Executive summary by darmansjah
New Zealand is an otherworldly,
photogenic and friendly country offering visitors unbeatable changes for
adventure and exploration. The rugged islands are home to dense native forests,
mountains, beaches, glaciers, thermal regions and fiords that have been
well-preserved by the environmentally-conscious government and culture. New
Zealand is a place where traditional Maori culture mixes with modernity in
cosmopolitan cities, charming villages and vast expanses of untouched
wilderness. Pristine and heavenly, the island nation has something for
everyone, including the following top tourist attractions in New
Zealand.
Coromandel
Peninsula
This north-eastern peninsula is
famous for its white and golden sand beaches that frame magnificent coastal
scenery, forests perfect for days of exploration and other natural wonders.
Start your visit in Thames, a small but picturesque city with a rich history of
gold mining. Don’t miss a stop at Hot Water Beach, where visitors can dig their
own hot pool from the springs under the sands.
Abel Tasman National Park
Located on the northern tip of the country’s South Island, this vast
national park is a hiker’s dream. Closed to vehicles, one must enter by boat,
foot or small plane, but the trip is well worth it. While traversing the
mountainous terrain, blue penguins, wekas, oyster catchers, wood pigeons and
other rare birds can all be seen.
Sky Tower
The Sky Tower is an observation and telecommunications tower located in New
Zealand’s largest city. At a height of 328 meters (1,076 ft) it is the tallest
free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere and the Sky Tower has become
an iconic structure in Auckland’s skyline. The tower offers views of up to 80
km away and fine dining in the Orbit revolving restaurant.
Napier Art Deco
Napier, a small city in Hawke’s Bay on the North Island’s east coast, is
famous for its eye-catching art deco architecture. Most of Napier was leveled
by an earthquake in 1931. The rebuilding period coincided with the short-lived
Art Deco era and as a result Napier’s architecture is strikingly different from
any other city in the world. Thousands of tourist visit Napier every February
for the Art Deco Weekend, an event dedicated to the style, vintage cars,
picnics and the soapbox derby.
Kaikoura
This small coastal town on the South Island is a haven for seafood lovers.
You can spot fur seals, dolphins, sperm whales and albatrosses off the shore,
then indulge in a feast of fresh crayfish, mussels, blue cod and more. Land
lovers can take a wilderness walk through the untamed and dramatic Kaikoura
forest.
Franz Josef Glacier
This glacier, located within Westland National Park in the southwest, is one
of the world’s most accessible. Visitors can walk right up to the foot of the
massive glacier or take a helicopter ride over the dazzling Ice Age remnant.
Together with Fox Glacier it is one of South Westland’s major drawcards for
tourists.
Rotorua
Rotorua is known as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. There are
numerous geysers and hot springs in and around the city. Many of these are in
parks and reserves. Natural eruptions of steam, hot water and mud occasionally
occur in new locations. Nearby Wai-O-Tapu is also a popular tourist attraction
with many hot springs noted for their colorful appearance, in addition to the
Lady Knox Geyser.
Tongariro National Park
The first national park of New Zealand, Tongariro is known for its surprises
and extremes. The park’s diverse range of ecosystems includes tranquil lakes,
active volcanoes, herb fields, untamed forests and desert-like plateaus. Start
your trek at the Whakapapa Visitor Center, just a three hour hike from the
stunning Taranaki Falls. The short hike will take you through scrubland and
forest and across the lava line of volcanic eruptions from hundreds of years
ago.
Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is one of the most popular holiday destinations in New
Zealand. The picturesque area contains 144 islands, many secluded bays and some
great sandy beaches. This beautiful bay has an abundance of marine life
including whales, penguins, dolphins and the big marlin. Not surprisingly, it
is a popular tourist spot for sailing yachts on world cruises and international
sport fishermen.
Milford Sound
Milford Sound is among the most famous tourist attractions in New Zealand.
Lying at the most northern and accessible end of Fiordland National Park,
Milford sound offers some of the world’s most staggering coastal scenery with
its dramatic peaks and dark blue waters. The area’s frequent downpours only
enhance this South Island beauty, sending numerous waterfalls cascading down
the cliffs.
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