well and have become a major drawcard for New Zealand. Many would be familiar with the fearsome chant known as the "Haka" (especially those in Rugby circles" which has been adopted by European New Zealanders as well. The North Island is the place to go for most of the Maori cultural experiences in NZ and it was in Waitangi on the North Island that the British signed a treaty with the Maori's in 1840 and saw NZ enter into the Commonwealth. Today it is a modern nation of around 4 million people.

New Zealand is an incredibly popular holiday destination despite it's isolation from most of the world population centres (or perhaps, because of it). It is a country of stunning landscapes, friendly people and a relaxed lifestyle. There is everything here from surf beaches to world class snow skiing. It also has unique appeal with it's geothermal regions such as Rotorua and unusual native wildlife - most notably the Kiwi, which has become an affectionate term for a New Zealander.

Travelling in New Zealand is easy and visitors can choose from a vast range of holiday experiences, roaming around both islands in a camper van is a fantastic choice, or just basing yourself in a single regions and taking it all in. Auckland is the largest city, renowned for it's stunning harbour it's called "the city of sails". Filled with funky cafe's and restaurants, it's also within easy striking distance of some of the best destinations to get away from it all, including the Northlands regions at the tip, the Coromandel coast and the west coast areas of the Auckland region. The southern parts of the North Island include the capital Wellington and some truly stunning coastline areas and of course Rotorua with it's geothermal wonders, and rich Maori culture is a must see.

The South Island is relatively sparsely populated, but has an abundance of spectacular scenery. The location of much of the filming for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, it's alpine and glacier shaped landscapes are second to none. It is also the location of the Fiordland Region where rainforests grow on the sides of sheer mountains and waterfalls plunge into fiords. It's where the world renowned Milford Sound can be found and is a favourite for trekkers from around the globe.

At the end of the days spent marvelling at the landscape you will find some of the best wines, beers and fresh produce the world has to offer, all served up with some great Kiwi hospitality. A New Zealand Holiday is one to savour, get in touch today and make it happen.