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Best of New Zealand
Holiday guide

Best of New Zealand

New Zealand is not merely a rewarding place to visit, it genuinely ranks as one of the world’s greatest destinations. And luckily for us, it’s right on our doorstep.

No matter what your tastes, there's a holiday in New Zealand that's perfect for you.

How to have the perfect NZ holiday

Half the challenge of planning a holiday in New Zealand is not deciding what to do but where to start.

  • by Anthony Dennis
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Rakiura National Park spans Stewart Island.

Beyond North and South: NZ’s incredible forgotten ‘other islands’

Stray from the two main islands for gob-smacking terrain, and highlights including the most assured kiwi sightings and world’s only island Dark Sky Sanctuary.

  • by Andrew Bain
Views from Cape Reinga.

Wild and warm: The ‘winterless’ part of New Zealand

Known for its temperate weather, First Nations history and extraordinary scenery, New Zealand’s Northland region unfurls on a journey by road and air.

  • by Catherine Marshall
Helena Bay Lodge

The NZ-style of accommodation that showed Australia how it’s done

Alpine retreats, sheep station stays, coastal getaways – no two are the same, but New Zealand’s luxury lodges are famous for delivering magic moments.

  • by Ute Junker
Mapu Test Kitchen.

A food revolution is happening in the land of ‘fush and chups’

Something powerful that is happening in New Zealand right now: a quiet culinary revolution.

  • by Ben Groundwater
Hokitika Gorge is a sight to behold, with stunning blue waters surrounded by greenery.
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Forget the long-haul. Where to find Earth’s most stunning spots

It doesn’t take a trek to the top of Everest to see something to snatch your breath away.

  • by Katie Cunningham
Waiheke Island - a visit is essential.

Nine must-do highlights of Auckland, New Zealand

Few cities can boast such an array of natural and man-made attractions, including a breathtaking holiday island.

  • by Rob McFarland
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Queenstown offers adventure and scenery with the best wine, food and comforts on offer.

Nine must-do highlights of Queenstown

Queenstown offers adventure and scenery with the best wine, food and comforts on offer.

  • by Anthony Dennis
SatOct15OneOnlyChristchurch
One of the Christchurch, New Zealand, distinctive heritage passes the city's historic Arts Centre complex.

Photo: supplied

Nine must-do highlights of Christchurch

After a mammoth, decade's long reconstruction following the 2011 earthquake, New Zealand's second biggest city is experiencing a new dawn.

  • by Anthony Dennis
Cocktails are a specialty at Kol.

Six of the best new restaurants in Auckland

Melbourne’s iconic tapas institution arrives in Auckland.

  • by Rob McFarland
The TranzAlpine passes Lake Sarah on New Zealand's South Island.

How to go from north to south by rail

New Zealand's great rail journey across the North and South Islands involves three trains, plus a ferry.

  • by Tim Richards
Explore the nooks and crannies in Hannah's Laneway.

Nine must-do highlights of Wellington

Head to Wellington, New Zealand's funky young capital, for art, museums, culture, great food and vintage shops.

  • by Jane Richards
The Ayrburn project is set to put the region on the map.

Foodies, if you haven’t heard of this region, that’s about to change

The Ayrburn project – a $184 million playground for devotees of good food and wine – is set to open on New Zealand’s South Island.

  • by Trudi Jenkins
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The surreal turquoise waters of Hokitika Gorge.

New Zealand’s wild west is stunning and untouched

New Zealand’s West Coast is a remote, untamed frontier that’s sparse in population but rich in scenic and mineral treasures.

  • by Julie Miller
11 things to do in an NZ winter besides skiing

11 things to do in an NZ winter besides skiing

In New Zealand there's far more to do in winter than just strap a few planks to your feet and slide down a mountain.

  • by Ben Groundwater
Tongariro Alpine Crossing: Almost universally described as New Zealand's best day walk, the Alpine Crossing is paradoxically colourful and bleak as it threads between the volcanoes of Tongariro National Park.

10 of the greatest NZ walks you can do in a day

New Zealand is also filled with great day walks, taking in some of its most spectacular natural features.

  • by Andrew Bain
Marlborough Sound – home of sauvignon blanc.

I’m a ‘savvy b’ hater but this region made me fall in love with it

Would you even bother to visit Marlborough if you weren’t a fan of sauvignon blanc? Does this region have anything to offer those who say no to savvy b? I’m here to find out.

  • by Ben Groundwater
Fancy cheese rolls made with multigrain bread.

The South Island’s iconic cheese roll is a thing of simple beauty

You begin with a slice of dodgy white bread, spread it with a melted mix of grated cheddar, evaporated milk and onion soup powder...

  • by Ben Groundwater
The Hermitage and it’s Aoraki Wing (the tower at right) dwarfed by the surrounding mountains.
★★★★½

This legendary New Zealand hotel is an attraction in itself

Admiring one of the world’s most dramatic alpine landscapes from The Hermitage’s refurbished Aoraki Wing is an unmatched experience.

  • by Jim Darby
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Drink in the views at Te Kano Estate.

Chic wineries and scenery dazzle in this fast-growing wine region

Head out of Queenstown to Central Otago, and you’ll find modern cellar doors and excellent dining with a sumptuous backdrop.

  • by Brian Johnston
Wild wonders: NZ’s lesser-known natural highlights

Wild wonders: NZ’s lesser-known natural highlights

When it comes to natural wonders, New Zealand lays it on thick.

  • by Ute Junker
Putangirua Pinnacles featured in The Lord of the Rings trilogy as the 'Paths of the Dead'.

How one film changed New Zealand forever

Until the release of the first Lord of the Rings film, most of the world might not have been able to pinpoint New Zealand on a map.

  • by Julietta Jameson
Jemaine (left) and Bret. We’ll take ’em.
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Ten things Australians should adopt from New Zealand

We Australians have nicked plenty of ideas from across the ditch, and vice versa. But here are a few more things we should take.

  • by Ben Groundwater
A view through the ice.

One of the world’s most spectacular ski spots is surprisingly easy

On New Zealand’s Tasman Glacier, the skiing is mild but the environment is wild.

  • by Jim Darby

Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/traveller/inspiration/best-of-new-zealand-20230906-p5e2it.html