New Zealand independent travel, drive yourself, accommodation, attractions,scenery, Maori Culture .

Bay of Islands	Kawakawa Russell Paihia	standout toilet tiles original settlement in Bay of Islands fishing, boating 'hole in the rock' visit.Treaty grounds
West Northland	Haururu Falls Kerikeri Cape Reinga Waipoua Forest Matakohe Museum	not far out of Paihia important fruit growing area, Kemps store day trip to northern tip of NZ where Maori spirits leave NZ Tane Mahuta, the biggest kauri tree still standing in the forest Shows the history of gum ( kauri) digging and many pieces of kauri, swamp kauri and recreations of days gone by
Auckland	Kelly Tarltons Underwater World Devonport Ferry Round the Bays drive	built in a disused sewer, there is a large aquarium and an Antarctic section featuring Antarctis wildlife. ride across to the boutique shops ion the North Shore Drive through Kohimarama and St Heliers to see a variety of houses and beaches.
S of Auckland	Pokeno Waikato river by Mercer Ngaruawahia Te Rapa Factory	small town off the southern motorway, great for ice creams, bacon and mohair! an area of motorway where, even though straight, there have been a lot of motor accidents. The Waikato is the longest river in NZ. The home of the Maori King. His marae is on the left of the bridge over the Waikato river, on the outskirts of Ngaruawahia. one of Fonterra's large dairy factory is on the outskirts of Hamilton, serving the Waikato dairy farms, bringing the milk in daily by road tanker.
Hamilton	Gardens	Located on the banks of the Waikato river, well above the normal city gardens
Rotorua	thermal activity farming displays cultural activities	visit one of the villages which open their areas to the public enjoy one of the many thermal pools in the area visit the church at Ohinemutu surrounded by thermal activity take a tour to the Agrodome and watch the sheep and dogs inside. visit one of the Maori carving centres and also enjoy a hangi ( evening meal) and a Maori concert.
Waitomo	The Caves	two main caves. the Glow worm cave and the Aranui cave are both worth a visit. A third cave has been opened recently and is very good too...Ruakuri cave
New Plymouth	walkway parks Tawhiti museum	enjoy some of the seven kms of walkway along the main foreshore, and view the Len Lye windwand. walk around the lake in Pukekura Park also close to the centre of the city just outside Hawera, visit the Tawhiti museum (turnoff at Normanby) Its different from the usual run of museums.
Wanganui	Art Gallery	The Sargent gallery is one of the best structured buildings in NZ
Napier	art deco walk	much of the centre city has been restored in the art deco style.
Taupo	thermal activity landscape features	many hot pools and swimming pools. visit the Craters of the Moon and Wairakei valley visit Huka falls and Aratiatia Rapids on the Waikato river. Hire a yacht or take a ride on a restored ship on Lake Taupo.
Wellington	centre of Government Museum Mt Victoria	Visit the Parliamentary complex of buildings taking in the library,main administrative building (the Beehive) and the central parlt building the National Museum is a modern style, free entrance and a variety of non traditional displays drive to the top of Mt Victoria for an excellent view along the fault line which gows through the area, the harbour and the airport and open sea.
Picton	boat trip	if you have time, hire or take on the the regular day or half day trips on the Sounds.
Nelson	Waimea plains	travel to Mapua and have one of the best lunches anywhere at 'The Smokehouse'. This drive will take you through intensively farmed grape and apple country
West Coast (Buller)	landscape features old gold mining area Punakaiki Hokitika Harihari	stop at the top of the Hope saddle for a view back to Nelson. Stop in the Buller gorge and walk across the narrow suspension bridge to the old gold workings in the gorge. Stop at Hawke Crag for a photo of the Buller river and the road ahead. if you have time go to Tauranga Bay and have a great meal at the restaurant there just opposite the seal colony...wild country. stop at Charleston and go down the road to the sea. There you will see the harbour that was used in the 1880's for the landing of provisions for the goldminers. walk the thirty minutes round a good track that will take you to the pancake rocks and the blowholes (if the tide is high) one of the best places to shop for arts and crafts, greenstone, glass, copper. Many shops in this small town. Stop and have a meal at the public bar in the HariHari pub. A great experience
Glaciers	Franz Josef Fox Paringa	ninety minutes to do the round trip to the face of the glacier and back to the carpark. Be careful of the weather and obey the signs on the track. The walk is up the river valley. about 60 minutes for the round trip. You walk along the side moraine for much of the way. Worth seeing both glaciers for they are different. stop at the restaurant and salmon farm. see the fish in tanks.
Wanaka	lakeside	walk along the lakeside and take in the view up to Mt Aspiring in the distance
Queenstown	adventures Arrowtown	paraponting, hang gliding, 4wd adventures, jet boating or steaming in a more sedate way on the TSS Earnslaw; there are plenty of things to do in Queenstown. visit Arrowtown in the corner of the Queenstown basin..set up as an old gold mining town (also where some shots of Lord of the Rings were taken)
Te Anau/Milford	landscapes	it is the physical nature of the land that brings you into this area. There is a submamrine viewing cylinder in the Sound itself that you may want to visit.
Cook/Tekapo	landscapes	again the physical nature of the area is dominant. It is an intermontaine basin different from any other landscape you have seen so far.
Christchurch	gardens	This is an English city, with magnificent gardens in the main part of the city. Drive around the Port hills overlooking the city (the top of an extinct volcano) if you are an excellent driver.