Lost in the Right Direction

New Zealand 

Consisting of two main islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, New Zealand may be hard to get to, but this incredible country is worth a long trip. There’s culture and delicious food, and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

Everything you’ve had about it is true—this is one amazing place. You’ve probably heard that there are a lot of sheep, and that’s true, but there’s so much more. Some of the best hiking in the world is along the tracks of the South Island. There are spectacular mountains, glittering lakes, rolling wineries, and, of course, the settings where The Lord of the Rings was filmed.

See the critical information in our New Zealand at a Glance.

Regions

Itineraries

Eat & Drink

Salt

Lovely restaurant with great atmosphere (eat outside overlooking to boats) and food in Whitianga

Garage Project

Great craft brewery in (you guessed it) an old garage / filling station. Located at the heart of Aro Valley; The Taproom at 91 Aro Street features the ever changing line up of GP’s freshest and best.

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Old Mountaineers

Great, sort of funky place for breakfast or another meal. A better deal than breakfast at the hermitage.

Eat Streat

Eat Streat is a covered street with a dozen restaurants with outdoor (and indoor) dining all next to each other. The variety makes it easy to stroll and pick a spot for dinner.

Fiddlesticks

Nice restaurant  in downtown Christchurch with selection of fresh New Zealand selections

Panorama Room

There are several dining options at the Hermitage. This was a good meal with a spectacular view

Brantry Restaurant Taupo

There are lots of places to eat in Taupo – you can wander around and find one. But this one is a cut above.

Rita

In Are Valley right next to the garage project. Fixed three coarse menu so be sure you like what’s being served before deciding.

See

Geothermal Valley Te Puia

This is a 70 acre complex that encompasses an old village area where the Maori of the area originally had a large settlement. The area has a lot if interesting geysers and hot springs but the Maori cultural show and other Maori exhibits ( carving school, weaving school) were the highlights.

Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve (Cathedral Cove)

Don’t miss the spectacular beach. Park at the Hahei parking area and ride the bus (5$ NZ for parking and bus) to the trailhead. From there it’s a 1:30 minute return walk to the beach. You will wan’t to swim there – change at the changing rooms at the car park before you head out.

Old St. Pauls Cathedral

Beautiful church constructed mostly of Kauri wood. Nice on the outside, breathtaking on inside.

Neudorf Vineyards

There are a lot of great wineries in New Zealand, and this was our favorite. Gorgeous grounds and great wine.

Te Anau Glowworm Caves

Glowworms are a species of fungus gnat endemic to New Zealand. Both the larval stage and the imago are luminescent. The species is known to dwell in wet caves, grottoes and sheltered, humid places in forests. Its Māori name is titiwai, meaning “projected over water”. They form glowing mosaics on the roofs of caves.

Auckland (War Memorial) Museum

Fantastic collection of Maori artifacts / buildings , but a whole lot more.  (seek out the Moa skeleton – hunted to extinction the birds were 9 feet tall). Lots of stuff to see – allow a couple hours

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Orakei Korako

Orakei Korako is a geothermal area between Rotorua and Taupo. You take a short ferry across a lake to a huge terrace of limestone with a trial up through active geysers. It’s a bit out of the way and quite colorful.

Tongariro National Park

This national park encompasses there large volcanoes in the center of the north island an hour and a half south of Taupo. Tongariro is most famous for the Tongariro Alpine crossing, billed as the best day hike in the world. It’s a challenging 12.5 mile one way  hike up from forest through lakes, volcanic flows, alpine scenery, and hot springs.

Hot water beach

An underground river of hot water flows from the interior of the earth to surface in the Pacific Ocean at Hot Water Beach – a long beautiful white beach located between Tairua and Whitianga. The stunning beach overlooks the Pacific Ocean and offshore Castle Island, with Pohutukawa lined cliffs at either end of the beach.

Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa)

The National Museum in Wellington is free in a great attraction. Thereare a variety of floors that explore different things including a great World War 1 exhibit that focuses on Gallipoli, as well as sites and artifacts from the Maoris, the natural and other historical features of New Zealand.

Hobbiton Movie Set Tours

OK we admit it – cheesy as this may sound we really enjoyed a visit to the Hobbiton movie set. It helps that I’m a huge dork and fan of the Lord of the Rings but they actually did a nice job with this tour. You wander around the shire with guide and they do the the time to explain some of the movie magic.

Kelly Tarlton Sea Life

Worthwhile aquarium on the water in Auckland. Interesting polar exploration exhibit and aquarium

Old Government Buildings Wellington

In its heyday New Zealand’s largest and grandest wooden building housed the country’s entire public service.  Government Buildings is an outstanding example of New Zealand’s architectural heritage and one of the great wooden buildings of the world.

Do

Hooker Valley Track

10 km return – 3 hours –  mostly flat through amazing Alpine scenery, across there large suspension bridges above glacial rivers to the a lake with icebergs at the base of Mount Cook. One of the best day hikes in the world.

Routeburn Track with Ultimate Hikes

This is one amazing adventure. You walk through beech forest then above the tree line with spectacular views all around. Then arrive at a three star hotel (they call it a “lodge”), where you are greeted with a drink and shown to your room with en suite shower.

Milford Sound Overnight Cruise

Most people day trip into Milford sound. We suggest doing yourself a favor and sleep on the boat. You arrive at 16:30 and have a cruise around the sound, anchor, go for a kayak, have a great dinner and the next morning see the rest of the sound.

Shotover jet

New Zealand is the adrenaline capital of the world – be sure and  take a jet boat ride on the Shotover river  – you’ll go roaring inches away from sheer walls of the canyon. The boat drivers clearly enjoy their job and it really is quite a blast.

Sailing on Lake Taupo

Consider a delightful 2.5 hour sail with Sail Barbary on this beautiful alpine lake under the volcanoes of Tongariro national park.

AJ Hackett Bungy

New Zealand is the adventure capital of the world and just one visit to the AJ Hackett website will convince you that these people are crazy. This is where modern bungy jumping was invented – from the Kawarau bridge near Queenstown.

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Abel Tasman Water Taxi

Take a water taxi to a beach and walk along the golden beaches of the coast – get picked up part way or walk back.  Multiple options for as much as you like along they very popular track.

Auckland Free Walking Tours

A great introduction to Auckland (and New Zealand in general). Your guide will show you the best sights in Auckland and provide invaluable recommendations for the rest of your time here.

Stay

Ah House Bed and Breakfast

What a great spot just a short walk from downtown Nelson. The friendliest folks running it you’d ever want to meet and a level room and great breakfast. Highly recommended.

Flaxmill Cove B&B

Wonderful room in a lovely setting near Whitianga. Room, grounds, view and nearby beach are amazing

Trelawn Place

This is one of the nicest places we have ever stayed.. The grounds are gorgeous. You can stay in a room in the main in or better still grab one of the cottages. The setting is a large lawn on a bluff over the Shotover River, with flowers all around.

Grand Hotel Mercure

Stylish yet relatively affordable home in a nice part of Wellington. Parking is available

Hermitage Hotel

This is the only lodging in Mt Cook National park and it sure is in a spectacular location. Rooms are comfortable and view is to die for. As might be expected from a big hotel catering to tourists there are a variety of dining options.

Sails on the Lake

Well located (right on the beach in Taupo – a fairy short distance to downtown, well rated, with a variety of accommodation types (apartments, suites, one and two bedroom)

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Pohutu Vista B and B

Nice lodging on hill overlooking Rotorua. It’s a bit out of town and a bit hard to find but a nice place to stay

Ponsonby Manor Guest House

Nice homey inn in Ponsonby. Parking is easy on site. There are a lot of restaurants, bars, etc in the neighborhood but it is too far from downtown to walk – which may be a disadvatgae

Peace and Plenty Inn

Consider staying in this lovely B and B in Devenport – a lovely victorian village just across the harbor from downtown Auckland with easy ferry connections to downtown

Hilton Lake Taupo

Nice rooms (with a balcony) but a bit far from town to recommend it highly.