+91 9884683139
talk to our Destination
specialist
New Zealand is a welcoming, diverse country with a history of Māori, European, Pacific Island, and Asian immigration. This rich blend of cultures, combined with geologically fascinating landscapes and unique flora and fauna, make New Zealand an exciting country to explore.
New Zealand can be mellow or action-packed, but it's always epic.
New Zealanders are friendly and down-to-earth people who embrace the spirit of manaakitanga, or hospitality. The name 'kiwi' comes from the curious little flightless bird that is unique to New Zealand.
Māori people have always held the kiwi bird in high regard. Their feathers were used to make 'kahu kiwi', valuable cloaks worn by tribal chiefs. In the early 1900s, cartoonists started to use images of the kiwi bird to represent New Zealand as a country.
During the First World War, New Zealand soldiers were referred to as 'kiwis', and the nickname stuck. Eventually, the term Kiwi was attributed to all New Zealanders, who proudly embraced the moniker. Just like the bird, New Zealanders are unique, adaptable and a little quirky.
Key Facts
48,27,632
Wellington
New Zealand Dollar
English and Maori
GMT +12
Sep -May
You'll find a variety of awesome landscapes in New Zealand, all within easy reach of each other.
Spectacular glaciers, picturesque fiords, rugged mountains, vast plains, rolling hillsides, subtropical forest, volcanic plateau, miles of coastline with gorgeous sandy beaches - it’s all here.
Lying in the south-west Pacific, New Zealand consists of two main islands - the North Island, which has a 'spine' of mountain ranges running through the middle, with gentle rolling farmland on both sides, the central North Island is dominated by the Volcanic Plateau and the South Island, which has the Southern Alps as its backbone. To the east of the Southern Alps is the rolling farmland of Otago and Southland, and the vast, flat Canterbury Plains. Stewart Island and many smaller islands lie offshore.
Māori culture is an integral part of life in New Zealand, influencing everything from cuisine to customs, and language. Māori are the tangata whenua, the indigenous people, of New Zealand. They came here more than 1000 years ago from their mythical Polynesian homeland of Hawaiki.
Today, one in seven New Zealanders identify as Māori. Their history, language and traditions are central to New Zealand’s identity.
Taste your way around New Zealand, and you'll discover food and wine that's original, world-class, and fresh from the source. New Zealand food goes way beyond fish and chips and barbeques – the NZ chefs have developed a distinct Pacific Rim cuisine. Expect to indulge in plenty of seafood (like greenlipped mussels, crayfish (lobster), Bluff oysters and fresh fish), award winning cheeses and of course our famous lamb. You should also expect a laidback, friendly atmosphere wherever you eat; Kiwis love to keep things casual.
Get ready for mammoth national parks, dynamic Māori culture, and world-class surfing and skiing at New Zealand.
City of Sails
Auckland is New Zealand’s most populous city and is a multi-cultural hub of food, music, arts and culture. Also known as Tāmaki Makaurau,
Auckland sprawls over volcanic hills and around twin harbours, offering an exhilarating mix of natural wonders and urban adventures.
The North Island metropolis is blessed with a spectacular waterfront, a magnificent skyline, and more beaches than many of the country's coastal resorts. It's also a family-friendly destination with attractions such as Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium, where you can see the world's biggest Antarctic penguin colony. Or plan a day trip to Hobbiton, the stunning film set from the Lord of the Rings movies, just a few hours away.
Auckland has dozens of unique places for you to discover, from the pristine beaches of Waiheke Island to Auckland Domain, an extinct volcanic crater that is the city's oldest park. Visit the elegant suburbs of Ponsonby and Newmarket or learn more about the city's history at the Auckland Museum in Parnell or New Zealand Maritime Museum on the waterfront.
Rotorua – A Volcanic Wonderland
Journey to the heartland of Maori culture, to the center of New Zealand's spectacular geothermal wonderland and discover the spirits of Rotorua.
Experience this volcanic paradise where the land steams, mud and water bubble and geysers erupt into the air. A place where the Earth's crust is thin and the history is dense, surrounded by sparking lakes and thousands of hectares of native forest. A nature lover’s playground where you can experience Māori culture and satisfy your inner adrenalin junkie, all while exploring a geothermal wonderland and beautiful beaches in the Bay of Plenty (Te Moana a Toi).
With its richness in heritage and culture, the magnificent geothermal experience and the astonishing natural beauty of the landscape, Rotorua offers abundance of activities ranging from spiritually fulfilling to adrenaline charged action. Whatever your desire, be it tame or tempestuous, Rotorua will sweep you away on a journey of discovery and wonder.
The Garden City
The regions of Christchurch and Canterbury are set against the majestic backdrops of both alps and ocean.
From lush vineyards and wild coastlines to sky-piercing mountains and pristine glacial lakes, Canterbury is a region of remarkable contrasts and a haven for those seeking incredible scenery and adventure.
Journey through the Southern Alps by train, investigate the night sky in the world’s largest International Dark Sky Reserve or get up close with whales in Kaikōura.
Watch the steam rise amid murmurs of conversation as you sit back and relax in Hanmer Springs’ natural hot pools, explore boutique galleries and hidden bays in Akaroa and Banks Peninsula or enjoy the delights of the North Canterbury wine region.
Or, take in the turquoise lakes, powerful glaciers and the sky-piercing alps of the Mackenzie district and Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.
The region of Christchurch-Canturbury stretches from Mackenzie country around Lake Tekapo as far north as Kaikōura. Between rugged coastlines and mountainous national parks, you'll find never run out of things to do.
Adventure Capital of the World
Queenstown is as much a verb as a noun, a place of doing that likes to spruik itself as the 'adventure capital
of the world'. It's famously the birthplace of bungy jumping, and the list of adventures you can throw yourself into here is encyclopedic – from alpine heliskiing to zip-lining.
It's rare that a visitor leaves without having tried something that ups their heart rate, but to pigeonhole Queenstown as just a playground is to overlook its cosmopolitan dining and arts scene, its fine vineyards, and the diverse range of bars that can make evenings as fun-filled as the days.
Leap, lunge or luge here, but also find time to simply sit at the lakeside and watch the ever-dynamic play of light on the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu, creating one of the most beautiful and dramatic natural scenes in NZ.
The Capital City
Offbeat, unconventional and original, Wellington is a place where city meets nature and is incomparable to anywhere else on earth.
Famous for a vibrant creative culture fuelled by great food, wine, craft beer, coffee and events, Wellington is a cosmopolitan city with an energetic personality.
There's so much to see and do in the coolest little capital. Start with riding the Historic Wellington Cable Car for panoramic view of the city & harbour, see native wildlife at Zealandia Ecosanctuary, Enjoy 360-degree views from the top of Mount Victoria, Walk the Cuba Street, Wellington best-loved street, Wander the Wellington Waterfront, Visit the Harbourside Market and much more…
At the bottom of the World at the Water’s edge, is a Little City with a Big Heart, that’s Wellington!!
