Ten travel tips to experience all the emotions of New Zealand, a journey of adventure and relaxation, of nature in its most surprising simplicity.
A trip to New Zealand is an immense source of emotions, to be experienced on the spot but to be brought in and picked up when needed, when you return to everyday life.
The vast and wild horizons of the two islands, that of the North but above all that of the South, offer unforgettable scenes and panoramas.
The country is very large, stretched over the two islands, long distances, travel planning is mandatory, unless you have more and more months…. it will certainly not be an exhaustive list but these are for me the ten things / places that you really must not miss.
The largest city, but not the capital it is Auckland: the only city worthy of the name. The center alternates skyscrapers with historic buildings, the sea surrounds it on two sides. The port is home to an infinite amount of sailboats, giving the right mix of nature and metropolis. Some places of interest: Auckland art Gallery for painting mainly of European origin; Albert Park, a city park surrounded by Victorian buildings; the Civic Theater, built in the late 20s. You can smell the true spirit of the city on the Queens Wharf and Princess Wharf docks, where ships arrive and depart, but you can also relax in the sun. Auckland is the most international city in New Zealand, with huge amounts of Asian, European restaurants, shopping for all tastes and crowds.
Not far from Auckland, but on the east coast the Coromandel Peninsula. A strip of land with some dream locations and which offers unforgettable views towards the coast. The characteristic is the alternation of peaceful rural landscapes towards the interior and wild coasts on the sea. Coromandel town can be the starting point for exploring the most famous places in the area: the elegant Hahei, a town with a splendid beach, very crowded in summer and a starting point for beautiful walks, including the one in Cathedral Cove, a beach on which a high rock arch stands out which has the appearance of the vault of a cathedral. The sea here is a nature reserve, the coasts are protected. Another famous resort in the area is Hot Water Beach. The name speaks for itself: a spring of hot water gushes from the sand, and everyone can create their own pool of thermal water (tide permitting).
Important center of Maori tradition and prominent city of the North Island is Rotorua. The area is affected by geothermal activity, New Zealand's young age is manifested here to the fullest: spas are scattered around the area, along with natural springs. Even the vast city public park is full of pools and lakes of very hot water and boiling mud, the vapors spread everywhere, together with the (unpleasant) smell of sulfur. Rotorua also has a huge museum center dedicated to Maori culture and traditions and a spa park called Te Puia; the Rotorua Museum is also worth a visit, for the elegance of the early twentieth century building that was a former spa.
Il Tongariro National Park it is a place of lunar beauty: the group of three volcanoes stands out on the Desert Road, the road that crosses an area where, following the numerous volcanic eruptions, nothing grows anymore. The cones of the volcanoes, covered with snow in summer as in winter, can be covered on foot in a fairly demanding trek or can be seen from above, by helicopter. Volcanoes are active and have several smoking mouths!
I sounds these are the fjords that you will cross by ship coming from Wellington and reaching the South Island. The crossing passes in the middle of the sumptuous Queen Charlotte Sound: bright green mountains enclose equally green waters, where it is not uncommon to see sea lions swimming. Cottage on the banks, sailing boats, life on the sounds seems to belong to another century. The whole north part of the South Island is dotted with branches and branches of these fjords, whose exploration captures the soul: the best thing is to take the Pelorus postal service which leaves from Havelock in the morning around 9.
A tropical South Island dream is Abel Tasman National Park. Golden sandy beaches that widen or narrow according to the tide, water in a thousand shades from green to blue, calm and enclosed by a thousand inlets, which have nothing to do with the oceanic coasts to which the country has so far accustomed. Add that the whole area is a national park, accessible only by ecological means (first of all on foot or by kayak) which is equipped for tents and hikers, and the magic is done. Abel Tasman allows you to spend days among rainforests, dream beaches and hiking trails, away from the chaos and noise.
Unmissable and not far from the city of Nelson and the Marlborough area, where the most famous New Zealand wines are produced.
On the west coast of the South Island there are two extraordinary glaciers, close to the sea and at low altitude: they are Franz Josef and Fox Glacier. The ends of both can be reached on foot, after an easy walk through the glacial valley; while the exploration of the glacier is to be done only with specialized guides. The two glaciers are twins, and very vast, the surprisingly changing environment: this characteristic of New Zealand is here brought to the maximum!
Why go to Kaikoura, north of Christchurch? Because in this seaside resort, with the roaring ocean and the mountains behind the coast, you can see many animals, considering that the whole area is a nature reserve. Then you can admire: whales, dolphins, sea lions, penguins… for whales there are small cruises with dedicated boats, the same goes for penguins, among which it is possible to swim. The sea lions instead look into each other's eyes from a few meters, lying in the sun of the beach on the tip of the peninsula (Point Kean Seal Colony). Keep a certain distance: despite their peaceful appearance they can be aggressive!
Let's say it is impossible to get lost i parks and nature reserves, in New Zealand, because they are widespread. The DOC (Department of Conservation) takes care of and maintains them, the signage is accurate, the routes can be done by everyone. Access to the parks is always free and free, with some exceptions: what is required is respect for the rules and the environment. A walk in a national park or a reserve is absolutely recommended, even if you are not an expert hiker. Because New Zealand has an exceptional and intact nature and the care with which it is valued is a distinctive feature of the country… if you want to get into the local spirit.
The highest peak in New Zealand is the Mount Cook or Aoraki, exceeds 3700 meters and is covered with perennial snow. It is a mountain range, with many feasible excursions, mountaineering, winter sports in general and glacial lakes such as Tasman Lake. Arriving in these parts means alternating the view of snow-capped peaks with placid lakes, sunsets over the water, peaks in the background, all the poetry of the wild nature of the land of the Kiwis deployed at the highest levels! Or give free rein to your favorite sports: New Zealanders love to enjoy all possible ways of doing sports in nature and in all conditions!
In conclusion: nature in NZ gives emotions, it is the real show, it is primeval, it often changes quickly, surprisingly. Look for it, enjoy it, move independently, and fill up with energy!
