Eye On Travel: Old and New Zealand - A Maori-age made in Heaven

Maoris: After the wind has changed direction

If you feel like getting away from it all right now then quite literally the furthest point you can go from the UK is New Zealand. A land of contrasts: North v South, Beaches v Glaciers, All Blacks Rugby v Everyone else.

If you can handle a 24 hour flight through 12 time zones then you will be rewarded in Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud which is symbolised by a flightless bird (Kiwi) and mixes Maori history with unimaginative new world naming conventions.

Auckland: Sky Tower bungee anyone?

New Zealand comprises two large islands: Te Ika-a-Maui and Te Waipounamu to the indigenous Maoris. Or the North Island and the South Island to everybody else.

The former includes largest city Auckland and capital Wellington whilst the latter is sparsely populated, mountainous and home to adventure tourism.

Ninety-ish Mile Beach

Most international flights arrive into modern, vibrant and fanatical about sailing Auckland. Head north from Auckland to tropical... Northland which features the country’s best Pacific coast beaches including part time highway, Ninety Mile beach - which is actually only 55 miles long. Trips to swim with dolphins can also be arranged in this region.

Tongariro: Eruption free since... 2012

In the centre of the North Island is thermal Rotorua with geysers and aromatic (i.e. sulphurous) hot springs. This region also includes immense Lake Taupo, wine growing Hawkes Bay and volcanic hot spot Tongariro National Park. Check eruptions before walking here in the summer or skiing here in the winter!

Wellington: Home of rubber footwear

New Zealand’s friendly and lively capital Wellington is named after the Duke of Wellington (the person, not the Brighton pub) and is at the foot of the North Island. It is also the gateway to the South Island.

The 3 hour Interislander ferry sails through Marlborough Sound - this Marlborough man makes Sauvignon Blanc- to Picton. Spectacular scenery it is, smooth sailing on the Cook Straits it often is not so check the forecast beforehand as the views out to sea are more enjoyable than into a paper bag!

Fox Glacier: Named after a mint

The South Island is for exploring the great outdoors and offers adventure tourism unparalleled anywhere in the world. Self drive to see the most and bear in mind it will take much longer than it looks - there are a lot of very windy roads.

Loop down the west coast to see the Fox & Franz Josef glaciers or take the east coast to Kaikoura for an invigorating swim with dolphins and then onwards to the island’s largest city, Christchurch.

Queenstown: Jumpers for goalposts

Further south is the adrenaline capital Queenstown. Here you will find imaginative ways to scare yourself from jet boating and white water rafting to bungee jumping and canyon swinging (sideways bungee, before you ask). All surrounded by Lake Wakatipu and the remarkable Remarkables mountain range.

The increasing wild and wet south of the island is called -wait for it- Southland. This is wilderness country and is ideal for rain and earthquake enthusiasts.

Fjord Fiesta: Milford Sound

The South is also home to Fjordland - a spectacular land containing Fjords. Most famous of these is Piopiotahi or Milford Sound -genuinely named after Milford Haven in Wales- a stunning area considered by some to be the eighth wonder of the world (the Sound not the Haven). Take a boat trip to get up close and personal with the cliffs.

Air NZ: crew perform the haka before each flight

WHEN TO GO: New Zealand has opposite seasons to Europe so aim for summertime between December-February for the warmest weather and apart from the far north, expect similar weather to the UK in general.

HOW TO GO: One stop flights from the UK to Auckland operate via Dubai, Los Angeles, Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong. Stopover opportunities are many given the fact you are circumnavigating the globe.

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World Champions

Standard low cost packages are bookable through my multi destination EyeLine Travel website.

For tailor made packages including any of the places featured above or just for some information, please Contact me and I will do the hard work for you. All holidays that I arrange are ABTA/ATOL protected.

Mount Cook

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david@eyelinetravel.co.uk