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Venture "Off The Beaten Track" in New Zealand. Discover some of New Zealand's hidden treasures. Travel to some out-of-the-way places and see sites that many travelers and tourists miss out on. Stay in some great accommodation, and take part in some exciting or interesting attractions or activities. more
We devote this section to "Intrepid Travelers", those of you who are bold, brave, adventurous and curious.
Remote, rugged and immense, Te Urewera National Park lies between the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay in the North Island of New Zealand. The park is famous for its lakes and forests, as well as its stormy history and is home to Lake Waikaremoana and one of New Zealand's Great Walks...(more)
Phone | Address | MapHead to the southernmost point of the North Island to Cape Palliser, where you can climb the Cape Palliser lighthouse for spectacular views of the coast and South Island, see a breeding colony of fur seals and spend time exploring Aorangi Forest Park...(more)
Phone | Address | MapFarewell Spit is the longest natural sandbar in the world and can be found at the wild and windswept northernmost point of New Zealand's South Island. The Spit is regarded as a Wetland of International Importance and as such is protected by New Zealand's Department of Conservation. No private access is permitted, although you can join organised tours...(more)
Phone | Address | MapGeorge Sound is accessible by boat, float plane and helicopter - several boat operators take groups from the track end on the Middle Fiord and provide boat transport on Lake Hankinson. Once there, hikers (or trampers as they are more commonly called in New Zealand) can take between 2-3 days to complete the George Sound track...(more)
Phone | Address | MapIf summer means sunshine, sands and sunsets to you, then take a trip to the peaceful, quiet and sandy expanses of Himatangi Beach. Located in the Manawatu district in the North Island - about 30 minutes drive west from the city of Palmerston North - this west coast beach is home to New Zealand's largest sand dunes...(more)
Phone | Address | MapHeading down to the southern 'wop-wops' gives you the opportunity to explore Invercargill and the Southland region on New Zealand's South Island. A truly exceptional region of New Zealand for travellers with particular interests in bird-watching, nature, fishing, hunting and walking...(more)
Phone | Address | MapIf you love hiking, or tramping as it's called in New Zealand, then you will definitely enjoy the Heaphy Track, one of the more remote Great Walks situated in the Kahurangi National Park. Located in the north-west corner of the South Island, the Heaphy Track is the longest of the Great Walks and takes between 4-6 days to complete...(more)
Phone | Address | MapLying about 5 kilometres off the west coast of the southern North Island (not far from Wellington), Kapiti Island is one of few accessible island nature reserves in New Zealand. It gives visitors the opportunity to observe birds that are either rare, or absent on the mainland. Truly a bird-watcher's paradise, Kapiti Island is also of historical interest...(more)
Phone | Address | MapKawakawa is a small town in the North Island of New Zealand. Located in Northland on the State Highway 1, it has a tiny population of just over 1,000. Originally a service town for the local coal mining industry, its economy is now based around farming...(more)
Phone | Address | MapThink 1950s and go back in time when you visit Kawhia, a sleepy, quiet and isolated coastal town on the North Island’s east coast (about two hours drive from Auckland). The local population of about 650 increases by up to 10,000 people who come to the annual Kai Fest held in February, but for the most of the year, Kawhia is..(more)
Phone | Address | MapIf you are on the North Island, then a side-trip to the Kororipo-Kerikeri Basin will satisfy the curious historian within you. To find the Basin, you will need to locate Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands and head approximately 30 minutes away from Paihia towards the Kerikeri Inlet...(more)
Phone | Address | MapDescribed as the 'loveliest of all lakes' in New Zealand, Lake Manapouri is a haven of seclusion and beauty and located in Fiordland in the south-west of the South Island. This pristine lake is the second deepest in New Zealand and is the gateway for trips to Doubtful Sound...(more)
Phone | Address | MapLake Sumner is a lake located about 100 kilometres northwest of Christchurch in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island (between the Lewis Pass and Arthur's Pass National Park). This area has fantastic opportunities for hiking, hunting, trout fishing, white water kayaking and mountain biking...(more)
Phone | Address | MapThe Mavora Lakes are considered to be one of the treasures of Southland and part of Te Wāhipounamu/South-West New Zealand World Heritage Area. Located in the south-west corner of New Zealand's South Island, the landscape is dominated by mountains, lakes, forests and grasslands...(more)
Phone | Address | MapMokoia Island is the location of one of New Zealand's most famous love stories. It is considered sacred by the local Maori, the Arawa iwi and access to the island is limited to small boat tour groups only. The island's foreshores have geothermal springs such as the one forming the famous Hinemoa pool (known to locals as Waikimihia)...(more)
Phone | Address | MapYou'll find the Morere Springs Scenic Reserve on State Highway 2 in the North Island, roughly 3 kilometres north of Nuhaka, 40 kilometres north-east of Wairoa and 60 kilometres south-west of Gisborne. This lovely reserve offers visitors the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate in natural hot mineral pools and explore the native forest on either easy-walking or challenging tramping tracks...(more)
Phone | Address | MapNew Zealand's highest non-volcanic peak (1,754 metres), Mount Hikurangi, is regarded as sacred by the Ngati Porou Maori of the region, who believe the mountain to be the resting place of Maui's waka (canoe). Traditionally the peak is regarded as the first land in the world to catch the dawn of the new day...(more)
Phone | Address | MapThe track to New Zealand's highest mountain is a well-beaten one, but for many visitors to New Zealand the views of Aoraki/Mt Cook and the Southern Alps, whether seen from land or air, are some of the most memorable on their trip. Aoraki means 'Cloud Piercer' in the Maori language and on a clear day, you can get a wonderful.....(more)
Phone | Address | MapMurihiku is the Māori name for the province of Southland which is located in New Zealand's South Island. The name means "the tail end of the land" and it's a tail that visitors can often overlook. The Southland region is home to stunning wetlands, cave formations, mountains, lakes, marine wildlife and the Catlins coastline and forests...(more)
Phone | Address | MapYou'll find St Arnaud, the gateway to the Nelson Lakes National Park at the north of New Zealand's South Island about one or two hours drive from Nelson or Blenheim. This park establised in 1956 consists of 102,000 hectares of the northern most Southern Alps including tranquil beech forest, craggy mountains, clear streams and lakes...(more)
Phone | Address | MapOamaru is one of the South Island's most interesting towns from a cultural point of view and well worth an overnight stay. This small town, with a population of about 12,000, is often visited by travellers to see the colonies of blue and yellow-eyed penguins that make Oamaru their home. However, it is also of interest for other attractions...(more)
Phone | Address | MapPuheke Beach is a glorious surf beach which invites you in for a swim. If you walk along the stretch of beach, away from any other swimmers who have chanced upon it, there will nothing ahead of you but the great sweep of the coast, the white sand and the dunes. This idyllic beach offers you a truly blissful retreat...(more)
Phone | Address | MapApproximately 50km north-west from Gisborne is the small community of Rere. Heading down to the Wharekopae River will bring you to the Rere Falls and the Rere Rock Slide (we should mention that these are two different parts of the river just in case you're wondering if people really slide over the falls)...(more)
Phone | Address | MapFor two years, the small township of Springfield in the Selwyn District of New Zealand was on the map for the enormous plastic pink doughnut situated on its boundaries to celebrate The Simpsons' Movie in 2007 (This was set in the fictional cartoon town of Springfield). The doughnut is no more, but there are still plenty of reasons to visit...(more)
Phone | Address | MapStepping onto Stewart Island, literally the anchor stone of Maori mythology, is like arriving in another country. It's a place where you could (literally) lose yourself in rugged terrain of swamps, rainforest, rivers, peaks, valleys and wild beaches. With its population of less than 400 people, 20 kilometres of roads and 700 kilometres of coastline, Stewart Island provides a sense of..(more)
Phone | Address | MapRemote, rugged and immense, Te Urewera National Park lies between the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay in the North Island of New Zealand. The park is famous for its lakes and forests, as well as its stormy history and is home to Lake Waikaremoana and one of New Zealand's Great Walks...(more)
Phone | Address | MapNinety minutes north of Auckland, you will discover the beautiful, rugged and unspoilt beauty of the Kauri Coast. Along this stretch of coast in Northland, you can relax and spend time at some wild surf beaches, crystal clear lakes, spectacular sand dunes and view giant kauri forests...(more)
Phone | Address | MapThe West Coast of New Zealand's South Island has a reputation for its wild side and is one of the most remote and sparsely populated regions in the country. Although the conditions and environment can be extreme, there are plenty of easy recreational opportunities for all abilities and ages offering access to the West Coast's mountains, rivers, lakes, podocarp forest..(more)
Phone | Address | MapWhilst not exactly taking you into the back of beyond, the World Heritage Tongariro National Park is well worth a visit, especially if you enjoy hiking, skiing, mountain biking and kayaking. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a famous one-day hike, described as one of the best in New Zealand, which crosses alpine meadows, lunar landscapes, emerald lakes and active volcanoes...(more)
Phone | Address | MapIf your passion is for hiking and you fancy taking on a challenging hike that goes down a very muddy beaten track, then why not follow the Hillary Trail? This four-day trail across the Waitakere Ranges epitomises the sense of adventure and personal achievement of Sir Edmund Hillary, and though it's not exactly Everest, hikers be warned, it's not easy...(more)
Phone | Address | MapWaitomo is situated in the King Country of the southern Waikato region in New Zealand's North Island and whilst predominantly a dairy farming region, it is also known for its beautiful cave systems. The Waitomo caves are a popular destination for visitors because of their stunning stalactites and stalagmites, colonies of glowworms and caving activities. The Waitomo caves...(more)
Phone | Address | MapWhite Island is New Zealand's only live marine volcano and is situated 48 kilometres from the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, in the Bay of Plenty. The nearest towns are Whakatane and Tauranga. It is one of the most fascinating and accessible volcanoes on earth and is constantly active. White Island breathes, roars, steams and hisses...(more)
Phone | Address | Map
Think 1950s and go back in time when you visit Kawhia, a sleepy, quiet and isolated coastal town on the North Island’s east coast (about two hours drive from Auckland). The local population of about 650 increases by up to 10,000 people who come to the annual Kai Fest held in February, but for the most of the year, Kawhia is..(more)
Heading down to the southern 'wop-wops' gives you the opportunity to explore Invercargill and the Southland region on New Zealand's South Island. A truly exceptional region of New Zealand for travellers with particular interests in bird-watching, nature, fishing, hunting and walking...(more)
Mokoia Island is the location of one of New Zealand's most famous love stories. It is considered sacred by the local Maori, the Arawa iwi and access to the island is limited to small boat tour groups only. The island's foreshores have geothermal springs such as the one forming the famous Hinemoa pool (known to locals as Waikimihia)...(more)
For two years, the small township of Springfield in the Selwyn District of New Zealand was on the map for the enormous plastic pink doughnut situated on its boundaries to celebrate The Simpsons' Movie in 2007 (This was set in the fictional cartoon town of Springfield). The doughnut is no more, but there are still plenty of reasons to visit...(more)
You'll find the Morere Springs Scenic Reserve on State Highway 2 in the North Island, roughly 3 kilometres north of Nuhaka, 40 kilometres north-east of Wairoa and 60 kilometres south-west of Gisborne. This lovely reserve offers visitors the opportunity to relax and rejuvenate in natural hot mineral pools and explore the native forest on either easy-walking or challenging tramping tracks...(more)
Described as the 'loveliest of all lakes' in New Zealand, Lake Manapouri is a haven of seclusion and beauty and located in Fiordland in the south-west of the South Island. This pristine lake is the second deepest in New Zealand and is the gateway for trips to Doubtful Sound...(more)
Approximately 50km north-west from Gisborne is the small community of Rere. Heading down to the Wharekopae River will bring you to the Rere Falls and the Rere Rock Slide (we should mention that these are two different parts of the river just in case you're wondering if people really slide over the falls)...(more)
Ninety minutes north of Auckland, you will discover the beautiful, rugged and unspoilt beauty of the Kauri Coast. Along this stretch of coast in Northland, you can relax and spend time at some wild surf beaches, crystal clear lakes, spectacular sand dunes and view giant kauri forests...(more)
The West Coast of New Zealand's South Island has a reputation for its wild side and is one of the most remote and sparsely populated regions in the country. Although the conditions and environment can be extreme, there are plenty of easy recreational opportunities for all abilities and ages offering access to the West Coast's mountains, rivers, lakes, podocarp forest..(more)
Kawakawa is a small town in the North Island of New Zealand. Located in Northland on the State Highway 1, it has a tiny population of just over 1,000. Originally a service town for the local coal mining industry, its economy is now based around farming...(more)
Lake Sumner is a lake located about 100 kilometres northwest of Christchurch in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island (between the Lewis Pass and Arthur's Pass National Park). This area has fantastic opportunities for hiking, hunting, trout fishing, white water kayaking and mountain biking...(more)
Murihiku is the Māori name for the province of Southland which is located in New Zealand's South Island. The name means "the tail end of the land" and it's a tail that visitors can often overlook. The Southland region is home to stunning wetlands, cave formations, mountains, lakes, marine wildlife and the Catlins coastline and forests...(more)
The Mavora Lakes are considered to be one of the treasures of Southland and part of Te Wāhipounamu/South-West New Zealand World Heritage Area. Located in the south-west corner of New Zealand's South Island, the landscape is dominated by mountains, lakes, forests and grasslands...(more)
New Zealand's highest non-volcanic peak (1,754 metres), Mount Hikurangi, is regarded as sacred by the Ngati Porou Maori of the region, who believe the mountain to be the resting place of Maui's waka (canoe). Traditionally the peak is regarded as the first land in the world to catch the dawn of the new day...(more)
George Sound is accessible by boat, float plane and helicopter - several boat operators take groups from the track end on the Middle Fiord and provide boat transport on Lake Hankinson. Once there, hikers (or trampers as they are more commonly called in New Zealand) can take between 2-3 days to complete the George Sound track...(more)
Lying about 5 kilometres off the west coast of the southern North Island (not far from Wellington), Kapiti Island is one of few accessible island nature reserves in New Zealand. It gives visitors the opportunity to observe birds that are either rare, or absent on the mainland. Truly a bird-watcher's paradise, Kapiti Island is also of historical interest...(more)
The track to New Zealand's highest mountain is a well-beaten one, but for many visitors to New Zealand the views of Aoraki/Mt Cook and the Southern Alps, whether seen from land or air, are some of the most memorable on their trip. Aoraki means 'Cloud Piercer' in the Maori language and on a clear day, you can get a wonderful.....(more)
Whilst not exactly taking you into the back of beyond, the World Heritage Tongariro National Park is well worth a visit, especially if you enjoy hiking, skiing, mountain biking and kayaking. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a famous one-day hike, described as one of the best in New Zealand, which crosses alpine meadows, lunar landscapes, emerald lakes and active volcanoes...(more)
If your passion is for hiking and you fancy taking on a challenging hike that goes down a very muddy beaten track, then why not follow the Hillary Trail? This four-day trail across the Waitakere Ranges epitomises the sense of adventure and personal achievement of Sir Edmund Hillary, and though it's not exactly Everest, hikers be warned, it's not easy...(more)
Oamaru is one of the South Island's most interesting towns from a cultural point of view and well worth an overnight stay. This small town, with a population of about 12,000, is often visited by travellers to see the colonies of blue and yellow-eyed penguins that make Oamaru their home. However, it is also of interest for other attractions...(more)
Farewell Spit is the longest natural sandbar in the world and can be found at the wild and windswept northernmost point of New Zealand's South Island. The Spit is regarded as a Wetland of International Importance and as such is protected by New Zealand's Department of Conservation. No private access is permitted, although you can join organised tours...(more)
Head to the southernmost point of the North Island to Cape Palliser, where you can climb the Cape Palliser lighthouse for spectacular views of the coast and South Island, see a breeding colony of fur seals and spend time exploring Aorangi Forest Park...(more)
You'll find St Arnaud, the gateway to the Nelson Lakes National Park at the north of New Zealand's South Island about one or two hours drive from Nelson or Blenheim. This park establised in 1956 consists of 102,000 hectares of the northern most Southern Alps including tranquil beech forest, craggy mountains, clear streams and lakes...(more)
If you love hiking, or tramping as it's called in New Zealand, then you will definitely enjoy the Heaphy Track, one of the more remote Great Walks situated in the Kahurangi National Park. Located in the north-west corner of the South Island, the Heaphy Track is the longest of the Great Walks and takes between 4-6 days to complete...(more)
Puheke Beach is a glorious surf beach which invites you in for a swim. If you walk along the stretch of beach, away from any other swimmers who have chanced upon it, there will nothing ahead of you but the great sweep of the coast, the white sand and the dunes. This idyllic beach offers you a truly blissful retreat...(more)
If you are on the North Island, then a side-trip to the Kororipo-Kerikeri Basin will satisfy the curious historian within you. To find the Basin, you will need to locate Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands and head approximately 30 minutes away from Paihia towards the Kerikeri Inlet...(more)
Remote, rugged and immense, Te Urewera National Park lies between the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay in the North Island of New Zealand. The park is famous for its lakes and forests, as well as its stormy history and is home to Lake Waikaremoana and one of New Zealand's Great Walks...(more)
Waitomo is situated in the King Country of the southern Waikato region in New Zealand's North Island and whilst predominantly a dairy farming region, it is also known for its beautiful cave systems. The Waitomo caves are a popular destination for visitors because of their stunning stalactites and stalagmites, colonies of glowworms and caving activities. The Waitomo caves...(more)
White Island is New Zealand's only live marine volcano and is situated 48 kilometres from the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, in the Bay of Plenty. The nearest towns are Whakatane and Tauranga. It is one of the most fascinating and accessible volcanoes on earth and is constantly active. White Island breathes, roars, steams and hisses...(more)
If summer means sunshine, sands and sunsets to you, then take a trip to the peaceful, quiet and sandy expanses of Himatangi Beach. Located in the Manawatu district in the North Island - about 30 minutes drive west from the city of Palmerston North - this west coast beach is home to New Zealand's largest sand dunes...(more)
Stepping onto Stewart Island, literally the anchor stone of Maori mythology, is like arriving in another country. It's a place where you could (literally) lose yourself in rugged terrain of swamps, rainforest, rivers, peaks, valleys and wild beaches. With its population of less than 400 people, 20 kilometres of roads and 700 kilometres of coastline, Stewart Island provides a sense of..(more)
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