Lonely Planet New Zealand (Travel Guide)

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However, a large increase in tourists and the waste they left behind has put paid to that. You can now only freedom camp if you are in a self-contained vehicle.

Hangi– A traditional Maori method of steaming meats and vegetables where the food is wrapped in leaves and buried to cook on heated stones in holes in the ground. Cave fans will want to head west of Taupo for the eerie limestone caverns of Waitomo; alternatively it’s just a short hop from Taupo to the delights of canoeing the Whanganui River, a broad, emerald-green waterway banked by virtually impenetrable bush thrown into relief by the cone of Mount Taranaki, whose summit is accessible in a day. Paddle a canoe on a multiday trip down the Whanganui River. Spend 3-5 days on a unique journey you are not bound to forget.Starting in the coastal town of Marahau which is known for its large tidal beaches, the great walk begins to meander past isolated beaches surrounded by pristine forests of Nikau Palms and New Zealand flax. Adrenaline sports and other activities in New Zealand do not come cheap. If you are on a budget you will need to limit there. While not as popular as other countries, domestic flights in New Zealand are only a good idea for travelling long distances or between the North and South Islands. Ferries

New Zealand’s eels live to 80 years and only breed once, at the end of their life – and they swim all the way to Tonga to do it. The patchwork-quilt fields of Canterbury run, via the grand architecture of Oamaru, to the unmistakably Scottish-influenced city of Dunedin, a base for exploring the wildlife of the Otago Peninsula, with its albatross, seal, sea lion and penguin colonies. In the middle of the nineteenth century, prospectors arrived here and rushed inland to gold strikes throughout central Otago and around stunningly set Queenstown, now a commercialized activity centre where bungy jumping, rafting, jetboating and skiing hold sway.If you want to challenge yourself, opt to add on a few extra days by taking on Key Summit which is the place where Sir Edmund Hillary trained before his Mount Everest attempt in 1953. One of the most spectacular day hikes in the South Island is the stunning but gruelling hike up to Mueller Hut high above the Hooker Valley in Mount Cook National Park. The cheapest way of getting from A to B, InterCity forms the most extensive public transport network in the country. Find out more about planning a trip by bus in our guide to the InterCity bus passes and How to Travel by Bus in New Zealand. Hop-On Hop-Off Buses New Zealand is an island nation and thus the most reasonable, cost-efficient and common way to travel to New Zealand is by air. Entry Requirements