New Zealand!

Why go...The Southern Alps!  Geothermal activity!  Beaches and forests!  Also, a little bit of Victorian England as far away from the UK as possible; I love the idea of such a far away replica - like twins separated at birth!  

NORTH ISLAND

Bay of Plenty.  Beachy tourist spot.  White Island - an active marine volcano that you can walk on!  Matahui Lodge.  

Taranaki.  Beautiful gardens and museums!  Nice Hotel. 

Rotorua.  Moari Cultural Village, California Redwood Forest, volcanic valleys, museums, hot springs. Solitaire Lodge.

Wanganui.  Museums and the beautiful river.  Waiwari Shepherds Cottage. 

Napier/Hamilton Bay.  Art deco capital of the world!  Scuba dive in tanks at the National Aquarium of New Zealand!   Kiwiesque.  

Lake Taupo.  Craters of the Moon - "geothermal mayham!" Huka Lodge.  

Bay of Islands.  This bay has a bunch of tiny, beachy islands; you can take a cruise to visit them all.  You can also visit the Kauri trees; some of the largest and oldest trees in the world!  Wake up to the beautiful view from Eagles Nest Resort!      

Waitomo/Hamilton.  Swim throught the Waitomo glow worm caves; like a beautiful constellation of stars underground!  Kawhia black sand hot water beach, and gardens.  You can stay in a very hobbity inn at the Underhill Valley Earth House. 

Coromandel.  Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach; if you dig a little pool on the beach, your little pool will fill with warm water that is always right underneath the surface of the sand on account of New Zealand's mega geothermal activity.  Manawa Ridge Lodge. 

SOUTH ISLAND

Fjiordland National Park. Kyak, dive, hike, cruise.

 Milford Sound Lodge.

Lake Tekapo. Tekapo Springs .  Unesco Dark Sky Zone! This is the starlight preservation area of the Southern Alps, because so many starts are visible here!  Pepper Blue Water Resort.  

Abel Tasman National Park. Beautiful, beachy, incredibly  clear water!  Meadowbank Homestead.

Dunedin.  Called "Edinburgh of the south," the city has the best preserved Victorian architecture in the southern hemisphere.  As well as awesome gardens and museums.  Kaimata Retreat.  

Christchurch.  Neat museums and gardens, River Avon, Antarctic Museum (simulation of  Antarctica where you can experience an antarctic storm!).  Peppers Clearwater Resort. 

Takaka.  Ex-pats from all over the world come to live in this eccentric town!  Ora Bed and Breakfast. 

OUTLYING ISLANDS

Chatham Islands.  Remote island life!  Hotel Chathams, Traveller's Rest.

Pitt Island.  Population 38!  Reminds me of the deserted island in Agatha Christie's 10 Little Indians!  Flower Pot Bay Lodge.

Sub-Antarctic Islands.  To see a non-icy environment that is isolated and inhabited only by animals!  Polar Cruises.