Treasure Islands:
Do great things on your
first trip to New Zealand
First-timers’ guide to New Zealand: Choosing between North or South Islands
At last, the bubble is starting to inflate... It’s getting bigger and bigger, stretching out across the Tasman Sea to cover New Zealand. But now you can play in this beautiful big bubble, you have another dilemma—if it’s your first time to New Zealand, should I visit the North or South Island?
Your choices are way bigger than you imagine. It isn’t just a question of the South vs North Island in New Zealand, there are so many untouched islands to explore. Some travellers will love the wine regions and food, others the largest cities, some will prefer the quaint small towns, still others will want to climb the Southern Alps and ski their way down.
So, where do you start? That’s the question that we’re here to help you answer. We’re going to take a Kiwi bird’s eye view over New Zealand’s North vs South—and all the islands in between— to help you plan your next holiday.
Adventures to the real Middle Earth
In New Zealand, an adventure of a thousand miles begins with a single step. But, once you start walking, it’s nearly impossible to stop. Let’s take our first step in the north and keep moving south.
New Zealand’s North Island boasts the country’s two largest cities, Auckland, and Wellington, both of which are set on magnificent harbours. Do you love adventures in cities? Start here with these two very different cities offering a classic Kiwi twist on world-class dining, arts, and culture.
Auckland is one of the world’s most livable cities. This cosmopolitan city is also close to surfing and swimming beaches, hiking trails and stunning landscapes, including the Bay of Islands and Waiheke Island.
Two hours south of Auckland by road, journey into the land of Hobbiton featured in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies. Here you can explore the lush pastures of the Shire and take a guided walking tour of the movie set.
As we make our way to the South Island, we arrive in the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown, where there is no shortage of thrill- seeking activities for all ages. Here, you can discover an endless list of adrenalin-fueled activities: Skydiving, bungy jumping, zip-lining, paragliding, cliff-walking, white water rafting and jet boating.
Do all this even before you jump into a helicopter and fly to the top of Mt Cook in the Southern Alps and ski down. Then do it again. On the Southern Island, few places come close to matching the number and variety of exciting adventures.
The land that time couldn’t forget
The natural wonders of New Zealand are simply unforgettable and like no other. It’s truly incredible just how unique and different the North and South Island are to one another. The one thing that they share is that they will take your breath away.
Make your Instagram the envy of your friends with posts from the North Island boasting geothermal wonders, volcanic landscapes, and neon lakes. In Rotorua, find boiling mud pools, giant geysers, and acid-green lakes. From here the geothermal activity stretches to Coromandel Peninsula where you can dig your own spa bath on Hot Water Beach.
Head down south and you’ll discover an unforgettable coastline that takes in mountains, fjords and lakes. On the West Coast of the South Island, discover the 12km Franz Josef Glacier. The south is also home to eight of the ten biggest lakes in New Zealand including Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki with their vivid turquoise water.
THE NATURAL WONDERS OF
NEW ZEALAND ARE SIMPLY UNFORGETTABLE AND LIKE NO OTHER. IT'S TRULY INCREDIBLE JUST HOW UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT THE NORTH AND SOUTH ISLAND ARE TO ONE OTHER.
On the west coast, discover one of the south islands and one of the southern hemisphere’s natural wonders—Milford Sound. Here plunging cliffs and raging waterfalls meet to create New Zealand’s wild side. Continue south and you’ll find the snow-capped Southern Alps, which includes the country’s largest mountain, Mt Cook.
Meet Maori culture
Maoritanga, or the Maori way of life, is all around you in the land of the long white cloud. But no place more so than the North Island where the vast majority of New Zealand’s Maori people reside.
To really immerse yourself in Maori culture, head for Rotorua. Take in a cultural performance at a local Marae, or Māori meeting place. Try hangi, a traditional Māori food of meats and vegetables slow cooked to perfection using heated rocks in a pit oven.
Explore the central North Island through to Waitangi in the Bay of Islands to discover and experience more of the Maori heritage.
Pairing food and wine regions
New Zealand is a heaven for foodies, producing some of the world’s most sought-after fresh food and wine. Go straight to the source to discover an abundance on both the North and South Islands.
On the North Island, delight your tastebuds at some of New Zealand’s award-winning restaurants in Auckland and Wellington. But venture out of these cities to discover amazingly fresh food in coastal port towns like Mangonui. Have you ever enjoyed geothermal-farmed prawns and other Maori delicacies? No, well head to Taupo where you can.
What to pair this great food with? Discover the wine regions of Hawke’s Bay, known for its red wines like Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Then there’s the Maori area of Gisborne known for its Chardonnays.
ON THE SOUTH ISLAND, YOU ENTER A MORE SPARSELY POPULATED REGION, BUT MOST ABUNDANTLY POPULATED WITH FARMLANDS AND AWARD-WINNING VINEYARDS.
On the South Island, you enter a more sparsely populated region, but most abundantly populated with farmlands and award-winning vineyards. Venture to Marlborough, the country’s largest wine-making region with around 65 wineries producing some of the best Sauvignon Blancs. Further south in Canterbury and the lakes around Queenstown you also have plenty more wineries to explore.
In Kaikoura in northern Canterbury, you’ll find fresh lobsters and crayfish sold in caravans along the coastal highway. Don’t forget, New Zealand is famous for her sheep and lamb dishes, so you’ll find no better spot to enjoy some Canterbury lamb than in Christchurch.
Ski south to a natural high
If you are a snow seeker, fly south for the winter. From June to October, snow transforms New Zealand’s alpine landscapes and mountain ranges into winter wonderlands.
In the Southern Alps around Queenstown, there are four epic mountains: The Remarkables, Cardrona, Coronet Peak and Treble Cone.
Then within an hour or two of Christchurch, you’ll find the Canterbury region with even more choice from family-friendly beginner runs to pristine backcountry powder.
Further afield, head up Aoraki Mt Cook, to look out from atop of New Zealand’s highest mountain and discover Edmund Hilary’s training ground for his ascent of Everest.
Nearby in the Canterbury-Southern Alps region, there are a number of boutique ski fields to be explored—Ohau, Roundhill and Mt Dobson. With few queues and uncrowded slopes, you’re never being freer to make your own tracks in the fresh snow.
North or South: Your choice isn’t All Blacks or All White
There are so many options for your first time to New Zealand’s North or South Island. Picking just one island is no easy black or white choice. Go north if you are more into the buzz of the largest cities, culture, and endless beaches. But if you are more into adventure, go south. Whichever island you choose first it doesn’t matter— you’ll be back to explore the other island.
One choice that's easier to make is to travel with your American Express Card. If you have an eligible card, discover Fine Hotels + Resorts1 or The Hotel Collection5, which offers you some of the best accommodation in New Zealand. Some cards also come with complimentary insurances2, airport lounge access and the option to transfer Membership Rewards points to major Airline and Hotel Reward Partner Programs3.
To make your life a little simpler, you can choose from a few ways to make your Card payments. American Express Plan It® gives you a flexible option that allows you to pay down recent eligible purchases or your balance in monthly instalments with 0% p.a. interest, however a monthly plan fee applies.4
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- Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR): Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) program benefits are available for new bookings made through American Express Travel with participating properties and are valid only for eligible Platinum Charge Card Members and Centurion® Members. Platinum Credit Card Members who are not also Australian Platinum Charge Card Members or Centurion® Members, are not eligible for FHR program benefits. Bookings must be made using an eligible Card and must be paid using that Card, or another American Express® Card, in the eligible Card Member's name, and that Card Member must be travelling on the itinerary booked. Noon check-in and room upgrade are subject to availability and are provided at check-in; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade. The US$100 credit will be applied to eligible charges up to the amount of the credit. To receive the US$100 credit, the eligible spend must be charged to your hotel room. The US$100 credit will be applied at check-out. Advance reservations are recommended for certain US$100 credits. The type and value of the daily breakfast (for two) varies by property; breakfast will be valued at a minimum of US$60 per room per day. To receive the breakfast credit, the breakfast bill must be charged to your hotel room. The breakfast credit will be applied at check-out. If the cost of Wi-Fi is included in a mandatory property fee, a daily credit of that amount will be applied at check-out. Benefits are applied per room, per stay (with a three-room limit per stay). Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members travelling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional FHR benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the property reserve the right to modify or revoke FHR benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you may have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your FHR benefits. Benefit restrictions vary by property. Benefits cannot be redeemed for cash and are not combinable with other offers unless indicated. Benefits must be used during the stay booked. Any credits applicable are applied at check-out in USD or the local currency equivalent. Benefits, participating properties, and availability and amenities at those properties are subject to change. To be eligible for FHR program benefits, your eligible Card Account must not be cancelled. For additional information, please call the number on the back of your Card.
- The insurance on American Express Cards is subject to terms, conditions and exclusions (such as maximum age limits, pre-existing medical conditions and cover limits). You must use your American Express Card to pay for your trip in order to be covered under the travel insurance and pay for eligible items for those items to be covered under the retail insurance benefits. It is important you read your American Express Card Insurance Terms and Conditions and consider whether the insurance is right for you. We do not provide advice about the insurance or whether it is appropriate for your objectives, financial situation or needs. This insurance is underwritten by Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (ABN 23 001 642 020, AFSL No. 239687) under a group policy of insurance held by American Express Australia Limited (ABN 92 108 952 085, AFSL No. 291313). Access to this insurance is provided solely by reason of the statutory operation of section 48 of the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth). Card Members are not a party to the group policy, do not have an agreement with Chubb and cannot vary or cancel the cover. American Express is not the insurer, does not guarantee or hold the rights under the group policy on trust for Card Members and does not act on behalf of Chubb or as its agent. American Express is not an Authorised Representative (under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)) of Chubb.
- Transfer Points to Partners
To redeem points at any Partner Program you must be a member of the applicable Program. Enrolment in such Programs is solely your responsibility and fees may apply. The minimum requirement and transfer rate varies. Subject to the Membership Rewards Terms and Conditions. - Plan It™ Terms and Conditions. You can create an Instalment Plan as long as your account is in good standing. We may limit the amount that can be transferred to an Instalment Plan. Each Instalment Plan will begin from the date it is successfully created, as communicated to you in your Online Account. Payment of your first Monthly Instalment will be due in your next payment cycle. You will be charged a Monthly Plan Fee for each Instalment Plan created. This fee will be charged each month your Instalment Plan is active and will be notified to you before you create the Instalment Plan. View the full Plan It™ Instalment Terms and Conditions here
- The Hotel Collection (THC) benefits are available for new bookings of two consecutive nights or more, with participating properties, made through Platinum Travel Service, Centurion Travel Service or American Express Travel Online. Bookings are valid only for eligible Card Members of the following American Express Cards: American Express® Rewards Advantage Card, American Express® Explorer Credit Card, American Express® Platinum Reserve Credit Card, American Express® Gold Card, American Express® Gold Business Card, American Express® Business Gold Plus Card, American Express® Platinum Card, American Express® Platinum Business Card and American Express® Centurion Card. Excludes Gold Credit Card Members who are not also Australian Rewards Advantage, Gold or Platinum Charge Card Members. Bookings must be made using an eligible Card and must be paid using that Card, or another American Express® Card, in the eligible Card Member's name, and that Card Member must be travelling on the itinerary booked to be eligible for benefits described. Noon check-in, late check-out and the room upgrade are subject to availability; certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade. The type of US$100 credit and additional amenity (if applicable) varies by property; the US$100 credit will be applied to eligible charges up to US$100. To receive the US$100 credit, the eligible spend must be charged to your hotel room. The US$100 credit will be applied at check-out. Advance reservations are recommended for certain credits. Benefit restrictions vary by property. Benefits are applied per room, per stay (with a three-room limit per stay). Back-to-back stays booked by a single Card Member, Card Members staying in the same room or Card Members traveling in the same party within a 24-hour period at the same property are considered one stay and are ineligible for additional THC benefits (“Prohibited Action”). American Express and the Property reserve the right to modify or revoke the THC benefits at any time without notice if we or they determine, in our or their sole discretion, that you have engaged in a Prohibited Action, or have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with your THC benefits. Benefits cannot be redeemed for cash and are not combinable with other offers unless indicated. Benefits must be used during the stay booked. Any credits applicable are applied at check-out in US Dollars or the local currency equivalent. Benefits, participating properties, and availability and amenities at those properties are subject to change. To be eligible for THC program benefits, your eligible Card Account must not be cancelled. For additional information, call the number on the back of your Card.
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