North Island NZ
For many visitors, the first point of entry into New Zealand is the city of Auckland – the City of Sails. Travel north from here to the beautiful Bay of Islands – the little town of Russell and Paihia attract visitors year round – and don’t forget Cape Reinga and 90 mile beach (although we are given to understand that the person measuring the beach was a little over optimistic and it actually measures nearer 65 miles!) The Coromandel Peninsula is a couple of hours drive southeast of Auckland, with Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove.
Come south to the geo-thermal centre of the North Island – the town of Rotorua. A visit to the excellent museum gives an insight into the history of the area, and the devastating volcanic eruption that destroyed much of the area in the late 1800’s. Lake Taupo remains a jewel in the centre of this undulating and extraordinary mystical land, the azure of the lake and blue of the sky, framing the outline of Mount Ruapehu on the distant shore. Hawke Bay on the east coast has its own little micro-climate, and produces some excellent wines, and not forgetting the countries Capital city, Wellington, on the southern end of the North Island.