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Air Activities:
Scenic Flights
Sightseeing from a small plane or helicopter will give you the ultimate view of New Zealand’s spectacular geography.
You’ll be able to count the volcanic cones that are scattered across the face of Auckland; appreciate the immensity of Lake Taupo, a supervolcano that’s just biding its time; and glimpse the beautiful glaciers that tumble down from the peaks of the Southern Alps.
Flightseeing opportunities are concentrated in areas where the scenery is most extraordinary - Northland and Auckland, the central North Island, Canterbury, Queenstown, Fiordland and the West Coast.
Some operators combine airborne sightseeing with ground explorations. White Island, an active marine volcano in the Bay of Plenty, is a destination that uses this formula. At Mount Cook and Franz Josef a ski-plane operator makes glacier landings, so that you can get out and feel the quiet solitude of the mountains. Another rare treat is a flight to watch the whales at Kaikoura.
Hot Air Ballooning
You have to rise early to catch a hot air balloon flight, but the experience beats a sleep-in every time. As you float over a world that is only just waking up, your smile will be as wide as the horizon.
With the exception of Queenstown, hot air ballooning operators in New Zealand are usually found on the flatter parts of the country - North Auckland, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa.
North Island flights will take you above lush rural areas, where you can observe an ornate natural tapestry of pasture, crops, vineyards, forests, roads, rivers, lakes and towns. In the South Island, the imposing Southern Alps provide an impressive snow-capped backdrop for hot air balloon flights that float over the sprawling patchwork of the Canterbury Plains.
From inflating the envelope at the beginning of your adventure to the champagne breakfast that marks the end of your flight, hot air ballooning is a long-lasting thrill.
Sky Diving
Is it time to make the big leap? Sky diving is one of those things that many people say they’re going to do "some day". Maybe that day is going to happen during your New Zealand vacation.
On a tandem skydive, where you’ll be strapped onto the front of a qualified jumpmaster, there’s plenty of time to admire the scenery on the way down. You can expect up to 60 seconds of free fall, followed by several minutes of peaceful floating before touchdown.
In the far north you can admire the beautiful Bay of Islands as you float towards the drop zone. The central north island has volcanic wonders to enjoy - crater lakes, geothermal areas and mountains. Canterbury, Wanaka and Queenstown deliver vast amounts of alpine scenery on your down-to-earth journey.
One of New Zealand’s leading skydive operators, and a winner at the 2008 New Zealand Tourism Awards, is Skydive Lake Wanaka. With Skydive Lake Wanaka, you can enjoy a personalised scenic flight up, 45 - 60 seconds of freefall at 200 kilometres per hour harnessed to your instructor, and five minutes of gentle parachute gliding towards the landscapes below.
The most southern jump on offer is in Te Anau - it’s a very imaginative way to see Fiordland!
Arts, Culture and Heritage
Wineries
New Zealand’s scenic beauty and gourmet food experiences are perfectly matched by the deliciously complex flavours of our internationally-acclaimed wines.
Our long growing season and cool maritime or sub-alpine climates provide ideal conditions for grape growing. New Zealand sauvignon blanc has won many international awards in recent years. Our chardonnay and red wines, such as pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon/merlot blends, are also receiving recognition around the world.
New Zealand's major grape growing areas are in the sunny, eastern regions of Gisborne and Hawke's Bay; Marlborough in the north-east of the South Island; and the sub-alpine valleys of Queenstown and Central Otago. Other important areas are Auckland, Martinborough, Nelson and Canterbury.
Most wineries are within easy reach of a town or city, and many have restaurants and attractive gardens. Guided wine tours are readily available. Casual visitors can enjoy informative tasting sessions and make purchases directly from the vineyards.
Cultural Attraction
New Zealand’s Maori culture emerged from Polynesian migrations that began in the 13th century. During the 1800s missionaries and traders began to arrive, paving the way for European settlement. Most of the settlers who landed in New Zealand between 1840 and 1900 were English or Scottish, with some Irish and Welsh thrown in for good measure.
More recently, New Zealand has received immigrants from Holland and Central Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
It all adds up to a fascinating culture that you can explore in a variety of ways. There are many authentic Maori cultural activities available throughout the country. These range from walking tours of the world’s largest kauri forest to traditional kapa haka performances followed by a hangi (earth oven) feast.
Other elements of Kiwi culture are also represented. In Dunedin, a city with strong links to Scotland, you can take part in a haggis ceremony; Southland can offer you the unforgettable satisfaction of shearing a sheep; and in Kerikeri you can relive the days of steam driven sea travel.
Arts & Crafts (TAONGA)
Having the time to browse art galleries and craft studios is one of the joys of travel. In New Zealand you get the added bonus of an art-rich indigenous culture to discover.
Traditional Maori crafts include weaving, carving and te moko (tattooing). In Rotorua you can watch highly skilled Maori wood carvers and flax weavers at work, and there are many quality galleries where you can purchase your own taonga (precious treasure) to take home.
In certain parts of New Zealand - Nelson, Waiheke Island and Coromandel for example - there are high concentrations of resident creatives. Their work is for sale at art shops and weekend markets, and some welcome visitors into their studios.
If you get the opportunity, rolling up your sleeves to create your own artwork is a deeply satisfying experience. Whether it’s a bone carving, an oil painting or a hand-finished ceramic, your self-made masterpiece will become one of your most prized souvenirs.
Performing Arts
From the very first days of settlement, amateur actors and actresses have been a feature of New Zealand society. In Auckland, Wellington and Nelson, small companies of players sometimes performed to assist charities such as the ‘Widow and Orphans' Fund’ or the ‘Suffering British Subjects in India’. During the mid 1880s, when British regiments were stationed here, garrison theatres were built and soldier-actors staged many plays.
The 20 years between the world wars saw the emergence of amateur theatre as it is still produced today. Repertory societies appeared in most of the country’s towns and cities. While not all of these societies are still operating, it’s worth checking out the entertainment pages of any local newspaper for details about current productions.
A number of professional theatre companies have emerged in recent years, particularly in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. Their productions range from children’s pantomimes through to the bravest experimental works.
Museums
If you want to understand what makes New Zealand tick, visit museums wherever you go. Finding out the why, where, how and who in any town or city adds an extra layer to your travel experience.
Each of our major museums has its own specialities. Auckland Museum is known for an impressive collection of Maori and Polynesian artefacts; Te Papa in Wellington offers a very modern, and often interactive, learning experience; Canterbury Museum has a strong focus on Antarctica; Otago Museum in Dunedin takes an in-depth look at the natural and social history of the South Island. The provincial cities also have plenty to show you - check out Puke Ariki in New Plymouth and the wearable art museum in Nelson.
Small museums also deserve your attention, because they’re often eccentric and surprising. Kauri trees, coal and gold mining, cable cars, caves, toys, volcanic eruptions, army equipment, boats, trains and planes - the subject matter is wonderfully diverse.
Heritage Attractions
Up and down the country there are places where time has stood still. Historic cottages and sprawling mansions, breweries and old hotels, Victorian cities and Art Deco towns - they’ve been preserved and protected to give you a glimpse of the past.
In the far north, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds are a lesson in early New Zealand history - both Maori and European. In Auckland, grand old homes showcase the finer side of colonial life. Napier captures the glamour and architecture freedom of the 1930s, while Wellington invites you to take a look at old Government Buildings, the largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere.
The South Island’s heritage sites encompass the hardship of the gold rush days, the glamour of high society and the day-to-day toil of pioneer farmers. You can visit everything from a pit-sawn pioneer cottage to New Zealand’s only castle, built by an eccentric Dunedin banker in the 1870s.
Gardens
If you’re an avid gardener, or simply enjoy the tranquil beauty of well-tended grounds, you’ll be impressed by the range of gardens and garden tours in New Zealand. Our temperate climate, the country’s north-to-south alignment and an amazing range of altitudes means that subtropical and sub-alpine species are able to thrive within a couple of hours drive of each other.
City garden tours visit informative botanic gardens, private landscapes and lush native forests. The rural garden tours in Eastland, Manawatu/Wanganui, Wairarapa and Canterbury are often hosted by residents of stately historic homesteads. Roses, rhododendrons and camellias thrive in New Zealand and are featured in many of the public gardens.
The famous Ellerslie International Flower Show is held in Christchurch every March, also Christchurch’s Floral Festival will take place in February each year. If you visit New Zealand in December, look for our native pohutukawa tree in bloom - its crimson flowers are fabulously festive.
Attractions
Spas/Health Resorts & Thermal Pools
There’s no better way to click into holiday mode than to soak in a thermal pool and indulge in a relaxing therapeutic massage or beauty treatment.
New Zealand is located where two tectonic plates of the earth’s crust meet. This causes a large amount of geothermal activity, so enjoying hot mineral pools has always been a part of the New Zealand way of life.
The larger cities offer luxurious day spas that make an ideal start to your holiday in New Zealand. Quiet retreats in the countryside or deep in the forest combine relaxing therapies with picturesque landscapes. In a day or two you’ll feel and look like a new person.
The country's natural hot pools and spas vary from smaller, spa-type pools to larger thermally heated pool complexes. Well known thermal pools and thermal pool complexes can be found in both the North and South Island, at Waiwera just north of Auckland, Rotorua and Taupo in the central North Island, and Hamner Springs in the South Island.
Urban and Scenic Attractions
New Zealand has more than its fair share of spectacular scenery, and some exciting ways to discover it.
The Sky Tower in Auckland makes it easy to enjoy huge views of the city’s volcanic cones, island-studded gulf and forested ranges. The Wellington Cable Car also takes you up to some breathtaking long-range views. Scenic flights throughout the country allow you to capture the large scale beauty of a steaming volcanic mountain or the snow covered peaks of the Southern Alps. And jet boat safaris can take you skimming along rivers through remote forest valleys and steep-sided gorges.
On the other hand, getting up close to scenic wonders allows you to appreciate their finer detail - like the unique fluted Wairere Boulders, the limestone formations in Waitomo’s caves or the sulphur-encrusted fumaroles of White Island.
Wild life parks and sanctuaries offer informative animal encounters, often with rare native species. You can hide in an underground bunker and peer out at penguins walking ashore or stand on a wind blown cliff as gannets or giant albatrosses swoop by.
Farms
Farms are a big part of the New Zealand way of life. Ever since the introduction of refrigerated shipping in 1882, people all over the world have enjoyed our dairy and meat exports.
As you travel through New Zealand you’ll discover seemingly endless open pastures, colourful orchards and sun drenched vineyards. While sheep, cattle and dairy (milk producing) farms are most common, you’ll also notice deer, goats, horses, pigs and even llama in paddocks throughout the country.
There are plenty of opportunities to watch sheep shearing, learn about deer and goat farming, experience sheep dogs working, milk a cow or a goat, feed lambs or go on an interactive tour of a farm. You can even pull on a beekeeper’s suit and tend the hives. Salmon and eel farms offer firsthand encounters with fish, and the prawn farm near Taupo cleverly uses warm geothermal waters for aquaculture.
Choosing farmstay accommodation is a great way to meet some of the locals and experience rural life.
Medical Travel
If you are thinking about journeying overseas for medical travel, have you considered New Zealand? Our country offers affordable medical services of the highest standard, carried out in world class facilities. Best of all, you can recuperate whilst enjoying our wonderful tourism experiences and outstanding environment.
Medical travel companies offer access to the finest New Zealand medical staff, amenities and expertise, in one of the world’s most beautiful destinations. We’re a country known for its spectacular scenery and friendly, outgoing people so whilst you take care of your body New Zealand can take care of your every other need.
When coming to New Zealand for medical travel you can relax in the knowledge we offer the highest of medical standards, and you can recover while enjoying the pleasures this fantastic destination has to offer, from exceptional food to soothing landscapes and pursuits.
Medical travel to New Zealand can also be much lower priced than similar Western destinations, without compromising on the quality of your care and recuperation.
Medical travel companies oversee every step of your journey; from arranging flights and accommodation to meeting you at the airport in New Zealand, to booking specialist appointments and the surgery, and to organizing quality aftercare while you are in recovery.
Land Activities
Walking & Trekking
If you’re keen to enjoy New Zealand’s beautiful landscapes and explore our vast wilderness areas, pack a selection of walking shoes and boots.
About 30 per cent of New Zealand is protected land with public access, so there are plenty of tracks and trails to choose from. You can find your own way, or take advantage of the many guided hikes and tours.
New Zealand offers a wide range of terrains: big city greenbelts, long deserted beaches, coastal cliff tops, lush native rainforests, open river valleys, alpine tussock grasslands, high country farmland and active volcanic areas.
On overnight hikes you can either 'rough it', sleeping out in tents or in more than 1,000 communal hikers’ huts, or choose a trail that offers luxury lodge accommodation and gourmet meals.
You will need to book ahead to walk the popular Milford or Routeburn tracks between late October and late April each year. Contact the Department of Conservation.
Cycling & Mountain Biking
When you come to New Zealand, chances are you’re looking forward to getting close to nature and saturating your senses in our scenery.
On two wheels you can cover a lot of ground and still see, hear and smell the natural world around you. With paddocks of sheep, acres of vines, rivers, mountains, lakes, the ocean, ancient forests, steaming sulphurous cauldrons and boiling pools of mud, there’s always something happening just the other side of your sunglasses.
Whether you’re cruising around a wine trail, exploring a coast road past beaches and seals or cross country cycling along a disused railway route, you can either plan it as you go or opt for a guided tour. Some tours will even carry your luggage or a non-cycling friend in their support vehicle.
New Zealanders’ passion for mixing adrenalin with wilderness scenery means mountain biking trails are everywhere. The 42 Traverse in the Tongariro National Park is quietly becoming famous, and the relentless quest for the all-day downhill has seen a boom in alpine heli-biking.
Off Road Driving Adventure
A wonderful by-product of New Zealand’s agricultural heritage is our comprehensive network of back-country roads and tracks. Some are gravel, some are dirt and others are not much more than a sheep trail up the hillside.
In Kiwi slang, the remote areas that you can see on a 4WD adventure are known as the ‘wop-wops’ or ‘the sticks’. If you’re out to see the scenery, you’re on a ‘tiki tour’. And if you find yourself ‘up the boohai’, then you’re well and truly lost.
Off-roading in New Zealand could be anything from a chauffeur-driven safari in a luxury Land Rover to a self-drive scoot around the forest on a quad bike. Experiences vary enormously according to where you are in the country. In Northland you can traverse colossal sand dunes on Ninety Mile Beach; Waikato four-wheel-driving could be a blast in a rally car or a quad bike farm tour; Marlborough might see you chasing the good life on a high country sheep station; and Canterbury could mean an alpine adventure in the foothills of the Southern Alps.
So buckle up, start your engine and hold on tight, the scenic wilderness is waiting.
Abselling/Rappeling
Controlled descent is an enthralling way to interact with the landscape. And the great thing about abseiling, also called rappelling, is that it’s quite easy to learn. After a few lessons, you’ll be slipping down the rope like a master.
In some cases, abseiling is a mode of transport - a way to reach an unknown world. This is certainly the scenario in Waitomo, where it’s necessary to drop 100 metres down a huge tomo (hole) in the earth to reach the Lost World.
Other adventures are focused on the trip down, like abseiling waterfalls in Egmont National Park or descending the rungway on Queenstown Hill. The skilled guides and instructors who operate abseiling experiences know all about easing people out of their comfort zone, so that you get an amazing sense of accomplishment.
Check out the abseiling opportunities around the country. There’s sure to be just the kind of adventure you’re looking for.
Caving
Spelunkers (cavers) say that New Zealand has some of the most challenging and spectacular caving systems in the world. But you don’t have to be a seasoned spelunker to enjoy our underground scenery. Depending on your level of daring, a caving experience could be anything from a dreamy drift through a glow-worm grotto to a rip-roaring, rope-dangling, action-packed subterranean adventure.
In the North Island the best known caving area is Waitomo in the Waikato region. There are caves that you can simply walk through; there are caves you can float through (this is called black water rafting); and there are caves that require abseiling, climbing and squeezing. Experienced operators here know how to turn you into a caver in a single day.
The South Island has several caving areas - you’ll find guided underground adventures in Nelson, Fiordland and on the West Coast. Harwood’s Hole, just off the main Motueka-Takaka road in the Nelson region, is the deepest sinkhole in the southern hemisphere. You can look into it, but be careful you don’t fall in - it’s 180 metres straight down.
Golf
Whether you’re planning to make golf the focus of your holiday, or simply want to keep your hand in with a quick half-day on the greens, you’ll enjoy the scenic beauty and public accessibility of New Zealand’s golfing landscapes.
A great round of golf feeds the mind, the body and the soul. Our magnificently designed courses cleverly test all ability levels and will certainly keep you thinking. You’ll be exercising in the clean fresh air and breathtaking panoramas of snow-capped mountains, lakes, forests or seascapes will provide the nicest kind of distraction.
There’s one more thing that makes New Zealand a great golfing destination - it’s just so easy to get a round in. There are more than 400 golf courses around the country and you can play in any season. Visitors are always welcome and green fees are surprisingly reasonable.
Skiing
Whether you’ve never felt snow before or you’re permanently in powder, New Zealand offers ski adventures that will keep you begging for "just one more run".
In the North Island there are two commercial ski fields (Turoa and Whakapapa) on Mount Ruapehu, an active volcanic cone.
In the south, the Southern Alps offer a large choice of ski fields with spectacular alpine scenery and lively resort towns for fun at the end of the day. The Remarkables, Cardrona, Treble Cone and Coronet Peak fields are centred on the resort towns of Queenstown and Wanaka. There’s also a Nordic skiing area near Wanaka, with 25 kilometres of groomed cross-country trails. The Mount Hutt field in Canterbury has the longest ski season in the country.
For a ski experience that’s pure adrenalin, experienced heliski operators will take intermediate and advanced skiers up into the alps to discover open bowls of powder and steep, high-speed chutes.
Heliskiing
Heliskiing is all about no compromises. It’s for adventurers who are seeking pure adrenalin and pure freedom in pure powder.
New Zealand’s World Heritage alpine parks offer all these ingredients, plus the added benefit of breathtaking scenery to fill those few idle seconds at the beginning and end of each run.
If you’re an intermediate or higher skier/boarder, the South Island’s heliski operators will take you to open bowls and steep chutes that will make your toes tingle with anticipation.
The day begins with a weather check, then transport to the staging area. Safety briefings on avalanche transceivers and helicopters are followed by an effortless scenic ride to the ridge of your dreams. From here it’s all downhill through powder, as you and your guide lay lines on the slopes. After a gourmet lunch the afternoon continues with another flight to another mountain load of fresh runs. At the end of the day it’s a quick trip back to civilisation but it’ll take you a while to come down to earth.
Water Activities
Boat Cruises
Getting out on the water is a big part of the New Zealand experience. As an island nation we have a non-stop coastline, and our mountainous interior provides hundreds of inland waterways that run to the sea.
There are islands, harbours, sounds, gulfs and beaches to be discovered and rivers, lakes, fiords and glaciers waiting to be explored.
You can hire a punt on an urban river; relax for days on a houseboat, motor yacht or sailing vessel; be your own captain or hire an experienced professional crew.
The pristine landscapes and waterways of the Southern South Island offer a favourite cruising experience for many, and it is there that 2008 Tourism Award winner Real Journeys offers scenic cruises through Fiordland, Queenstown and Stewart Island.
Whether you prefer a high speed jet boat ride or a leisurely jaunt, you’ll find New Zealanders are happy to share with you their love of water-borne transport.
Jet Boating
Like a jet aircraft, a jet boat has no external propeller. Instead, it squirts water out at high speed just below the surface behind the boat. This allows the boat to operate in depths of only a few centimetres.
The jet boat was developed in the 1960s by New Zealand farmer William (Bill) Hamilton, to allow navigation of the shallow Canterbury rivers. However, enterprising New Zealanders soon realised its potential as an adventure activity.
Sit back, buckle yourself in and feel the acceleration. A New Zealand jet boat ride will take you powering through narrow river gorges, almost brushing against sheer rock faces; or skimming across the surface of water channels that weave through the shingle banks of braided rivers.
Jet boating is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness, and can be enjoyed the whole year round. Some of the most exhilarating trips are available near Queenstown and Canterbury. Other areas include the Buller and Makarora regions in the South Island and the Rangitaiki, Whanganui and Waikato Rivers in the North Island.
Kayaking - Salt Water
Exploring New Zealand’s magnificent coastline by paddle power is an exercise and pure enjoyment. You can discover the coastal regions of national parks. You can paddle around islands and along fiords. You can even paddle a traditional Maori waka.
In the South Island, sea kayaking experiences can last half a day or several. Meander through the Marlborough Sounds, where waters are sheltered and people are few; follow the edge of the Abel Tasman National Park and hope for encounters with seals, dolphins and orca; get a sea level view of a fiord; or find your way around Okarito Lagoon, where you’ll see all kinds of wading birds.
In the North Island you can embark on a sea kayaking safari around the Bay of Islands, Waiheke Island or Wellington harbour. Sheltered water experiences can be found on the Hokianga and Tauranga Harbours. Paddling around a marine reserve, such as Goat Island, is always fun - beach your kayak and go for a snorkel.
Rafting
From a quiet drift through the forested wilderness to a white-knuckled, wide-eyed journey down turbulent rapids, rafting covers the full adventure spectrum.
The mountains of New Zealand’s interior feed a myriad of fast flowing rivers that run through the forests to the sea. Grade 1 rivers offer relatively tranquil waters, while grade 5 is regarded as an extreme sport. Trips ranging from a couple of hours to five days are led by qualified rafting guides who comply with established safety codes. All gear and special clothing is provided.
Rafting rivers in the North Island are mostly found in the central east coast areas of the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay. In the South Island, you’ll get the chance to try rafting around the resort town of Queenstown, Christchurch and on the West Coast. Some operators offer a combined helicopter and rafting experience. You can also try black water rafting through underground caves.
Sailing
There are several areas of New Zealand’s coastline that are ideal for sailing adventures. Sheltered harbours open out to inshore cruising grounds dotted with picturesque islands, and there are popular coastal journeys with harbour-like bays conveniently spaced less than a day’s sail apart.
You can charter a vessel and sail her yourself or opt for a skipper and crew. Skippered voyages range from an afternoon tea and sightseeing sail on the harbour to several days on an ocean-going maxi racing yacht.
The style of boat varies from restored historic square riggers to New Zealand’s high-tech America’s Cup winners. You can get as hands on or as laid back as you wish.
The maritime reserves of the Bay of Islands, Hauraki Gulf and Marlborough Sounds are among the best areas for a holiday afloat. Auckland, known as the City of Sails, has the world's largest number of boats per head of population.
Wildlife Encounters
Whale Watching
Kaikoura, on the east coast of the South Island, is the main centre for whale watching in New Zealand. It’s one of the only places in the world where you can easily see sperm whales.
Sperm whales, the largest of the toothed whales, grow to over 15 metres in length. They dive deep into the ocean to feed. The resident population of sperm whales at Kaikoura can be seen all year round. Orca (killer whales) may be seen from December to March, and humpback whales in June and July. Several dolphin species are seen almost daily in the area.
Whales thrive close to Kaikoura because of its unusual submarine landscape. The continental shelf drops quickly into a number of extremely deep underwater canyons. In addition, a warm current from the north meets a colder one from the south. This causes nutrients from deep within the ocean to be carried upward, a phenomenon that helps to support all types of marine life from plankton and krill to dolphins and whales.
Dolphins
An encounter with dolphins always feels such a privilege. Their gentle nature is something most people admire, and something we would prefer to see more of in humans. These playful creatures appear keen to communicate. They’re quite a large animal, yet they present us with no danger. They are intelligent, but seem to be completely free of cruelty or greed. This may explain why swimming with dolphins has been rated by visitors as one of the top tourism experiences in the country.
Many dolphin species can be seen in New Zealand. There’s the common dolphin and the large bottle-nosed dolphin, which can often exceed three metres in length. The smaller dusky dolphin is less than two metres long and is very playful. The Hector’s dolphin is one of the world’s rarest and smallest dolphins, and is found only in our waters.
New Zealand offers a wide selection of dolphin watching and swimming tours. Operators take great care not to harm the dolphins, and some of the tour price often goes towards dolphin conservation.
Penguins
These cute little creatures are bound to make you smile. In the sea they dive and swoop like other birds do in the air, and on land they march upright and waddle like officials in a parade.
You’ll find three species of penguin around New Zealand. The korora, or little blue penguin, is the world’s smallest. Standing only 25 centimetres tall, and weighing just over a kilogram, it is found in coastal waters and often comes ashore at night. The Marlborough Sounds, Akaroa Harbour, Oamaru and Stewart Island are excellent places to see little blues.
The rare hoiho, or yellow-eyed penguin, has a beautiful yellow eye band sweeping back from each yellow eye. You can find hoiho on the Otago Peninsula, just out of Dunedin, and along the South Otago Coast.
The Fiordland crested penguin is one of the world’s rarest. It is found in Fiordland and Stewart Island, in the deep south of the South Island.
Antarctic king and gentoo penguins can be viewed at an aquarium and Antarctic attraction in Auckland.
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