2014 Telegraph Travel readers voted New Zealand to be their favourite long-haul destination for the third consecutive year.
New Zealand offers beautiful landscapes known across the world from “The Lord of the Rings” and ” The Hobbit”. There are vibrant cultural and culinary attractions peppered across the country and the people of this beautiful place are welcoming and open. Despite its remoteness – the flight time from London to Auckland (North Island) is approximately twenty four hours, New Zealand is a wonderful and popular holiday destination, well worth the travel effort.
Here are some ideas on how to spend your time in New Zealand, depending on how much time you have to spare:
One Week:
Those with just one week to spare in New Zealand would be well advised to concentrate on one island – serious outdoor enthusiasts may find South Island most rewarding with its mountains, fjords and Queensland’s adventure tourism. Those looking for a calmer, less thrill-seeking holiday should head for North Island and visit Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest metropolis and capital city as well as making time to to take in the island’s volcanic landscapes and vibrant Maori culture.
Two Weeks:
Two weeks of travelling gives the opportunity to combine visits to both North and South Islands. A suggested itinerary could be:
North Island: Auckland – The Coromandel Peninsula – Rotorua – Taupo – Tongariro National Park – Wellington
South Island: Christchurch – The Southern Alps – Mount Cook National Park – Central Otago – Kawarau Gorge – Queenstown
Three Weeks:
Those with three weeks or more to travel around this beautiful country, could continue on from Queenstown and head onto Te Anau where you can a cruise around iconic Milford Sound. If you have plenty of time on your hands, consider visiting Stewart Island which lies south of South Island and is rich in ecotourism – its location means a few extra days will need to be built into travel plans. From Milford Sound, head up the North West cost of South Island and make time to stop at Wanaka where you can choose from several different outdoor activities such as a day hike to the Rob Roy Glacier. Travelling north towards Hokitika, there is the option to view Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. Further north again, Greymouth is home to gold rush heritage and at Punakaiki, you can see the famous Pancake Rocks blowing their stacks at lively high tides. Turing east, head back to Christchurch on an intensely scenic journey via Arthur’s Pass where you will see steep river valleys, the alpine national park and the green Canterbury plains. Wonderful.
Ask us for more information about travel to and holidays in New Zealand. And you could also consider a multi-centre trip which takes in New Zealand and goes onto Australia or vice versa: contact Ultimate Destinations on 01923 284148 or send us an email to info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk. We’ll be delighted to help.
