New Zealand

The North Island has a unique urban character. It is worth visiting the two major cities Auckland and Wellington. Numerous architectural monuments from Victorian times and a lively cultural scene will make your stay unforgettable. In Wellington, a visit to "Te Papa Tongarewa", the National Museum of New Zealand, is well worthwhile.

In the port city of Napier on the east coast of the North Island, the National Aquarium attracts many visitors. A place to learn interesting facts about the most diverse sea inhabitants. And in the underwater tunnel, with a bit of luck, you might meet a shark or rays.

But the sea is experienced in a different way by those who set out for Cape Reinga, located at the most north-western point of the North Island. Here a large lighthouse guides ships off the coast, while visitors watch as the gigantic water masses of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet. No wonder this place is sacred to the indigenous people of New Zealand.

If you are looking for peace and quiet, you should visit the untouched natural areas of the South Island. In the New Zealand Alps, ambitious sportsmen get their money's worth. Mountaineers climb the three thousand meter peaks of Mount Cook and winter sports enthusiasts take advantage of the wide range of slopes in the extensive ski areas.

A highlight of the South Island is Milford Sound. This fjord on the west coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its steeply rising cliffs, up to 1200m in height, together with numerous waterfalls, create a very majestic picture.

On the way through this golden land - don't miss Mackenzie Country in the center of the South Island. Wonderful rock formations can be found on the Otago Coast, and others - but most remarkably - on Koekohe Beach. In the north of the South Island, the Abel Tasman is definitely worth a visit. The smallest of New Zealand's 14 national parks, it's turquoise waters and breathtaking beaches are best discovered on the Abel Tasman Coastal Track.