Here’s how to do a North Island roadie:
Tootle down SH1 and, two and a bit hours later, you’ll be enjoying the sun and sand of the Coromandel Peninsula. Take your time because there’s lots to enjoy – around 400km of coastline, laid-back locals and highly Instagrammable wonders such as Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.
Join a sea cave tour to explore hidden gems such as Cooks Blowhole and Shakespeare Cliff. Pack your togs because this is ground zero for swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving where you’ll eyeball all manner of marine life.
Speaking of which, afterwards drive to nearby Hahei where you can sample some of the region’s best fish and chips at the Hungri Hunter Gourmet Food Cottage.
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Luxury Escapes Guide to Wellington
Wellington s sophisticated but relaxed urban vibe combines brilliant eating and drinking with some of New Zealand s best art galleries and museums.
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Like a more compact version of Seattle and San Francisco – there s even a cable car negotiating heritage neighbourhoods studded with colourful wooden houses – Wellington has been lauded by Lonely Planet as the coolest little capital in the world .
The city s downtown precinct is filled with great cafés, cool craft beer bars and innovative restaurants, all frequented by the city s working population of IT startups, moviemakers and politicians. Factor in a growing interest in local and sustainable ingredients, and it s reckoned Wellington has more cafés and restaurants per capita than New York City. Not bad for a city of just over 210,000 at the bottom of the world.