The New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year 2015, our country’s most coveted photography award, has been given to Jason Hosking after a very tight competition. This year was blessed with incredibly high quality works in editorial photography across topics such as Society, Landscape, Wildlife, Photo Story and Timelapse –new this year– categories. The latter category met a very enthusiastic public and “Glowworms in motion” by Jordan Poste is indeed truly amazing work. Congratulations to all winners, and we strongly recommend you …

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We often hear talk of New Zealand’s beautiful scenery and luscious natural landscape but all too often we also hear people ask whether New Zealand has anything resembling a modern city. Just in case anyone was wondering, here are some nice photos of Auckland which is home to 1.5 Million people. Not only is Auckland a thriving commercial centre with a bustling night-life, it is also surrounded by white sand beaches and is only a short 30 minute drive in …

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If you are looking for a real trip through Middle Earth then a one-day hike through the volcanic badlands of the Tongariro National Park is something not to be missed. New Zealand’s oldest national park and a dual World Heritage Site, the Tongariro National Park is rich in both cultural identity and awesome natural scenery. The track takes hikers through a land that time forgot, passing the volcanic peaks of Ngauruhoe, Tongariro and Ruapehu. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is heralded as …

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In the 1980’s, two young New Zealanders, AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch, started New Zealand’s first commercial bungy business, with a jump from the historic Kawarau Bridge near Queenstown. Ever since then, New Zealand has been known as the home of bungy, with a number of other operators entering the market. All around New Zealand you can leap from a variety of platforms such as bridges, climbs, rail viaducts and stadium roofs. The Highest Bungy in New Zealand is the Nevis …

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Roughly translated from Maori, Wai 0 Tapu means the “sacred, or protected, waters”. Located just 20 minutes south of Rotorua, one of New Zealand’s most famed tourist cities, this magnificent geothermal park is an absolute must see. Walking tracks ranging from 30 to over 75 minutes provide a wonderful scenic experience that will stay in your memory for a lifetime. If you are someone who is excited by the sight of spurting boiling hot water, head to see Lady Knox, …

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This world-renowned tramping track is an impressive 32 kms long and is found in New Zealand’s South Island. No trip to New Zealand is complete without completing a tramping trip on one of the many tracks of the South Island, and the Routeburn track is one of the most stunning. This track is classified as a Great Walk by the New Zealand Department of Conservation, which maintains four huts along the track: Routeburn Flats Hut, Routeburn Falls Hut, Mackenzie Hut, and …

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Since the tragic earthquake of 1931 this lovely provincial town has worked hard to restore and maintain the Art Deco style architecture that was popular at the time. Expert guides take visitors through the unique and colourful 1930s streetscape, exploring the hidden gems of yesteryear either on foot, coach, mini bus or by the very luxurious vintage car.  Hundreds of thousands of visitors join the party of the year at the Tremains Art Deco Weekend held annually in February and …

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The ancient Egyptians began producing wine some 3,000 years ago. Some scholars believe that the fermenting of grapes into wines wine dates back even further. In New Zealand, grapes and winemaking arrived much later.Around 1836 the first grapes were brought into New Zealand by a very keen ‘amateur’ winemaker, James Busby, New Zealand’s British Resident. The oldest existing vineyard is Mission Estate in the Hawke’s Bay, which was established by the Roman Catholic Missionaries. By the 1960’s New Zealanders had become a nation of travellers. …

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With an area of just over 225 km2, this forested, hilly park to the north of the valleys of the Takaka and Riwaka Rivers is the smallest of New Zealand’s national parks. Bounded to the north by the waters of Golden Bay and Tasman Bay it contains some of the islands off the coast including the Tata Islands in Golden Bay, and Tonga Island, Adele Island, and Fisherman Island in Tasman Bay. Some of the birds that frequent the park are …

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