Rotorua city: Rotorua City is North Island’s most popular tourist destination in New Zealand. It has many hot springs, geysers, mud pools, forests, lakes and rivers. Rotorua city has the greatest concentration of Maori residents than other parts of New Zealand. Visitors who come here have the opportunity to learn and appreciate Maori art, crafts, architecture and culture. They can also watch Maori cultural performances and traditional hangi which are held regularly here. There are many popular attractions in Rotorua which include the Government Gardens, Rotorua Museum of Art and History, Lake Rotorua and Whakarewarewa Thermal Area.

The Government Gardens are located in the front of the Rotorua Museum of Art and History. It has croquet lawns, bowling greens, flower beds and steaming thermal pools. The Rotorua Museum of Art and History housed a wide collection of Maori artifacts. This Tudor-styled building was previously a spa retreat. The history of the building is depicted in a section at the museum. The museum has a collection of taonga (treasures) of the Arawa people, which includes handicrafts, woodcarving, flax weaving and jade. There is also a 20-minute film explaining Rotorua’s geothermal activity and Maori’s history. Ad-hoc exhibitions are held in some of the galleries. There is a café with great views.

Another popular attraction in Rotorua is Lake Rotorua.  Formed by an eruption, it is the largest lake in Rotorua. Many visitors come to Lake Rotorua for activities such as fishing, windsurfing and kayaking. There are cruises available at the lake’s front jetty. At the centre of the lake is the Mokoia Island, which is known to be rich in native bird life and also has the Hinemoa’s thermal pool. Lake Rotorua usually has a great number of visitors during summer.

A great Rotoura sightseeing destination not to be missed is the geothermal area at Rotorua. This interesting place, also known as Whaka, has two sections – Te Puia (New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute) and Whakarewarewa Thermal Village. It is the largest and most famous thermal reserve in Rotorua. In Te Puia, there are Maori’s art and crafts, and geysers Pohutu and Prince of Wales Feathers. Visitors who come here can learn about Moari’s weaving as well as wood and greenstone carving processes. Furthermore, they can have the opportunity to watch Maoris carvers and flax weavers at work. Moari concerts are held daily here. There is a souvenir shop selling wood, paua shell, greenstone carvings, and traditional clothing korowai (cloak). The Thermal Village is located at the eastern side of Whaka. It has a meeting house, hot thermal springs and a cemetery. Thermal water has been used for many years by tribal people for cooking, bathing and washing. The meeting house hold concerts for visitors. Some shops located near the entrance of the village sell sheepskins, fur and handicrafts. There are tour guides to take visitors on group tours at both Te Puia and Whakarewarewa Thermal Village.

Rotorua city is a wonderful place to visit. As described above, there are many popular attractions in this city. Visitors have many exciting activities to do. Apart from Rotoura sightseeing, there are interesting adventure and sports activities available here such as camping, swimming, hiking, water-skiing, yatching and boating. Furthermore, visitors who come here can gain interesting knowledge about Maori history and culture. Truly, Rotorua city has plenty of exciting things to offer. It is indeed a wonderful holiday destination!  Rotorua City New Zealand.

Mildford Sound: Milford Sound is located in Fiordland National Park at South Island, New Zealand. It is one of the most popular attractions in New Zealand. This popular place receives hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Fiorland is a magnificent place in New Zealand. It is located southwest of South Island. Fiordland is the largest national park in the country. This region is now a World Heritage Park, being recognised as a great ecological area. Milford Sound is regarded as the most remarkable part of Firodland. At Milford Sound, there are spectacular sights on landscapes, cliffs, mountains and waterfalls. Visitors can also see fur seals, dolphins and penguins here. The most famous landmark is Mitre Peak, a pyramid shaped mountain with a height of about 1,692m. Other remarkable features are Lion Mountain, the Elephant and Copper Point. Striking Milford Sound waterfalls such as the Bowen Falls and the Stirling Falls are captivating sights here.

Concerning Milford Sound weather, downpour of rain is common here. However, the rain creates stunning waterfalls and a misty scene that makes the atmosphere here more mystical and captivating. The huge mountains are softened by the mist which instils a sense of great calmness in the air. The whole ambience feels awesome.

An Underwater Observatory, located in one of the bays of Milford Sound, enables visitors to see black coral, red coral, anemones, starfish and other fishes that live in the fiord. Visitors can peek below the top layer of water to view beautiful sea creatures and corals that are living under water.

Some visitors come to Milford Sound via the Milford Track while others take a bus ride to the cruise wharf. The Milford Track spans about 5.3km from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound over the Mackinnon Pass. It takes about three to four days to reach Milford Sound using this track. A drive to Milford Sound from Te Anau will pass Cascade Creek, Upper Hollyford Valley and Homer Tunnel. During peak periods, the visitor centre tends to be crowded with people. Usually, there are more visitors during the day than at the end of the day.

Going for one of the Milford Sound cruises is a must activity here. It is one good way to explore the place. A day cruise usually lasts about one to two hours. All the cruises depart from the wharf visitor centre. There are also scenic flights available here for tourists to view the place.

Milford Sound is indeed a remarkable natural wonder. The marvellous sights of huge mountains, such as Mitre Peak, rising from the surface of the sea and stunning waterfalls tumbling from great heights to the sea waters are truly breathtaking. For those who are keen to visit places with great scenic beauty, Milford Sound would be a good one to explore. It is certainly a ‘must see’ for those travelling to New Zealand!  Milford Sound New Zealand

The Bay of Islands: The Bay of Islands is one of the best attractions in New Zealand. It consists of 144 offshore islands and an irregular coastline. All the islands are within 50km of the coast. The largest island is about 22 hectares. Many of these islands are uninhabited, while the rest are privately-owned or are reserves.

The Bay of Islands is a favourite recreation spot for many locals as well as tourists due to its favourable climate, great beaches, silent coves and aquamarine waters. Many visitors come here for deep-sea fishing, swimming, kayaking, sailing, cruising, water-skiing, jetboating and diving. This place is usually most crowded during summer in New Zealand.

A good way to explore the Bay of Islands is to go for a sailing trip. In this way, you can slowly view the surroundings of this beautiful place. Besides, during the sailing trip, you can include activities such as swimming, snorkelling, kayaking or fishing. There are dolphin swimming trips available here. For these trips, you can have opportunity of cruising around the islands as well as watch and swim with the dolphins. If you are keen in sea kayaking, you can choose to join a guided tour or go for it yourself by renting a kayak. Besides kayaking, visitors can enjoy the fun and excitement of jet boating.  There are other interesting activities for tourists such as scenic flights, paragliding and horse-trekking. As this place is famous for its coastal scenery, going for a scenic flight would enable tourists to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Paihai is a popular town in the Bay of Islands. This small town has a great number of visitors, especially during summer. Previously a mission post, this place has become a bustling modern town with plenty of activities to offer. There are many shopping areas, restaurants and cafeterias. All types of accommodations are also available here. Paihai is a base for deep-sea game fishing. Its popular wharf offers cruises and fishing trips around the bay. There are many historical places here and they are indicated by plaques placed along the seafront.

Some attractions are located near Paihai. Waitangi National Reserve is located within walking distance from Paihai. The Lily Pond Park, located at the north of Paihai, is a great destination for family outing. This park gives its visitors the opportunity to interact with many kinds of farm animals. The animals in the park include goats, sheep, eels, alpaca and emus. Another attraction, the Haruru Falls, is located about 3km from Paihai.

Russell is a beautiful historic town in the Bay of Islands. It is a quiet town with many historic buildings and a wonderful waterfront. Another town, Kerikeri, is popular for its orchards and outdoor cafes.

The Bay of Islands is indeed one the most beautiful and historic regions in New Zealand.  If you are looking for a place for recreational activities, like camping, boating, fishing or simply relaxing, you can consider visiting this place. The Bay of Islands.