Nieuw-Zeeland No Hurries

About the destination: Auckland is the largest metropolitan area in both Polynesia and New Zealand and a vibrant city with multicultural influence. It is located between two natural harbours, the Waitemata Harbour and the Manukau Harbour and it is dubbed the City of Sails, since it has the highest number of boats per capita in the world. In the city center, there are many galleries, museums, theatres, trendy bars, and top class restaurants which offer an extensive range of cuisine. The Skytower dominates the city’s skyline and offers a spectacular view of the city. Queen Street, the commercial hub area, starts at Waitemata Harbour and runs for nearly three kilometres in a virtual straight line. From the city centre you can walk to the Auckland Domain and the Museum, Albert Park, Parnell, a lovely historic precinct, and up to Newmarket with its many shops. From there it is not far to Mt. Eden and its impressive crater, and to Cornwall Park which is at the foot of the famous One Tree Hill. One Tree Hill, an extinct volcano cone and ancient Maori settlement offers great panoramic views of this sprawling city. Cosmopolitan and charming, Auckland is easily accessible, beautiful, and with plenty to do. It certainly is New Zealand's most vibrant city.

About the destination: Paihia is the main tourist town in the Bay of Islands in the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located close to the historic towns of Russell and Kerikeri, 60 kilometres north of Whangarei. Missionary Henry Williams named the mission station Marsden's Vale and eventually the Paihia became the accepted name of the settlement. Nearby to the north is the historic settlement of Waitangi, and the residential and commercial area of Haruru Falls is to the west. The port and township of Opua, and the small settlement of Te Haumi, lie to the south.

About the destination: Coromandel, also called Coromandel Town to distinguish it from the wider district, is a town on the Coromandel Harbour, on the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula, which is in the North Island of New Zealand. It is 75 kilometres east of the city of Auckland, although the road between them, which winds around the Firth of Thames and Hauraki Gulf coasts, is 190 km long. The population was 1,890 as of June 2021. The town was named after HMS Coromandel, which sailed into the harbour in 1820. At one time Coromandel Harbour was a major port serving the region's gold mining and kauri industries. Today, the town's main industries are tourism and mussel farming. Coromandel Harbour is a wide bay on the Hauraki Gulf guarded by several islands, the largest of which is Whanganui Island. The town and environs are a popular summer holiday destination for New Zealanders. Coromandel Town is noted for its artists, crafts, alternative lifestylers, mussel farming, and recreational fishing. One of the most popular tourist attractions is the Driving Creek Railway.

About the destination: Whakatane is a city in the east of Bay of Plenty, a region on the North Island of New Zealand, 90 km east of Tauranga and 89 km north of East Rotorua, at the mouth of the Whakatane River. It has a population of 18,700 of the 34,500 people (June 2011) of the Whakatane District, about 40% have Maori ancestry. The district has a territorial extension of 4,442.07 km² (1,715.09 km²). The Whakatane District was created in 1976. Whakatane is part of the East Coast parliamentary electorate, represented by Anne Tolley of the New Zealand National Party. Whakatane was affected by the Edgecumbe earthquake in 1987.

About the destination: Taupo is a city on the shores of Lake Taupo in the centre of New Zealand's North Island. It is the seat of the Taupo District Council and is located in the southern Waikato region. Lake Taupō is a lake in the North Island of New Zealand. It is in the caldera of the Taupō Volcano. The lake is the namesake of the town of Taupō, which sits on a bay in the lake's north-eastern shore. With a surface area of 616 square kilometres (238 sq mi), it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, and the second largest freshwater lake by surface area in geopolitical Oceania after Lake Murray in Papua New Guinea. Motutaiko Island lies in the south east area of the lake.

About the destination: Napier (/ˈneɪpiər/ nay-pi-ər; Māori: Ahuriri) is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about 62,100 as of the June 2016.[1] About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighbouring cities are often called "The Bay Cities" or "The Twin Cities" of New Zealand. The total population of the Napier-Hastings Urban Area is 131,000 people, which makes it the sixth-largest urban area in New Zealand, closely followed by Dunedin (118,500), and trailing the Hamilton Urban Area (230,000), and Tauranga (134,400),. Napier is about 320 kilometres northeast of the capital city of Wellington. Napier (62,100) has a smaller population than its neighbouring city of Hastings (68,900) but is seen as the main centre due to it being closer in distance to both the seaport and the main airport that service Hawke's Bay. The City of Napier has a land area of 106 square kilometres and a population density of 540.0 per square kilometre. Napier is the nexus of the largest wool centre in the Southern Hemisphere, and it has the primary export seaport for northeastern New Zealand – which is the largest producer of apples, pears, and stone fruit in New Zealand. Napier has also become an important grape and wine production area, with the grapes grown around Hastings and Napier being sent through the Port of Napier for export. Large amounts of sheep's wool, frozen meat, wood pulp, and timber also pass through Napier annually for export. Smaller amounts of these materials are shipped via road and railway to the large metropolitan areas of New Zealand itself, such as Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton. Napier is a popular tourist city, with a unique concentration of 1930s Art Deco architecture, built after much of the city was razed in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake. It also has one of the most photographed tourist attractions in the country, a statue on Marine Parade called Pania of the Reef. Thousands of people flock to Napier every February for the Tremains Art Deco Weekend event, a celebration of its Art Deco heritage and history. Other notable tourist events attracting many outsiders to the region annually include F.A.W.C! Food and Wine Classic events, and the Mission Estate Concert at Mission Estate and Winery in the suburb of Taradale.

About the destination: Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. Wellington is a compact city as it is nestled between the magnificent Wellington Harbour and surrounding green hills. Wellington is a culturally enriched city with a high emphasis on the arts and it is considered the cultural hub of New Zealand. The proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the stormy Cook Strait is the reason why Wellington is dubbed the Windy City. The town itself is quite compact with most things to see within easy reach. The most important attraction in Wellington is the beautifully refurbished Parliament Buildings, located in the historic suburb of Thorndon. The complex is made up of 3 architecturally distinctive buildings: the Edwardian neo-classical Parliament House, the Victorian Gothic Parliamentary Library and the unique 1970’s style Beehive building, considered the city’s main landmark. Nearby the Parliament Buildings, visitors will find lots of good shops, cafés, Te Papa Museum and Courtenay Place for entertainment. Not too far away are the Ferry terminals and the Caketin, Wellington Stadium. Providing landscapes full of beaches, mountains, old Victorian townhouses, good lookout points, trendy clubs, parliament buildings, music, art, and so much more, Wellington really is a pleasant and beautiful destination.

About the destination: Picton is a town in the Marlborough Region of New Zealand's South Island. The town is located near the head of the Queen Charlotte Sound, 25 km (16 mi) north of Blenheim and 65 km (40 mi) west of Wellington. Waikawa lies just north-east of Picton, and is often considered to be contiguous part of Picton. Picton is a major hub in New Zealand's transport network, connecting the South Island road and rail network with ferries across Cook Strait to Wellington and the North Island. The town has a population of 4,350 (June 2018), making it the second-largest town in the Marlborough Region behind Blenheim. It is the easternmost town in the South Island with a population of at least 1,000 people. The town is named after Sir Thomas Picton, the Welsh military associate of the Duke of Wellington, who was killed at the Battle of Waterloo. Author Katherine Mansfield spent time in Picton where her grandparents, Arthur and Mary Beauchamp, and her father Harold, lived for some time when they came from Australia. She included a reference to the port in her short story "The Voyage" (in the collection The Garden Party), which is "an account of a trip to Picton from Wellington on the Cook Strait ferry".

About the destination: Marlborough enjoys many hours of sunshine and mild weather, so visitors can enjoy all the diversity of Marlborough throughout the season. No matter what time of year it is, there's always something to do in Marlborough.

About the destination: The Abel Tasman National Park is an easily-accessible coastal paradise. You can choose to explore the park from land, on the water, or in the air, with tour operators aplenty offering cruises, water taxi services, kayaking options, heli-tours and sailing catamarans. Whilst summer is a popular time to visit, locals believe that the shoulder seasons are actually the best time to explore the park, as crisp mornings, calm waters and quiet beaches allow you to truly enjoy the peace and serenity. Here, inviting sandy beaches fill the spaces between trees and tide line. Crystal clear streams tumble down mossy valleys to join the ocean. Granite and marble formations fringe the headlands, which are cloaked in regenerating native forest.

About the destination: Greymouth is a town on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Its History House Museum has exhibits chronicling the town’s mining and jade-hunting past. To the south, Shantytown Heritage Park is a re-created gold rush town with a museum and steam train. North of Greymouth, the Point Elizabeth Walkway winds along coastal clifftops to the forests of Rapahoe Scenic Reserve, home to abundant birdlife.

About the destination: Franz Josef Glacier / Kā Roimata o Hine Hukatere is a 12 km (7.5 mi) long temperate maritime glacier located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Together with the Fox Glacier 20 km (12 mi) to the south, and a third glacier, it descends from the Southern Alps to less than 300 metres (980 ft) above sea level. The area surrounding the two glaciers is part of Te Wahipounamu, a World Heritage Site park. The river emerging from the glacier terminal of Franz Josef is known as the Waiho River.

About the destination: Located in the stunning alps of the South Island in New Zealand, visitors from around the world are drawn to the Wanaka region by its outstanding natural beauty. Wanaka’s lakes and mountains and proximity to Mt Aspiring National Park, makes it the ultimate base for outdoor activities. But it’s not just the outdoor enthusiasts who have plenty to do, stroll the streets and be inspired by galleries, stylish shops and be spoilt for choice with a great selection of cool cafes and restaurants.

About the destination: Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains such as The Remarkables, Cecil Peak, Walter Peak and just above the town; Ben Lomond and Queenstown Hill. One of the best views is from the top of Bob's Peak reached by the Skyline Gondola. Breathtaking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables mountain range and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks.

About the destination: Te Anau is a town in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the eastern shore of Lake Te Anau in Fiordland. Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island and within New Zealand second only to Lake Taupo. The 2013 census recorded the town's population as 1,911. The town has a wide range of accommodation, with over 4,000 beds available in summer Tourism and farming are the predominant economic activities in the area. Lying as it does at the borders of Fiordland National Park, it is the gateway to a wilderness area famed for tramping and spectacular scenery. Many tourists come to Te Anau to visit the famous nearby fiords Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound. The town is also used as a base for those undertaking the Milford Track and the Kepler Track, the latter being a 4-day loop from Te Anau. Visitors to the area also partake in activities such as kayaking, cycling, jet boat riding, fishing and hunting, farm tours and seaplane/helicopter sightseeing. In 2014, readers of New Zealand's Wilderness magazine voted Te Anau as the best location in New Zealand for tramping (hiking) opportunities. Rising on the west side of Lake Te Anau, the Kepler and Murchison mountain ranges are evident from most of Te Anau. Many species of bird life are also found locally, notably the endangered Takahe which can be found at the Fiordland Wildlife Park. The Department of Conservation office in Te Anau is active in protecting endangered native birds Te Anau hosts the Kepler Challenge in early December each year. Te Anau is connected by highway with Invercargill to the southeast, Queenstown to the northeast, Gore to the east, and Manapouri to the south. It is at the beginning of the Milford Road, the section of State Highway 94 that leads to Milford Sound, which lies 120 kilometres to the north. A local attraction is the Te Ana-au Caves across Lake Te Anau from the town. The caves include an underground glowworm grotto, which can be viewed from a punt during daily guided tours. Te Anau has two schools; Fiordland College and Te Anau Primary school.

About the destination: Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. Dunedin is still considered to be one of the four main cities of New Zealand for historic, cultural and geographic reasons. Dunedin was designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Literature. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS - Cadbury World, 280 Cumberland St. Take a guided tour of the Cadbury Chocolate Factory, a factory that accounts for more that 75% of New Zealand's chocolate production. - Speights Brewery. - Fortune Theatre. - The Octagon. - The Organ Pipes. - The Victorian architecture especially the Old Railway Station a couple of blocks from the city centre. - Otago University. - The Royal Albatross Colony.

About the destination: Oamaru is the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, it is the main town in the Waitaki District. Oamaru has been built between the rolling hills of limestone and short stretch of flat land to the sea. This limestone rock is used for the construction of local "Oamaru stone”, sometimes called "Whitestone" buildings. The town was laid out in 1858 by Otago's provincial surveyor John Turnbull Thomson, who named the early streets after British rivers, particularly rivers in the northwest and southeast of the country. The name Oamaru derives from the Māori and can be translated as "the place of Maru".

About the destination: "Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's third-most populous urban area. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Christchurch Cathedral built between 1864 and 1904 in Cathedral Square and its replacement ""Cardboard Cathedral"", at 234 Hereford Street, an easy walk North West of its beloved forebear • Arts Centre. Gothic Revival stonework of former University campus. However, the beauty and historical significance of these building can still be appreciated by viewing them from surrounding streets such as Worcester Boulevard and Hereford Street and the excellent Canterbury Cheesemongers still operates from a modern building within its precincts. • Botanic Gardens. • Canterbury Museum. Maori and natural history sections, Antarctic exploration display, and visiting exhibitions. • Ferrymead Heritage Park. A recreated Edwardian township and museum with horse and carriage, tram and train rides. Due to the voluntary nature of the historical societies managing Ferrymead, not all attractions may be running at all times. • International Antarctic Centre. A world-class Antarctic experience with simulated polar weather, Hagglund All-Terrain Vehicle ride, penguins, extensive exhibits about Antarctic science missions, cafe and gift shop. • Orana Wildlife Park. New Zealand's largest wildlife sanctuary and conservation project featuring endangered animals from around the world. The park's design minimises fences and cages in favor of natural boundaries and habitats. • Willowbank Wildlife Reserve • Yaldhurst Museum. Mostly interesting for its collection of over 150 classic and vintage vehicles. • Riccarton Bush. The last remaining forest remnant on the Canterbury plains is in Christchurch city. If your time is limited in NZ, this is a great way to experience an example of the country's native forests. • Earthquake Tourism Tours of affected sites both inside and outside the ""red zone"" are available. Visitors can also make their own way to sites of particular significance such as Christchurch Cathedral; the Catholic Basilica and the construction site of the Cardboard Cathedral."