From the winterless north where you can still swim almost all year round, to visiting a castle down south in Dunedin, Aotearoa offers such diversity, beauty and adventure, you could easily fill the next two years exploring.
The surprising thing is, there are still so many places many of us are yet to explore. Taranaki for instance has the internationally acclaimed Len Lye Centre, incredible coastal walks, art trails and the mighty Taranaki maunga all less than a 4.5 hour drive away.
As well as their warm, welcoming climate and limitless manaakitanga, the north is home to a range of significant historical sites, caters to all types of traveller and offers some of the best all-year-round boating and diving in the country. Whether you prefer to stay at 5 star luxury resorts with world-class golf courses, or in off-the-grid cabins and family waterfront campsites, Northland has it all.
Also famous for an abundance of warmth and manaakitanga is the tourism mecca of Rotorua. On a crisp winter’s day there is nothing like the heat of a geo-thermal pool. After a day of adventure amongst some of the country’s most unique and breathtaking scenery, a soak in a therapeutic mineral pool is a fantastic way to rejuvenate muscles and revitalise the skin.
Winter escapes offer so much more than you might realise. Take a trip to Dunedin (flights are super well priced – depending on when you want to fly, you can get a return trip for under $200) and experience amazing wildlife encounters, star gaze or visit Larnach Castle.
Holidays in the cooler months are a great excuse to indulge in some winter fashion and Dunedin is well known the world over for its edgy, distinctive fashion culture. Whether you shop before you travel or shop Dunedin’s fashion labels, there’s so much you can plan to do and, as the saying goes, planning your journey is half of the fun.
www.larnachcastle.co.nz www.diving.co.nz www.rotoruanz.com www.mitai.co.nz www.visit.taranaki.info