New Zealand

You already know how ludicrously photogenic New Zealand is. The otherworldly peaks and valleys of Middle Earth brought this not-so-hidden secret to the world with good reason. But these views are no Hollywood-crafted mirage- they are the real deal, and certain to take your breath away. On top of their looks, the islands’ rich Maori culture, passion for rugby, sheep outnumbering people, and exquisite sauvignon blanc create a country that defies even the most imaginative adventurers’ expectations.

Shaz skydiving over Lake Wakitipu, Queenstown NZ Shaped like a lightning bolt, Lake Wakatipu is the third
largest lake in New Zealand. The Dart River flows into its northern end; the Kawarau River, beginning near 

Queenstown, handles its outflow.

The lake occupies a single, glacier-carved trench and is bordered on all sides by tall mountains, the highest of which is 

Mount Earnslaw (2819 metres). Settlements around the lake shore include Queenstown and the villages of Kingston, Glenorchy and Kinloch.

Because of its unusual shape, Lake Wakatipu has a 'tide' (more correctly, an unusually large seiche or "standing wave"), 

which causes the water to rise and fall about 10 centimetres every 25 minutes or so. Maori legend links this phenomenon 

to the heartbeat of a huge monster named Matau, who is said to be slumbering at the bottom of the lake.

But it’s not all look and don’t touch. In New Zealand, adventure sports rule. This is, after all, a nation so dedicated to doing odd things with bits of rubber and plastic that it invented bungee jumping, black-water rafting and zorbing. Whether you’re climbing the Fox glacier or skydiving over a stunning patchwork of mountains and fields, New Zealand is certain to get adrenaline coursing through your veins. And there’s another aspect of Aotearoa – as New Zealand is known to Maori people - that keeps people coming back for more. The average Kiwi wants you to have a really, really good time. It is in the interactions with exuberant, everyday Kiwis that lasting memories will be made. As a Maori proverb suggests: He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! (What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people!). Kiwis love sharing their spectacular country with visitors and in turn seeing it anew through foreign eyes. They never tire of being reminded of the rugged beauty of their beaches, mountains, fiords, glaciers, native forests and thermal regions. And once you experience these natural highlights, you won’t tire of reminding them.

Queenstown

No-one’s ever visited Queenstown and said, ‘I’m bored’. Looking like a small town, but displaying the energy of a small city, Queenstown offers a mountain of activities. If your ‘Things to Do’ list contains bungy-jumping, caving, rafting, sledging, jet boating, skiing, skydiving and hang gliding, trained operators are waiting on your call right now. Maximise bragging rights with your souvenir T-shirt in the town’s atmospheric restaurants, laid-back cafés and bustling bars. Be sure to also find a lakeside bench at sunrise or dusk and immerse yourself in one of NZ’s most beautiful views.

Dick and Shaz leading the raft down the Arrow Rapids

It’s a pretty good option for an alfresco afternoon picnic as well. Confident Queenstown is well used to visitors with international accents, so expect great tourist facilities, but also great big crowds, especially in summer and winter. Autumn (March to May) and spring (October to November) are slightly quieter, but Queenstown’s a year-round destination. The town’s restaurants and bars are regularly packed with a mainly young crowd that really know how to enjoy themselves on holiday. If you’re a more private soul, drop in to see what all the fuss is about, but then get and about by exploring the sublime wilderness further up the lake at Glenorchy.