With more boats per capita than any other city in the world, it is no surprise that Auckland is nicknamed the City of Sails, or that it has hosted two America’s Cup challenges.  Auckland also houses one-third of New Zealand’s population and the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere. Living large just seems to be a part of Auckland’s identity. 

Beneath all the bravado, however, lies a city with culture close to its heart.  Museums dedicated to the nation’s obsession with sailing, share the limelight with those exhibiting 25-metre-long war canoes and other impressive Maori artifacts.  Bustling markets showcasing local crafts are walking distance to a myriad of restaurants specializing in anything from a blend of Asian and Pacific flavors known as “Pacific Rim” cuisine, to the ever popular cheap eat, fish and chips.

Rotorua is overflowing with life. Bizarre pools of boiling mud greet travelers with belches, while the temperamental Pohutu Geyser spurts water 30 meters up into the air.  Rotorua’s geothermal area might be cantankerous, but its people are some of the friendliest in New Zealand and consider hospitality a sacred act.

Manaakitanga is Maori for “feel the spirit,” and this dogma has defined how natives welcome visitors to their backyard for the past 160 years.  One of the best ways to “feel the spirit,” is to tour the Tamaki Maori Village and enjoy a traditional Hangi (earth-oven feast) while watching the fierce Haka (war dance) in the immaculately carved meetinghouse.  After immersing yourself in Maori culture, slip into a relaxing thermal spring or fish cool waters teeming with trout.  Whether you come for the culture or for the comfort, Rotorua promises to keep you captivated.

New Zealander’s cherish the coastal hamlet of Coromandel for its rustic tranquility.  Its sheltered bays, peaceful bush walks and a burgeoning arts community are all within a 2-hour drive from Auckland.  Once a thriving gold mining town with a population of over 10,000, Coromandel now houses 1,000 residents, 4 pubs and a family of bottlenose dolphins that love company.

The locals are proud of their pioneering heritage and the Coromandel Mining and Historic Museum contains relics from the town’s gold-fever days.  A pioneer in his own right, artist Barry Brickell built his own railway when he discovered quality clay at the top of a hill but had trouble transporting it to his kiln below. Visitors can take advantage of Brickell’s ingenuity by riding the Driving Creek Railway through a maze of tunnels and bridges, all fringed by a spectacular native forest.

Considered to be the most English of New Zealand’s cities, Christchurch is much more than cottage gardens and cozy squares – it is the gateway to New Zealand’s seductive South Island.  The city’s compact design ensures easy exploration of Christchurch’s attractions, all of which are within walking distance from each other.  Climb the 133 steps to the tower of the city’s gothic gem, Christchurch Cathedral, and enjoy stunning views of the city center below.  Celebrate local culture, crafts and cuisine at the famed Arts Centre, the largest of its kind in New Zealand, or rekindle romance while punting on the tree-lined Avon River.

Once a gold-mining camp, people now flock to Queenstown for its promise of recreation rather than riches.  Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu at the foot of the aptly named Remarkable Ranges, Queenstown is a year-round adrenalin rush.  From hiking to bungee jumping, there is an adventure sport for every season and every person at this exciting alpine resort. For a more leisurely pace, cruise to Walter Peak Station and enjoy afternoon tea while watching a sheep get a haircut, or soak in the scenery while sipping gourmet New Zealand wine. Queenstown offers a vacation filled with a myriad of enticing activities.

Located in Westland National Park, the Franz Josef glacier region is one of only two places in the world where you can witness fingers of ice touching temperate rainforest. Hike past icy rivers as they meander down rugged mountains and lush valleys toward the sea. Explore this arctic playground from the skies and watch the sun dance along glacial lakes.  At the end of the day, travelers wind down with a glass of fine New Zealand wine at quaint accommodation in the area.  

The Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers cut through dramatic glacial valleys to flow into temperate rainforest. While many glaciers world-wide have been retreating, these glaciers still flow almost to sea level, making them unique relics of the last Ice Age. The glaciers flow over large bedrock steps on the valley floors. This causes the ice to extend and break up, forming steep icefalls that are mazes of crevasses and pinnacles of ice. Spectacular views of this dramatic landscape are gained from short valley walks to the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier terminal faces, or by taking a guided walk on to the ice. Either option will provide any visitor with a unique glacier experience.