New Zealand is one of the best places in the world to get out on the golf course. Top class courses are set against magnificent scenic panoramas.

A climate that’s conducive to outdoor activity all year round makes golf extremely popular. As a result, New Zealand has over 400 courses – that’s more golf courses per capita than any other country! Even better, the country has some of the world’s least expensive golfing and visitors are always warmly welcomed. Larger courses typically have golf carts and clubs for hire.

Spectacular international-class courses like Kauri Cliffs in Northland, Gulf Harbour Country Club north of Auckland, Clearwater Resort in Christchurch and Millbrook Resort in Queenstown are not cheap, but playing them is guaranteed to be unforgettable. Hewn out of the landscape or perched on dramatic cliffs, they present both a challenge and an unforgettable experience to novices and experts alike. You might even opt to stay at or near one of these prestigious courses for a few days and really indulge your passion for the game.

On the other hand, there’s also an excellent selection of inexpensive golf courses scattered the length of the country, even in the smallest rural village. They may not have the most luxurious of facilities, but the scenery is likely to be superb all the same – and the game challenging. What’s more, these courses are great value for beginners and experienced golfers alike, with green fees starting from just NZ$10 in some places.

New Zealand offers a great range of fishing and hunting opportunities against a backdrop of great scenery. Many of New Zealand's most pristine and spectacular landscapes can be experienced on an expedition in search of trophy trout, big game fish species, deer or waterfowl.

For the ultimate angler’s thrill, try your hand at big game fishing in the Bay of Islands – Striped Marlin grow unusually large in these waters, averaging around 100 kilograms. Inland, opportunities to fish for Brown and Rainbow Trout are available throughout the country: Rotorua, Taupo, Canterbury and Southland all provide great fishing spots. Salmon fishing can be experienced in Canterbury and on the West Coast.

A licence is required for trout fishing and regulations govern quantities and minimum catch sizes. See www.fishandgame.org.nz for detailed information.

Hunting

New Zealand also offers some of the world’s finest waterfowl and trophy hunting. Hunting of some species is encouraged to keep numbers of artificially introduced animals in check and preserve native wildlife, but permits are required for those wishing to hunt on public conservation land.

In all cases, a professional guide will provide the best local knowledge and information, arrange permits if necessary and ensure your safety.

For more information on fishing and hunting, see www.fishnhunt.co.nz or www.fishandgame.org.nz.

Getting out and about on two wheels is a great way to explore the New Zealand landscape, and cycle-based activities are becoming increasingly popular all over the country.

Some visitors travel the entire country by bike, while others prefer to explore a few localities. You might rent a mountain bike and explore, or take a cycle tour with a group. In Marlborough and Wairarapa, visitors can even go wine touring by bike. The Otago Central Rail Trail, in Central Otago, is a popular 150-kilometre cycle trail through stunning scenery. Another popular option is the A2O – Alps to Ocean – from Aoraki Mount Cook to Oamaru via the Waitaki Valley.

Mountain Biking

Hugely popular with a large number of New Zealanders, mountain biking has become a very common weekend pastime, leading to the creation of excellent mountain biking trails all around the country. Rotorua has some of the most well-established mountain biking trails. Whakarewarewa Forest is home to around 90 kilometres of trails that wind their way through the ferns and are shaded by huge pine trees in a former forestry estate. The Port Hills in Christchurch, Makara Peak in Wellington and Woodhill in Auckland are also popular with mountain bikers of all abilities.

Nowhere in the island nation of New Zealand is far from the sea or other waterways. View the landscape from the deck of a steamship, indulge in a dinner cruise, combine boating with fishing, diving or wildlife watching, or go island-hopping in the Bay of Islands, see the city lights from Auckland Harbour, cruise past waterfalls in Fiordland, or explore alpine rivers on a jet boat.

Boat Trips and Ferries

Throughout New Zealand there are a multitude of options for exploring the nation’s coast, rivers and lakes. A visit to Auckland, for instance, is hardly complete without taking to the water to see the Hauraki Gulf islands. From downtown Auckland, ferries run regularly to lovely Waiheke Island, with its vineyards, galleries and beaches, and boat transfers are also readily available for day trips to Rangitoto, Kawau and Tiritiri Matangi. A quick ferry trip across the harbour to the North Shore suburb of Devonport makes a very budget-friendly boat trip and a great way to see the lights of New Zealand’s largest city at dusk. Dinner cruises and whale- or dolphin-watching expeditions are other options for getting out on the water in Auckland.

Elsewhere in New Zealand, the Bay of Islands is a hugely popular boating region. Again, ferry transfers from Paihia to Russell offer great-value cruising, but island tours, high-speed trips to the “Hole in the Rock”, dinner cruises, fishing charters, swimming with dolphins and adventures paddling traditional Maori waka are all possibilities. Marlborough is a popular boating region, as are Bay of Plenty and The Coromandel, and the lakes of Taupo, Rotorua, Wanaka and Queenstown are dotted with pleasure boats in summer. Any visit to Fiordland should include a cruise on the famous fiords, whether it’s a short sightseeing trip, eco-tour or overnight cruise.

Sailing is another traditional Kiwi pastime – there’s a good reason why Auckland is referred to as the City of Sails. You can even book an experience on an actual America’s Cup yacht. You can also experience premium sailing adventures in the Bay of Islands or Marlborough.

Charters

Do you prefer the flexibility of chartering a boat and skipper? Charter boats are freely available in harbour settlements around the country, such as Northland, Auckland, The Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Marlborough. Saltwater fishing charters are always a popular option. But charter vessels can also offer a relaxing and indulgent private tour of New Zealand’s coastal jewels – some overnight tours come complete with comfortable accommodation and fine dining with the services of an on-board chef.

Cruising

With several very different ports within an overnight journey, and a spectacular array of coastal scenery to discover, cruising is an ideal way to see the country. The main cruise season is during summer, October to April, with most New Zealand cruises departing from Sydney, Australia or Auckland. Cruise ships typically sail south along the east coast of New Zealand, stopping at the major ports of Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton (Christchurch), Port Chalmers (Dunedin), and around the southern coast of the South Island to Fiordland. Longer cruises may visit the Bay of Islands, Gisborne, Picton, Akaroa or Stewart Island. Contact Cruise New Zealand for more information. [www.cruisenewzealand.org.nz]

Are you looking for an adrenaline rush? Then you’re in the right place! New Zealand, home of commercial bungy jumping, is a thrill-seeker’s paradise. Not so fond of heights? How about riding an inner-tube on an underground river (black-water rafting) then? A high percentage of New Zealand’s most adrenaline-pumping activities can be enjoyed by people at a range of skill and fitness levels.

Adrenaline Rush

The most famous New Zealand adrenaline rush is bungy jumping. In 1988 the world’s first commercial bungy jump opened at the Kawarau Bridge near Queenstown, and now visitors can experience this activity all over the country. Shweebing (human-powered monorail) and globe riding (participants are strapped into an air-cushioned ball and rolled downhill) are other unmissable adventures invented in New Zealand. Visitors can also try canyon swinging, sand tobogganing (Ninety Mile Beach in Northland is a highlight!), caving (in the Waitomo Caves, for example) or skydiving. Jump sites are located all around the country. Beginners can immediately take a tandem jump, while the dedicated can take lessons and jump solo. Adventure activity operators in New Zealand must abide by the strictest safety standards.

Adventures on the Water

Invented right here in New Zealand, the jet boat is a powerful machine designed to traverse rivers at high speed. Riding in one is an unforgettable thrill and there are options to suit all types of traveller – from sedate family-friendly jet boat tours to adrenaline-pumping adventures that include 360-degree spins! Queenstown and Taupo are particularly well-known for their jet boating operators.

Diving

A mix of currents from the Antarctic and the tropics results in a remarkable diversity of species in New Zealand waters. Combine this with clear water and it’s little wonder that New Zealand is a popular diving location. The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, off the Tutukaka Coast in Northland, is considered to be one of the world’s top dive sites. Instruction and certification programmes are available, while experienced divers should bring their Diver’s Certification Card. [www.divenewzealand.com]

Horse Trekking

Horse trekking adventures range from half- to multi-day trips, and horse trek operators cater for all levels and abilities. Horses are matched according to temperament and size, so there are options suitable for the whole family. Some of the best treks lead through Otago’s gold mining settlements, high country tussock grasslands, the volcanic plateau’s highlands and Pakiri’s sandy beaches, north of Auckland City.

Kayaking and Canoeing

Kayak and canoe adventures are a great way to get up-close with penguins, seals, dolphins and other wildlife. Join a canoe expedition on the Whanganui River or in Buller Gorge on the West Coast, or try sea kayaking – in Abel Tasman National Park you can book an overnight trip and sleep on a beach. You can also combine Maori culture with canoeing and join a guided expedition in a Maori waka.

Rafting and Sledging

Rafting, sledging, dam dropping and tubing the pristine white water of fast-running rivers in a wild landscape are popular activities with thrill-seekers. The Wairoa and Kaituna rivers in the Bay of Plenty, Tongariro National Park in the Ruapehu region and Rangitata River in Canterbury are all popular. A unique alternative to try is black-water rafting on an underground river – an amazing experience to sample in the Waitomo Caves in the western North Island.

Surfing

New Zealand has a wide variety of surf breaks. Piha, on Auckland’s west coast, is a Mecca for surfers, as is the village of Raglan in Waikato. Northland offers great surf, especially on the Tutukaka Coast. Whangamata in The Coromandel is another drawcard for wave riders, while the Bay of Plenty is home to a long arc of beach. Gisborne has numerous surf beaches, and Taranaki is renowned for great breaks no matter what the prevailing wind thanks to its curving coastline.

New Zealand is naturally endowed with a breathtaking panorama of lakes, forest, coastline and snow-capped mountains that adds an unforgettable dimension to outdoor activities. From high-adrenaline to relaxing pursuits, there’s something for every traveller.

New Zealand is a paradise for active relaxers! This section provides more information about the many activities on offer in New Zealand. The country has of course become famous as a thrillseeker’s dream destination thanks to its wide range extreme and adventure activities (you’ll find them all over the country and in spectacular settings), and is the home of commercial bungy jumping, but you don’t have to be an adrenaline junkie to find adventure.

Make the most of New Zealand’s spectacular coast and inland waterways with a wide variety of boating options, which you might also choose to combine with some great fishing, jump on the bike and tackle the country’s network of cycle trails, or get out on the golf links, where you can play some of the world’s best courses.

To discover the most spectacular wilderness areas of New Zealand, you’ll need to hit the trail – at least some walking is a must while you’re here – and if you’re even halfway enthusiastic about what is known as “tramping” in New Zealand, you’ll want to make sure you experience one of the country’s truly amazing Great Walks. Sometimes though there’s so much spectacular scenery to see that the best way to see it is to take a lot of it in at once from the air.

Lastly, New Zealand offers some of the Southern Hemisphere’s best skiing and snowboarding, with a huge number of diverse fields for such a small country, so whether you’re an enthusiastic amateur or the most dedicated powder hound, read up on the country’s snow fields.

In New Zealand, the environment has always been at the forefront of a thrilling visitor experience. After all, many choose New Zealand precisely for its spectacular landscapes and unique wildlife.

Though created by nature, the environment has been preserved through the conservation efforts of its human custodians. New Zealand has 14 national parks, and more than 30 per cent of its land area is protected as conservation land of some description. In addition, its conservation workers are at the forefront of species management – bringing endangered wildlife back from the brink of extinction through innovative rescue programmes. One example is that of the Chatham Island Black Robin. In 1980, just five birds remained but, through careful management, the population has been restored to around 250.

Tourism and conservation come together at facilities like Kiwi Encounter in Rotorua and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch, which feature breeding programmes for native species, and at predator-free islands. A more recent development has been the creation of mainland ‘islands’ such as Wellington’s ZEALANDIA – habitats that are protected by state-of-the-art electric fencing and then cleared of pests. Enormously successful, these areas allow native birds to thrive, often to the point where they repopulate surrounding areas (unlike the pests, flying birds are free to come and go), and admission fees help to fund conservation efforts. Other eco-tour operators also play a part in protecting the species they’re helping you to encounter. Elm Wildlife Tours, for example, funds a conservation project to help boost the population of Hoiho (Yellow-eyed Penguins).

But it’s not only in conservation that New Zealand demonstrates a commitment to sustainability. With a population of about 4.8 million people and producing just 0.2 per cent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, New Zealand was one of the first countries in the world to pledge a carbon-neutral future, and a number of companies have already achieved carboNZero certification. In addition, many accommodation providers and activity operators have gained Qualmark Enviro Awards, recognising efforts in areas of energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, community activities and conservation initiatives. Green, clean New Zealand – it’s a cliché for a reason!

Old Blue Saves a Species

A small black bird unique to the Chatham Islands, Black Robins are vulnerable to predation by introduced pests and by the early 1980s just five birds remained on one tiny island. Of these, just one was a breeding female, so dedicated game rangers moved Old Blue and her companions to a larger island that was replanted for their arrival. Through the rangers’ efforts, the population slowly grew and today numbers around 250 birds – every one of them descended from Old Blue.

Going Green

Visitors can make a difference by choosing green options whenever possible. A great option for an environmentally friendly stay is to try ‘WWOOFing’. Willing Workers on Organic Farms provides the opportunity to learn sustainable practices while living with a Kiwi family that has made the leap into green-dom. If this isn’t quite your thing, you can still help keep New Zealand beautiful. Park the car and use buses and trains where possible, or swap the car for hiking and cycling trips. When you do go hiking, always stick to designated tracks to protect fragile wildlife. When choosing accommodation, keep an eye out for Qualmark Enviro-accredited providers, and always clear up your rubbish at camping spots. Don’t use the great outdoors as a bathroom – look for a public toilet or wait till the next time you’re at a café. Many shampoos and soaps contain phosphates that are bad for waterways, so don’t use these in rivers and lakes. Look for eco-friendly activities, support wildlife sanctuaries and indulge in seasonal produce from farmers’ markets. Remember, sometimes it’s the little things that can make all the difference!

“In my opinion, the Otago Peninsula is the finest example of eco-tourism in the world.” (David Bellamy, Environmentalist)

In the archipelago of New Zealand, soaring mountains, otherworldly volcanic landscapes or aquamarine alpine lakes fed by blue-white glaciers can be discovered in close proximity to emerald-green temperate rainforests and surf beaches thundering against a backdrop of rolling hills.

Extreme Landscapes

Get ready to explore a place where the landscapes encompass almost every kind of terrain imaginable, from pristine alpine regions to great swimming beaches. This natural diversity means you can stroll along a sandy beach in the morning, stop at a sun-drenched winery for lunch and then be hiking along an alpine trail by the afternoon.

Geothermal Activity

New Zealand’s landscapes have been shaped by powerful geothermal forces. Lake Taupo, Australasia’s largest lake, owes its existence to a massive and ancient volcanic eruption. These days, the region stretching from Lake Taupo north to Rotorua is popular with visitors wanting to catch a glimpse of the earth’s geothermal forces at play. A thin surface crust in this part of the North Island results in a remarkable array of geothermal features, from bubbling mud pools to powerful steam vents, hot waterfalls and geysers, as well as thermal pools and spa complexes.

Coastal Features

As it is an island nation, nowhere in New Zealand is very far from the sea, and that means the coastline features high on the list of what makes the landscape unique. The coastline ranges from golden-sand beaches to rugged coastlines and crashing surf. In summer, the beaches of Northland, The Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Nelson are great for swimming, while the regions’ offshore islands are idyllic getaways. Visitors who enjoy boating will find paradise in the Bay of Islands, in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, and in the Marlborough Sounds.

Cave Systems

There is more to the North Island’s Waitomo region than meets the eye. Underneath rolling hills is a labyrinth of underground rivers, sinkholes, caves, rock formations, and a cavers’ paradise studded with glow-worms. Thirty million years ago this landscape was beneath the sea but geological activity lifted it clear, and rainwater formed fissures in the rock that turned into streams and underground rivers that visitors can now explore in abseiling, caving and black-water rafting expeditions. In the South Island too, you’ll find cave systems from the Marble Mountains in Nelson right down to Fiordland.

Alpine Areas

Lorded over by New Zealand’s highest peak – Aoraki Mount Cook – the Southern Alps form the South Island’s mountainous backbone, rising over 3,000 metres to divide the east and west of the island. In the North Island, too, iconic mountains dominate. Mount Taranaki, on the west coast, is an almost perfect cone. In the central North Island, State Highway One becomes the ‘Desert Road’ as it passes a triad of volcanoes. Two of them, Mount Ruapehu and Mount Ngauruhoe, stood in as ‘Mount Doom’ in The Lord of the Rings movies; the former is home to the North Island’s most popular ski resort. Most of New Zealand’s ski areas, however, are in the South Island.

Glaciers

Westland, along the South Island’s West Coast, is home to Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, two of the most accessible glaciers in the world. The blue-white rivers of ice defy the rules of nature, snaking through rainforest just 300 metres above sea level. Visitors can walk to the glaciers or join a guided hike to see them up close. There are other glaciers at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. A flight-seeing expedition is a great way to see them.

Ancient reptiles, unique bird species, abundant marine life and a commitment to conservation make New Zealand an amazing destination for wildlife encounters. Native plants and animals evolved undisturbed for millennia. The nation's long isolation means many species are endemic to these isles – an incredible 80% of native plants and 71% of native birds are found nowhere else in the world!

Native Birds

Australasian gannet Called Takapu in Maori, the Gannet is a handsome seabird seen in large colonies. Bellbird A bush-dwelling nectar eater with a beautiful melodious song. Fantail Also called Piwakawaka, the curious and friendly fantail is easily recognised by its fan-shaped tail. Kakapo The endangered Kakapo is the heaviest parrot in the world: nocturnal and flightless, this unusual bird climbs trees with its beak and claws. Kea The world’s only alpine parrot inhabits the Southern Alps. Kiwi New Zealand’s most famous native bird and the country’s national symbol is also one of its most unusual: flightless and nocturnal, the kiwi mates for life and the male performs most of the egg-incubation duties. Little Blue Penguin This is the world’s smallest penguin. In the evening you can spot it as it comes ashore to its burrow. New Zealand woodpigeon (kereru) A large and beautiful bird with a very distinctive heavy wing beat. Paradise duck A large handsome duck usually seen on open grassland. Pukeko With unmistakable cobalt plumage, the Pukeko is a favourite subject for kitschy Kiwiana objects! Tūī A large black bird with a white cravat, the Tūī is a clever mimic with a sweet voice. Weka This large, flightless bird has a feisty personality! Keep an eye on your sandwiches, as it may brazenly steal your food!

Other Animals

Hector’s dolphin The world’s smallest and rarest dolphin, found only in New Zealand. New Zealand fur seal This is New Zealand’s most common seal – find it basking along the coast. Tuatara A unique reptile that has existed since the age of the dinosaurs, the Tuatara is now found only in protected areas and zoos/wildlife parks. It can live to be 100 years old.

More than one-third of New Zealand’s landscape is protected in reserves, regional and national parks. New Zealand's 14 national parks feature 12,000 kilometres of walking tracks and 1,000 huts for overnight stays. Trails range from 15-minute scenic walks to demanding multi-day hikes, ice or mountain climbs – you’ll need to don a pair of hiking boots to explore the most pristine corners of New Zealand.

New Zealand’s National Parks

New Zealand’s national parks are a spectacular collection of wilderness areas. The North Island’s Tongariro National Park, for example, is a World Heritage Area of natural and cultural significance, while in the South Island the four national parks in Westland, Aoraki Mount Cook, Fiordland and Mount Aspiring form another World Heritage site. The numerous regional parks are administered by regional councils, and many of them are right on the doorsteps of some of New Zealand’s most populous towns.

National Parks Around New Zealand

Te Urewera National Park Remote and rugged forested ridges and valleys, home to the popular Lake Waikaremoana Track.

Tongariro National Park New Zealand’s first national park is home to the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a highly regarded one-day walk.

Egmont National Park The Mount Taranaki summit is a challenging climb, but there are numerous walks around the mountain’s base.

Whanganui National Park Travel by canoe on the Whanganui Journey or discover Maori culture in a lush rainforest setting.

Abel Tasman National Park Renowned for golden beaches, clear water and the very popular Abel Tasman Coast Track.

Kahurangi National Park Immense and rugged, encompassing wild rivers, sub-alpine herb fields and coastal forests.

Nelson Lakes National Park The northern end of the Southern Alps features forest-clad mountains and numerous picturesque lakes.

Paparoa National Park Lush rainforest, underground cave networks and the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks.

Arthur’s Pass National Park Rugged gorges, wide braided rivers, soaring mountains and forest in the heart of the Southern Alps.

Westland Tai Poutini National Park Renowned for its incredibly varied landscape of forests, glaciers, wild beaches and wetlands.

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Home to New Zealand’s tallest mountain peaks, including Aoraki Mount Cook, and its largest glaciers.

Mount Aspiring National Park This stunningly beautiful landscape is home to rugged mountains, river valleys and green beech forests.

Fiordland National Park New Zealand’s most famous national park features immense fiords, deep lakes, mountains and forest.

Rakiura National Park Covering 85% of Stewart Island, this park protects rare wildlife, unspoiled forest and coastal landscapes.

Take a deep breath of clean New Zealand air and get ready to experience the ultimate outdoor adventures in an unforgettable landscape that’s out of this world!

4WD Adventures

A thrilling way to see New Zealand’s landscapes is by 4WD: quad bikes and 4WD vehicles are popular options. Explore the river beds of Glacier Country or cruise along beaches. Step it up a notch and book an experience in an all-terrain military Hagglund!

Boating

With a coastline 15,000 kilometres long, and dozens of lakes, there are plenty of opportunities to experience New Zealand from the deck of a boat. Take a cruise across Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown to see a high-country station, or a glacier lake tour in Mount Cook National Park. In Fiordland, you can drift past waterfalls and spend the night in a private cabin. Experience sailing around the Bay of Islands or the Marlborough Sounds. Go cruising in Auckland to see the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. 360 Discovery introduces visitors to the fascinating wildlife sanctuary of Tiritiri Matangi Island, while Fullers offers day tours to the unique volcanic landscape of Rangitoto Island. For a very different boating experience, Wanaka River Journeys takes visitors past mountains and waterfalls in a high-speed jet boat.

Cycling

Take a guided cycling tour, on- or off-road – winery tours by bicycle are particularly popular! The Otago Central Rail Trail is a 150-kilometre cycling adventure through Central Otago, passing relics of gold-mining history. Another excellent trail is the Queen Charlotte Track in Marlborough, which is open to mountain bikers for most of the year. The trails around Rotorua are highly regarded, as are trails near Wanaka and Queenstown.

Diving

New Zealand’s location at a meeting point of arctic and tropical currents means a diversity of species, making it a popular dive location. The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve off Northland is particularly renowned and can be explored with Dive! Tutukaka & Perfect Day, while in the Cavalli Islands, the Greenpeace wreck Rainbow Warrior has been used as an artificial reef habitat. The Marlborough Sounds and Kaikoura offer great dives, and Fiordland is the place to see the world’s largest population of Black Coral trees, some up to 200 years old. Contact Tawaki Adventures to find out more.

Flight-Seeing

Flight-seeing can offer a very different view of New Zealand, whether you’re flying over an offshore volcano or whale watching off the coast of Kaikoura. Try Kaikoura Helicopters or Wings Over Whales. Fiordland is a great region for scenic flights – towering peaks take on new dimensions from the air – but opportunities for flight-seeing in helicopters, fixed-wing planes or even hot air balloons are available.

Kayaking & Canoeing

Kayaking with seals is popular off the Kaikoura coast, and these playful mammals are encountered in other areas too. Even dolphins and whales may come for a closer look at kayaking humans! In Abel Tasman National Park, join Abel Tasman Kayaks and experience paddling around the pretty coastline by day and spending the night camping on a sandy beach. Canoeing expeditions are popular on larger rivers, such as the Whanganui River, where they are a tranquil way of exploring a beautiful rainforest.

Great Walks

One of the best ways to discover New Zealand’s stunning landscapes is by hiking (most often referred to in New Zealand as “tramping”). The best-known trails are the Great Walks. Administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC), these multi-day tracks showcase some of the most magnificent scenery and they are maintained to a high standard. Many require bookings. From the lakeside paradise of the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk in the North Island to Rakiura Track on Stewart Island, there are nine Great Walks, each boasting their own unrivalled highlights.

Discover New Zealand, a world where nature flouts all sense of restraint, a place of extraordinary diversity inhabited by unique wildlife, an island nation with natural wonders enough for countries many times its size – this place is unique!

With New Zealand a country known the world over for its spectacular natural heritage and assets, you may already have considerable expectations of a natural New Zealand experience – but even the highest of expectations are rarely disappointed by New Zealand’s wilderness areas and their remarkable majesty and considerable diversity, as well as the recreation and scenic opportunites offered by its great outdoors lifestyle.

In this section you can learn more about Natural New Zealand. Pick one (or many more!) of the country’s truly spectacular national parks – with World Heritage Areas amongst them – to explore, or get up close to its unique wildlife, much of which evolved in complete isolation for millennia, and is often very accessible due to an excellent range of wildlife sanctuaries and parks, tours, and other guided (and unguided) experiences.

Before you come to New Zealand, it’s worth learning a bit about the emphasis on looking after the environment and travelling through and enjoying the country in a sustainable way.

Blending Māori, European, Pacific and Asian cultures, New Zealand’s rich multicultural identity and diverse artistic tradition, from Kiwiana kitsch to traditional Māori crafts and world-famous cinema, is well worth exploring.

New Zealand’s human history is short compared with that of other nations, but the mix of cultures that have influenced the course of this history has resulted in a colourful heritage in this South Pacific nation. There are many ways to discover New Zealand’s rich history, including museum visits, heritage trails and sites, historic buildings and cultural encounters. Māori arrived on these shores about 800 years ago after travelling in large, double-hulled sail craft called waka from a South Pacific homeland known as Hawaiki. They named their home Aotearoa – ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’. The Maori population may have been as high as 100,000 prior to European settlement. The first European to discover New Zealand was Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. On 13 December 1642 his ships sighted the Southern Alps and anchored in Golden Bay, near Nelson. More than 100 years later, Briton Captain James Cook, appointed to observe the transit of Venus, circumnavigated New Zealand after his cabin boy sighted land near Gisborne on 6 October 1769.

New Zealand became a popular base for explorers and navigators. Whalers, sealers and traders followed, and by 1839 there were about 2,000 Europeans in New Zealand. Lieutenant-Governor Captain William Hobson arrived in 1840, charged with acquiring the sovereignty of New Zealand through a treaty with Māori chiefs. On 6 February 1840, at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. Although there are debates about the interpretation of the Treaty, it is considered New Zealand’s founding document. British migration accelerated, and gold rushes during the 1860s attracted more migrants from around the world. Independence from Britain was formally proclaimed in 1947. In the 1970s many Pacific Island immigrants settled in New Zealand, followed by Asians in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, New Zealand has its own unique culture – a mix of those who have settled here.

Nau mai, haere mai! Welcome to Aotearoa, Land of the Long White Cloud, home of the Maori people and wellspring of rich cultural experiences unique to New Zealand.

Maori are descended from Polynesian people who journeyed in canoes from an ancestral homeland known as Hawaiki to reach these shores over 1,000 years ago. They established deep relationships with the land, personifying natural features to create a history in which people and land are interwoven. From the earliest years of European settlement, trading relationships were established between Maori and the new arrivals. In 1840, at Waitangi, the relationship was formalised in a treaty between Maori and the British Crown – The Treaty of Waitangi. This document established British law in New Zealand while guaranteeing Maori authority over land and culture.

Tribal New Zealand

Although Maori tribal identity is still a crucial element of the culture, it is celebrated as a unifying force rather than a divisive one. Intertribal warfare was once common, and you will find many historic battle and siege sites around the country, but now the differences between tribes are embraced as adding to the richness of the whole culture. Maori people define themselves by their iwi (tribe), hapu (sub-tribe), maunga (mountain) and awa (river). Whanau is the name given to family – in Maori society this word applies not only to the immediate family, but also to the entire extended family and all those who are related by blood or marriage.

Maori Culture Today

In recent times there has been a major resurgence of Maori language and culture. Maori culture has thrived because, in many ways, Maori have succeeded in uniting traditional culture with contemporary interpretation. Today the culture is expressed through music, the arts and the media, while a Maori cultural experience is a must do when visiting. The Maori television channel supports the culture by telling stories by and about Maori people. Maori have also been strongly involved in New Zealand politics since the first Maori MPs were elected back in 1868.

With a wealth of traditional motifs and myths, and a variety of multicultural influences from which to draw inspiration for artistic mediums from performance arts and painting through to crafts, it comes as no surprise that New Zealand art is world-class.

One of the biggest inspirations for New Zealand artists is nature and the stunning landscape. While painters capture the scenery, others use natural materials such as flax and fern in their works. This is not a new development – Māori developed motifs and artistic forms using natural resources from their earliest days in New Zealand, carving bone, stone, wood and shell, and weaving native fibres. In recent years, contemporary artists have woven together a blend of histories and cultures, themes and styles in their work, reflecting the diversity of New Zealand society. It is common to see traditional Māori arts using contemporary mediums, and distinct Māori, Asian and Pacific Island influences can clearly be seen in other artworks. This blend reaches across all genres. Ancient Māori performance arts, for example, employ modern interpretations, while Kiwi musicians mix international styles with traditional Pacific influences, and New Zealand movies show at international film festivals.