"Find Geothermal Spots in Rotorua Before traveling to Rotorua, everyone will warn you that it smells like rotten eggs. Don't be put off, that's only because of the amazing geothermal features of the area. And the smell comes and goes, too. Sitting on a caldera, Rotorua has everything you could ask for in terms of geothermal activity. From active geysers to bubbling mud pools to steaming lakes and boiling volcanic streams, you won't be bored exploring here. While hiking nearby, you might even catch a glimpse of the famous volcano, Mount Tarawera, which erupted in the 19th century creating one of the youngest geothermal systems in the world. Along with plenty of hot springs and spas, and of course the obligatory adventure sports—we are in New Zealand after all—Rotorua is perfect for anyone coming to the North Island."

"Black Water Tubing in New Zealand Waitomo, on New Zealand’s North Island, is known mostly for its glowworms. This is one of the few places in the world where they exist and millions of visitors descend onto the village every year to walk through the dark caves and see the sparkly insects in person. For those looking for a more adventurous way to see the natural wonder, there’s nothing better than black water tubing through the underground cave system. The adventure isn’t a lazy river by any means, the water can be rough at times and more than once I found myself jumping backwards off of small waterfalls. But it was fun – a lot of fun. We actually did get our lazy river at the end when the water calmed and we could all lounge back in the tubes and watch the millions of glowworms sparkle overhead like a biological universe of stars."

"Welcome to Middle Earth in the South Pacific, and an ideal stop for traveling fans of the author J.R.R. Tolkien and the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movie trilogies. Near the rural town of Matamata—itself a destination for its LOTR -inspired visitor center and a selfie-ready statue of Gollum along the main street—the re-created sets of Hobbiton offer a detailed and fascinating glimpse of the hobbit holes, meadows, and gardens of Bilbo and Frodo. An essential conclusion to the tour is quaffing an only-available-in-Hobbiton Oatbarton Ale at the leafy lakeside Green Dragon Inn."

"Lines in the Sand The tide out, it's hard to remember if I have ever seen so much neatly and naturally manicured sand stretch so far before. New Zealand has a knack for showing off so much pure beauty in nature, and this visit to Ninety Mile Beach was no exception."

"Here's the Deal I still owe my best friend millions for introducing me to Wellington's Cafe L'Affare while I was working in New Zealand . Founded in 1990, this quintessential cafe is cozy, delicious and gourmet ground breaking. What are your food choices, you ask? All-day breakfast, a delicious à la carte lunch menu, daily changing soup and pasta options and a comprehensive selection of café style counter food. There's not only the famed espresso and coffee bar, but also a license for beer and wine, as well as freshly squeezed juices and smoothies. This is the perfect place to start the day off right, or recharge at lunch during a big visit to Wellington, New Zealand. If you're not going through Wellington, fear not. Local cafes all throughout the country serve their delicious coffee. L'affare in Italian means 'the deal'."

"Experiencing Lake Taupo On the shores of New Zealand 's largest lake sits the holiday town of Taupo, in the center of the North Island. Popular with vacationers and adventure travelers, there is plenty for everyone. An ancient volcanic crater, nowadays Taupo is a beautiful blue lake with tons of activities to chose from. Whether you want to go skydiving, bungee jumping, white-water rafting or just go out for a swim, Taupo has it all. From the panoramic views over to the Tongariro Crossing to its rich Maori history and culture, Taupo is a must-do for anyone traveling around the North Island of New Zealand."

"Sloping Off Lesser-known ski fields are often run by clubs and have the benefit of thinner crowds and the opportunity for skiers and boarders to glide and carve where others haven’t. Rainbow Ski Area near Nelson on the South Island is great for boarders and offers lessons from novice to expert. Further south, Porters Ski Area outside Christchurch features such runs as the appropriately named Big Mama and other trails that cater to intermediate and advanced riders. In the North Island, try the Manganui Ski Area on Mount Taranaki for cheap no-frills skiing (meaning no gear rentals on-site). And on the eastern side of Mount Ruapehu, there’s the friendly club-run Tukino ski field, which is often open when the rest of the mountain is shrouded in clouds."

"This funky boutique hotel on the edge of the Britomart shopping district goes way back in Auckland history. Built in 1841 as The Commercial Hotel, the DeBrett building survived two fires and two rebuilds plus a stint as a hostel before becoming the quirky place guests experience today. The Housebar has always been the center of hotel life, and today, the intimate wood-and-mint venue exudes its original art deco style and serves classic cocktails and local beers and wines alongside refined pub snacks. In addition to restoring the bar and adding a glass-roofed atrium that houses the hotel restaurant, DeBretts Kitchen, the current owners affixed contemporary artwork and photography throughout and sheathed the entire building in candy-striped carpeting, custom designed from 100 percent New Zealand wool. Besides the carpet and small-batch minibar selections, no two rooms are the same. Each features unique furnishings from the 1930s on, and every bed has an original screenprinted throw. Two of Hotel DeBretts centerpieces, the chandelier and water sculpture in the restaurant, were crafted by Auckland artists from materials salvaged during the latest renovation. The result is a local experience from top to bottom that gives guests a real taste of New Zealand ."

"The most exclusive lodge in New Zealand , having hosted everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to the late Robin Williams, Huka Lodge feels like a refined country getaway set on the banks of the Waikato River near the North Island resort town of Taupo. Founded in 1924 by a charismatic Irishman named Alan Pye, the property was later reimagined by entrepreneur Alex van Heeren with the help of interiors specialist Virginia Fisher and famed New Zealand landscape designer Suzanne Turley. The surrounding grounds are ranked as a ‘Garden of National Significance’ by the New Zealand Gardens Trust. Whether staying in the lodge suites—which feature French doors that open up to a wooden terrace just steps from the river—or the lofty private cottages, guests will feel like royalty here."

"There's no shortage of great eateries in the New Zealand capital—reputedly Wellington has more cafés and restaurants per person than New York City—and Field & Green is a popular option for the city's discerning diners. With a versatile menu bylined European Soul Food, it promises ever-changing weekly dishes that could include house-made pasta with wild mushrooms and blue cheese, or baked eggs with spicy lentils and mint yogurt. These hearty but sophisticated flavors are the ideal sustenance for daytime explorations of the city's harbor attractions, and the good-value, Wednesdays-to-Saturdays three-course supper menu can be partnered with local Wellington craft beers or New Zealand wines."

"An easy 40-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland , Waiheke Island combines art galleries, coastal hiking, kayaking, and edge-of-the-vineyard opportunities for relaxed lunches. Reached by a winding, unpavedroad, Te Motu Vineyard is renowned internationally for its stellar Bordeaux-style reds, and its flinty and zingy sauvignon blanc and riesling are refreshing on a warm summer afternoon. Relax under the rustic grape arbors of the Shed restaurant and enjoy an easygoing combination of laid-back Kiwi hospitality and shared plates of local produce with global flavors. Try the smoked-venison tartare with truffle aioli, shallots, and pecorino cheese before moving on to the Indian-style biryani, crammed with New Zealand seafood including tarakihi fish and mussels."

"Waiheke Island's glowingreputationas an arty and bohemian refuge away from New Zealand 's biggest and most cosmopolitan city is being further bolsteredby excellent vineyard restaurants. Accessed by a sweeping, tree-lined entrance reminiscent of Tuscany or the south of France, Tantalus Estate is one of Waiheke's most impressive wineries. Make a reservation for lunch in its sunny pavilion dining room—booking ahead is especially recommended on summer weekends—and partner the vineyard's own wines with local oysters, and innovative dishes including pork belly with chili caramel, refreshing melon, and Vietnamese mint. Downstairs, the Brewing Lounge serves craft beer made on-site by the Alibi Brewing Company."

"Snaga shadyoutdoor table overlooking the slow-moving Waikato River and enjoy excellent tapas at one of regional New Zealand 's best restaurants. Expandingfrom a smaller, cozier location on nearby Hood Street, Gothenburg is popular for shared plates with a global flavor, and its menu encompasses lots of vegetarian selections. Try the potato gnocchi with Kikorangi blue cheese from New Zealand's Kapiti Dairy, or challenge your palate with the spicy kimchi-and-pork dumplings. Gothenburg is also a big supporter of the Hamilton craft-brewing fraternity, and the beverage list often includes seasonal small-batch beers from local microbreweries like Brewaucracy and Shunters Yard."

"Just a short walk from Auckland 's Eden Park, home of big rugby games in the city, the funkyand bohemian Kingsland neighborhood is also developing a reputation as an eating and drinking destination. Some of the city's best coffee is served at Atomic—try the Vietnamese iced coffee with coconut milk—and the savory pies at the Fridge are world-famous across Auckland. Packed with vintage furniture, the Portland Public House is a raffishlive-music venue, and Citizen Park's combination of Mexican food and robust cocktails has a strong following. Travelers seeking unique gifts should head to the Royal Jewellery Studio, with work by local artists including Maori designs crafted from pounamu (greenstone)."

"Known to New Zealand's indigenous Maori people as pounamu, jade or greenstone is treasured throughout the country, and in the North Island city of Rotorua, Rakai Jade provides travelers with the opportunity to craft a special memento of their visit. Working with local Maori artisans, a one-day Carve Your Own experience takes you throughthe full process from initial design tofinal product. Popular traditional varieties include pendants and stylized fishhooks, but if you can't spare the time for a custom bauble, many excellent already-carved pieces are also available. (Reserving at least one day ahead is recommended for a design-and-carving session.)"

"A Bookstore That Brings Us Together Unity is what all bookstores should be: a good collection of global newspapers by the door, a room stacked to the gills with curated books and magazines, and an extremely well-read staff. Three people is a crowd here; 30 is a very civilized riot. —Nat Cheshire 19 High St., 64/(0) 9-307-0731. This appeared in the March/April 2013 issue. Read more about Nat Cheshire's Britomart neighborhood of Auckland . By Afar Magazine"

"Saturday morning and this is the place to be to get a true slice of the Pacific. The Otara Flea Markets have rows and rows of fresh fruit, clothing, bric-a-brac and of course food, but it's the Polynesian colour and music that makes it so special. Far from the traditional shop fronts of Queen Street, this is where commerce meets culture and you can pick up a mighty decent bag of apples for $1.50."

"Brave New World World is probably the most eclectic shop in Auckland , a "Factory of Ideas and Experiments" specializing in women, men, and beauty. Last time I was in one of the stores I spied everything from Fornasetti candles to stuffed animals to mustard-colored trousers. The staff are just as diverse and interesting—always ready to share a story about the item that's just caught your eye—and you get the feeling they have a genuine love for everything in the store. World is best described as "different," and if you're looking for something to take home, something found nowhere else in Auckland, you've come to the right place. Photo: flickr."