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Tourist Information supplied by:
New Zealand Accommodation Travel And Holiday Guide
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Blenheim
Masterton & The Wairarapa
Nelson
Palmerston North
Paraparaumu & The Kapiti Coast
Wanganui
Wellington
Blenheim
Blenheim is situated in the northeastern tip of New Zealand’s South Island, on
the flat lands of the Wairau Plains. It is the largest town in the Marlborough
region, New Zealand’s largest grape growing and wine making region.
The
town is the service centre for the flourishing wine industry. It enjoys one of
New Zealand’s sunniest climates, with hot summers and crisp winters. At
Blenheim’s centre is Seymour Square, a pretty park with fountains and a clock
tower. Its other gardens include the attractive Pollard Park. Brayshaw Historic
Museum Park houses a collection of restored colonial buildings and farming
machinery, set out as a reconstructed colonial village. The park also has a
boating pond and a miniature railway. Nearby Wither Hills Farm Park has a
network of walking and mountain bike tracks and offers views over the Wairau
Plains and Cook Strait.
One of the main attractions in the surrounding
region is its excellent wineries. It is possible to tour many of the wineries
and sample their wines. Many also have restaurants where visitors can enjoy a
fine meal. One of the highlights of Blenheim's calendar is the annual
Marlborough Food and Wine Festival.
In the Awatere valley, to the south
of Blenheim, is Molesworth Station, New Zealand’s largest cattle farm. It is a
popular location for an excursion into the high country. It’s is a scenic area
of mountains and river valleys, and has an historic homestead.
More information on Blenheim
Blenheim Accommodation
Masterton & The Wairarapa
The Wairarapa stretches east from the Tararua Ranges to the Pacific Ocean. The
Rimutaka Mountain Range borders it from Wellington to the south. Sheltered by
mountains, the region has warm summers and crisp winters. The region is one of
mostly pastoral farmland, and a flourishing wine industry. Its east coast is
home to sandy beaches and some excellent surf. To the east, the mountainous
Tararua Forest Park has an extensive network of tracks and huts. Visitors can
take a gentle hour’s walk or an adventurous hike lasting several days.
New Zealand’s first sheep stations were
established in the Wairarapa in 1844, and today the area is home to over 3
million sheep.
The region’s largest town is Masterton, a busy town and
host to the annual Golden Shears event, the biggest sheep shearing competition
in the world. The competition stands testament to the region’s sheep rearing
heritage. The town has a good selection of shops and an attractive park with a
lake and an excellent children’s playground. Nearby Mt Bruce National Park has a
collection of some of New Zealand’s most endangered native birds. Eketahuna,
10km further north is the region's most northerly town.
To the south,
Carterton has a paua shell factory, a chocolate shop and is an access point for
the Tararua Forest Park. Further south the pretty town of Greytown has some
historic buildings and excellent cafes. Its Early Settler's museum has restored
buildings and horse drawn carriages from the era. Featherston, at the foot of
the Rimutaka Range, is the last town before climbing the winding mountain road
to Wellington. It has a selection of antique shops and is also home to the Fell
Engine museum which documents the history of the Rimutaka incline railway.
On the region's southerly coastline are the spectacular Putangirua
Pinnacles, and Cape Palliser, the North Island's most southerly point and home
to the country’s largest breeding colony of fur seals. There is also surf
fishing from the south coast beaches and fishing in nearby Lake Wairarapa.
The small, pretty town of Martinborough is home to the region's grape
growing and wine making industry. It plays host to the annual Wine and Food
Festival, and there is an excellent art and crafts fair twice a year.
The Wairarapa region has an excellent choice of accommodation ranging in
price and quality from motels, guest houses and farm stays to more expensive
boutique hotels and luxury lodges. Wharekauhau Lodge on the South coast is a
good example of the types of luxury accommodation that compete for worldwide
rewards.
On the region's east coast are the popular weekend retreats of
Castlepoint and Riversdale. Castlepoint has an unusual castle shaped rock
formation and a safe swimming lagoon. Riversdale has a long sandy beach and a
golf course. Surfing is also popular along its coastline.
More information on Masterton & The Wairarapa
Wairarapa Accommodation
Nelson
Nelson is set on the Tasman Bay, on the northern shores of New Zealand’s South
Island. It is an attractive, lively city with an artistic slant in particular
for pottery and ceramics. It is also a busy port, home to New Zealand’s largest
fishing fleet. The shelter provided to the west by the mountains of the
Kahurangi National Park contributes to the city’s excellent climate.
Named after the British Admiral Viscount Horatio
Nelson, the city was planned in London and many of its place names reflect its
English beginnings, such as Trafalgar Square and Shakespeare Walk. The first
settlers arrived in 1842 and after rocky beginnings the city became the capital
of the region. Several historic buildings remain, such as Melrose House,
Fairfield House and the workers’ cottages of South Street.
Nelson’s centre is compact and has an
array of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, all within easy walking distance.
There are a number of art and craft galleries, such as the excellent Suter Art
Gallery. An annual attraction is the globally acclaimed Wearable Art Awards,
which the city hosts every September. It is a festival of alternative fashion
and attracts entries from around the world. The city’s World of Wearable Art
complex is a permanent museum of previous winners. The city also has several
pleasant parks and gardens including the Botanic Reserve, home to the 'Centre of
New Zealand'. A marked lookout in the reserve is New Zealand’s geographic
centre. The lookout offers excellent views of the city and the surrounding area.
A short drive or bus ride from the centre is the seaside suburb of
Tahunanui. It has a long golden beach, a fun park, zoo and plenty of
accommodation, making this a popular spot for visitors to the city.
The
surrounding region is a fertile area with an abundance of orchards and a
smattering of wineries and breweries. Within an hour's drive is Marahau, gateway
to the outstanding coastal beauty and golden beaches of the Abel Tasman National
Park. The scenic Nelson Lakes National Park is to the south of the region. Its
picturesque alpine lakes and mountains offer water activities, walking tracks
and huts, and in the winter months, skiing.
More information on Nelson
Nelson Accommodation
Palmerston North
Palmerston North lies on the Manawatu Plains, nestled between the Ruahine and
Tararua mountain ranges, in the central southern region of New Zealand’s North
Island. The city lies a few kilometers to the east of the magnificent Manawatu
Gorge, carved by the Manawatu River through the mountain ranges. The region is
one of fertile pastoral farmland and Palmerston North is the main service centre
for the region.
The city, named for the British Prime Minister, became
prosperous with the building of the main railway line in 1886 that linked the
city to Wellington in the south. Today, the city is a busy centre, home to New
Zealand’s second largest university, Massey.
Palmerston North is centred
on The Square, a large, attractive garden with fountains and trees. It is a
pleasant oasis in the middle of the busy commercial district. The city has an
excellent art gallery, featuring predominantly modern New Zealand artists. The
Rugby Museum is dedicated to New Zealand’s national sport, with a comprehensive
range of memorabilia and is a must for rugby lovers. The city’s other museum,
the excellent Science Centre and Manawatu Museum, has a range of interesting
exhibits including an inflatable hot air balloon, Maori treasures, and a 'Kids
Own' section. A short drive to the south of the city, the Tokomaru Steam Engine
museum has a fine collection of working steam engines.
The Esplanade, a
large park near the bridge over the Manawatu River, has riverside walks,
gardens, a swimming pool and a miniature railway. The more adventurous can
explore the spectacular Manawatu Gorge by jet boat or kayak, a few kilometres to
the east of the city. Trips on the river can be arranged in Palmerston North.
More information on Palmerston North
Palmerston North Accommodation
Paraparaumu & The Kapiti Coast
Paraparaumu, is dominated by nearby Kapiti Island. The island is
now a native bird sanctuary, and visitors to the island are welcome, though
restricted. Lindale Farm Park, a short drive north of Paraparaumu, has a farm
walk and a selection of specialty shops. Nearby Waikanae has a long beach and an
excellent wildlife sanctuary. Further north is the Southward Car Museum, home to
a large selection of vintage cars and motorbikes. Otaki, a few kilometers
further north, is the western gateway to the mountainous Tararua Ranges. To the
south of the town is Otaki Gorge, a popular spot for kayaking and rafting. In
the north of the region is Levin, a bustling town with a selection of shops, an
excellent children’s playground, and the nearby long sandy beaches of Waitarere.
More information on Kapiti Coast
Kapiti Coast Accommodation
Wanganui
Wanganui is situated at the mouth of the impressive Whanganui River, on the
southwestern coast of New Zealand’s North Island. Maori first settled the area
over 900 years ago. The first Europeans came to the area in 1840, and the city
became a thriving port, servicing the surrounding region. Today, the city
remains a busy centre for the region.
Wanganui is a pretty city and its
river is a focal point for many of the town's attractions. Cruises on the river
aboard a paddle steamer are popular with visitors to the city, or the more
adventurous could try their hand at jet boating or kayaking. The town has pretty
gardens, an excellent museum and an art gallery. A climb to the top of the 32
metre high memorial at the summit of Durie Hill offers excellent views over the
city.
The outlying area is home to the Whanganui National Park, its main
attraction being the magnificent Whanganui River that runs through it. It is the
largest navigable river in New Zealand, and its 239 listed rapids make it
popular with kayakers and river rafters. The park also has a network of walking
tracks, which are also excellent for mountain biking.
More information on Wanganui
Wanganui Accommodation
Wellington
Wellington stands at the southern end of the North Island, around the deep water
harbour of Port Nicholson. It is a compact city, encircled by hills, and due to
a lack of flat land, many of its houses cling to its hillsides. The city’s
southern and eastern suburbs are built around pretty bays with sandy beaches.
The city was chosen as New Zealand’s
capital in 1865 due to its central position in the country. Many of the early
settlers to the country came ashore at nearby Petone. As well as being the
country’s political capital, home to New Zealand’s parliament, Wellington is
also considered to be the country’s cultural capital. It is home to Te Papa the
Museum of New Zealand, several theatre companies, art galleries, the New Zealand
Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Ballet. In recent times Wellington has stamped
its place firmly on the world map as being the home of New Zealand’s growing
film industry, earning itself the nickname 'Wellywood'.
The capital’s
waterfront provides a wonderful vantage point from which to view the city and
harbour, in particular the affluent suburb of Oriental Parade, which is also
home to the city’s newly extended inner city beach. A short ride in a cable car
from Wellington's CBD to the Botanic Gardens offers spectacular views over the
city and harbour to the mountains beyond. For the more energetic, the views from
the top of Mt Kaukau on a clear day are second to none.
Wellington
offers visitors a host of attractions and activities, from mountain biking and
kayaking, to a stroll around its historic buildings. The city also has a
splendid Zoo, several museums and some excellent parks and gardens. It can also
boast an array of fine shops, restaurants, cafes and bars.
More information on Wellington
Wellington Accommodation
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