From adventure holidays, luxury breaks to whale-watching, and movie and wine tours, New Zealand offers travellers a range of experiences set against the most dramatic scenery.
Over recent years new accommodation has been opening up around New Zealand, like The Residences at Kauri Cliffs, which offers a private luxury stay with world-class amenities, including private butler. Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, meanwhile, have evolved into centres of gastronomic excellence with restaurants like Sidart and Cocoro in Auckland and Charley Noble in Wellington, gaining global reputations.
A country of geographical extremes, one of the most memorable ways to explore New Zealand is by road. Join a tour or hire a vehicle and follow one of the famous itineraries, like the Halfling’s Ramble. Pick up your vehicle in Auckland and follow in Frodo’s footsteps with a one-week drive into Middle Earth before alighting in Wellington. Highlights include Cathedral Cove, the coast of Coromandel and, of course, a stopover at Hobbiton. Next up comes a day at Rotorua, with its mix of geothermal springs and Maori cultural shows, before continuing towards Mordor, or Mount Ruapehu, and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Once in Wellington hop aboard a ferry and head across the Cook Strait to explore some of the most dramatic scenery in Oceania. If time permits, embark on a cruise down Milford Sound, or if it’s short, take a flight, and don’t forget your camera.
No trip to the South Island is complete without a wine tour and whilst vineyards are open to visitors, organised visits like New Zealand Wine Tours, Queenstown’s Sensory Immersion Tour and the world’s first multi-sensory wine-pairing experience add an all-new dimension.
Asia Dreams November 2019 – January 2020
