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With its pure natural wonders, rich Maori culture and adventurous activities, New Zealand holds so much for young travellers. The North and South Islands offer vastly different landscapes – from stunning beaches to snow-covered mountains, mirror lakes to explosive geysers. The country is also an adventurer's paradise, and the home of such thrills as bungy-jumping, jetboating, blackwater rafting and zorbing.

Eco-sustainability and a four star luxury rating are not usually bedfellows: but Awaroa Lodge, based in Abel Tasman National Park, combines the two effortlessly.

When competing around the globe, world mountain bike champion Vanessa Quinn often thinks of the stunning trails back home in New Zealand.

New Zealander Scarlett Hagen is on top of the world as a mountain biker, but she is happy to scale the heights for almost any outdoor pursuit.

Millions of years before man set foot on the islands of New Zealand, a magnificent array of birds ruled the land.

New Zealand's top five gardens and garden festivals.

A list UK nurseries selling New Zealand plants including Avant Gardener which was established by New Zealand expat James Fraser.

Connells Bay Sculpture Park on Waiheke Island allows visitors to view large outdoor contemporary sculpture by some of New Zealand's best known sculptors.

Auckland's temperate coastal climate makes the great outdoors accessible all year round. Art and landscape combine at various gardens and events across the region, providing art lovers plenty of opportunities to enjoy art in the outdoors.

The dramatic landscape of Auckland's west coast depicted in the 100 per cent Pure New Zealand Garden is accessible within a 30-minute drive from downtown Auckland. This is just one of the starkly contrasting landscapes that are accessible within a short distance from the city.