As a travel destination, New Zealand is
indeed one of a kind. Be it the majestic view of the ocean, the lush pristine
fields of grazing farm animals, the colourful cities and townships or just the
embrace of Mother Nature at its dazzling best; New Zealand has the best of
every world to satisfy just about any kind of travellers. This makes it one of
the best places on Earth for working holiday travellers because you’ll always
have a balance of work and leisure, and be properly motivated to work (so you
can save enough to see more of this beautiful country).
North Island
Auckland
Nestled in between two harbours, Auckland
is New Zealand's most populous urban area and a paradise for sailing
enthusiasts. Nicknamed "the Capital of Sails”，Auckland’s namesake is derived
from the Maori name, Tamaki Makaurau, which can be loosely translated as
"the girl with a thousand lovers". Auckland is home to a number of
aboriginal settlements and is blessed with stunning nature. Be it for luxury
travellers or backpackers, Auckland is definitely a good place to start your
New Zealand adventure.
Wellington
New Zealand's capital, Wellington, is a
city of fine arts and culture. It boasts beautiful historical buildings, museums and art
galleries, which are complemented by a bustling entertainment scene and
delicious cuisines. Located between Cook Strait and Rimutaka Range, Wellington
is also within reach of many pristine islands, traditional fishing villages,
beaches and wildlife protection zones. In 2011, Lonely Planet nominated Wellington
as one of the World's Top 10 Cities, describing it as being "Cool with a
Capital C. If you love nature and theatrical performance in one package,
Wellington is the place to go.
Rotorua
There is a common saying in New Zealand,
"If you haven’t been to Rotorua, you haven’t been to New Zealand at
all". Possibly one of the most filmed places of the country, Rotorua is
renowned for its geothermal activities, notably its geysers and hot mud pools.
Here, the air is permanently filled with steam and permeated with a lingering
aroma of sulphur - which explains why Rotorua is nicknamed "Sulphur
City". For the record, Rotorua is also the area most populous with Maori,
so there is no place better to see the famous Maori "battle dance"
and immerse in it charming culture and traditions.
Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo is New Zealand's largest lake,
which has a surface equivalent to the size of Singapore! But sheer size aside,
Lake Taupo is also home to the exquisite Huka Falls and is a year-round fishing
ground for trout - making it a wonderful destination to work and travel. When
here, do not miss out on the opportunity to go skydiving. Reportedly, Lake
Taupo is one of the cheapest places on Earth to skydive.
Waitomo Caves
The Waitomo Caves, located about one- hour
south of Hamilton, is known for its vast population of glow worms and intricate
limestone formations. A typical guided tour here takes you on a boat ride
through the underground Waitomo River, lit only by the stardust-like
illuminations of the glow worms all around. For the more adventurous, you could
also abseil down the tricky rock face or put on a wetsuit and float around the
gushing river. One thing's for sure, you will be bowled over by the amazingly
complex cave interiors.
South Island
Christchurch
New Zealand’s third largest city,
Christchurch, is famously referred to as the "Garden Capital" due to
its structured, large-scale flower arrangements seen all over the city. Unlike
many other thriving metropolitans, Christchurch is surprisingly devoid of
traffic and commercialization, and is instead littered with historical
buildings from the 19th Century submerged in a sea of riverside gardens.
Needless to say, the best way to tour Christchurch is on foot, and you will
find no lack of pedestrians walking its streets and soaking up the quietly
elegant atmosphere all year round. If you're thinking of making your way to the
South Island, you won't go wrong with Christchurch as your base.
West Coast
A sparsely populated district heavily
protected by the New Zealand government, West Coast is most famous as home of
the Franz Josef Glacier and the Fox Glacier, two of the most accessible
glaciers of the world. Once a gold mining district, West Coast today is a
thriving tourism district benefiting from the huge influx of glacier watchers
and trekkers. For those who make it here, partaking in a glacier tour is not so
much an option as it is a must.
Queenstown
An important tourist destination of the
South Island, Queenstown prides itself as being the “Capital of Adventure” due
the numerous rapids, mountains and other extreme terrains it is inherently
blessed with. But the challenging activities you can partake here aside,
Queenstown is indefinitely more well-known as a major setting in “The Lord of
the Rings” trilogy. If you're an adventure seeker and a movie buff, Queenstown
is in every sense of the word the ultimate working holiday paradise for you.
Dunedin
Dunedin is a city that glitters with
Victorian and Edwardian architectures. It was at the height of its powers
during the Gold Rush some two hundred years ago, though its influence as an
economic hub had since dwindled. Today, Dunedin is more well known as home of
Baldwin Street (claimed to be the world's steepest street) and the Taieri Gorge
Railway, which runs along the banks of the Taieri River and features numerous
tunnels and steep climbs. Just 40 minutes away from the city centre, wild
penguins can be spotted every night when they return to shore to rest. For
those who love a close encounter with the cute wobbly kind, consider Dunedin
seriously.
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