| New Zealand is simply a land of wonders. Not only | | | | Many head to Ponsoby for its cafes and restaurants |
| does it own some of the most breathtaking scenery | | | | come nighttime (it also offers some great boutique |
| to be found anywhere across the globe, its cities are | | | | shops during the day), while Karangahape Road (or |
| equally stunning and its people warm and gregarious to | | | | K-Road) is the main drinking and dancing strip. |
| boot. | | | | If that all sounds like too much exertion, you can |
| It's slightly perplexing then, that New Zealand is still off | | | | always choose to spend an evening in one of the |
| the beaten track in terms of backpacking. Still, that | | | | many sociable Auckland hostels, where food, drink and |
| makes a trip here all the more justifiable: enjoy the | | | | conversation flow with happy ease. |
| stunningly dramatic land, the thriving urban hubs, and | | | | Moving Out from Auckland |
| the many excellent hostels in New Zealand before the | | | | Once Auckland's many delights have been exhausted, |
| masses arrive! Put simply, there's no better feeling that | | | | knowledgeable backpackers tend to spend time |
| discovering a gem... | | | | exploring the surrounding area before heading off to |
| Auckland | | | | other parts of the country. The idyll of the Great |
| Auckland is New Zealand's biggest city. Built on a field | | | | Barrier Island is only 30 minutes away, for example, |
| of 48 now extinct volcanoes, its inspiring scenery is | | | | while the black sand surf beaches and inland |
| typical of the country as a whole. But don't be fooled | | | | waterfalls of Karekare also make for an excellent few |
| into thinking this is a shy and retiring nature spot; | | | | days exploration. |
| Auckland is a thriving, diverse and multicultural urban | | | | Rotorua is a little farther a field, although at only a few |
| hub that can delight even the most committed of | | | | hours drive from Auckland it can still be considered |
| city-slickers. | | | | easily reachable from the city. A seething mass of |
| Known as the City of Sails for the yachts that | | | | geothermal springs and geysers, Rotorua is simply not |
| decorate Waitemata Harbor, Auckland is a uniformly | | | | to be missed. The headlining attraction here is the |
| impressive type of place. Its historic heart is to be | | | | Whakarewarewa geyser, which erupts roughly 15 |
| found at Aotea Square, a handsome plaza that | | | | times per day. |
| boasts an array of impressive buildings. Close by, the | | | | And the Rest... |
| Auckland Art Gallery offers exhibitions that cover | | | | If Rotorua only whets your appetite for more rural |
| everything from traditional Maori work to | | | | adventure, the Fiordland National Park is a great |
| contemporary pieces. | | | | backpacker's option. Over 1.2 million hectares of largely |
| Another excellent tourist attraction is the Domain, | | | | unexplored land presents itself here, with miles upon |
| Auckland's oldest, and probably most impressive, park. | | | | miles of trekking tracks to be covered. |
| Here you'll find the pleasant Winter Gardens, and the | | | | If, on the other hand, it's another dosage of Kiwi city life |
| War Memorial Museum, which is considered one of the | | | | you're looking for, Wellington is the place to go. New |
| best museums in the country. | | | | Zealand's administrative and cultural capital spreads out |
| As with any self-respecting city, Auckland's nightlife is | | | | from its stunning harbor. It is, all in all, a lasting testament |
| excellent, ranging from homely bars to audacious clubs. | | | | to the splendid nature of this awesome country. |