NEW ZEALAND
Despite being one of the most isolated countries in the globe, New Zealand has been an up and coming tourist destination for a while now. The Land of the Long White Cloud has it all, secluded beaches active volcanoes and cosmopolitan cities up north, and unreal mountains, lakes and glacial valleys down south. Everything is possible in “Kiwiland”, where surfing meets skiing in less than three hours.
If you want to venture into the purest natural landscapes that blend rugged coastlines, geothermal waters and Maori culture, this is your place!
NORTH ISLAND
Auckland’s amazing West Coast is always worth a trip. Karekare, Piha, Anawhata, Bethells and Muriwai beaches all share the same untouched beauty that is impossible to dislike. They are just under an hour from the city, which makes them perfect for a cheeky get away if you only have a few days to explore. For more information click here to check out our blog on Auckland’s West Coast.
​
Another must see are The Whangarei Falls. A bit more up north, these amazing waterfalls are surrounded by a beautiful reserve and it’s the perfect place to stop and check out whilst road tripping. They have easy access and are an ideal picnic spot.
Further up, the northern beaches. For most people heading that way, Paihia is the perfect place to start if you want to discover the coves and beaches of the Bay of Islands. Many people like to take the road trip up to Cape Reinga, the most northerly point of the country. Doing this gives an excellent opportunity to see some of these beaches along the way. Our personal faves are: Matapouri beach, Takou Bay, and the sand dunes (close to cape Reinga) where you can practice some sand boarding!
The whole of New Zealand is like a post card and the East Coast beaches are up there on the list to do! With the white sand, beautiful rock formations everywhere and lush green nature reserves make sure you see at least one! A couple of our favourite beaches within an hour or two from Auckland are Tawharanui and Te Arai point.
​
The Coromandel has heaps to do and see so we’ll just name a couple of must do’s!
The first is New Chums Beach. Located close to Wainuiototo Bay on the northeast coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, also voted as one of the worlds top ten beaches with its stretches of golden sand, native forest and beautiful views.
Distance 1.5km | Difficulty: Easy walking track | 1 Hour return walk
Secondly is Hot Water Beach. Its name comes from underground hot springs, which filter up through the sand between tides. It is popular as you can dig a hole in the sand and create yourself your own hot bath from the water hot spring water that is underneath!
And thirdly is visiting Cathedral Cove, which is a large pinnacle of rocks that have been shaped by wind and water over centuries. This place offers gorgeous views of the white sand beach, with its pristine blue waters.
​
Hobbiton – The Hobbiton Movie Set was a significant location used for The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit film series. Located in Matamata, 45 mins from Hamilton or 2 hours from Auckland, it’s a tourist must do where you can discover the colourful Hobbit houses and even enjoy a cheeky free beer or cider at the end of the tour. The entry fee is $75NZD per person including a free drink.
For all the soul surfers out there, Raglan is a must! As the town featured in The Endless Summer (epic surfer film), it is probably the best point break in New Zealand. This amazing little hippie town is packed with cafes, local artists and shops, a really cool quirky place to see!
Taupo – The main attraction to check out here is definitely the lake and its amazing views. With a surface area of 616 square kilometres, people take boats, and kayaks and do water sports on the lake however the main attraction is the Maori Rock Carving created in the late 1970s, on the cliffs of Mine Bay. The 10-metre-high carving is intended to protect Lake Taupo from volcanic activities underneath and is now popular tourist destination with hundreds of boats and yachts visiting the spot yearly.