When travellers arrive in Auckland, they’re touching down at the centre of it all. We’re not just talking about the city’s perfect balance of indoor and outdoor living (though it certainly has that). Auckland is an ideal hub in the middle of the South Pacific for adventures to Australia, Fiji, the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tahiti, and of course the rest of New Zealand!
From now until May 31, 2025, our valued agent partners will receive a $50 thank you when they book a client on Air New Zealand with Goway. That’s just the beginning, however. The real incentive starts when travellers board the world’s safest airline, for their nonstop flight to Auckland from Vancouver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, New York City or Honolulu. Whether passengers are stretching out in Business Class, settling in for a movie and a glass of wine in Economy, or making themselves at home in the exclusive Sky Couch, Air New Zealand takes passenger comfort and top-notch service seriously. With so many options and connections from Auckland, this is often the start of a love affair that will make your travellers want to return to the South Pacific with Air New Zealand again and again.
In a lot of ways, New Zealand is many countries in one. With enough time, travellers can enjoy chic yet laid-back cities, warm, sunny beaches, rolling hills covered with vineyards, rocky shorelines dotted with playful sea lions, bubbling mud pools that tease New Zealand’s geological intensity, and of course, the incredible Southern Alps and Fiordland National Park all in one trip. The hardest part will be boarding the flight home.
Celebrate New Zealand’s history, culture, and cinema in the North Island.
Starting in the far north, the Bay of Islands holds a key role in New Zealand history as the place where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the British Crown and numerous Māori chiefs. Despite its flaws, Waitangi was the first step in protecting New Zealand’s biculturalism and Māori sovereignty, and continues to inform New Zealand law today. With that history in mind, the Bay of Islands is simply a gorgeous place to visit and is more than worth the few hours’ drive from Auckland.
To the south lies Rotorua. If you want to immerse yourself in Māori culture, spend a day at Te Puia, a Māori cultural centre that also shows off geothermal Rotorua at its most dynamic, then enjoy a traditional hangi feast, slow cooked in a natural earth oven before a spectacular song and dance show. On the way here from Auckland, you might take a tour of the original Hobbiton set from The Lord of the Rings or wonder at the glow-worm caves of Waitomo. With more time, visit the sights of the Bay of Plenty including Hot Water Beach and Coromandel Forest Park, or head southeast to Napier, which rose from a devastating 1931 earthquake to become a treasure trove of Art Deco architecture.
Wellington, Wine and Wonder where the islands meet.
New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, might only be its third largest city, but it’s a strong contender for its biggest personality. Movie buffs will absolutely want to tour Peter Jackson’s Weta Studios, but make time for a scenic tram ride to the Wellington Botanic Gardens for city and bay views. Martinborough is a must-do day trip for wine lovers, while nature fans might prefer to take a tour along the coast, where seal, sea lion and penguin colonies thrive next to the waters of Cook Strait. Don’t sleep on Wellington after dark either. This modest-sized city boasts arguably New Zealand’s busiest restaurant and bar scene, alongside fantastic galleries and museums including the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Across Cook Strait, you’ll find more of New Zealand’s most famous treasures, starting with one that’s probably already filled your glass. Marlborough wine country has redefined the world’s notions of Sauvignon Blanc, even managing to get the French critics on board (a sure sign you’re in the big leagues). The region’s no slouch when it comes to other varieties either, but if you can tear yourself away from the tasting table, follow the coast to Abel Tasman National Park. This car-free oasis invites you to see New Zealand at its most natural and untouched. Follow the coastal trails or take a kayak tour, keeping an eye out for penguins, seals, and colourful native bird species as you go.
South Island sights to “peak” your interest.
Synonymous with its mountains, New Zealand is a popular ski destination, particularly around the fabled slopes of Queenstown and Wanaka. These two popular resort towns lie at the heart of the Southern Alps and are popular bases for visiting Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, the star attraction in Fiordland National Park. Stretching out to the Tasman Sea, this natural world wonder is watched over by magnificent waterfalls, towering cliffs, and wildlife of every size from sea birds to whales. If you’re serious about a wildlife adventure though, head south overnight for a kayaking trip on Doubtful Sound/Patea, where dolphins, whales, seals, and a wide variety of birds thrive with barely a trace of human development in sight. Why the fjords of Fiordland National Park are mislabelled sounds is anyone’s guess, but New Zealand and its devotees have just sort of run with it at this point.
Drive north and you’ll soon reach Haast Pass, a standout location from The Lord of the Rings films, and Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. Though located close by, the two glaciers are distinct formations, each with its own resort town worth exploring. Franz Josef/Waiau is a bit larger, with more tourism infrastructure and a wider range of accommodation and dining options, while Fox offers a slightly wilder experience, with paths changing with conditions should you choose to tour the glacier itself. Both glaciers can only be reached via an organized helicopter tour, and visitors must stick to the designated routes, following their guide’s instructions at all times.
On the way back to Christchurch, New Zealand’s second-largest city and the largest on the South Island, you might consider stopping in at Aoraki/Mount Cook, Oceania’s tallest peak for some last hikes in the Southern Alps. That said, Christchurch itself makes a worthy finish to any New Zealand vacation, with revitalized food, culture, and entertainment scenes to rival any in the country.
Even Wellington’s? The challenge has been laid down.
Christian’s first globetrotting adventure saw him get lost exploring the streets of Saigon. Following his nose to Asia’s best coffee, two lifelong addictions were born. A freelance writer and novelist, Christian’s travels have since taken him around his native Australia, Asia, Europe, and much of North America. His favourite trips have been through Japan, Spain, and Brazil, though with a love of off-beat, artsy cities, he’ll seize any opportunity to return to Paris, New York, or Berlin.
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