New Zealand’s oldest town, Kerikeri, lies on the banks of the Kerikeri River in the Kerikeri Basin. Formerly a mission post established in 1819 by pioneer missionary Reverend Samuel Marsden, the town has a rich Maori and European history. Today it forms the heart of a fertile fruit-growing area and possesses a thriving arts and crafts industry. It contains several landmark buildings, including New Zealand’s oldest surviving European building. Other attractions are the Rainbow Falls, bushwalks, sailing trips, golf, tennis, bowls, horseback riding tours and flight seeing.

Taupo’s beautiful resort and holiday base enjoy a scenic location on the shores of Lake Taupo at the center of the North Island. The town sits on a thermal belt, and visitors can see areas of boiling mud, steam and geysers north of the town at Wairakei Park and Orakei Korako. Thermal activity first attracted visitors during the 1880s, but today the town lures anglers from throughout the world with a plentiful supply of rainbow and brown trout. Lake Taupo is popular for swimming, boating, waterskiing, jet skiing, kayaking, rowing and scenic cruises, while thrillseekers can enjoy bungee jumping, tandem skydiving, jetboating and whitewater rafting.The spectacular Huka Falls and the Aratiatia Rapids lie to the north of the town, while to the south are the imposing mountains of the volcanic plateau and the skifields of Mount Ruapehu.

Enjoying a spectacular location at the head of Port Nicholson Harbour, Wellington is the political heart of New Zealand. The capital city’s compact size makes it an easy place to explore, yet its cosmopolitan flavor offers all the sophistication of a big city. Known as New Zealand’s Cultural Capital, Wellington is a stronghold for the arts and home to the Royal New Zealand Ballet and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. At the heart of the city, Civic Square provides world-class venues for the performing arts, including the Michael Fowler Centre and City Gallery, while Cable Street is home to the country’s landmark national museum, Te Papa. The downtown quarters of Willis, Lambton, Cuba and Courtenay offer plenty of choices for shopping, dining and live entertainment.