10 Things To See & Do In New Zealand

You can’t keep your eyes off the “God’s Own Country” – New Zealand for long. New Zealand certainly is the country of wonders and exoticas. It is the land of glacial mountains, ravishing rivers, luscious lakes, hissing geysers, and boiling mud. Often dubbed as “Kiwiland,” New Zealand is widely known for its plenty of rare native flora and fauna.

Located in the south-western Pacific Ocean, New Zealand is the country known for numerous outdoor activities, such as tramping (hiking), skiing, rafting, and bungee jumping. You can swim with dolphins, play with lambs, watch whales, or go for fishing in pristine streams and rivers. Certainly, you can see & do a lot of things in New Zealand, but here are 10 things that you just can’t ignore.

1. Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, on the southern tip of the North Island, is the place to enjoy arts, culture, entertainment, and fine foods of New Zealand. You can find numerous music/dance/fine arts venues, theatres, galleries & museums, shopping centers, trendy cafes, and restaurants in Wellington. Just a few hours away, you can access network of walking and biking trails along beautiful wineries and vineyards. Some of attractions of Wellington are – Mount Victoria, Brooklyn Windmill, Frank Kitts Park, Karori Cemetery, Elmscourt, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary, Parliament Buildings, and National Library of New Zealand

2. Auckland, the largest city located in the northern half of the North Island, offers you a number of things to see & do. You can enjoy sailing or yachting in the Hauraki Gulf of the Pacific Ocean to the east of the city. You can enjoy stunning waterfalls, breath taking views, and beautiful beaches at foothills of Waitakere Ranges and smaller ranges to the west and north-west of Auckland. You can enjoy picnicking and walking in this part of New Zealand. Some of attractions of Auckland are – Auckland War Memorial Museum, New Zealand National Maritime Museum, Sky Tower, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland Zoo, The StarDome Observatory, Kelly Tarlton’s, and Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens.

3. Rotorua, known as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand, is one of major attractions of New Zealand. It is a town on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island. The town’s springs and geysers have been attracting tourists for over a hundred years. Famous for geothermal activity, Rotorua is known for its geysers, hot mud pools, steaming craters, and Maoris culture and traditions. Some of attractions of Rotorua are – Government Gardens, The Lakes, Okere Falls, Whakarewarewa Forest, Te Puia, Wkakarewarewa Thermal Village, Skyline Skyrides, Rainbow and Fairy Springs, The Agrodome, and The Buried Village.

4. Bay of Islands, an area in the Northland region of the North Island, is great place for fishing, diving and sailing. Located 60 km north-west of Whangarei, close to the northern tip of the country, the Bay of Islands is one of the most popular tourist destinations. You can have a boating trip thru the Hole in the Rock, off Cape Brett, see dolphins, and down to the Rainbow Warrior wreck. You can see Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Haruru Falls, Stone Store, Puketi forest, the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, Kemp House, and the oldest church.

5. Waitomo Caves, located to the south of Hamilton on the west side of North Island, are one of most fantastic tourist attractions. Waitomo is a small village, but its underground rivers through 25 miles of caves take you on a trip that you’ll never forget. These pitch black caves, illuminated by the pale green light of glow worms, just appear fantastic, and you just feel like, you are out in open in a starry night.

6. Wanganui City, on the west coast of the North Island, on the Whanganui River flowing from Mount Tongariro via the stunning Whanganui National Park, is lovely city. The city features Wanganui in Bloom, Whanganui Regional Museum, Sarjeant Gallery, Bason Botanic Gardens, Whanganui Riverboat Centre Museum, Wanganui Collegiate School, Royal Wanganui Opera House, and Cook’s Gardens. You can also visit Whanganui National Park. Wanganui is two and a half hour drive from Wellington, and a six hour drive from Auckland.

7. Napier, an important port city in Hawke’s Bay, was rebuilt in Art Deco style after a massive earthquake in 1931. The city lies 10 kilometers to the south of its twin city, Hastings; Napier & Hastings are sometimes called “The Twin Cities”. You can take guided walks, shop Art Deco and eat Art Deco, or go to the beach. You can see Marineland, Aquarium, and Soundshell, the major attractions of the city.

8. Tongariro National Park, the oldest national park in New Zealand, is one of the major attractions of New Zealand. Located in the central North Island, the Park has been acknowledged as one of the 24 mixed cultural and natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. It looks fantastic during snows. It is home to three main ski areas – Whakapapa, Tukino, and Turoa. It’s popular destination in summer when it is considerably cooler than the rest of North Island.

9. Lake Taupo, in the centre of North Island, is one of the top tourist attractions of New Zealand. The lake is famous for its trout fishing and boating. It is a great base from which to explore the surrounding countryside. Huka Falls, New Zealand’s most visited natural attraction is a short drive away in Taupo, a town at the northern end of Lake Taupo. Some of the major attractions include – Aratiatia Dam, Huka Falls, Lake Taupo Museum and Art Gallery, Lions Walk, Waipahihi Botanical Reserve, Wairakei Tourist Park, and Volcanic Activity Centre.

10. South Island, one of the two main islands of New Zealand, is the island of picturesque mountains, fjords, large beech forests, and beautiful beaches. You can get ferries to the South Island from Wellington. The island is known for its scenic beauty. You can relish and capturing scenic beauty of the island. On the South Island, you can visit cities, towns, and other sites, such as Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Nelson, Franz Josef, Blenheim, Kaikoura, Milford Sound, Omarama, Picton (Gateway to the Marlborough Sounds), Queenstown, Southern Alps, and Wanaka.

Top Five Most Beautiful Destinations for Sailing

So you have decided to take a sailing cruise, but feel overwhelmed at the number of destinations to choose from. If that’s the case then consider the following five destinations, which are some of the most popular and beautiful destinations for your boating cruise.

First is New Zealand. This country boasts that highest number of boats per capita over any other place in the world. Along the coastline you will find a variety of sailing areas including the islands of Marlborough Sounds, Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf and the historic Bay of Islands. Everywhere in New Zealand you can find a number of marinas and charter boats. For a boating destination in which you can find an activity no matter what your interests then you need to visit New Zealand.

Second is Stockholm the capital of Sweden. This place is known as the Venice of the North and is spread out over a variety of fourteen islands. Here you can take the time to sail between unspoiled bays, sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. Take a hike slightly inland and you will find wildflower meadows, historic fortresses and old village settlements where you can see animals such as ospreys and sea eagles.

Third on the list is the Exumas in the Bahamas. This area divides the Great Bahama Bank from the Exuma Sound and is the perfect example of a Caribbean paradise. You will find turquoise seas, sandy beaches and pristine surroundings. There are excellent sailing conditions and a variety of uninhabited cays and bays where you can enjoy a quite lunch or break from reality. There are also excellent opportunities for sea kayaking and snorkeling.

Fourth up is Turkey, which is the most perfect place to enjoy the Aegean coast. You can choose to enjoy the scenery in a traditional pinewood boat or a modern day yacht. You care choose to sail on your own or hire a boat along with a crew so you can sit back and enjoy the scenery. Here you will find water in a variety of shades of blue, excellent snorkeling opportunities and a number of unspoiled beautiful islands to enjoy. Along with a few historic ruins located around the area for you to explore.

Fifth on the list is Whitsunday Islands in Australia. This island is full of beautiful beaches and calm waters. As one of the top sailing destinations in the country of Australia there are excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities along the reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. Inland you will find excellent bush walking opportunities, most of which is designated as a national park and provides an excellent opportunities for a relaxing sailing cruise. On seven of the islands you will find fine resorts, but you can also choose to find a secluded bay where you can anchor your boat if you don’t want to stay on land during your stay.

When it comes to sailing there is no shortage of excellent destinations around the world. However, if you want the best scenery and most activities to choose from then the above five destinations should be at the top of your list. So consider one of these areas for your next sailing cruise in order to have a vacation you won’t soon forget.