Attractions

Wellington

Wellington is situated on a splendid harbour at the southern tip of the North Island. Often maligned for its ill-tempered weather, Wellington is a lively city of culture and arts and great ethnic restaurants and cafes. It is also home to the country's government and national treasures.

Buildings of interest include the modernist Beehive (the executive wing of Parliament), the old Government Building (one of the largest all-wooden buildings in the world), the National Library (housing the most comprehensive collection of books in the country), and the Katherine Mansfield Memorials (the property where the famous author was born in 1888). In addition, there are museums (including the excellent Te Papa museum), a zoo and stunning views of the city from the top of Mt Victoria. Cuba Street has great shopping, Thorndon has historic sites of interest, Lambton Quay is the primary business street and Mt Victoria is the place to go for cheap accommodation and dining.

Auckland

This waterside city has a strong pulse and a nautical twinkle in its eye. Its bewitching location on a thin stretch of the North Island, which is surrounded by the Pacific on just about every side, is complemented by the lush subtropical forests of the nearby hills and islands.

Auckland's tourist attractions are, unsurprisingly, based around all things maritime. When you've had enough of aquariums and the history of sailing, go looking for Maori culture and dinosaur skeletons, lie in the gardens or try stargazing at the Observatory.

Northland

Northland is the cradle of both Maori and Pakeha (European) culture: it was here that the Pakeha first made contact with the Maori, and where the first whaling settlements were established. The Treaty of Waitangi was also signed here. Often referred to as the 'winterless north' because of its mild year-round temperatures, Northland has a number of interesting museums (Kauri Museum), glorious, blonde beaches (Ninety Mile Beach) and diving spots (Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, reckoned by Jacques Cousteau to be among the top 10 diving sites in the world), historic towns (Paihia and Waitangi), game fishing (Bay of Islands) and flora and fauna reserves (Waipoua Kauri Forest).

Otago & Southland

Three highlights dominate Otago and Southland: Queenstown, set in a glacial valley, with a bevy of adrenaline pumping activities; the walkways of Fiordland National Park; and Otago Peninsula, which boasts New Zealand's first foray into ecotourism.

Queenstown, on Lake Wakatipu, is a town synonymous with parasailing, white-water rafting and bungy jumping. Fiordland National Park is a wilderness of mountains, ice and beech forests. The scenic climax is undoubtedly Milford Sound, situated in the shadows of towering mountains and waterfalls.