Things to do in New Zealand piece

North Island

1-Sail in Auckland

The City of Sails

Set sail from the beautiful harbour if Auckland, on a Pride of Auckland yacht, specially made for the purpose of passing on the local experience. From here you can view the sights of the city from the sheltered sea of “boating paradise.”

Prices start from $75NZD - £41.39 pp.

2-Visit Matamata

The Home of the Hobbits

Not far from Auckland sits the rural town of Matamata, just outside sits a large and beautiful farm, featuring rolling green hills and little holes under the ground, closed with multicoloured circular doors. Sounding familiar? Take a tour around Hobbiton and explore the set as seen in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

Prices start from $75NZD - £41.39 pp.

3-The Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest – Rotorua

One of nature’s greatest achievements

This is the perfect place to take part in an activity. Famous for its natural beauty Whakarewarewa forest is located just five minutes from the centre of Rotorua’s city. Here you can get go on a walk, have a picnic, hire a bike or go horse riding, the list goes on and all surrounded by the spectacular Californian Redwoods.

Entry to the forest is completely free.

4-Waitomo Cave - Waitomo

See Glowworms in their natural habitat

Explore metres of unbelievable cave structure where thousands of Glowworms radiate their magical backsides as you’re guided through the area by an expert who’ll convey the history of the caves and take you on a boat ride beneath the fairy-like-lights of ‘Glowworm Grotto’. Unparalleled in beauty it’ll blow you away.

Prices start from $48NZD - £26.39 pp.

5-Visit Taupo

Home of the ‘Great Lake’

Found in the centre of the North Island, Taupo offers a multitude of free activities that will help with keeping in budget. Here you can visit the thundering Huka Falls, relax in the Spa Park Hot Pools created by a naturally hot river that fills the many pools. Walk along the river and experience New Zealand’s beauty.

Entrance to the area? Free.

6-Visit Rotorua  

Experience a Zorb Tumble or visit a Maori Village

Visit Rotorua and experience its fantastic sights. Jump in a Zorb ball and feel the thrill of the ‘Zobit’ (dry) or the ‘Zydro’ (wet) depending on your preference. Alternatively visit the Maitai Maori village and experience multiple ceremonies and performances; be guided on a bush walk and experience a Glowworm tour. For a little extra you can also see the beauty of Rainbow Spring’s by night.

Zorb $45 (individual prices) - £24.74 pp.

Maori Village $106NZD - £58.29 pp. (inc. Beauty By Night tour $136NZD - £74.78)

7-The Museum of New Zealand - Wellington

Te Papa Tongarewa

Here is a little somewhere you can visit that would take up a few spare hours. The Te Papa museum located in the country’s capital – Wellington, has many fascinating exhibitions for you to explore, giving you the perfect opportunity to learn a little more about the country, it’s culture, history and greatest treasures.

Entry to the museum is free!

*Bonus*

While you’re in Wellington check out the Lord of the Rings movie tours, an essential for fans.

Prices start from $45 - £24.74 pp.

8-Te Mata Peak – Hawke’s Bay

The perfect place for a long hike

Yet another place to take in the breath-taking views this country offers, Te Mata Peak, in Napier, is the perfect place for you to hike, drive or cycle over. Here you can take a break from the cities and just relax in the tranquillity of quiet. It’s the ideal if you want to loose yourself in the magnificence of the mountains.

Free entry.

9-Tongariro Crossing – Tongariro National Park

Visit the sparkling emerald lakes

On this mountain you can discover a multitude of colour; from the red crater at the very peak to the glistening emerald lakes found on the mountainside. It’s a bit of a hike to the very top, not something you’ll want to attempt in jeans and Converses anyway (but even you could reach Soda Springs) but for the hikers among you, if you can, the awesome colours are just… wow.

Entrance to the park is free.

10-Te Puia – Rotorua

Maori Geothermal Reserve

Here you can visit a Maori geothermal reserve. Experience the hot springs and get a good look at the Maori weaving and carving schools. Guided by those that can track their families involvement in the area back decades, they’ll treat you to age old stories, as you encounter New Zealand’s natural spectacles, including boiling mud pools, geysers and a look at the country’s national bird – the Kiwi.

Prices start from $47.40 - £25.97pp.

South Island

1-Fox Glacier – West Coast

Fox Trot: Half-Day Walk

Fox Glacier is one of the most easily accessed glaciers in the world and one of the few you don’t have to fly in a helicopter to get to. This tour will allow you to spend at least an hour on the ice itself and the company will provide you with all the gear you’ll need to complete the trek. It’s a fantastic opportunity that will allow you to experience the magnitude of nature’s power.

Price for individual adult: $115.00NZD -  £63.09

2-Lake Wakatipu - Queenstown

Lightning bolt shaped lake

This lake is the third largest in the World and because of its unusual shape under goes a transformation every twenty-five minutes, rising and falling like a heartbeat, or so the legend goes, of a monster named Matau, sleeping under the surface. As expected a walk or cycle ride would give you spectacular views. Besides, how many people do you know that have taken a stroll beside a lightning bolt of clear water.

Entry free.

3-One of the ‘Great Walks’

The Milford Track

There are six of the nine ‘Great Walks’ in the South Island of New Zealand, including the Routeburn, Rakiura, Kelper and Milford tracks. The Milford is the most famous of the nine because the route surrounds the sound of the same name. Most of these walks you can do independently (or with a guide for a price) but you’ll have to organise somewhere to stay along the way as many of them require a few days.

Prices depend on route and season.

4-Ohau Waterfall Walk - Kaikoura

See the frolicking seal pups

The Ohau waterfall walk is a short one but is a place of fun and majesty. A place where you can watch the seal pups in their natural habitat having an absolute ball in the water. Not only can you get up as close as you want to the little ones but you can also enjoy the peace and beauty of the waterfall itself.

Entrance - not a dollar.

5-Whale Watching – Kaikoura

View the majesty of the largest mammals on Earth

Here is an absolute must. Can you imagine the magnitude of these creatures? Well imagine no more, here you can see it for your self. The trip includes a video about the animals themselves and their survival in the icy depths of the ocean as you wait, spending up to two and a half hours on the water, searching.

Individual Adult $145NZD - £79.43

6- Milford Sound – Fiordland

Rent a kayak and experience the sound close and personal

Said to be the best way to experience the famous sound, kayaking will allow you the freedom and ability to traverse the water with a certain intimacy you wouldn’t get on a cruiser. Have your skin kissed by waterfalls, move alongside resident dolphins, seals and/or penguins.

Prices start from $115NZD - £63.09

7-Rangitata River – Canterbury

White-water raft the Rangitata

White-water raft in the incredible landscape of the Southern Alps. Choose from either the gentle lower graded Fun Lower Rangitata or face the madness of Rangitata Gorge – grades 1-5! Pair the overwhelming scenery and the excitement of the rapids. If you want to skip the 5 you’re welcome to sit it out and rejoin as the water settles a little. Everyone wins.

The Fun Lower Rangitata - Grade 1-2 - $165NZD – 90.39

The Spectacular Rangitata Gorge – Grade 1-5 – fr. $208NZD -£113.95

8-Blue Penguin Colony – Oamaru

The World’s smallest penguins

Here you can watch the worlds smallest penguins go about their daily business. During the day there area is a little quieter but you are always welcome to join a guided tour to view the behind the scenes work that occurs to protect the species. Then again you can always visit at night and watch the penguins returning home after a hard day’s fishing.

Prices start from $12NZD - £6.57

9-Visit Queenstown

Welcome to Adrenaline Central.
If you fancy trying your hand at bungee jumping, skydiving, zip wiring, skiing, snowboarding or hiking over the Remarkables this is the place for you. And for all the Lord of the Ringers, you can also join a tour that will take you down the ‘Anduin River’ (Kawarau Gorge) and provide you with a tour of the beautiful country that made Middle-Earth.

Tours start at $95NZD - £52.04 (inc. Bungee $275NZD- £150)

Skydive – fr. $269 - £147.36

10- Hokitika Gorge Reserve

Scenic reserve and gorge

One of the most breathtaking sights you will ever come across comes in the form of this scenic reserve. You’ll be amazed at the colour of the water you find here, almost luminescent turquoise it seems almost fantastical. And the gorge itself is as breathtaking as the water below it. An easy walk and/or drive it’s the perfect place to spend a day; simple reiterating the renowned beauty of the country.

For More information and prices visit our website www.drifter.co.uk