South To Haast
About 26km south of Fox Glacier, along SH6, the Copland Valley is the western end of the Copland Track three days one-way . Challenging and spectacular, the walk is usually tackled east to west starting from Mt Cook , but from SH6 you can still do a six- to seven-hour walk up Copland Valley to overnight at the Welcome Flat DOC Hut 15 , where thermal springs bubble. Backcountry Hut Passes don't apply here, but you can buy tickets at any West Coast DOC office or visitor information centre....
Whanganui River Road
Book the following places in advance - no-one's going to turn you away, but they appreciate a bit of warning There's no mobile-phone coverage along the road, and no petrol or shops. There are a couple of takeaway food vans in Pipiriki open during summer. From south to north, accommodation includes Rivertime Lodge Map p271 06-342 5595 www .rivertimelodge.co.nz Whanganui River Rd d self-catering incl breakfast 110 130 A rural idyll hills folding down towards the river and the intermittent...
SLEEPING EATING Cbo
Waipoua Lodge B amp B 09-439 0422 www.waipoua lodge.co.nz SH12 r 540-570 This fine old villa at the southern edge of the forest has four luxurious, spacious suites, which were originally the stables, the woolshed and the calf-rearing pen Prices include breakfast, and decadent dinners 90 are available. mains 8-14 S9am-4p Hokianga's hippie music's pretty goo and craft shop se former cheese fac the forest. The 450-hectare ' an easy half-houi the picnic area by a beautiful forest kauri stands, a...
Underground
Legendary Black Water Rafting Company 0800 228 464 585 Waitomo Caves Rd www.blackwaterrafting .co.nz can afford to skite as they invented black-water rafting. Black Labyrinth three hours, 95 involves floating in a wetsuit on an inner tube down a river that flows through Ruakuri Cave. The highlight is leaping off a small waterfall and then floating through a long, glowworm-covered passage. The trip ends with showers, soup and bagels in the caf . Black Abyss five hours, 185 is more adventurous...
Oamaru To Du
It's 114km along Dunedin and all t open-road speed . the way. There ar places to stay alon alone justify spen row, ocean-hugg from Oamaru pro and has some gor Wharfe St out of for Kakanui . About 5km soi Backpackers 03 Beach Rd dm s d 30 43, signed, with room which encourages Close enough to t night, this is a plac huge bank of wind to the sea, and get A number of read highlight of their i Also near the be Coastal Backpackers packers.co.nz Waianakar contained d 75 S close and good swimmi find...
AIR Nmh
Palmerston North International Airport PMR 06-351 4415 www.pnairport.co.nz Airport Dr , 4km north of the town centre, is proud of its international status. International passengers pay a 25 departure tax domestically there's a 5 development levy. Air New Zealand 06-351 8800 www.airnz.co.nz 366 Church St S 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 9.30am-12.30pm Sat runs daily direct flights to Auckland from 89 , Christchurch from 109 , Wellington from 69 and Hamilton from 89 . OzJet 06-351 4415 www.ozjet.com.au has...
Wwoofing
If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, an economical way of travelling around NZ involves doing some voluntary work as a member of Willing Workers on Organic Farms WW00F 03-544 9890 www.wwoof.co.nz P0 Box 1172, Nelson 7040 . Membership of this popular, well-established international organisation which has representatives in Africa, Asia, North America, Europe and Australia scores you a book listing many hundreds of organic and permaculture farms, market gardens and other environmentally...
Best Wine Design
Slick contemporary or traditional Euro architecture and Marlborough w rather, glass-in-hand . Our five favourite winery designs Cloudy Bay Nothing special from the outside it looks like a high scl tasting room Polished concrete and blonde-wood panelling, with ai window wall behind the counter allowing you to peer into the Chan Highfield Estate Try to suspend disbelief when you first see Highfie on a hill, faithfully mimicking the turrets and arches of Cafaggiulo C top of the tower and survey...
Ngawha Springs
Near Kaikohe, these hot springs have been used by Ngapuhi for their curative powers since the 17th century. Hone Heke brought his injured warriors here during the Northland War. Unlike many of NZ's thermal resorts, there are no hydroslides or big pools for the kids to splash about in. There aren't even any showers. Here it's all about stewing in the murky water in small pools of varying temperatures. Ngawha has two complexes next to each other, the better of which is Ngawha Springs Pools 09-405...
Ngati Tarara
As you're travelling around the north you might notice the preponderance of road names ending in '-ich'. Haere mai, dobro dosli and welcome as the sign leading into Kaitaia proclaims to one of the more peculiar ethnic conjunctions in the country. From the end of the 19th century, men from the Dalmatian coast of Croatia started arriving in NZ looking for work. Many ended up in Northland's gum fields. Pakeha society wasn't particularly welcoming to the new immigrants, particularly during WWI -...
Omarama
At the head of the Waitaki Valley, surrounded by mountain ranges, the Omarama area is at the centre of fabulous landscapes. The bizarre moonscape of the Clay Cliffs admission 5 is the result of two million years of erosion on layers of silt and gravel that were exposed along the active Osler fault line. The cliffs are on private land the turn-off is 3.5km north of Omarama, then it's another 10km on unsealed road. See where the wool in your fancy new Icebreaker top came from. Wrinkly Rams 03438...
Karekare
Few stretches of sand have more personality than Karekare. Those prone to metaphysical musings inevitably settle on descriptions such as 'spiritual' and 'brooding'. Perhaps history has left its imprint in 1825 it was the site of a ruthless massacre of the local Kawerau iwi by Ngapuhi invaders. Wild and gorgeously undeveloped, this famous beach has been the setting for onscreen moments both high- and lowbrow, from Oscar-winner The Piano to Xena, Warrior Princess. From the car park the quickest...
Mahurangi Scandrett Regional Parks
Straddling the head of Mahurangi Harbour, this boaties paradise has three distinct fingers Mahurangi West, accessed from a turnoff 3km north of Puhoi Scott Point on the eastern side, with road access 16km southeast of Warkworth and isolated Mahurangi East, which can only be reached by boat. The park incorporates areas of coastal forest, pa sites and a historic homestead and cemetery. Its sheltered beaches offer prime sandy spots for a dip or picnic and there are loop walks ranging from 1 amp to...