Lisa Wiltse
By Adrienne Rewi
Adventure lovers already come to New Zealand for bucket-list thrills, but fortunately this country has something to suit every type of traveler -- regardless of your fitness level. Don't miss these five ways to see New Zealand like a local.
Photo Caption: Wellington, New Zealand near the water
New Zealand's capital city is blessed with a waterfront promenade that's home to many free cultural attractions. Wander from Civic Square with its public sculptures and the City Gallery Wellington, across the sculptural footbridge and down to the harborfront promenade. Free museums include The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the Museum of Wellington, and the Olympic Museum.
You can trace New Zealand's literary history in the concrete text panels of the free Writers' Walk, or check out the Maori war canoes at Te Raukura, which sits on the ancient site of a Maori settlement. There are bikes and kayaks to rent, parks to play in, ice cream stalls to sample, and boats of all shapes and sizes to admire.
Photo Caption: Wellington, New Zealand near the water
Rather than being frightened off by the fact that Christchurch has experienced close to 10,000 earthquakes and aftershocks since a 7.1-magnitude quake rattled the city in Sept. 2010, many people are visiting to witness the remaking of a large urban center in the aftermath of disaster.
More than 900 central city buildings have already been demolished within the still-cordoned-off commercial zone, and at least another 500 are yet to come down. You can also explore the new Restart (www.resort.org.nz) central city shopping mall, which opened in September 2011 in 25 brightly painted shipping containers.
Photo Caption: The Christchurch Cathedral was damaged in the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The major tourism season for New Zealand usually starts around the end of September and runs through March. This is when both the weather and accommodation prices are at their peak. But consider a visit between April and early September, and locals know that you can find luxury lodges going for half their usual rates. It may be a little colder, but a New Zealand winter is never as severe as those in the Northern Hemisphere, and if you're a skier, the South Island will fulfill your wildest expectations.
Photo Caption: Riding the ski lift in Cardrona, New Zealand
It's no secret that New Zealanders are an outdoorsy bunch. Luckily, most of the outdoor adventures are affordable. Even with several world-class golf courses to choose from, most courses range from NZ$45 (US$36) to NZ$100 (US$80) for a round. You can take a three-hour spin on an authentic America's Cup yacht (www.explorenz.co.nz) for around NZ$195 (US$155) per person, or go jetboating almost anywhere in New Zealand for around NZ$120 (US$96) per person. And if you're here in winter, you can pick up lift passes for around NZ$150 (US$120) and ski with the best; or you can watch lively rugby games throughout the country for virtually nothing at all.
Photo Caption: NZL 40 America's Cup Yacht in the Viaduct Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand
Adventure lovers already come to New Zealand for bucket-list thrills, but fortunately this country has something to suit every type of traveler -- regardless of your fitness level. Don't miss these five ways to see New Zealand like a local.
Photo Caption: Wellington, New Zealand near the water
You can trace New Zealand's literary history in the concrete text panels of the free Writers' Walk, or check out the Maori war canoes at Te Raukura, which sits on the ancient site of a Maori settlement. There are bikes and kayaks to rent, parks to play in, ice cream stalls to sample, and boats of all shapes and sizes to admire.
Photo Caption: Wellington, New Zealand near the water
More than 900 central city buildings have already been demolished within the still-cordoned-off commercial zone, and at least another 500 are yet to come down. You can also explore the new Restart (www.resort.org.nz) central city shopping mall, which opened in September 2011 in 25 brightly painted shipping containers.
Photo Caption: The Christchurch Cathedral was damaged in the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Photo Caption: Riding the ski lift in Cardrona, New Zealand
Photo Caption: NZL 40 America's Cup Yacht in the Viaduct Harbour in Auckland, New Zealand