AUSTRALASIA NEW ZEALAND DESTINATIONS
ABOVE LEFT:
pair of islands, New Zealand gets the best of both sunrise and sunset, with east coast Gisborne offering a good perspective at dawn, and any of Auckland’s west coast beaches providing a place to watch dusk fall. Yet it’s the unexpected beauty spots – hiking around a headland in Abel Tasman National Park to find a sweeping stretch of golden sand, or watching the tide roll in from your own natural Jacuzzi on Hot Water Beach – that really impress. The latter, on the Coromandel Peninsula, has hot springs bubbling just below the sand, so visitors can dig out a little pool and bathe in the warm waters, until the tide sweeps chilly seawater in. Best for wildlife: Kaikoura is world- famous for its whale-watching, but this quaint little town has pretty coastal paths where visitors can spot dolphins frolicking in the surf, or sniff out seals languishing on the sand. Up on the North Island, there’s Muriwai Beach on the west coast, home to a huge gannet colony, in residence from August to March, with viewing platforms so keen bird-spotters can get up-close; and Poor Knights Islands, which boast top- notch diving.
w CULTURE Best for history: New Zealand might be young by European standards, but its heritage is no less fascinating for it – from the art deco architecture of Napier, rebuilt after the country’s
This quaint little town has pretty coastal paths where visitors can spot dolphins in the surf or sniff out seals on the sand
deadliest earthquake in 1931, to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands, there are plenty of spots that promise cultural discovery. Travel 2 includes a tour of the Waitangi Treaty House and Grounds in its three-day Essential Bay of Islands itinerary, from £389 and featuring visits to Cape Reinga and the Hole in the Rock. Allow time to explore low-key capital Wellington too. Not only is it home to the parliament building and other architectural highlights, but it also boasts one of the most interactive museums in the world, Te Papa, which brings together art and artefacts from the islands’ indigenous and non- indigenous communities. Best for Maori culture: New Zealand is incredibly proud of its Maori heritage, and it’s a key focal point for visitor activities. One of the easiest ways to learn about the lifestyle is with an evening of Maori culture and entertainment – it’s a bit on the
touristy side, but fun nonetheless – where guests will be treated to tribal songs, dances and activities, followed by a hangi feast cooked in a traditional oven dug into the earth. Austravel can arrange a Tamaki Tours Hangi & Concert evening from £51. Best for local life: Exploring New Zealand’s culture is as much about modern life as heritage, and locally produced food and drink is a core part of that. The vineyards are world- famous, and there are numerous wine tours. Anzcro offers self-guided cycling trips around Hawke’s Bay, for example, starting at £41, or a Martinborough Gourmet Wine Tour departing Wellington rail station, from £94. Plus there’s now a New Zealand Cheese Trail, pairing the best grape- based tipples with the tastiest cheeses, from gouda and riesling at the award- winning Mahoe Cheese near Kerikeri in the north, to farmers’ market favourite Evansdale Cheese in Dunedin twinned with a Central Otago chardonnay. Trafalgar has amped up the local dining on its Contrasts of New Zealand tour this year with an exclusive dinner at The Boatshed in Queenstown, a restaurant in a restored railway shipping office that offers great local food with a side of spectacular views across Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountain range. The tour also features a Be My Guest lunch with a local couple on their 600-acre farm in Tekapo (from £1,825 for 10 days, land-only).
Hot Water Beach ABOVE RIGHT:
Te Papa Museum
30 June 2016
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