Nuggets

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The Waitomo region, just south from Hamilton, is known for its subterranean attractions. The cave network is extensive, and many of the caves and passageways are decorated with stalactites, stalagmites and glow worms. Three caves - Waitomo, Ruakuri, and Aranui - are easily accessible, others require more specialised expeditions.

Waitomo Caves

[ more about Waitomo Caves]

In the early 1950s, New Zealand inventor William Hamilton began experimenting with marine jets. Using a round centrifugal waterpump that drew in the water and expelled it through a steerable nozzle under the boat, he was able to achieve an encouraging but unspectacular speed of 11mph. Today Hamilton Jets power all kinds of boats – from passenger ferries to joy-ride vessels like those used by Shotover Jet, which are capable of travelling at 60mph in water that’s only ankle deep.

Jet Boats

In New Zealand, a bach is a holiday home. You’ll see baches beside beaches, lakes, rivers and forests throughout the country. Some are large and stylish, others are basic and painted in wild colours.

Baches

New Zealand sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the perimeter around the Pacific Ocean which is the world's biggest source of earthquakes and volcanic activity. Consequently New Zealand has many active volcanoes and geothermal areas. The city of Rotorua in the Central North Island is one of the few places in the world where you can easily see geysers, boiling mud, fumeroles and steaming silica terraces. Hot springs are common, and particularly popular with visitors.

Geothermal

The Tutukaka Coast is half an hour east from the subtropical city of Whangarei. At the Tutukaka Marina you can arrange to go diving at the Poor Knights Islands marine reserve. The late Jacques Cousteau regarded the Poor Knights to be one of the world’s top five dive locations – the water is known for its clarity and there’s an abundance of sea life. Two wreck dives can be accessed from Tutukaka – the frigate Waikato and the HMNZS Tui. Tutukaka is also a departure point for game fishing boats – marlin, broad bill and mako are regularly caught in the offshore waters.

Tutukaka Coast

Some of the world’s largest specimens of black coral live in Fiordland. Black coral grows like a tree and actually looks white under water. Red coral is one of New Zealand’s few hard corals - usually it’s found in much greater depths.

The ‘Hole in the Rock’ refers to Piercy Island, which is off the tip of Cape Brett in the Bay of Islands. The island is pierced by a natural tunnel that’s big enough to accommodate a small passenger ferry. Boat trips leave Paihia daily for the Hole in the Rock.

The Hole in the Rock
(Dean & Mandy Profile)

The Wither Hills Farm Park near Blenheim offers a variety of walking and mountain biking opportunities. You’ll discover excellent views over Blenheim, the Wairau Plains and across Cloudy Bay. Closer to Blenheim, the Taylor River offers walking connections to several locations within the town area.

Wither Hills
(Sarah Ulmer Profile)

New Zealand sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire – the meeting place of two massive tectonic plates. Geothermal activity can be found as far south as Haast and as far north as Kaikohe. In many cases, the geothermal activity materialises on the surface as hot springs. Pools range from small spa-type natural mineral pools to large thermally heated swimming pool complexes.

Hot Springs
(Sarah Ulmer profile)