Guest post: Lots of surprises in New Zealand

I had planned to spend the next day at the Bay of Islands, which is the northernmost region of New Zealand. It was a 3-hour drive from my apartment, so I started at 7am. 

With nothing but a strong coffee and music to keep me company, I enjoyed the drive to Paihia, one of the more popular towns in Bay of Islands. After grabbing a quick breakfast, I took the ferry ride along the bay. The surprise element of this ferry was that it went through one of the nearby caves, which was a unique experience. I then drove to Waitangi, which is where the Maori treaty was signed. After spending a couple of hours learning about the Maori history, I stopped at their café for lunch. 

Cape Reinga

New Zealand is famous for its green-lipped mussels, which are rarely found in other countries, and not all restaurants serve this delicacy. To my surprise, this café was serving a lot of gourmet dishes, including green-lipped mussels, at very reasonable prices. I treated myself to a portion of fresh mussels, and also had a seafood chowder. Both dishes were lip-smacking delicious!

Road trip to Bay of Islands

After a heavy lunch, I drove further north to the Cape Reinga Lighthouse. This literally is the northernmost tip of New Zealand. The view was spectacular. I stayed there till sunset, and then decided to drive back to Auckland.

I had planned to spend the next 3 days in the South Island, primarily in Queenstown and Milford Sound. I took an early flight from Auckland to Queenstown, and headed to the Adventure Queenstown Hostel. I have stayed in a lot of hostels in the last few years, but this is by far the best hostel in terms of service and facilities. 

Queenstown view

The staff was friendly, and helped me chalk out the details for my time in Queenstown. What impressed me the most about this hostel was that they had GoPro cameras that could be rented, free of cost! I took advantage of this opportunity, and borrowed their camera for all my adventures in Queenstown. 

The Ledge

The first of my adventures was at The Ledge, situated at walking distance from my hostel. I took a gondola ride to the top, and got strapped up for the Ledge Bungy and Ledge Swing. Both activities were absolutely mind-blowing. 

Most bungy locations require the harness to be strapped to one’s ankle, but the Ledge bungy provides more freedom by allowing the harness to be strapped to the waist. The view from the top was amazing, which made the experience even more memorable. Post completing both activities, I decided to try the Luge rides at the same location. Racing with the kids was definitely fun, and it instantly made me feel more energetic.

(Read the first part of this guest post by Keith here)

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Keith D'Souza is an IT professional based in Bengaluru. When he is not doing solo trips, he is undertaking Himalayan treks. He has visited 14 countries till date and intends to hit the 100 mark some day. His introduction is not complete without mentioning his undying love for food, especially local cuisines.  

Guest post: New Zealand - Heaven on earth?

It could very well be. New Zealand had been on my bucket list for many years, ever since I first watched Lord of The Rings. After my first glimpse of Middle-earth in the theatre over 15 years ago, I knew that I had to find a way to visit those beautiful places some day. 

And then it happened. Earlier this year, I was chatting with my cousin who lives in Australia, and he shared details of his incredible vacation in New Zealand. That was my cue. I knew I had to do a solo trip to New Zealand, but was contemplating the expenses that I would have to incur. After spending the next few days on Skyscanner, I found some great deals on flights. Over the weekend, I booked my flights and applied for my tourist visa. 

Auckland skyline

I planned to visit a few significant places in both the North and South Islands, and I knew it was going to be hectic. All my stay was booked via Airbnb or Hostel World. One month from then, I would land in Auckland!

Mission Bay Beach

I landed in Auckland after a 13-hour journey via Malaysia. I took a taxi to my cozy apartment by the beach, which I booked on Airbnb. After dropping off my luggage, I decided to take a walk to the CBD. Fresh air and clean streets - a great start to my vacation. I walked along the Viaduct Harbour, which had many of the best restaurants in Auckland. 

The foodie in me was craving dinner, and I was spoilt for choice. I decided to start with The Viaduct Grill, tempted by the seafood and pork options on their menu. The seafood pasta was loaded with succulent mussels and shrimp, and I gobbled down the entire dish. After an amazing meal, I strolled back to my apartment, and was looking forward to the adventures in store for me.

I woke up before sunrise on the second day and I used the early hours to plan out the finer details of my trip. I rented a car from Hertz, and headed straight to the Harbour Bridge. With hardly any vehicles on the road, the drive was very pleasant. I took the time to walk around the bridge, but could not get a slot for the Bungy. For the more adventurous at heart, the Bungy at the Auckland Harbour Bridge is a must do! 

Art Museum

Art Museum

After spending a couple of hours at the Art Museum, I had lunch at Elliott Stables. This is a unique food court with many different cuisines. I tried a few Brazilian and Filipino dishes, and every dish was delicious. 

I spent the rest of day visiting the War Memorial Museum, Sky city (casino) and Sky tower. I got to learn so much about the Kiwi culture and people. I then drove to the Mission Bay Beach, and enjoyed the beautiful sunset while sipping on a steaming cup of chili hot chocolate. It was a beautiful evening, and a perfect end to the day.

Other places to visit in and around Auckland are the Rangitoto Island and Waitakere Ranges.

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Keith D'Souza is an IT professional based in Bengaluru. When he is not doing solo trips, he is undertaking Himalayan treks. He has visited 14 countries till date and intends to hit the 100 mark some day. His introduction is not complete without mentioning his undying love for food, especially local cuisines.   

A New Zealand for vegetarians

Not eating meat or dairy is zero problem in New Zealand. Vegetarian and vegan dining is both easy and delicious throughout the country. There’s a plethora of places offering wholly plant-based menus and plenty more who let seasonal produce be the hero. 

Here’s a list of a bunch of places that can whet appetite of vegetarians:

Kokako 

Cafe culture is king in New Zealand – their standards for coffee are set high, with uncomplicated, fresh food following suit. Coffee roaster Kokako not only serves the best ethically traded, organic coffee in town, they also offer a completely vegetarian menu (much of it also vegan), showcasing the best of seasonal, organic produce in unfussy, delicious dishes. Try their blends and single origins in espresso or batch brews. Plus there’s kombucha and popular nitro cold brew coffee on tap.

Kokako occupies a beautifully renovated former post office in Auckland’s fringe suburb of Grey Lynn, a five-minute car or 10-minute bus ride from the CBD.

537 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland; +64 9 376 6086; weekdays, 7am to 3.30pm, weekends, 7.30am to 4pm.

Gatherings 

Gatherings is a “living wine bar and restaurant” by talented young chef Alex Davies, whose wholly plant-based cuisine is inspired by the bounty of the Canterbury region’s distinct seasons. Walking the talk, Davies spent a year working on an organic vegetable farm in north Canterbury in order to learn more about sustainable food systems. The five-course dinner set menu costs a very reasonable $60, or you can opt for snacks at the bar. There’s an “organic and living wine list” to accompany the cuisine and the space often hosts live performances organised.

Gatherings is located close to the city centre in Christchurch.

Unit 5/2 Papanui Rd, Christchurch; Wednesday-Saturday, lunch from noon to 2pm, happy hour 4pm-6pm and dinner 6pm-11pm. 

Ten Twenty Four 

It’s a recipe for success: a seasoned fine-dining chef, a Spanish Mission-style stucco building at the end of a palm-lined driveway, and the stunning countryside of New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay “food bowl”. Then there’s the food. At Ten Twenty Four, his kitchen counter cluttered by bottles of locally grown garnishes – edible flowers, fronds, shoots and leaves – chef Kent Baddeley transforms left-field ideas into remarkably delicious dishes. Ten Twenty Four isn’t an exclusively vegetarian kitchen, but seasonal, hyper-local produce is the star and those with dietary requirements are well catered for. 

Ten Twenty Four is a short drive out of Hastings in Hawkes Bay. This is wine country, but also where most of New Zealand’s stone fruit is grown. The road to Ten Twenty Four is dotted with orchard stalls, some with honesty boxes.

1024 Pakowhai Rd, Hastings; +64 6 870 6440; Tuesday to Sunday for lunch; Friday and Saturday for dinner.

Boquita

Vibrant Mexican flavours abound at Boquita. This bijou central Wellington spot features a concise organic plant-based menu of tacos, salads and sides made with fresh local produce and top-quality ingredients that the proprietors import directly from Mexico (browse the selection for sale). You can park up at the bench to dine, but if it’s a fine day, grab your goodies and have a picnic at nearby Oriental Bay or up on Mount Victoria, also close, gazing down on the city.

In central Wellington, pretty much everywhere is within walking distance.

23 Kent Tce, Wellington; Tuesday to Saturday, lunch 11.30am-2.30pm, dinner 5pm-9pm. No bookings.

Little Bird Unbakery

The raw cuisine Little Bird Unbakery in Auckland’s Ponsonby certainly won’t leave you feeling cold. In this warm, bright space, you’ll feel the love and attention of the kitchen in everything on the menu, which is predominantly raw, with a few cooked items. Fresh coconuts are cracked open for smoothies, kimchi and kefir are made onsite, as are sprouted breads, nut milks and cheeses. As well as great coffee and an arm-long list of juices and smoothies, there’s a wide range of teas.

Little Bird Unbakery in Ponsonby is just five minutes’ drive from the CBD or a 10-minute ride on the Link bus. Another Little Bird is at Britomart by the train station. Cnr Summer St and Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland; +64 9 555 3278; open daily 7am-4pm. 

Visa procedure

One may forward their application to the TT office in Mumbai or Delhi, which will then be directed to Immigration New Zealand. A visitor visa for New Zealand is processed within 15 working days. www.immigration.govt.nz

Airline connections

Connecting flights to New Zealand are available on Singapore Airlines/Air New Zealand, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines with stop-overs in their respective hubs.  New Zealand’s international gateways are Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.

Domestic services

You can fly between all New Zealand cities and most major towns using domestic air services. Air New Zealand and Jetstar are the main providers. Their services are complemented by regional airlines, charter companies and scenic flight operators.

For more information, check: newzealand.com/in or hashtag #NZmustdo    

Chasing greener pastures - New Zealand farm stays

Step outside the cities and away from beaches, and New Zealand’s productive green pastoral landscapes, punctuated with cute farm animals and agricultural activity are a big part of what any visitor to this country will see. 

If you've never set foot on a farm before, there are opportunities to stay on a farm – hosted by a farming family who will introduce you to their way of life and some of their animal residents. Throughout New Zealand you’ll find a great range of ‘farmstay’ accommodation on different types of farms and with options for all budgets from low-cost to luxury. 

While farming is a year-round activity with each season bringing its own highlights, there’s no denying the special attraction of new arrivals. For that, you might want to schedule a visit sometime between late winter and the months of spring (August to November) when cuteness is rampant down on the farm.  

Romance on the farm at Kamahi Cottage, Waitomo
Kamahi Cottage – New Zealand’s only five-star boutique farmstay – is a romantic, just made-for-two rural escape amidst rolling Waikato farmland. The cottage is on a part of the farm that hosts Evan and Liz Cowan thought was too special to keep just for themselves. The self-contained heritage cottage has an upstairs queen bedroom, with downstairs spacious living, kitchenette and bathroom. Guests arrive to freshly picked flowers, homemade baking and fruit schnapps distilled from the farm’s orchard fruit. The farm has several walking tracks to explore and there is a hectare of pristinely landscaped gardens to admire the new season blooms.

Travel tip: Kamahi Cottage is between the rural Waikato towns of Waitomo and Otorohanga - an hour by road from Hamilton Airport. Just 15 minutes down the road, there’s the Otorohanga Kiwi House and Native Bird Park where you can watch New Zealand’s iconic kiwi bird having lunch; at Waitomo Glowworm Caves, 30 minutes away, take a guided tour or try some thrilling black water rafting – a must-do caving experience.

Counting sheep on Rangitikei Farmstay, Marton
Tucked away in central North Island hills, Rangitikei Farmstay offers a glimpse of life on a 630-hectare hill country sheep and beef farm. Furry, fluffy and fleecy animals are the main attraction– meet working dogs, watch farmers muster sheep, or even try shearing one yourself.  When the frost melts away and the temperatures rise from late August, lambs are born and bring new life to the farm. Unique features to explore include the natural dam, waterfall and glow worms found within the farm’s gates. After an exhilarating day on the farm, rest your head at night in the comfortable farm cottage or bunkroom.

Travel tip: Rangitikei Farmstay is 2.5 hours by road from Wellington, deep in the Rangitikei district. The volcanic Central Plateau is within two hours’ drive, with some of New Zealand’s most popular ski fields and a great New Zealand day walk– the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Spray Point Station - Off the Mapp, Marlborough 
Spray Point Station is a 100-year-old farm settled across 2,200 hectares of beautiful varied landscape in Marlborough’s Waihopai Valley. From this South Island vantage point, on a crisp and clear spring day you can see the last of the winter snow on the far-away mountains of the central North Island. At Off the Mapp - the farm’s lodging – you’ll feel away from it all. With four accommodation options, the property offers a retreat for all types of guests. Cob Quarters, a lovingly restored drovers’ cottage, is country bliss. Unwind in front of the fire or count the stars from the private gas-fired outdoor baths. Spray Point Station offers hiking, mountain biking, heli-touring, 4WD farm tours and bird watching – more than enough reasons to immerse yourself in the countryside.

Travel tip: Spray Point Station is located in Marlborough, New Zealand’s largest wine growing region and is just an hour by road from Blenheim airport. Being so close to some on New Zealand’s top wineries, we recommend sampling the internationally renowned Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Alternatively take the 1.5 hour drive to Picton for a cruise into the Marlborough Sounds. 

Silverstream Alpaca Farmstay, Christchurch 
For a quirky rural home away from home, Canterbury’s Silverstream Alpaca Farmstay offers comfortable accommodation plus the company of the four-legged South American ex-pats roaming the surrounding paddocks. The family farm has more than 200 alpacas in all colours, and with the complimentary farm tour you can get up close and personal to these charming woolly creatures. During the birthing season, guests will see baby alpaca in the paddocks and may even see a live birth. The property has two self-contained cottages that sleep up to five guests each, within thoughtfully landscaped gardens that create a tranquil retreat.  

Travel tip: Silverstream Alpaca Farmstay is a 20-minute drive from Christchurch International Airport, the gateway to the South Island. To keep your intrepid side in-check, activities nearby include fishing on the Waimakariri River and horse riding at Waimak River Horse Treks. Christchurch city is 30 minutes by road from Silverstream and offers a wealth of art, culture and history to explore.  

Flockhill Station, Canterbury 
Flockhill Station, on the scenic Great Alpine Highway, is an otherworldly place to break the journey. This dramatic landscape of jagged rock formations and deep canyons, which formed the backdrop for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, is a fantasy in itself. A 14,000 hectare high country sheep farm, Flockhill Station is a secluded retreat perfect for getting off the grid. Two types of accommodation – cottages and shepherds quarters – cater to independent travellers and groups. Explore the station on horse or mountain bike, and try the fishing. If your visit coincides with the winter snow season, you might like to explore one of the local ski fields or simply take in the view of the snowy peaks surrounding the property.

Travel tip: Flockhill Station is 90 minutes by road from Christchurch on Arthur’s Pass Highway. The drive is half the experience with constantly changing scenery. The iconic Southern Alps tower above as you drive over hills, cross rivers and pass ski fields and lakes. If venturing through to the South Island’s rugged West Coast, Flockhill Station is worth the stop along the way. 

Nokomai Station, Southland 
High country sheep and cattle farm Nokomai Station sits squarely across the South Island’s alpine vein. Originally named Glenfalloch – meaning hidden valley – in 1857, Nokomai is one of New Zealand’s largest farming properties. For the visitor, it offers fishing, hiking, mountain biking and farm tours exploring all four corners of the lush green property. There are four warm and inviting farm cottages where guests can either eat independently or join the hosts for a cosy meal in the original farm house. Top it off on a scenic flight of the dramatic surrounding Southern Lakes region with Nokomai helicopters.  

If you don’t have time to stay down on the farm, some of New Zealand’s main tourism resorts also offer farming experiences. From the shores of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, take a day time excursion and cruise across to Walter Peak Station on the iconic steamship TSS Earnslaw or hop on the Spirit of Queenstown to visit Mt Nicholas High Country Farm. Only 10 minutes’ drive from cultural hotspot Rotorua is The Agrodome – a unique New Zealand farming experience that offers short action-filled farm shows and guided farm tours. 

Contemporary Māori fashion is fabulous

Contemporary Māori fashion is about to make a grand entrance in a spectacular show set in an active geothermal landscape in Rotorua. 

Te Puia - New Zealand’s premier cultural and geothermal attraction, and the national centre for Māori arts and crafts – is set to host an inaugural fashion event featuring some of New Zealand’s top and upcoming indigenous designers.

Henare Jewellery is based in Rotorua and creates exquisite head pieces along with other adornments

The evening of contemporary Māori culture on 24 September, Tiki Ahua – Ka Mura: Set Alight – promises a spectacular show featuring fashion, design, music and dance extravaganza amidst the steam and swirling mist of Te Whakarewarewa Valley, an active volcanic field in Rotorua. 

The show will feature works by 22 Māori designers from throughout New Zealand, showcasing day, street, evening and avant-garde designs, jewellery and adornment including tā moko (Māori tattoo).

Henare Jewellery is based in Rotorua and creates exquisite head pieces along with other adornments

Local designers from Rotorua and across New Zealand will showcase their ranges on the runway, alongside other inspiring brands. An exciting part of this event is not only the incredible contemporary fashion, but also pulling through traditional Māori arts such as tā moko, pounamu and bone carving, which are then thrust into a pretty glitzy high fashion environment.

This event is more than a fashion show – it is the coming together of the indigenous culture and the stories of exceptionally gifted designers, fused with the buzz and high fashion spectacle of a New York or Paris runway. There is a five-year vision for the event to grow from a one-night spectacle, to a week-long festival.

Te Puia - New Zealand’s premier cultural and geothermal attraction will host Tiki Ahua which features some of New Zealand’s top and upcoming indigenous designers, like Mereana Ngatai

Concept behind Tiki Āhua – Kā Mura: Set Alight
Tiki Ahua draws inspiration from the unique history and environment of the local Te Arawa tribe, and their values and traditions of manaakitanga (hospitality), kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and whanaungatanga (kinship). 
The theme, Kā Mura | Set Alight, is inspired by the history of the subterranean goddesses of fire, Te Pūpū and Te Hoata, who created the geothermal imprint from the east coast of the North Island to the mountains of the Central Plateau. Kā describes the act of setting alight, while mura is a flame. Together, they describe the fostering of life and creation.

Te Puia Māori Arts & Crafts Institute, Rotorua
Te Puia - the Māori Arts & Crafts Institute based in Rotorua - was created in 1963 by the New Zealand Government to maintain and preserve Māori art forms, such as weaving, carving and cultural performance. Since then, the cultural institution’s carving and weaving schools have nurtured generations of budding Māori artists, as well as providing a space to showcase and sell authentic Māori art. At the same time, Te Puia - which sits at the entrance to Te Whakarewarewa geothermal valley and overlooking the famed Pohutu geyser - has developed into one of New Zealand’s leading Māori cultural tourist attractions.

Ten must-do classic Kiwi experiences

From sub-tropical Cape Reinga in the far north to the southern fishing port of Bluff where the wild Southern Ocean rolls in, NewZealand’s North and South islands offer a diverse expanse of landscapes.

On the North Island, the north-south journey travels from towering sub-tropical rain forests and endless picturesque beaches to Auckland’s populous cityscape, then southwards through rolling green pastures, across lakes, rivers and epic volcanic marvels, into the rural towns of heartland New Zealand and on to a capital city that’s renowned for arts, culture and coffee.

From coastal paradise to mountains and the southern ocean, New Zealand’s South Island unveils one majestic landscape after another. Beginning in the coastal paradise that is Nelson Tasman and the Marlborough Sounds and ending in Southland, the vast southern regions unfold as the real Middle-earth of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. In NewZealand, every day is a different journey.

Film tourism:  Hobbiton / Wellington / Nelson / Canterbury / Queenstown

It's no secret that New Zealand is the home of Middle-earth and its stunning landscapes are at centre stage for movie lovers world-wide. 

Filmed entirely in New Zealand, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies film locations can be discovered in many parts. The most famous, and most visited, is Hobbiton – the village home of the hobbits – near Matamata, in the Hamilton Waikato region of the North Island. The Hobbiton film set occupies a sizeable slice of a New Zealand farm, and is one of the largest outdoor film sets in the world. Visitors to Hobbiton experience a two-hour fully-guided tour of the village hearing about the books and behind-the-scenes stories of film-making. 

Maori Culture:  Rotorua

Rotorua has been visited by tourists since the early 19th century making it New Zealand’s oldest tourism destination – renowned for Māori cultural experiences and spectacular geothermal attractions.

Māori culture and history infuse Rotorua life. The town of Rotorua, on the shores of Lake Rotorua, is home to the Te Arawa iwi - one of New Zealand’s larger Māori tribes. A third of Rotorua's population is Māori. Te Puia, an important Māori culture centre, has visitor experiences covering traditional art forms, carving and weaving, story-telling, and authentic cultural performances.

Food & Wine

New Zealand has some of the best quality food and wine in the world.

Marlborough, on the top of the South Island, is the country’s biggest wine region and world renowned for its sauvignon blanc. In the lower South Island, the Central Otago region is known for its incredible pinot noir. The North Island’s Hawke’s Bay region produces beautiful syrah while nearby Martinborough has a reputation for fine reds. Waiheke Island, in Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour, was named on Lonely Planet’s top regions to visit in 2016. The island is a 35-minute ferry ride from Auckland city and produces some of New Zealand’s best wine. 

Throughout New Zealand fresh seafood, artisan products and incredible farmer’s markets are always nearby. Whether it is manuka honey or oysters, the food in New Zealand is an incredible experience in itself and goes exceptionally well with the aforementioned wine.

Cycling:  Hawke’s Bay / Queenstown / Alps to Ocean

Nga Haerenga or The New Zealand Cycle Trail is a network of fantastic, well maintained trails catering to beginner and expert cyclists. 

Cycling is a popular New Zealand sport, and there are many destinations that offer visitors a chance to get to know the real New Zealand - fresh air, wildlife and songbirds, tasty regional fare and friendly locals.

From the challenging Alps 2 Ocean trail (the longest of the trails) to the leisurely Tasman Great Taste’s Trail there is something for everyone. Serious mountain bikers aren’t forgotten with the Old Ghost Road track on the South Island’s West Coast waiting to test the most competent of riders. 

Multi-day tracks offer a variety of basic and luxury accommodation, cafés and food stops. 

Recreational sports: Golf, fishing, sailing

New Zealand is a hub for many popular recreational activities and offers some world class experiences and facilities.

Golf courses can be seen everywhere in New Zealand, and in fact only one other country has more courses per capita. World-class courses like Cape Kidnappers (Hawke’s Bay), Kauri Cliffs (Northland) and Jack’s Point (Queenstown) to name a few, provide unique, unforgettable golf in stunning environments. 

New Zealand’s lakes and rivers are great spots to land your first trout and the coastal waters are a fisherman’s playground. Blue cod await in the South Island, while the Northland region is a popular game-fishing destination. 

Auckland is known as the ‘city of sails’ and the sheltered waters of the Waitemata Harbour make it an ideal location for sailing. Visit one of the many islands around Auckland including Waiheke. Four hours’ drive north of Auckland is the Bay of Islands, a beautiful sub- tropical destination with more than 140 islands waiting to be discovered.

Walking / hiking 

Much like the New Zealand Great Rides, there is an equally spectacular Great Walks network. 

Energetic hikers can discover glacier-carved valleys and traverse mountain passes, while more sedate day-walkers can explore golden beaches, bush walks and other sites of scenic, historic and cultural interest.

Nine walks currently make up the Great Walks network and they can be found all over the country. Popular tracks include Milford Track, The Kepler, The Routeburn and the Tongariro Northern Circuit. In addition to the multi day walks there are popular day walks such as the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and the Pouakai Crossing both located in the central North Island.

Nature and eco-tourism

Recognised for its cleanexperie, green environment, New Zealand is a rich combination of beautiful landscapes; from vast mountain chains to grand volcanoes, sweeping coasts and deep fiords, lush rainforests, grassy plains, rich thermal areas and expansive beaches. 

The wilderness of Stewart Island, the country’s third largest island, offers one of the best chances to spot New Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi, in its natural habitat. With 400 full-time residents, Stewart Island is sparsely populated in human terms but add in an estimated 20,000 Stewart Island brown kiwi - just one of the many native bird species living on the island - and birds outnumber humans many times over.

Walking on a West Coast glacier is a New Zealand must-do for visitors. The Franz Josef is a glacier located on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The glacier is 12 kilometres long and, together with Fox Glacier which lies 20 kilometres to the south, it is unique as it descends from the mountains to just 240 metres above sea level. The area surrounding the two glaciers is a designated World Heritage Site.

Aviation - flight seeing in New Zealand 

One of the best ways to see New Zealand is from the sky and there are plenty of opportunities for a bit of ‘flight seeing’. Auckland Seaplanes offer an exciting trip to Waiheke Island, taking off from Wynyard Wharf in downtown Auckland and landing in gorgeous Man O’ War Bay after a flight over the Waitemata Harbour.  The Man O’ War vineyard awaits offering a first-class wine-tasting experience and a spot of lunch before returning to Auckland.

Classic Flights in Wanaka will take visitors back in time with a scenic flight in a vintage Tiger Moth or Waco aircraft. The flights take in some of the most stunning scenery in the South Island with the backdrop of Mt Aspiring National Park and the Southern Alps.

Over the Top Helicopters, based in Queenstown, have several memorable experiences. Whether it’s golf on the side of a mountain, a glacier landing or a picnic on a peak, Over The Top will make it happen. 

Luxury and Romance

Luxury and romance go hand-in-hand and New Zealand has got both covered.  

Seascape – an ultra-modern luxury retreat in a private seaside setting – sets a new standard in utterly romantic getaways. Constructed in glass, stone and turf to blend into the wild coastal landscape, this intimate award-winning villa has been unashamedly designed and furnished for romance. The jewel in the crown of the Annandale Farm Escape & Luxury Villa collection, Seascape is located on Banks Peninsula in New Zealand’s South Island.

Wharekauhau Country Estate, on a 5000-acre working sheep station overlooking Palliser Bay, in the Wairarapa north of Wellington is a great example of Edwardian grandeur. The view of dramatic coastline is undoubtedly exclusive to New Zealand. Exploring nature, soft adventure - horse trekking, archery, clay bird shooting, golf - and indulging in fine food and wine (It’s on the doorstep of the boutique Martinborough wine region), spas and quiet relaxation attract visitors to Wharekauhau and it’s only 15 minutes by helicopter from Wellington.  

Star-gazing in the Mackenzie Basin

In the Mackenzie Basin, nestled in the foothills of New Zealand’s Southern Alps, where the stars twinkle brightly in a crystal-clear night sky that makes the heavens appear closer to earth, astro-tourism is booming.

The skies above the surrounding region, which includes the country’s highest peak Aoraki Mt Cook, have been officially declared a gold-rated International Dark Sky Reserve. Covering 4300sq km over Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park and the Mackenzie Basin, the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve forms the world’s largest such reserve.

Stargazing is a year-round activity but New Zealand’s summer months and autumn (December to April) are when skies are clearest. Unique star features include the Southern Cross and the Magellanic Clouds, satellite galaxies to the Milky Way that are only visible in the southern hemisphere. 

Visa 

A visitor visa for New Zealand is processed within 15 working days. 

For more information, you can check #NZmustdo     

New Zealand’s vegan hot spots

Foodies with an eco-conscious palate have an evolving choice of cafés and food outlets throughout New Zealand where vegan goodness is the by-word to delicious flavours and wholesome sustenance. There are many popular cafés and restaurants in the main visitor centres that offer some vegan options for those with a preference for natural, and those offerings can be very … very good.

Auckland: Little Bird Unbakery

New Zealand’s cult vegan destination is surely ‘the unbakery’ - Little Bird Organics in Auckland. At three cafés around central Auckland, where everything is made from scratch, the salad bowls are legendary, and so is the ‘cheesecake’. Little Bird’s ‘unbakeries’ are found in Ponsonby, Kingsland and Britomart.

Little Bird Organics ‘unbakery’ now has three sites around central Auckland and makes everything from scratch PC Susanna Burton

Auckland: Revive

Revive is an Auckland institution that has been keeping vegetarians and vegans happy in Auckland since 2005. The menu changes weekly with an extensive range of salads along with daily meal, hotpots and dhal specials. The café has also released a series of successful cookbooks so customers can recreate their favourite dishes at home.

Auckland: Misters

Misters Real Food has a strict food philosophy using only wholefoods, free from gluten, dairy and refined sugar. While not exclusively vegan, their vegan options are hard to match and their infamous lunch bowls are extremely popular with the locals.  Using only the best organic, local and seasonal produce, the results are in the taste and nutrition.

Located in Auckland, Misters Real Food's Acai Bowl is made with organic acai berries, kiwifruit, raw granola and coconut snow PC Misters Real Food

Auckland: Hectors at TheHeritage Hotel Auckland

Hectors Restaurant in the heart of Auckland’s Heritage Hotel pays particular attention to the needs of vegetarians and vegans. Newly launched menus in the restaurant and lobby bar are entirely plant-based. A whole section of the kitchen is animal-product free, right through to the coffee machine using only soy and rice milks. Executive chef Jinu Abraham, who specialises in plant-based cooking, trained in India. 

The spinach and pumpkin beignets with mint & silverbeet salad, lemon cous cous & cashew coriander dressing at Hector's the hotel restaurant at Heritage Auckland PC Heritage Hotels

Auckland: Farmer’s Markets

Even in Auckland - New Zealand’s largest city – you’re never far from a farmer’s market. On Saturday mornings local producers and farmers set up in Britomart Square, in downtown Auckland, where city slickers can buy fresh organic produce for the week. Oratia Farmer’s Market, a short 20-minute drive west from Auckland, is set on a vineyard. Each Saturday morning locals and visitors stock up on fresh bread, fruit and veg. In a beautiful rural setting, Clevedon Farmer’s Market (a 40-minute drive south of Auckland) is one of the region’s premier markets. Be tempted by the seasonal offerings of fruit and vegetables picked as recently as the night before if not early on market morning.

Wellington: Maranui

Maranui, right on the beach above the surf club in picturesque Lyall Bay and just 10 minutes from Wellington city, is a Wellington institution. So much so that when the building was severely damaged by fire, the hospitality industry got together to help them raise the funds to open up again. The vegan fare is delicious and they proudly proclaim themselves as the ‘best coffee in the bay’.

Wellington: MidnightEspresso

Wellington’s infamous Cuba St is a colourful strip in the heart of the city. Midnight Espresso, found at number 178, is laid back and relaxing, they also offer a range of predominately vegetarian and vegan counter and menu food. Vegan donuts here are extremely popular and often sell out.

Wellington: Deluxe Café

Deluxe is another Wellington hotspot where you will find locals sipping long blacks and munching back wholesome food in uber-cool surroundings. Keep an eye out for their famous vegan sandwiches. They’re just along the street from the Embassy Theatre (think Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit premières), at the end of Courtenay Place. Address: 10 Kent Terrace, Wellington

Deluxe Cafe in Wellington is famous for their vegan sandwiches and vegan friendly salads PC Nicola Edmonds

Wairarapa: Food ForestOrganics

Greytown, in the Wairarapa region and just an hour’s drive north of Wellington, is home to Food Forest Organics. This small-town grocery store stocks a variety of specialised organic products and produce. James and Suzy Cameron’s nearby ‘Cameron Family Farms’ is the primary producer supplying the own-brand in store honey, olive oil and hemp seed oil that is processed in-house in small batches.

Christchurch: The LotusHeart

The Lotus Heart, in Christchurch, is dedicated to conscious living and healthy eating. Lotus Heart is a pure vegetarian restaurant that also offers options for vegan, gluten-free and raw food diets. There is a health store on site and vegans looking for a coffee should try it with the homemade cashew milk.

Queenstown: Aro HāWellness Retreat

Queenstown’s Aro Hā Wellness Retreat provides a rainbow of stylish vegetarian and vegan cuisine. Paleo-friendly, gluten-free, dairy-free, and enzymatically active, the award winning retreat aims to treat the body a diet rich in trace minerals, vitamins, and phytonutrients. Before or after a healthy vegan meal, yoga, meditation and other relaxing activities are on offer.

Queenstown: Bespoke Kitchen

Bespoke Kitchen holds the title of the 2016 New Zealand Café of the Year and it just so happens that healthy eating is the mantra at this award winning establishment. Most of the food is either raw, vegan or gluten free with menu highlights such as the miso and rosemary buckwheat raw pizza with tangy tomato sauce, rocket, olive and vegetable salad with cashew cheese. 

Visa procedure: One may forward their application to the TT office in Mumbai or Delhi, which will then be directed to Immigration New Zealand. A visitor visa for New Zealand is processed within 15 working days. 

Airline connections: Connecting flights to New Zealand are available on Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific and Malaysia Airlines with stop-overs in their respective hubs.  New Zealand’s international gateways are Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. 

Domestic services: You can fly between all New Zealand cities and most major towns using domestic air services. Air New Zealand and Jetstar are the main providers. Their services are complemented by regional airlines, charter companies and scenic flight operators.