North Island
Six regions, six different reasons
North Island
Northland
The Far North's beaches, without a single big town between most of them.
North Island
Coromandel Peninsula
Hot Water Beach and a coastline that rewards not rushing.
North Island
Bay of Plenty & East Cape
The country's first sunrise, and roads most visitors skip entirely.
North Island
Central North Island
Lake Taupo and Tongariro's volcanoes, a genuine change of scene.
North Island
Wairarapa
Wine country an hour from Wellington that most visitors never see.
South Island
Five regions, further apart, worth the distance
South Island
Marlborough Sounds
A drowned river valley of quiet bays, right off the ferry.
South Island
Nelson & Abel Tasman
New Zealand's sunniest region, and its smallest national park.
South Island
West Coast
Rainforest, glaciers and a coastline with almost no one on it.
South Island
Central Otago & Mackenzie
The country's biggest night sky reserve and its driest wine region.
South Island
The Catlins
A wild southern coastline most South Island itineraries skip entirely.
South Island
Fiordland & Southland
The country's wettest, wildest corner, best seen slowly.