So, where to start touring this wonderful land, you wonder…
Well, most people fly into Auckland or Christchurch, the two main gateways to New Zealand. These airports have daily international flights to and from various cities in Australia and also various ports in Asia, such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, which serve as gateways for those travelers flying here from Europe.
For starters, I would highly recommend spending a day in this wonderful city known as ‘The City of Sails’. It is estimated that around 1/4 people own a boat in this city which is flanked by the Tasman Sea on the west coast and the Pacific Ocean on the east coast.
For a city tour I would suggest driving up to Mt Eden which is one of Auckland’s viewpoints and a great view of the harbor and Rangitoto Island in the background. Most of Auckland, like Mt Eden, actually sits on extinct volcanoes.
I would then suggest a visit to the Harbor Bridge and Ponsonby Yacht Club to take a look at the various million dollar machines resting in the harbour. This was also the setting for the America’s Cup race, which served as a great party for all those who experienced this marvelous event, both on the shore and on yachts in the bay drinking champagne.
Heading north on your way to the Bay Of Islands, why not visit the kauri museum?
This museum delves into the history of New Zealand’s oldest tree and its importance over time and how its various uses have changed from the gumming of stems in the 19th century to the preservation program that exists today in day to try to preserve these wonderful trees. .
Further north you come to the town of Kawakawa. Known for Fredrik Hundertwasser toilets. Hundertwasser was an Austrian architect so well known in Vienna that he decided to move to New Zealand where he had the promise of a more anonymous life. He lived here in his later years to the point that he died while sailing on a cruise ship in the year 2000.
Paihia, known as the gateway to the Bay Of Islands, is a beautiful town also known as the winterless part of the north, where it is actually possible to experience sub-tropical temperatures and very mild winters, this is a key attraction for those of us in the South Island looking for a getaway.
Here one could try and even a cruise on the old sailing ship.
With so much to do on this, it’s just a taster of what’s on offer. To find out more about this I will be posting more at a later date about the volcanic area and the geysers and thermal pools that lie further south in New Zealand.
