New Zealand

Beautiful and rugged, warm and welcoming, New Zealand is one of the world’s most desired travel destinations. Short, cheap flights from Australia put this 100% natural wonderland within easy reach. Winter sports fans and summer trekkers love New Zealand’s great outdoors. Food and wine lovers find it easy to have a great time with much less effort.
 
New Zealand provided the panoramic vistas that served as a wide-screen backdrop for The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Think of the blockbusters as a kind of sneak-preview of the spectacular natural landmarks and national parks that await you on your New Zealand holiday.

New Zealanders are active, energetic people who make the most of their country’s quirky landscape. There are vineyards, farms, and bush-clad hills close to the cities—one of which, Auckland, is built atop seven dormant volcanoes, evidence of the characteristic Kiwi "she'll be right" attitude of perennial optimism.

The North Island offers plenty. Surf the powerful waves of Piha Beach, take a relaxing cruise down Auckland's Hauraki Gulf or sample the local chardonnay in Northland, one of New Zealand’s many wine-producing regions.

The South Island is home to Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world. It’s here that you can take up the chance to go bungee jumping, sky diving or white-water rafting. The farther south you journey in the country, the colder it tends to get. Try out some great skiing in the Southern Alps – on snow-covered volcanoes – like nowhere else in the world.