Regions of New Zealand
Although New Zealand is not large, it offers incredible diversity; from volcanoes to glaciers, mountain ranges to stunning coastlines, high country farms to wilderness.
It is not possible to cover the whole country in one trip and there is a danger of trying to do to much, which ends up with you spending all your time driving and not enough time to explore and discover the many gems along the route.
Each Region has distinct features, geographical and cultural; understanding these will help you decide where to travel.
Bay of Islands
UPPER NORTH ISLAND
Auckland & Waiheke Island
UPPER NORTH ISLAND
Thames, Waihi, Coromandel & Whitianga
UPPER NORTH ISLAND
Contacts:
Tourism New Zealand Websitewww.newzealand.com/nz/coromandel
Rotorua & Waikato
CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND
Contacts:
Tourism New Zealand Websitewww.newzealand.com/nz/rotorua
Taupo & Ruapehu
CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND
New Plymouth & Whanganui
CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND
Contacts:
Tourism New Zealand Websitewww.newzealand.com/nz/taranaki
Napier, Hastings & Havelock
LOWER NORTH ISLAND
Martinborough & Palmerston North
LOWER NORTH ISLAND
Contacts:
Tourism New Zealand Websitewww.newzealand.com/nz/wairarapa
Welliington & Kapiti Coast
LOWER NORTH ISLAND
Blenheim & Picton
TOP OF SOUTH ISLAND
Nelson, Abel Tasman & Golden Bay
TOP OF SOUTH ISLAND
Contacts:
Tourism New Zealand Websitewww.newzealand.com/nz/nelson-tasman
Greymouth, Hokitika, Glaciers
WEST SOUTH ISLAND
Kaikoura
EAST SOUTH ISLAND
Contacts:
Tourism New Zealand Websitewww.newzealand.com/nz/christchurch-canterbury
Christchurch, Akaroa & Arthur's Pass
EAST SOUTH ISLAND
Contacts:
Tourism New Zealand Websitewww.newzealand.com/nz/christchurch-canterbury
Geraldine, Oamaru, Timaru, Twizel
EAST SOUTH ISLAND
Contacts:
Tourism New Zealand Websitewww.newzealand.com/nz/waitaki
Wanaka & Queenstown
LOWER SOUTH ISLAND
Clyde, Cromwell & Alexandra
LOWER SOUTH ISLAND
Contacts:
Tourism New Zealand Websitewww.newzealand.com/nz/central-otago
Te Anau, Milford & Doubtful Sounds
LOWER SOUTH ISLAND
Dunedin & Otago Peninsula
EAST SOUTH ISLAND
Contacts:
Tourism New Zealand Websitewww.newzealand.com/nz/dunedin-coastal-otago
Oban, Tuatapere, The Catlins & Invercargill
LOWER SOUTH ISLAND
Contacts:
Tourism New Zealand Websitewww.newzealand.com/nz/stewart-island-rakiura
