NORTH ISLAND
Explore the capital
AUCKLAND
Auckland is something of an underrated gem. (A case in point: Lonely Planet voted it the best city in the world to travel to in 2022!) The location is hard to beat, for starters: you’re only a half-hour or so by car from rugged beaches, stunning hikes, whale watching, island-hopping opportunities and world-class vineyards. Within the city itself, you can explore museums, visit the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby at Eden Park, or base jump on a wire from the top of the Sky Tower (which is taller than any other building in NZ – or Australia, for that matter).
There’s plenty of amazing food too. For a top-end dining experience that taps into local produce and culinary traditions, try Ahi (ahirestaurant.co.nz) or Onemata (onematarestaurant.co.nz).
Tip: If you’ll be in Auckland for a while and don’t want to hire a car until you venture further afield, buy an AT HOP Card for easy travel on buses, trains and ferries.
Did you know? Auckland is the world’s largest Polynesian city; around 15 percent of the population of 1.5 million are of Pacific origin.
Gawk at a geyser
ROTORUA
The town of Rotorua (population 75,000) is built inside the crater of a volcano – but don’t worry; it hasn’t erupted for a quarter of a million years. That means you can safely explore the various geothermal parks in the area, taking in the dazzling coloured lakes, bubbling mud pools and lively geysers at leisure.
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