10. New Zealand
Think you’ve seen everything the Land of the Long White Cloud has to offer? We bet you’ve never experienced some of these local secrets.
Martinborough
On the North Island, about an hour’s drive east of Wellington, Martinborough is one of those rare places where the light pollution is so low that the night sky really comes into its own. A new observatory and astronomy centre, Star Field (starfield.nz), runs galaxygazing tours to help visitors better understand the heavens.
Poor Knights Islands
Insiders consider this cluster of ancient volcanoes off the North Island’s Tutukaka Coast among the best dive sites in the world. And while the waves shelter scores of subtropical fish species, the nearby cliff faces offer ideal nesting spots for seabirds, as does the forest of pohutukawa, a coastal tree with brilliant red flowers. Snorkelling tours run daily, departing from the mainland.
Motueka
Time your visit to this laid-back town right and you’ll be able to walk on water – or close to it. At high tide, the edge of the 82year-old Motueka Saltwater Baths disappears beneath the glassy ocean, forming an underwater path for swimmers to tiptoe along. A 45-minute drive from Nelson on the South Island, Motueka is also close to the hiking and biking trails of two pristine national parks.
The Coromandel
This pincer-shaped peninsula, a three-hour drive from Auckland, features 400 kilometres of coast. Start at Hot Water Beach, where you can dig into the sand and watch the hole fill with steaming mineral water from under the earth. When you’re done with your waterfront spa, go to New Chums Beach, where a 1.5-kilometre hike through the glossy palms may be rewarded with a dolphin sighting.
Kapiti Island
It’s barely 20 square kilometres in size but for the native kaka, kōkako and tui birds that call Kapiti Island home, it’s a haven because the pristine landmass is free from predators. Arrange a permit to visit Kapiti and catch the ferry from Paraparaumu Beach, north of Wellington.
Kaikoura
Head out to sea to spot the sperm whales and comical fur seals that patrol these waters off the South Island’s north-east and you’ll get an excellent view of Kaikoura itself, an affecting backdrop of sky-dominating snowy peaks, undulating hills and rugged pebble beaches. Then for lunch, feast on seafood at Nins Bin (20 kilometres north of Kaikoura, State Highway 1; +64 20 486 3474), a roadside caravan that’s been serving justcaught crayfish since the 1970s.
Kahurangi National Park
It took a million years for the amber-hued river to push a path through the limestone Oparara Basin, resulting in a series of giant tunnels that wind through Kahurangi National Park, near Nelson. The largest, Oparara Arch, is a staggering 219 metres long and 43 metres high.