Read about and view pictures of New Zealand
towns and cities.
Destinations A - F | Destinations G - N | Destinations O - Z
Finally in 2009 we visited Oamaru. Unfortunately it was on a cloudy day so the images won't do the location justice. South of Canterbury in the midst of rolling hills, Oamaru is a small town with a lovely outlook to the sea.
The town is worth a stop for lunch or dinner on your way north or south.
Friends who visited in 2007 also toured south to Oamaru and their photos of cute animals are indicative of what you can find in the area.
Oamaru is famous for both its fur seal (also called sea lions) colony and penguins that hang out just up from the beaches.
The main town in the Bay of Islands on the North Island is Paihia, a cute little town about one kilometer wide that is trying very hard to become resorty and daytripper-y. It's too bad, it is just fine the way it is, but there is a lot to do in the region in the way of tourism that it's character is bound to be affected. Either way, definitely worth the time here as a launching pad for all sorts of water activities, on to Russell, and visiting Northland. Be prepared to pay tourist prices for lodging, activities, dining and groceries.
Picton is the landing point for all crossing the ferry from Wellington across Cook Straight. It is the first point of contact for many visitors, but it is sadly lacking in some ways. It has all the necessary tourist stuff like car rentals and the like, but it has no real staying power: you wouldn't want to stay there for a couple of days to do anything. Everyone lands and moves on right away to Nelson or south down the island. Once again, though, the views are absolutely gorgeous, but where in New Zealand do you get less than average views: nowhere.
An awesome swimming and surfing beach, Piha is about one hours drive west of Auckland and is, as such, a heavy weekend destination for city-dwellers. Bring your sunblock and your boogie board, it was heaven for Angela when she was there and she is dying to go back. Summer 2008.
QueenstownQueenstown reminds us both of Colorado, it is situated at an elevated 
location, inland and surrounded by lakes and high mountain peaks, the famous Remarkables range pictured here to the left and hovering over the town in the photo to the right.
It's worth your time to drive an hour or so to Glenorchy, but beware sandflies if you get out and walk (or stand--the like it better when you stand still).
Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of New Zealand--and it is true as you can do pretty much anything there you want, any type of adventure activity. It's possible they actually create adventure activities there. Bungee jumping was invented there, and the photo to the left is the first bridge from which folks jumped.
Lake Wakatipu is a major feature of Queenstown as it lends the town its breathtaking views as the Remarkables rise up behind it. The lake is long and skinny, taking you to
Queenstown is becoming very commercial and touristy, unfortunate, but what can you do? The CBD is now a big mall like thing but mostly for walkers, not cars. The prices are high and the tourists everywhere. Definitely visit, but be prepared.
This little stop deserves a mention as it's quite touristy and cute, with shops and scenery, and it's a 10 minute drive outside of Queenstown. I've heard its name often and we finally made our way there on a trip.
Very cute, with places to eat that are reasonable and trendy, plus a cute chocolate / ice cream shop with the homemade stuff!
RotoruaBe prepared for the sulphur smell, that's all we can say! Famous for its hot springs, Rotorua is in the middle of the North Island and welcomes many Kiwi travellers around the year, especially for school holidays, who want to bathe in the warm waters. Nearly every hotel has a hot springs bath in it, for that is the reason people stop and stay. Rotorua has found a way to offer additional activities for families to keep the visitors coming, including the internationally televised Zorbing (seen on one of the early seasons of The Amazing Race.)
There isn't much here for anyone without a family who doesn't like hot springs (that would be Angela) and the sulphur smell is quite strong, taking a few days to get used to.
RussellRussell is a 30 minute boad ride from Paihia and well worth the money for a daytrip. Cute shops and lovely parks and hiking plus some historic houses make Russell a great day for walking about.
Stewart Island doesn't welcome vehicles at all, it has no roads, so visits to the island are mainly for tramping. We have no plans currently to venture south for a camping trip.
Takaka is the largest town in the region of Golden Bay, and it's pretty small. Known for being very laid back, you can branch off from Takaka to visit Golden Bay beaches or to head out to Collingwood and Farewell Spit.
It is separated from the Nelson region by Takaka Hill, a twisty climb that makes you dizzy on the way up (over toward Takaka) and makes your ears pop on the straight-down way down. Don has cycled over Takaka Hill AND back to Nelson, a crazy 160km day on the bike that I'm not sure he wants to relive. But the hill is a great workout for cyclists, longer and steadier on one side, steeper and shorter on the other. 
Don recommends lunch at The Wholemeal Cafe in Takaka as the bean salad he had there during his bike trek was the 'best food I've had in my whole life' - that being hungry, tired cyclist speak.
Pupu Springs, some of the clearest water in the world, is in a small spot well worth visiting just outside of town.
We're hesitant to share much information publicly on this lovely beach in Golden Bay in the Top of the South Island. It's about 2 hours drive west from Nelson over Takaka pass, so beyond much of a day trip to the beach, more for a long weekend.
Taupo is useful as a landing place for those visiting to do lake activities on Lake Taupo. It is a holiday destination for many Kiwis who take kids around the country camping in the area. As you can see, the photo we have isn't terribly flattering, but shows you all the available American fast food you can eat during your visit.
Tauranga (two photos right and below) was named New Zealands fifth largest city area in late 2008, behind the three big cities of Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington, followed then by Hamilton. During a trip to the Coromandel Peninsula, we drove 140km south to Tauranga and Mt Maunganui - a real destination holiday town similar to the Gold Coast, only smaller in scale.
Tauranga is a typical town with motorways and a central business district boasting an esplanade on the water and all the typical shops.
Mt Maunganui (to the right) is a true holiday destination with resort area to the left on the picture and a very long beach on the right. The area boasts holiday makers over Christmas through January who want beach, beach lifestyle, and beach houses. If you want to go somewhere for a fantastic beach experience, you'll find it here. With Tauranga a few kilometres away, it's all here for you in one area.
After you crawl out of flat as a pancake Canterbury moving south you start entering rolling hills once again, and as soon as those hills start up you'll find yourself in Timaru. Timaru seems an older town but it has a port and a lovely outlook onto the water.
The city has taken its main beach area and turned it into a major gathering space with a park and gardens and the beach. The central town seems somewhat run down, but the town has good appeal with it's hilly outlook.
Wanaka is the town situated on the lake bearing its name and it is a lovely, idyllic setting. The town is about one hour's drive north of Queenstown and is growing in popularity,
boasting many Kiwi holiday goers plus newfound international tourism as well.
If you want to live there, though, beware!! Housing seems (from the ads in real estate shop windows) to be horribly expensive, no doubt driven up by the Queenstown effect. After Auckland, Queenstown is the most expensive place to live in all of New Zealand. Being it's neighbour doesn't help your prices any.
If you are driving to or from Queenstown, going through Wanaka and staying overnight for a visit is highly recommended should you want a peaceful, serene way to spend the day. Getting out onto the Lake looks to be great fun, but there are likely to be winds coming down the valley from Queenstown and coming from the north where Mt Cook looms in the far distance.
Wellington is New Zealand's capital, sitting in a lovely spot right on a cape off of Cook Straight. You will find hilly communities, the national Te Papa museum, and government buildings all around.
You can walk right by, up to, and into the Beehive, the central government building where Parliament meets, without seeing a guard or a gun! That might be a slight stretch, but not too far.
The city has good shopping with many designer clothiers. We travel there frequently for shopping excursions, but it is the best city in the country to get that real 'city feel.'
Within an hours drive up the Hutt Valley you'll hit many of the suburban areas in Lower and Upper Hutt and a bit further north on the road there is lovely Paraparaumu Beach.
Westport is on the west coast of the South Island and it is slightly larger than a one road town but doesn't seem to boast much life. It rains there quite a bit and is pretty remote. Don says midday during the week he saw a kid on a skateboard being pulled by a dog.
But that isn't what the working folk there do, it's a big mining town and a bit cement factory and they have their own itty bitty newspaper, a post shop, and, well, not much else.
However, the ride out is picturesque from nearly any route, but primarily through the Buller Gorge.
Destinations A - F | Destinations G - N | Destinations O - Z
