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New Zealand

7

Reasons To
Visit New Zealand

  • Food & wine

    This small nation has established a name for fabulous wineries, many internationally acclaimed. Whilst most will point connoisseurs to the Marlborough region for the finest vintages, Hawkes Bay and Martinborough should not be ignored. A trip here would not be complete without trying the local 'fush 'n' chups' or traditional Maori fare either.

    Food & wine

  • Landscapes

    For a small country, New Zealand incorporates landscapes as diverse as they come. Mountains, volcanoes, beaches, lakes, fiords, valleys and caves - to the everyday traveller these remarkable sights are other-worldly. Both the North and South islands share many common features, but are also wonderfully contrasting.

    Landscapes

  • Light adventure

    It's not necessary to throw yourself off a suspended platform in order to fully experience New Zealand. Alternative options include air safaris over White Island, heli-hiking the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers and wilderness cruises in Milford and Doubful Sounds.

    Light adventure

  • Maori culture

    New Zealanders are proud of their Maori roots. Maori song, dance and mythology are prevalent, towns are adorned with carvings and rooms are dressed in flax weavings. Most physical locations also have Maori names with literal translations such as Waimakariri River (Cold water river).

    Maori culture

  • Outdoors & coastal living

    The 'outdoors' perception of New Zealanders is not something consciously cultivated; with such a plentitude of mountains, beaches, fiords lakes and forests on their doorstep it is simply a way of life.

    Outdoors & coastal living

  • Self-drive

    New Zealand has wonderful roads - scenic, safe and, especially on the South Island, largely empty. They even drive on the left and some of the most scenic routes are waymarked. There are car hire stations at all of New Zealand's airports.

    Self-drive

  • Walking & trekking

    There are so many excellent hikes - or 'tramps' as the locals call them - in New Zealand that it is sometimes difficult to know which one to select. We feature several of the country's 'great walks' which can easily be incorportated into any itinerary.

    Walking & trekking

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Visit Punakaiki, New Zealand

Located in the heart of the Paparoa National Park, midway between Westport and Greymouth, is Punakaiki, on the ‘Coast Road’, one of New Zealand’s most spectacular coastal drives.

Punakaiki, New Zealand
Pancake Rocks, PunakaikiPunakaiki, New ZealandPunakaiki, New ZealandThe blow holes at PunakaikiPunakaiki, New ZealandPunakaiki, New ZealandPunakaiki, New ZealandPunakaiki, New Zealand

Punakaiki

New Zealand

Located in the heart of the Paparoa National Park, midway between Westport and Greymouth, is Punakaiki, on the ‘Coast Road’, one of New Zealand’s most spectacular coastal drives.

Nearby are the Pancake rocks and blowholes; limestone rock formations that have been transformed by a layering and weathering process known as stylobedding into what look like stacks of thin pancakes. When the tide rises, seawater surges into caverns below the rocks and squirts out in impressive geyser-like jets.

A short loop walk providing fabulous views of the phenomena follows from the road around the rocks. Guided beach, forest and mountain walks introduce the area’s beauty, and in the winter months the rare Westland black petrels return to their colony to breed.

More in Punakaiki, New Zealand

Further reading:
New ZealandRegions of New ZealandWhen to GoHighlightsItinerary IdeasPlaces to GoThings to DoAccommodationAbout New ZealandCountry Guides

Other countries in Australasia:
AustraliaFrench PolynesiaSamoaThe Cook IslandsFiji

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