Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Regions at a Glance
Experience Auckland's confident and cosmopolitan Pacific buzz before heading
north for the Bay of Islands' combination of colonial history, Maori heritage and
sweeping beaches amid isolated coves. The Coromandel Peninsula features yet
more bush-clad beaches, and New Zealand's indigenous Maori culture bubbles
away proudly in volcanic Rotorua and around the remote East Cape, quite prob-
ably the North Island's most quintessentially laid-back region. Further inland, the
country's violent volcanic past produced the wonders of Lake Taupo and
Tongariro National Park, now a haven for skiers, trampers, and anglers looking
to lure a plump rainbow trout. Wine and foodie treats abound in Hawke's Bay
and Gisborne, while Wellington is arty and caffeine-fuelled proof that capital cit-
ies definitely don't have to be boring.
Auckland
