New Zealand Wild
Embark on a Virtual Journey from Auckland to Queenstown
From glaciers to beaches, whale-watching to wine-tasting, New Zealand has so much to offer a traveler. Sofa sight-see the spectacular seaside wonders of this incredible island and get inspired to start planning your next kiwi holiday.
If experiencing nature in all its glory is your travel style of choice, the coastal wonders of New Zealand, from Auckland to Queenstown should be top on your list.

A best kept secret, the wild-and-wooly adventure land in the interior of the South Island is a must visit. Specifically, the Mackenzie District in South Canterbury—home to Aoraki Mt. Cook, teal blue lakes, and the legacy of Sir Edmund Hillary, who trained here for his historic summit of Mt. Everest.
Go For a Wee Walk Up a Hill

One of the first things you learn about Kiwis is their penchant for understatements. They don’t like to brag, and that’s fair enough. But when you’re a visitor, it’s handy to know they might refer to a mountaineering expedition as "a wee walk up a hill." To avoid joining such an expedition stick to the Aoraki Mt. Cook Walking Tracks, which range from 10 minutes to 3 hours and dazzle you with lupins, lavender, and buttercups. Afterward, grab lunch at the Old Mountaineers Café in Aoraki Mt. Cook Village.

Walk the Kea Point Track in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park with Elicia.
Go For a Wee Bike Ride

Easy-peasy is what the locals might say when they take you on a bike ride. Be prepared it might be a good 25 miles of sheep tracks, river crossings, and rocks. The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail is not like that. It’s a neat and orderly gravel path with helpful signs along the way. While the path literally goes from Mt. Cook to where the Pacific Ocean tickles your toes, it is broken into nine segments. Bikes and gear are available at a shop in Twizel.

Ride the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail in all its color and beauty
Spend Time in The Dark

Something they don’t tell you about in Auckland is that New Zealand has a Dark Sky Reserve. And guess what, the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve is the world’s largest. To take advantage of this, lie on your back in a field and look up. If the timing is right, you might even glimpse the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis). For a more mind-blowing view, take a bus or drive up to Mt. John Observatory and peer into the cosmos through powerful telescopes.
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Take Off on a Glacier Safari

Add a scenic helicopter ride with a glacier hike or ski to your itinerary. Adventurous travelers looking for a thrill are able to tour with a pilot over Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain at 3,724 meters, then deftly land on icy glaciers to explore. You can also flight-see in small planes, helicopters, and even a bright red biplane with an open cockpit. Back on the ground, take a boat out onto the terminal lake where you can hold 500-year-old ice blocks in your hand.

Heliskiing in Queenstown
Sip Central Otago Wines

Head to the Mackenzie area with a thirst and visit Central Otago, the world’s southernmost vinicultural region home to more than 80 wineries. Cycle the vines or be chauffeur driven; you’ll find cellar doors open for tasting and lovely vineyard restaurants in abundance. Take time to sample the wines of Rippon Vineyard, Swallow’s Crossing, Wooing Tree, Aitken’s Folly, and good old Chard Farm for an authentic taste of New Zealand.

Taste New Zealand’s Food and Wine

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