The North Island

North Island is an exciting mix of busy cities and peaceful countryside. Maori culture is a strong feature in the North Island and the opportunity to experience Maoritanga (Maori art and culture) is one of the highlights of any journey through New Zealand. The North Island is known for unspoilt beaches, immense Kauri trees and volcanic thermal activity.

Auckland

With over 1 million people, Auckland City is New Zealand's largest city. The lifestyle Aucklanders enjoy is dominated by their closeness to the sea and as a result Auckland is known as the 'City of Sails' and hosted the 2000 and 2003 America's Cup races. The fast paced lifestyle of Auckland is far from representative of the rest of the country. Enjoy a latte in one of the many cafes in the city or suburbs, climb one of the 50 volcanoes in Auckland, visit one of the many lovely vineyards, take a gulf or harbour cruise or simply relax on the beach with some sushi or fish and chips.

Northland

North of Auckland is Northland, a popular first destination for travellers because of its closeness to Auckland. The region is treasured by many New Zealanders for its beauty and important history. Northland is known as the 'Winterless North' as the climate is relatively warm all year round. The area boasts some of New Zealand's best beaches.

Waikato

The mighty Waikato is the heart of the New Zealand dairy industry (even the local rugby team's mascot is a cow called Moo Loo and their ardent supporters carry cow bells to every match). The rich farmland of the Waikato region creates beautiful pastoral landscapes. A must see is the glow worm caves at Waitomo near Otorohanga. The beach at the seaside town of Raglan is a surfer's Mecca and well worth visiting. Other interesting features are the Waikato River, which is New Zealand's longest. Hamilton is the major city in the Waikato region, with a population of 160,000. Hamilton boasts a unique and vibrant nightlife with an abundance of cafes and bars all within a three block area.

Bay of Plenty

Captain Cook named the Bay of Plenty on his discovery of the area. The Coromandel Peninsula is a favourite holiday spot for Aucklanders during the summer break, due to the Coromandel Peninsula's lush rainforests and secluded and beautiful beaches. Both Thames and Coromandel township are former gold mining towns with tours of old gold workings and operational stamper batteries. Tauranga is a vibrant city with a laid-back beach and surfing lifestyle. While you are there check out 'The Mount' (Mt Maunganui). In the middle of the Bay of Plenty region is Rotorua with exciting Maori culture and the volcanic thermal activity. You can take a tour of boiling mud puddles or simply have a leisurely soak in a thermal bath. This is also the main kiwi fruit growing region in New Zealand.

East Coast and Hawkes Bay

East Cape is a very remote part of New Zealand and largely undiscovered by tourists (yet!) The East Coast was the setting for the critically acclaimed New Zealand film 'Whale Rider'. Fans of East Coast rugby are some of the most passionate in New Zealand. The East Cape is also the first place in the world to see the dawning sun. Because of this there is always a big New Years Eve Party in Gisborne. Gisborne is a laid-back surfers town, a nice place to take some time out and relax on the beach. Hawkes Bay and the cities of Napier and Hastings offer interesting activities for backpackers. In 1931 Napier and Hastings were struck by an earthquake, then rebuilt in a style that placed them at the centre of 'modern' era of fashion. Today you can absorb the splendour of Art Deco and Spanish Mission buildings that make the region one of the most interesting architectural centres of New Zealand. The Hawkes Bay is also a famous wine-producing region with many excellent vineyards.

Taupo and Tongariro

Taupo is located on the northern shore of Lake Taupo, which was formed by a massive volcanic eruption. Taupo is a great place for backpackers with a wide range of activities including bungy jumping, skydiving, hiking, kayaking, scenic flights, fishing for trout and jet boating. Taupo also has a number of great pubs (check out the Holy Cow, 11 Tongariro Street). South of the Lake is Tongariro National Park which is also a World Heritage site. The National Park has three volcanoes within its boundaries. The National Park has two ski fields situated within it, i.e. Whakapapa and Turoa on Mt Ruapehu.

Wellington

Windy Wellington is the political and cultural capital of New Zealand. It is one of New Zealand's most vibrant and exciting cities with more café and restaurant seats per capita than Manhattan. The compact city centre makes getting around easy. Wellington hosts many different sporting and cultural festivals throughout the year including the Summer City Celebrations, International Sevens Rugby Tournament and The Fringe NZ Festival 2004 (and that is just a taste!) Of course Wellington is also the home of Peter Jackson and hosted the World Premier of the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King. Wellington has Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand. As one of our participants said, "it is fun, interactive - and free!"