{"id":2027,"date":"2018-03-15T18:50:02","date_gmt":"2018-03-15T18:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/expedia.blog.au.local\/five-unmissable-places-kiwis-would-like-to-keep-to-themselves\/"},"modified":"2022-08-08T23:25:13","modified_gmt":"2022-08-08T23:25:13","slug":"five-unmissable-places-kiwis-would-like-to-keep-to-themselves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.au\/stories\/five-unmissable-places-kiwis-would-like-to-keep-to-themselves\/","title":{"rendered":"Five unmissable places Kiwis would like to keep to themselves"},"content":{"rendered":"

This piece was contributed to the Expedia Australia blog by\u00a0<\/em>Tourism New Zealand<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

New Zealanders are a parochial lot, never happier than when telling overseas visitors about their stunning country. And yet there are some places that are so undiscovered, even the proudest Kiwi might not know them or think to tell you about them. Here are some of New Zealand\u2019s lesser-known gems.<\/p>\n

Waitaki<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

From huge Paleolithic boulders strewn across the beach to iridescent blue lakes and limestone cliffs studded with fossils, the Waitaki region has more than its share of natural wonders. One of the best ways to see the area is under your own power \u2013 whether by bike or on foot on some of the many trails. Opened a couple of years ago, the Alps to Ocean cycleway carves a path from Aoraki\/Mt Cook to Oamaru. Don\u2019t overlook the area\u2019s man-made attractions, including Victorian-era buildings carved out of local white stone in Oamaru, and the impressive Benmore Dam, one of the largest earth dams in the southern hemisphere.<\/p>\n

Travel Tips<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Waitaki region is in the South Island of New Zealand, east of the Southern Alps. Oamaru is about three hours\u2019 drive south of Christchurch or 90 minutes\u2019 north of Dunedin. There is an international airport in Christchurch.<\/em><\/p>\n

Hokianga, Northland<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

With its white-sand beaches and perennial good looks, New Zealand\u2019s east coast can sometimes overshadow its west. And yet some of the country\u2019s best-kept secrets lie to the west. Take Hokianga, one of the most remote and undeveloped parts of the North Island. With its expansive harbour \u2013 and 150m-high sand dunes \u2013 and a pristine forest that is home of T\u0101ne Mahuta, New Zealand\u2019s largest kauri tree, Hokianga is beguiling. Visit the 51m tree known as the \u201cLord of the Forest\u201d on a twilight tour of the Waipoua Forest. With a predominantly M\u0101ori community, who have a centuries-old connection to the land, Hokianga is a perfect place to discover the history of New Zealand.<\/p>\n

Travel Tips<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Hokianga is in the Northland region, and is about three hours\u2019 drive northwest of New Zealand\u2019s largest city, Auckland.<\/em><\/p>\n

Golden Bay, Nelson
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If ever there was a place that lived up to its name it is Golden Bay, at the tip of the South Island. A long stretch of coast with fine golden sand and a flourishing artistic community, this is a place to truly get off the grid. The adjacent Abel Tasman National Park has one of the best coastal hiking trails in New Zealand, weaving through virgin bush and skirting picture-perfect beaches. Wend your way through native forest to reach Te Waikoropup\u016b springs, New Zealand\u2019s largest freshwater springs, where you\u2019ll be amazed by some of the clearest water in the world. Or take a guided tour of Farewell Spit, New Zealand\u2019s longest sand spit, and visit a remarkable bird sanctuary where thousands of wading birds from the northern hemisphere arrive each spring.<\/p>\n

Travel Tips<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Takaka, the main township in Golden Bay, is about one hour and 45 minutes\u2019 drive from Nelson. Nelson airport has domestic flights connecting to international flights in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.<\/em><\/p>\n

Whakat\u0101ne, Bay of Plenty<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Most visitors to New Zealand have heard of the geo-thermal and cultural wonders of Rotorua. But fewer visit Whakat\u0101ne, just over an hour\u2019s drive away in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. One of New Zealand\u2019s sunniest cities, Whakat\u0101ne is situated on a natural harbour at the mouth of a river and has some truly beautiful beaches and a rich cultural history. Book a tour of Mataatua and discover the story behind the M\u0101ori meeting place that travelled around the world before being rebuilt here and named \u201cThe House That Came Home.\u201d But best of all, Whakat\u0101ne offers easy access to White Island (Whakaari), a spectacular marine volcano just 50km off the coast. On a guided walking tour, you\u2019ll see steam rising from vents and visit an abandoned sulphur-mining factory.<\/p>\n

Travel Tips<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Whakat\u0101ne is in the eastern Bay of Plenty on the North Island. It\u2019s less than four hours\u2019 drive from New Zealand\u2019s largest city, Auckland.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Catlins, Southland<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Catlins, well off the main highway in the south-eastern corner of the South Island, are one of the country\u2019s best-kept secrets. It\u2019s no wonder, then, that it\u2019s possible to find verdant forest and pristine waterfalls as well as abundant wildlife here. At Nugget Point you\u2019ll spot fur seals, Hooker\u2019s sea lions and yellow-eyed and little blue penguins, as well as playful Hector\u2019s dolphins. Departing from Dunedin, a tour with Back to Nature takes in all of this, plus a 180-million-year-old petrified forest that appears at low tide.<\/p>\n

Travel Tips<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Catlins are about 90 minutes\u2019 drive east of Invercargill and south of Dunedin. Dunedin Airport has domestic services and limited international services.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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