Table of Contents
Discover Aotearoa New Zealand 8
10 Top Experiences 12
Planning Your Trip 22
The Land of the Long White Cloud 25
Best of New Zealand in Two Weeks 28
Kia Ora: Meeting Maori 30
Aotearoa New Zealand's Great Walks 32
The Great Rides 34
The National Parks 36
Explore Middle-Earth 38
North Island 39
Auckland 40
Itinerary Ideas 45
Sights 47
Sports and Recreation 58
Arts and Entertainment 65
Shopping 68
Food 71
Bars and Nightlife 76
Accommodations 80
Information and Services 83
Transportation 84
Waitakere Ranges 87
Hauraki Gulf Islands 90
Northland 101
Itinerary Ideas 103
Whangarei and Vicinity 107
Bay of Islands 118
The Far North and Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua 130
Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and the Coromandel 138
Itinerary Ideas 142
Hamilton and Waikato 144
The Coromandel Peninsula 163
Bay of Plenty 174
Rotorua and the Volcanic Heartland 185
Itinerary Ideas 190
Rotorua 192
Taupo 214
Turangi 227
Tongariro National Park 231
East Cape and Hawke's Bay 242
Itinerary Ideas 246
Gisborne 248
Te Urewera 259
Napier and Hawke's Bay 264
Taranaki and Whanganui 279
Itinerary Ideas 284
New Plymouth and Vicinity 285
Egmont National Park 298
Whanganui 305
Whanganui National Park 310
Wellington 318
Itinerary Ideas 324
Sights 326
Sports and Recreation 335
Entertainment and Events 339
Shopping 342
Food 343
Bars and Nightlife 345
Accommodations 347
Information and Services 349
Transportation 350
Vicinity of Wellington 352
South Island 359
Marlborounh and Nelson Tasman 360
Itinerary Ideas 365
Marlborough Sounds 367
Marlborough Wine Region 379
Kaikoura 388
Nelson 395
Abel Tasman National Park 405
Golden Bay 413
Kahurangi National Park 417
Nelson Lakes National Park 421
Christchurch and Canterbury 426
Itinerary Ideas 430
Christchurch 431
The Canterbury Coast 450
Arthur's Pass National Park 456
The Mackenzie District 461
West Coast 474
Itinerary Ideas 478
Greymouth and Vicinity 480
Westland Tai Poutini National Park 489
Haast/Awarua and Vicinity 499
Paparoa National Park 502
Queenstown and Otago 508
Itinerary ideas 513
Queenstown 515
Vicinity of Queenstown 532
Wanaka 540
Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park 550
Dunedin and the East Coast 555
Fiordland and Southland 571
Itinerary Ideas 576
Fiordland National Park 578
Southern Scenic Route 596
Stewart Island/Rakiura 609
Background 614
The Landscape 614
Plants and Animals 617
History 619
Government and Economy 623
People and Culture 625
Essentials 628
Transportation 628
Visas and Officialdom 633
Festivals and Events 634
Recreation 636
Food and Drink 638
Accommodations 639
Conduct and Customs 640
Health and Safety 641
Practical Details 641
Traveler Advice 644
Resources 646
Glossary 646
Suggested Reading 648
Internet Resources 650
Index 653
List of Maps 664