New Zealand is located in the South Pacific, just off Australia, and often referred to as the "land of the long white cloud."

While it is a geographically small country - touring the entire country in a camper van is very popular - it has incredible variety. You can sunbathe on the beach, ski in the Alps, or just about anything in between. It is also fascinating for its Maori culture and history.

Mount Cook

New Zealand is famous for its scenery and became very popular with Tourists recently because it was the setting for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. The beautiful New Zealand landscapes used in Lord of the Rings are just one side to New Zealand; fantastic fjords are equally inspiring.

While its scenery is probably the main tourist attraction it also has some very beautiful cities, including its capital Auckland, Wellington, and the tourist capital of Queenstown. New Zealand is actually two different islands, with the capital Auckland in the North Island and the tourist capital Queenstown in the South Island. Perhaps the most popular national park is Mount Cook on the South Island. I personally have fond memories of Mount Cook as this was my first helicopter ride, to the summit of Mount Cook; an experience not to be missed if you are there.

While Auckland is the largest city and major international airport, the capital of New Zealand is actually Wellington. Another popular tourist destination is Rotorua, famous for its hot springs.

A major attraction is the prestigious yachting event, the America's Cup. Other favourites in Auckland all year round are Kelly Charlton's Underwater World and the Antarctic Encounter. Auckland also boasts a great zoo, botanical Gardens, and a National Maritime Museum

Technorati Tags: Auckland, Mount Cook, New Zealand Attractions, New-Zealand, Queenstown, Rotorua, Wellington

Kiwi Country New Zealand is this country's best selling special interest travel and holiday DVD. Digitally filmed over the last 2 years, this 2009 edition showcases the very best New Zealand attractions on offer.

This DVD covers all leading New Zealand tourist attractions and free sights from North Cape to Milford Sound. Kiwi Country New Zealand is your complete collectors edition of our beautiful country. Highlights include Maori Culture, The Haka War Dance, Travelling New Zealand's Main Tourist Trails. This DVD takes you to Northland, The Bay of Islands, Kauri Forests, Auckland, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Napier, Taupo, Wellington, Picton, Nelson, The West Coast, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Mount Aorangi (Mount Cook), Lake Tekapo, Wanaka, Whakatipu, Christchurch, NZ Wildlife including the Kiwi and Tuatara plus many more spectacular sights and attractions of both the North and South Islands.

Content includes updated high quality HDV sourced video footage, 2 free bonus video, "Maori Culture" and "New Zealand Wonders of Nature", full maori Haka performance and scenic slideshow. This Award Winning DVD promises to both inform and entertain.

Duration : 0:0:26

Technorati Tags: Auckland, bay of islands, Christchurch, Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, Kauri Forests, Lake Tekapo, Milford Sound, Mount Aorangi (Mount Cook), Napier, Nelson, Picton, Rotorua, Taupo, The West Coast, Waitomo Caves, Wanaka, Wellington, Whakatipu

New Zealand Attractions - Places in order of appearance: Cape Reinga, Te paki sanddunes, Omapere, Opononi, Waipoua Forest, Auckland, Sky City, Coromandel Hot water beach, Cathedral Cove, Rotorua, Wai o tapu, Waimangu volcanic valley, 's ´s s Gate,

Duration : 0:11:0

Technorati Tags: Auckland, Cape Reinga, Coromandel, Omapere, Opononi, Rotorua, Wai-O-Tapu, Waimang, Waipoua Forest, www.backpackers.asia, www.touring.asia

Our journey includes stays in some of the world's most dazzling harbour cities. On the way we sample local customs and hospitality, from the Scots community to the sheep farmers, the native Maori culture, and the country's justly famous wines.

With top quality hotels and first class coaches to give you that pampered feeling and flights with award-winning Air New Zealand, the holiday concludes with a stay in the secluded and charming Bay of Islands, known as the cradle of New Zealand.

Duration : 0:4:4

Technorati Tags: Christchurch, Dunedin, Milford Sound, Mount Cook, Queenstown, Rotorua, Taupo, Te, titanhitours, Wellington

Duration : 0:5:47

Technorati Tags: Maori, New Zealand Attractions, Rotorua

Duration : 0:5:56

Technorati Tags: backpackers asia, Lady Knox Geyser, New Zealand Attractions, Rotorua, touring asia, Wai-O-Tapu, Waimangu

With respect to prices for tickets, you really are best off discussing that with a trusted travel agent. For hotels, I would suggest looking at something like www.lastminute.co.nz: NZ runs on a fairly standard 'star' system when it comes to accom., so you'll be pretty safe just looking up hotels in whatever regions you decide to visit.

As for places to go, NZ is fantastic wherever you visit. I'm Australian, but have visited many times (it is just over the ditch, after all). It entirely depends on what you're interested in, however. Queenstown (on the south island) is beautiful and well known for the adventure tours. It's close to Milford Sound, which I recommend as a 'must do' on the south island: it's absolutely spectacular. You can get bus tours from Q'town which include a boat trip in the sound.

If you're going in winter and enjoy the snow, q'town is excellent for that, too. Christchurch, also on the south island, is a lovely town. Way down south is dunedin, which is almost dead when university is on break, but is still great fun - if you can get there when the rugby is on, get tickets North island: Auckland cops a lot of flak from the locals, but is actually a great city.

The bay of islands, way up north, is great for beachy type activities, or just for lounging around. It's also basically where europeans signed an important treaty with the indigenous population (the treaty of waitangi), which has great signifcance.

Wellington has a great museum: it's worth driving up to the lookout over wellington for the view at night. It's windy, though Napier is a small but beautiful town: it was flattened by an earthquake in the thirties, so the whole place was rebuilt at once in the art deco style. If you're into art deco, it's unmissable.

Rotorua is a very interesting place, with mud pools, hot springs and geysers. It;s the most popular tourist destination in nz. It's also a base to go on some tours of 'maori villages' which, though very, very touristy, are still quite interesting and worthwhile. These are probably the places that most tourists visit: while there's many more 'secret' places, if you've only got one visit, most people would choose from these - and just because theyre 'touristy', doesn't mean they're not fabulous

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All of the above are great. Also, you should stop at the hot water rivers - one is 20km south of Rotorua enroute to Taupo, another off spa rd in in Taupo just past the bungy. Sitting under a small waterfall at 38deg celcius, quite a mindtrip!

Milford sound, if you have the time, not to be missed irregardless of the weather - spectacular in the rain or the sun. During the rain 1000s of waterfalls spring to life of the surrounding peaks, stunning. U dont have a lot of time, hope its not all driving! Enjoy your trip

Technorati Tags: Milford Sound, New Zealand Attractions, Rotorua