Visit this park to see Mount Taranaki, a dormant volacano which towers over the city of New Plymouth.  It’s very easy to get to, and has excellent hiking trails on which you can climb, ski, hike or walk.  The trails come in all sizes and types: from 30 minute treks starting at higher-up elevations to several hours to the summit from lower down.  There’s even the “Around the Mountain Circuit” which takes up to five days, if you’re a hiker who’s not into summits.

Mount Taranaki/Egmont is 8,261 feet tall and always covererd in ice and snow on its upper parts.  It’s simply beautiful, and the Maoris consider it to be sacred.  It’s been dormant since the late 1700’s, so don’t worry about frequent volcanic action.  There’s a Visitors Center which can show you all about the park and the mountain and you can stop in the cafe to gear up your energy for the 93 miles of trails.

If you’re super interested in flora and fauna and things like model displays of volcanoes, you can geek out at the Dawson Falls Display Center, located south of the main visitor’s center.

Waipoua Forest is on the northern end of the North Island, on the west coast.  This is a good place to go if you’re interested in getting close to some of the largest and oldest trees in the world, the Kauris.

It’s warm here, which Kauris love, as do the other 300 species of trees, ferns and palms found here at Waipoua.   There’s a special tree here, that’s been named by the Maori people, Tane Mahuta, or “the god of the forest”.  Tane Mahuta is the largest living kauri tree, at 168 feet high and 46 feet around.

It’s easy to get to just off the main road through the park, and it’s about 1,500 years old.  There are four other giant trees here at Waipoua, all over one thousand years old.

On the North Island there’s a coastal area of intertidal flats that attracts thousands of migratory birds each year.  Open every day except Christmas, they ask for only a donation, in exchange for the chance to view these migratory wading birds on the coast of the Firth of Thames.

Abel Tasman National Park is New Zealand’s smallest national park, covering only 87 square miles, but it’s not lacking in spectacular beauty and diversity. This park includes the Coast Track, which is a hiking trail up the coast.

The park’s climate is mild and lovely, and if you’re hiking, you won’t mind staying at any of the camp sites and huts available for trekkers. Abel Tasman is popular in summer, so book huts in advance. Wainui Falls are the best waterfalls in the park, and it only takes a 45-minute walk to get to them.

You can also partake of the other warm-weather activities in Abel Tasman: sea kayaking and swimming. Sometimes swimmers are delighted to find they have friends in the water: friendly seals who also like to swim the same waters. There’s great fishing, and also a marine preserve, where marine life is protected along 8 miles of the coast and into the waters, so no fishing from shore or from boats in that area, called the Tonga Island Marine Reserve, which is located on the northern part of the coastline in the park.

To get to and from the park there are numerous water taxis leaving and arriving at Marahau, the southern gateway to the park.

Mount Cook is the highest peak in Australasia, and its Ngai Tahu tribe nickname is Aoraki. Aoraki means the “cloud piercer”, which aptly describes this 12,349-foot peak.  It’s also home to New Zealand’s longest glacier, the Tasman Glacier, which is 18 miles long and a mile wide.  One way to see Mount Cook National Park is by taking a scenic flight that flies over the park and lands on a glacier.  Tourists can also experience Tasman Glacier by heliskiing.

There is only one hotel within the Park, and that’s The Hermitage.  It has over 200 rooms, for every type of budget, and covers lots of acreage, with many amenities such as family rooms, children’s rooms, and a restaurant.  There are also around 20 alpine huts and shelters for hikers (or trampers as they’re called in New Zealand).

Fiordland National Park also faces the Tasman Sea, but looks nothing like Paparoa. Covering the Western side of the tip of the South Island, this park contains snow-capped mountains, waterfalls, dense forest and of course fiords. It’s 8,100 square miles of fiords, forest and lakes…New Zealand’s largest National Park. The lakes are glacial lakes, which means they’re surrounded by steep, cliffy mountains, making for stunning visuals.

Tourists will want to bring a camera because you can’t help but take memorable, beautiful pictures in this land of fiords. One of the largest, Doubtful Sound is 25 miles from open water to base of inland mountain. Also notable is Dusky Sound because you can take an overnight cruise in to see it. Or, if you prefer to walk, leave 10 days and take the Dusky Track. Either way, it’s beautiful, unique New Zealand at its best.

Other walks well worth looking into are the Hollyfor, the Milford, Routeburn (ouch!) and Kepler. Go it on your own with a friend, or go with a guided tour…these walks are best during the warmer months which, since New Zealand is in the Southern hemisphere, fall between October and April. Make sure you get a hut pass or campsite pass before you go. These walks range from 3 to 5 days, with Kepler Track the longest at 42 miles.

If you’re an animal lover, watch for the native Fiordland crested penguin. New Zealand Fur Seals can be seen on a trip to Doubtful Sound, as well as Bottlenose Dolphins playing in the water.

PAPAROA NATIONAL PARK

One of the most beautiful spots in all of New Zealand is Paparoa National Park, on the coast facing the Tasman Sea. Near the town of Punakaiki, centuries of salt water pounding has formed limestone structures that resemble stacked gray pancakes, tens of feet high, like giant pedestals overlooking the sea. Found down between the stacks of pancakes there are blowholes from which pressurized sea water that’s been trapped will suddenly release into a huge plume of sea spray. There are other parts of Paparoa National Park, but the pancakes and blowholes are the most unique.

You also might want to check out the “ballroom overhang”, another limestone structure, but which requires a two-hour treck through subtropical forest. For some, that’s all the more reason to go! Paparoa National Park is located on State Highway 6, in Punakaiki, and the pancakes and blowholes are easily accessible from the highway. Wheelchair friendly, too.

Driving Tours From Auckland

Starting out in Auckland, which is where most tourists arrive by plane, drive north. About 45 minutes into your drive, you’ll hit BeesOnline. It’s at 791 Highway 16, Waimauku. It’s a restaurant, but they make gourmet honey here, and you can ask to taste their honeys. They serve food, and almost everything has some honey in it.

Drive a little further north and hit Whangarei Falls. It’s free, and located just outside the town of Whangarei. The falls drop 26 meters, or 82 feet, in parallel columns.

For beaches on your New Zealand driving tour, try Muriwai Beach and Aranga Beach. Aranga Beach can be combined with a hike up a steep hill. At the top you get a great view from Maunganui Bluff. In a country known for amazing scenic ocean views, even this one stands out. Muriwai Beach is popular for surfing, and has rocks galore. Located 28 miles northwest of Auckland.

If you make it all the way north to Paihia, save time for some hiking. A nice and easy, scenic hike can be found at Russell. Russell is a short ferry ride from Paihia, with boats leaving every half hour. It takes about fifteen minutes. Russell was the first permanent settlement of Europeans on New Zealand so it’s a good destination even if you don’t want to go hiking. It’s really a vacation town now. There’s a walking path that leads to some very steep inclines, but don’t worry, the hike is pretty easy. You get up to the peak, called Flagstaff Hill. You get a 360 degree view of the Bay of Island region, one you won’t ever forget.

Queenstown New Zealand is located on the South Island, in the lower quarter of the island. It’s not a coastal town, but rather nestled way inland. It’s a hustle bustle world here, with energy pulsing around the city like elecrtricity. There are so many pubs and restaurants.

For a laid-back experience, have dinner at Joe’s Garage. They have toasted sandwiches and they serve breakfast all day long! With your rental car drive just ten minutes outside of Queenstown New Zealand and visit Amisfield Winery & Bistro. The structure is stone and wood, very interesting itself. Eat lunch here for a pleasant and delicious afternoon of local eating. View the vineyards from your table and see how good life really is! It’s located at 10 Lake Hayes Road.

For more how about some shopping?  This town is full of quaint shops to explore.  Discover Queenstown shopping.

Go horseback riding! Take your rental car and drive just fifteen minutes outside of town to Moonlight Stables. There are 800 acres of ranch land and horseback riding through open fields. You’ll ride between mountain peaks and see some of the best views ever in a country that is known for its gorgeous views. Less than $100 to ride.

Or try Dart Stables, longer drive outside of Queenstown New Zealand. Lord of the Rings was filmed here! That tells you how great the scenery is…when part of a major motion picture is filmed there! Horseback riding costs about $20 more than at Moonlight Stables. Located at 58 Coll ST. in Glenorchy.

Visit Oamaru on the east coast of the South Island. There are blue penguins here! In the early evening, they come out of the water after fishing all day and return to their nests. Do not disturb!!! Go to Waterfront Road in Oamaru. $15 charge.