Table of Contents
1 Experience New Zealand 9
25 Ultimate Experiences 10
What's Where 20
New Zealand Today 24
What to Eat and Drink 26
What to Buy 28
Best National Park Adventures 30
Best Wineries 32
Best Beaches 34
New Zealand History 36
Best Tours in New Zealand 38
What to Read and Watch Before You Go 42
2 Travel Smart 45
Know Before You Go 46
Getting Here and Around 48
Essentials 55
Speak Like a Local 62
Great Itineraries 64
Contacts 68
3 Auckland 77
Welcome to Auckland 78
Planning 82
City Center and Parnell 86
Ponsonby 98
Western Springs 99
Devonport 101
Hauraki Gulf Islands 103
Greater Auckland 107
4 Northland and the Bay of Islands 111
Welcome to Northland and the Bay of Islands 112
Planning 115
Warkworth 117
Whangarei 118
Hokianga and the Kauri Coast 125
Paihia and Waitangi 127
Russell 137
Kerikeri 139
5 Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty 143
Welcome to Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty 144
Planning 147
Thames 150
Tapu-Coroglen Road 156
Coromandel Town 156
Colville and Vicinity 160
Whitianga 161
Hahei 164
Tairua 168
Whangamata 169
Waihito Paeroa 171
Katikati 173
Tauranga 175
Whakatane 182
Whakaari (White) Island 185
6 East Coast and the Volcanic Zone 187
Welcome to East Coast and the Volcanic Zone 188
Planning 191
Rotorua 193
Rotorua Environs 197
Taupo 202
Tongariro National Park 206
Napier 211
Hawke's Bay 214
Gisborne 219
Te Urewera
National Park 223
7 North Island's West Coast 225
Welcome to North Island's West Coast 226
Planning 229
Raglan 231
Waitomo 235
New Plymouth 240
Egmont National Park 248
Stratford 251
Whanganui 254
Whanganui National Park 258
Palmerston North 264
8 Wellington and the Wairarapa 269
Welcome to Wellington and the Wairarapa 270
Planning 273
Wellington 276
Greater Wellington 292
Akatarawa Valley 295
Kapiti Coast 296
Kapiti Island 297
Martinborough 297
Palliser Bay and Cape Palliser 300
Masterton and Environs 306
9 Upper South Island and the West Coast 311
Welcome to Upper South Island and the West Coast 312
Planning 317
Kaikoura 319
Blenheim 325
Picton 338
Havelock 343
Nelson 344
Mapua 351
Motueka 354
Abel Tasman National Park 356
Golden Bay and Takaka 362
Farewell Spit 366
Kahurangi National Park 367
Nelson Lakes National Park 370
Murchison 373
Westport 375
Punakaiki and Paparoa National Park 377
Greymouth 380
Hokitika 382
Okarito 384
Westland/Tai Poutini National Park 386
10 Christchurch and Canterbury 393
Welcome to Christchurch and Canterbury 394
Planning 397
Christchurch 400
Greater Christchurch 414
Lyttelton 419
Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula 421
Arthur's Pass National Park 426
Waipara Valley 429
Hanmer Springs 434
Methven 437
Geraldine 441
11 The Southern Alps and Fiordland 443
Welcome to the Southern Alps and Fiordland 444
Planning 447
Mackenzie Country and Lake Tekapo 449
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park 452
Twizel 458
Mount Aspiring National Park 459
Wanaka 460
Queenstown 466
Arrowtown 477
Te Anau 481
Milford Sound 485
Lake Manapouri and Doubtful Sound 492
12 Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island 493
Welcome to Otago, Invercargill, and Stewart Island 494
Planning 497
Dunedin 498
Oamaru 507
Otago Peninsula 509
Invercargill 513
Stewart Island 519
Index 535
About Our Writers 544
Fodor's Features
Tramping New Zealand 69
Maori Art 130
Searching for Middle Earth 301
Wines of New Zealand 330
Birding on Ulva Island 527
Maps
City Center, Parnell, and Ponsonby 88-89
Devonport and Western Springs 100
Hauraki Gulf Islands 105
Greater Auckland 108
The Bay of Islands 128
The Coromandel 152
The Bay of Plenty 174
Rotorua and Environs 198
Tongariro National Park 207
Napier 211
Hawke's Bay 215
Around Mt. Taranaki 242
Wellington 278-279
Greater Wellington 293
Blenheim 326
Nelson 346
Around Nelson 353
Abel Tasman National Park 358
The West Coast 372
Christchurch 402
Greater Christchurch 414
Lyttelton, Akaroa, and the Banks Peninsula 420
Canterbury 425
Southern Alps 450
Queenstown 468
Fiordland 479
Dunedin 502
Otago Peninsula 510
Stewart Island 522
