The new year is here and the holidays will soon be over. Don't sit around twiddling your fingers, get out and see the sites of this beautiful country! Beginning at the tip of the North Island; Lucy Mullinger checks out some of our tourism gems and this month, she travels from Taupō to the bottom of the North Island.
If you're planning a trip to Taupō, you might find it a struggle to fit everything into the boot of your car. Depending on the time of year that you arrive, you might want some skis, snowboards, fishing rods and swimming togs, in fact whatever adventure sport you can think of is taken care of at this beautiful lakeside town.
With Whakapapa and the Turoa ski fields only an hour away by car or bus and the great lake situated next to the city centre, this is an outdoor enthusiast and adrenalin junkie's Mecca.
Only minutes from the Taupō town centre, the Taupō Bungy originates on top of a bush clad cliff-top with stunning views over the Waikato River. The Taupō Cliffhanger is also onsite, with a giant swing that launches from a 44 metre platform above the river. This is all situated next to the Spa Thermal Park which allows tourists to relax in the hot springs along the river, for free.
If you want to visit the Huka falls, the best way to check it out is via jet boat, which takes you to the base of the falls and gives you a great view of the amazing scenery while you speed through the rapids. Skydiving is also available at Taupō Tandem Skydive at the airport, where you can jump from 12,000 to 15,000 feet.
Once you've taken in everything there is to do in and around the Taupō region (and there is a lot), travel on down State Highway Five and step into the 1930s in the art-deco city of Napier in the Hawke's Bay. The region is home to a strong and vibrant community, very proud of its town which survived a massive earthquake in 1931. Since then, the town of Napier has been stuck in a time warp, with excellent success.
Thanks to the fashion of the day, many of the buildings were built in Art Deco style and the city has one of the highest concentrations of that type of architecture in the world. Tremains Art Deco Festival takes place in February, where tens of thousands of people dress up in 1930s fashion and over 200 events, including fashion shows through to great Gatsby picnics, taking place across the city.
But there is more to the Hawke's Bay than earthquakes and art-deco. Travel from Napier, further up towards Gisborne to the northern tip of the Hawke's Bay, where you will find the Mahia Peninsula Scenic Reserve, which is a true slice of paradise with some superb walking tracks to enjoy.
Hastings is a great place to visit for shopping, dining and some wine sipping at one of the various wineries in the region. The beautiful Spanish Mission buildings that compliment the Art Deco theme in both cities is also worth checking out.
From there you can choose to travel down the dramatic east coast from Waimarama beach down to Cape Palliser, or get back on the highway and travel inland to Ruahine Forest Park. The Range travels northeast to southwest for 110 kilometres from the Hawke's Bay. It includes Mangaweka which, at 1,733 metres, is the second highest non-volcanic mountainous peak in the North Island.
The region is filled with a plethora of natural wonders from native New Zealand animals such as the rare blue duck (whio) lives in mountain streams and the New Zealand falcon (karearea) and North Island kaka exist at higher altitudes. Native animals in the park include skinks and geckos (moko), bats (pekapeka) and large land snails. The tui, kereru (wood pigeon), tom-tit (miromiro), fantail (piwakawaka), grey warbler (riroriro), bellbird (korimako), and kakariki (parakeet) can also be found in the native forest land.
Lake Colenso is a stunning water feature which is also known by it's Māori name, Kokopunui, which refers to the food source that can be found in the lake, such as native fish and eels. The lake is also surrounded by 150 metres-high limestone escarpments.
From the easier tracks such as the Alice Nash Memorial Heritage Lodge Track, which can be enjoyed as a half-day trek and takes in the Oroua River Valley, through to the more advanced and lengthy tracks, which include Knights Track to Pohangina Valley East Road, which takes three days, you are spoiled for choice if you love to tramp. Cross-country skiing, fishing, hunting and four-wheel drive adventures are also available.
After an adventurous trek through forest and mountain ranges, it might be time for a trip back to civilisation. The city of Palmerston North welcomes the weary traveller with sprawling park life (such as the Victorian Esplanade Gardens and Dugald MacKenzie Rose Gardens), museum and art tours and some seriously good shopping.
Te Manawa, the museum of art, science and history, is the perfect spot to relax and learn more about our fascinating culture, while The Herb Garden is great for those who truly want to relax and unwind amongst four acres of themed gardens. The family-owned business grows and cultivates the herbs to incorporate into a variety of sustainable, natural skincare and healing products.
If you are travelling to Palmerston North and think of yourself as a true-blue Kiwi, you really need to visit Tui Headquarters, which includes the iconic Tui Tower in Mangatainoka, which has garnered a lot of attention thanks to the eye-catching adverts on television. While you're there, make the most of some seriously good beer tasting and appreciate the special brew available only to visitors of the Headquarters.
A hop, skip and a jump from Palmerston North is a variety of cities, perched along the west coast. A casual trip from Otaki Beach down to Paekakariki can take as long or as short as you wish and the dramatic views from the road are definitely worth the time.
Also, if you have the time on your hands, check out Kapiti Island which includes an overnight kiwi spotting tour, a day tour and return ferry trip back and forth to the mainland.
Complete your trip through the North Island with a visit to the Heartland of NZ and enjoy imersing yourself in the Political landscape which includes the architectural wonder of the Beehive, which was originally designed by Scottish Architect, Sir Basil Spence and is home to the Executive Wing of the NZ Parliament Buildings.
If politics isn't your thing, the Wellington Botanic Garden is situated just up the road from the city centre. Make your way through the pretty gardens and climb up towards the Space Museum and Planitareum to get a great view of the sprawling city beneath, or take a trip back down to the city on the Kelburn Cable Car, which travels down to Lambton Quay - a busy street full of great shopping experiences and cafes.
For those with time on their hands, a trip to The Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa, which includes a huge range of historic, artistic and cultural colections relating to our country.
Known as the 'windy city', by the locals, or 'the coolest little capital in the world,' by Lonely Planet, you apparently "can't beat Wellington on a good day!"
In elocal's next edition, we get on to one of Wellington's trusty ferries and travel across the Cook Strait to find out what the South Island (or Te Waipounamu) has to offer.
