Overlooking Tasman Bay is Nelson, New Zealand, a lovely coastal city with a thriving art community and a rich culture uniquely its own. It has been said that everywhere you look in this part of New Zealand’s South Island is a picture postcard waiting to be created.

The varied landscape offers everything from snow capped peaks on the surrounding mountain ranges to the sparkling water of Tasman and Golden Bays. This natural beauty and diversity has been one of the main attractions for the many artists of all varieties who have visited or made their home here.

Art is the dominant theme throughout Nelson and this is evident during a stroll through the many galleries and craft shops found throughout the city. On Saturdays in the heart of Nelson City the Nelson Market offers shoppers a fantastic selection of locally crafted items ranging from tasty gourmet treats to beautiful handmade crafts.

The area surrounding Nelson is also known for its fine wine with a near perfect climate for vineyards and rich fertile soil that combine to produce its many award winning wines. Tours of the Nelson wine country are offered by a number of tour operators who will introduce guests to the best of Nelson’s wine region.

In perfect harmony with the artistic ambiance of the city, dining in Nelson is no exception. Well known for the outstanding variety of fresh produce and delectable seafood produced in the region, many award winning dishes have been created by the chefs of Nelson’s numerous fine dining establishments. In keeping with the rich heritage and varied cultural influences, New Zealand cuisine is a delicious mixture of European, Asian and Polynesian with those dishes distinctly unique to New Zealand typically featuring salmon, lobster, abalone and other fresh seafood as well as lamb, venison and pork.

The known history of Nelson starts with the Maori who migrated to the island from Hawaiiki around 700 years ago. Two European explorers, Abel Tasman in 1642, and James Cook on three separate voyages during the 1770s, visited the area but neither stayed to explore the island. That came about in 1827 when French explorer Dumont D’urville landed in Tasman Bay and spent around a week exploring the area.

More Europeans followed after D’urville and the first settlement was established in the 1840s, offering the immigrants the chance for a new way of life, many purchasing land around Tasman Bay and Golden Bay. Many of the immigrants were from England and they brought with them their knowledge of farming and the traditions of their homeland.

Then in 1856 life became very exciting for the people of Nelson with the discovery of gold, copper and chromite. The mining boom brought about the construction of Nelson’s first railway as well as the accelerated growth of the community. The settlers also had a keen interest in education leading to the founding in 1870 of Nelson College.

Throughout Nelson’s history European tradition and culture have blended with the native Maori culture, evolving into the delightful mixture found today.

Adventure, culture, nature, family fun relaxation- these describe what one can find when visiting Taupo, New Zealand. Taupo has many activities including golfing, riding, boating, hiking, fishing, sightseeing, skiing, snowboarding and relaxing.

The town of Taupo can be found tucked away in the heart of the North Island of New Zealand. A popular place to visit is Lake Taupo, which is the largest lake in New Zealand and the second largest freshwater lake in Oceania. Lake Taupo is famous for its fishing. It is home to the largest trout fishery in the world. In addition, visitors can enjoy the water by waterskiing, boating, kayaking or parasailing.

North of Taupo, visitors will find Wairaki Park, home of the Huka Falls. The Huka Falls are the most popular natural attraction in the country. The Huka Falls are part of the Waikato River, which is connected to Lake Taupo. The Huka Falls are located in the where the two bodies of water meet. There are several ways to enjoy this spectacular piece of nature: a boat cruise, a Hula jet ride, or a nature walk along the river.
While in Wairaki Park, stop to visit the Craters of the Moon. Over 26,000 years ago a volcano erupted on the North Island and Lake Taupo was formed. Today, it sits in a volcanic zone. During the 1950’s, the northern region began to get hot and started to release steam. In addition to some volcanic activity, the mud began to boil. These events led to the Craters of the Moon attraction. Visitors can walk along experiencing the effects of steam vents, boiling mud pools, bubbling craters and fumaroles, which are cracks in the surface that release gasses and steam.

The Tongariro National Park is home of three active volcanoes: Tongariro, Ruapehu, and Ngauruhoe. One popular activity is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Hikers can explore the beautiful landscape and spectacular volcanic scenery as well as enjoy Lake Taupo and Mount Taranaki. Mount Taranaki offers river rafting, surfing, and snowboarding. In addition to the Alpine Crossing, there are other hikes available that are shorter in length. Hikers can enjoy the beautiful scenery including waterfalls and craters. Those who enjoy skiing and snowboarding can visit Mount Ruapehu. Mount Ruapehu has two ski areas that are generally open between June and October.

For those interested in art and history, the Taupo Museum is located in the heart of Taupo. The museum has an art gallery that features a large variety of New Zealand artists and many different types of art including painting, sculpting, quilting and photography. Visitors can also walk through a huge gallery that displays many artifacts that tell the history of Taupo and New Zealand. In addition, the museum has the beautiful Ora Garden. It is a breathtaking representation of the natural vegetation found in New Zealand.

With moderate temperatures throughout most of the year, and a large variety of attractions and activities, Taupo, New Zealand is a great place to visit during the summer as well as the winter.

Auckland, New Zealand is a Polynesian paradise with many natural assets including being only one of the few world’s cities that has harbors on two major bodies of water. In Auckland’s case that is the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. This dream tourist destination is nicknamed “City of Sails” because of the gulf, sea, beaches, islands, and water attractions. Being New Zealand’s largest city, it boasts of culture, great shopping, excellent restaurants, and cruises around the picturesque islands. Auckland was named number ten of the 2010′s World’s Most Livable Cities named by “The Economist”.

The famous heritage AUCKLAND CIVIC THEATRE opened in December of 1929 and had a major renovation before reopening in December of 1999 in honor of its 70th anniversary. It can seat up to 2,378 people in this largest surviving atmospheric theater in Australasia and one of only seven in the world. Atmospheric means it creates the feeling of an outdoor auditorium with an open sky and twinkling night stars. The foyer has seated Buddhas, and the main auditorium imitates a Moorish garden.

AOTEA SQUARE is the hub of downtown Auckland. It is a large paved area used for public events including art and music festivals, rock concerts, fairs, and rallies. On Fridays and Saturdays there is an arts and crafts market. You will find art works and statues including a bronze figure of a Maori warrior, a bronze fountain, an expressionist version of a Maori entrance gate, and other unique pieces.

AUCKLAND’S SKY TOWER is New Zealand’s tallest man-made structure. There are three viewing platforms reached by glass-fronted lifts. If you are very brave, there is a SkyWalk and a SkyJump. You can dine at The Observatory Restaurant or at Orbit, which is a restaurant that revolves 360 degrees. The views are breathtaking.

ANTARCTIC ENCOUNTER AND UNDERWATER WORLD is a wonderland of ice, snow, and underwater encounters. You can see penguins and other marine creatures, swim with stingrays, or swim with sharks!! This is quite an unusual aquarium.

The AUCKLAND ZOO is one of the world’s progressive zoos, has the largest animal collection in New Zealand, and has won national and international environmental awards. There are over 750 animals which are featured in events and encounters.

WALHEKE ISLAND, “the Island of Wine”, is the Hauraki Gulf’s second largest island and is known for its forests, farmland, white sand beaches, hidden coves, grape vineyards, and olive groves. Popular pastimes are sea kayaking or sailing, windsurfing, mountain biking, hiking, and winery tours. Bikes and mountain bikes are readily available for rent. This island is only 35 minutes from downtown Auckland by ferry.

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Rotorua is a city located on the edge of a lake that bears the same name. The name comes from the Maori language, “the second great lake of Kahumatamomoe.” It sits in the Bay of Plenty Region on the upper tip of the Northern Island of New Zealand. New Zealand itself is an island located off the mainland of Australia. Over the years it has proved to be a valuable and beautiful island. It is now a very popular tourist destination, for both outdoor enthusiasts and those who enjoy the historical importance of the city. It also serves as the epicenter of the Rotorua District, or the seat of government for that particular area of New Zealand territory. However, the main tourist attraction of the city is the fact that it is known for its geothermal activity. Rotorua is home to several geysers that draw tourists in both domestically and internationally.

Rotorua, again, comes from the Maori language. Literally, Rota means ‘lake,’ and tua means ‘two.’ So “lake of two.” Thus the Maori called is the “second lake.” Kahumatomomoe dedicated the lake to his uncle. The name may also translate at “crater lake.” The area of Rotorua was settled originally by Maori, specifically the tribe of the Te Arawa Iwi. History does make it clear if Phillip Tapsell was the first European to settle the territory, although it is a common theory. He was trading at Maketu Bay when he came to Rotorua in 1828. Interestingly enough, he married into the Te Arawa people and proceeded to become highly esteemed and beloved by the natives because of this. Thomas Chapman and Henry Williams, missionaries at the time, visited the island in 1831. Chapman and his wife established an official mission at Te Koutu, which was abandoned within a year. However, he returned and later built a second mission.

The lake sides were famous for providing the sites to many famed skirmishes during the New Zealand wars of the 1860s. During the late 19th century, people began to believe that it would be prudent to turn Rotorua into a spa resort, due to the fact that they had geothermal activity, and thus, hot springs. The introduction of the railroad and increased access to the little city quickly turned the small territory into a thriving community. The population steadily increased over the 20th century. In 1922 it was declared a ‘borough,’ and in 1962 it was declared a city and in 1969 it was deemed a district.

The climate of the area is somewhat subtropical. The geothermal activity of the area lends a hand to the temperatures, which can sometimes be slightly humid. The lake, the hot springs and geysers are all popular for drawing in tourists. They are most often viewed during the daytime. The Buried Village is fun to see. It was once buried underneath ashes and lava after a volcanic eruption, but today it serves to stand as a unique preservation of the Maori people’s past and way of life.

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