In 2002, 1,955,700 people travelled to New Zealand to holiday or visit family and friends.

Around And About The North Island

The Bay Of Islands

Starting in the ‘winterless north’ there are so many beautiful beaches you would find it hard to choose which was the best. The Bay of Islands, with Paihia the most popular holiday resort, is the most beautiful holiday spot. From here you can go on the ‘Fullers Cream Trip’ on a modern catamaran – The Big Cat – and cruise around all the beautiful little coves in luxury, dropping off at Russell, an old settlement across the harbour from Paihia. There are lots of game fishing launches which can be privately hired, or you can just pay to go for a trip on one and catch the ‘big one’.

Accommodation is covered in this area by bed and breakfast, motels, hotels, luxury lodges and resorts. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on location and prices for these accommodation options go to www.purenz.com. Information can also be obtained from New Zealand Tourism Offices overseas.

The Coromandel Peninsula

Travelling south through Auckland, the next notable holiday favourite with New Zealanders is the Coromandel Peninsula. Here you will find many beautiful secluded shores, with bush and grass verging onto the beaches. At Hahei Beach, named after a legendary Maori explorer, you will find two Maori Pa sites at the southern end, and beyond that two ‘blowholes’ which can provide a spectacular sight at high tide. A two hour return walk at the northern end of the beach leads to a large sea-formed cavern known as Cathedral Cave.

Accommodation is covered in this area by bed and breakfast, motels, hotels, luxury lodges, resorts and holiday homes. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on location and prices for these accommodation options go to www.purenz.com. Information can also be obtained from New Zealand Tourism Offices overseas.

The Bay Of Plenty

South once more, we reach the Bay of Plenty, renowned for its wonderful long expanse of white sands. Mount Maunganui is the most popular holiday spot, especially for the young people, who find lots to do during their summer holidays, from bungy-jumping to white water rafting. This is the place to go if you are looking for a hectic New Year’s Eve, with bands and open air concerts all the rage. Tauranga, the main city of the Bay of Plenty, lies across the harbour from Mount Maunganui. There is a harbour bridge for easy access. Here you will find an excellent selection of shops and facilities.

A big feature of this area is the Hot Water Sea Pool complex at Mount Maunganui. Here you can luxuriate in wonderful temperatures all year round. There is nothing nicer on a cold miserable day than to go along to the Pools. To lie in the lovely hot water at night to look at the stars is a great experience.

Accommodation is covered in this area by bed and breakfast, motels, hotels, luxury lodges, resorts, holiday homes and homestays. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on location and prices for these accommodation options go to www.purenz.com. Information can also be obtained from New Zealand Tourism Offices overseas.

The Lakes

Inland now to the Lakes, to Lake Rotorua first. Here you will be able to sightsee to your heart’s content, as this is the place to be for the traditional Maori Concert Parties, and Maori Hangi’s, the Maori way of cooking. A hole is dug in the ground, lined with stones, and a fire lit. The stones heat up, and when they are hot enough, food wrapped in sacks is lowered into the pit. These are then covered and the food left to cook for many hours. The results are delicious.

Rotorua is a land of thermal activity with hot water geysers and hot mud pools – many of the motels in this area have their own thermally heated spa pools. The imposing Tudor Towers, set amongst beautiful gardens, is the place where the early settlers used to flock to ‘take the waters’ with a bathhouse built for rheumatic people. The fishing is excellent here, the lakes and streams abounding with big fish. At the Rainbow Springs visitors centre you can feed large trout by hand in the pools which run through this area – no fishing is allowed here though!

Accommodation is covered in this area by bed and breakfast, motels, hotels, luxury lodges, resorts, holiday homes, homestays and backpackers. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on location and prices for these accommodation options go to www.purenz.com. Information can also be obtained from New Zealand Tourism Offices overseas.