The Regions of New Zealand
The completely unauthoritative guide to New Zealand
| Browse by Map |
Choose the region that interests you in the map to the left.
|
| Northland |
The northern tip, home to the famous Cape Reinga and 90 Miles Beach. I haven't travelled that far up north but what I saw from Northland is still beautiful.
Places: Sandspit Leigh Goat Island Pakiri Mangawhei Heads Waipu Cove Waipu Gorge Te Hana Port Albert Omeru |
| Auckland and wider Auckland |
The City - by far New Zealand's largest city, home to harbours both east and west, full with sails. Auckland offers international flair while maintaining Kiwi style.
Places: Auckland Orewa Puhoi Muriwai Beach MOTAT |
| Waikato |
South of Auckland lies Waikato, given its name by the Waikato River. Hamilton is the main city here and one of New Zealand's fastest growing urban areas.
Places: Hamilton Matamata Plains Kaimai Range |
| Bay of Plenty and Coromandel |
Plenty of Beauty - I haven't been to the Coromandel, but the beaches of the Bay of Plenty are beautiful, too.
Places: Maunganui Te Puke |
| Eastcoast |
I haven't been there yet.
|
| Taranaki |
The rare mountain - beautiful and impressive when visible, but often dressed in clouds.
Places: Waitaanga Ahititi to Uruti Waitara New Plymouth around Taranaki Opunake Pihama Kaupokonui Heads Hawera Patea |
| Rotorua and Taupo |
Lakes and Heat. Few places show the thermal power of earth as obviously as this region. Hot springs, thermal power plants, mud pools and strange colours from the minerals. It's all here, embedded in a beautiful landscape.
Places: SH33 Holden`s Bay Roturua Maungakakaramea Waiotapu Wairakei Huka Falls Lake Taupo Motuoapa Bay Tokaanu Waituhi Herlihy`s Bluff Te Maire Bluff Ohura River |
| Hawke`s Bay |
I haven't been there yet.
|
| Wanganui-Manawatu |
Wanganui the city and Whanganui the impressive river, offering lovely coastal spots as well as Waterskiiing and other activities.
Places: Wanganui Lake Wiritoa Sanson Himatangi Beach Foxton Moutua Tokomaru |
| Wellington and Wairarapa |
Apart from being the capital, Wellington is also the best city to drink coffee in, in New Zealand.
Places: Shannon Otaki Waikanae Southward Wellington Cooks Strait |
| Nelson and Tasman |
The Abel Tasman National Park and Farewell Spit, two iconic landscapes.
Places: Nelson Mapua Motueka Abel Tasman Hawkes Lookout Takaka Hill Walkway The Grove Pohara Beach Ligar Bay Pupu Rockville Collingwood Farewell Spit Motueka Valley Highway Murchison Swingbridge |
| Marlborough |
How's the Sound? Fiords in the north - forestry, mussles, wine, tourism, a very diverse region. Places: Marlborough Sounds Picton Woodbourne Havelock Tui Reserve Totara Flat Kekerengu |
| West Coast |
CoalStormBeauty The West Coast, or Wet Coast as it is aptly named because of its high annual rain fall. The coal and gold have shaped this region. Its charme either grabs you or #umm# not. One of my favs. Places: Lyell Buller River Westport Karamea Lake Hanlon Hector Millerton Truman`s Bay Paparoa Punakaiki Greymouth Stillwater Jackson Bay Ship Creek and Knights Point Fox Greymouth to Otira Arthur`s Pass Lake Brunner |
| Canterbury and wider Christchurch |
The Canterbury Plains with many interesting settlements leading from the lovely beaches up to the Southern Alps. A diverse landscape and home to the Waimakariri River.
Places: Maruia Springs Hanmer Springs Hanmer Springs to Kaikoura Kaikoura Culverden Weka Ashburton Geraldine Arthur`s Pass Village Bealey Cass SH73 Canterbury Plains Akaroa TraNZalpine |
| Christchurch City |
A great place to live, which I did for almost a year.
Places: Smith Construction Willowbank Wildlife Reserve Yaldhurst Dr. Heins classic cars Air Force World Christchurch Botanical Gardens Canterbury Museum Fazazz University of Canterbury STL Port Hills Hoonhay Logging Lyttelton Taylor`s Mistake Sumner Ferrymead Historic Park Bottle Lake Forest Park Halswell Airport and Antarctic Centre |
| Mt. Cook and MacKenzie |
Of course Aoraki (Mt. Cook) is what jumps to mind first, but the beautiful power lakes, the salmon farms and the unique character of the Highcountry are equally worth a visit.
Places: Fairlie Tekapo Pukaki Twizel Omarama Aviemore Waitaki |
| Queenstown |
Bungee till ya heart drop! Beautiful scenery and more action sports than you ever wanted to die at... Places: Kingston Queenstown Crownrange |
| Wanaka |
Wanna K? Wanaka is usually rather calm, but every two years the place is busting out of its seams when the Warbirds over Wanaka festival takes place. Places: Wanaka Hawea Makaroa |
| Central Otago |
After the gold rush ended, Central Otago lost its importance, but it still is a fascinating region with power lakes and beautiful landscape. Oh, and wineries!
Places: Takiroa Luggate Clyde Alexandra Roxburgh |
| Dunedin and Coastal Otago |
The Scottish heritage is strong in Dunedin, but Coastal Otago has much more to offer.
Places: Oamaru Moeraki Boulders Dunedin Port Chalmers Bay Balclutha |
| Fiordland |
watermountainsky Few landscapes have shaped the image of a whole country - the steep mountains of the Milford Sounds probably have done so. Places: Manapouri Te Anau Te Anau to Milford Sound Milford Sound |
| Southland and Stewart Island |
Tranquility - the coastal forests of the Catlins and the remote areas on New Zealand's southern tip are not for the action lovers, but if you like scenery and friendly people, you'll like it here.
Places: Nugget Point Owaka Purakaunui Lake Wilkie Petrified Forest Fortrose Bluff Thornbury Riverton Clifden Mossburn |