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 + Resorts or The Hotel Collection1, 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 up to 10 airline partner programs and 2 hotel partners3.
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 off recent transactions or your balance in monthly instalments with 0% p.a. interest, however a monthly plan fee applies.2
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- Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR): Average AU$800 value based on FHR bookings in 2021 for stays of two nights. Actual value will vary based on property, room rate, upgrade availability and use of benefits. Certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade; call Platinum Travel for details. Special amenity and / or Experience Credit and Platinum benefits vary by property; call Platinum Travel for details. Experience credit[s] will be applied to eligible charges up to the amount of the Experience Credit. Advance reservations are recommended for certain Experience Credits. Valid only for new FHR bookings made through Platinum Travel Service, Business Platinum Travel Service, Centurion Travel Service, or American Express Travel Online. Available for Australian Platinum Charge Card Members and Centurion® Members only, and excludes Platinum Credit Card Members such who are not also Australian Platinum Charge Card Members or Centurion Members. Payment must be made in full with an American Express Card in the Australian Platinum Card Member's or Centurion® Member's name. Primary Card Member may be able to use Membership Rewards® points and /or Travel Credit on the American Express Travel website or on request through Platinum Travel Service or Centurion Travel Service, as payment towards FHR, if the selected hotel and room type provides you the option to prepay in advance. Platinum Card Member or Centurion Member must travel on itinerary booked to be eligible for benefits described. Benefit restrictions vary by FHR property and cannot be redeemed for cash, and may not be combined with other offers unless indicated. Benefits and additional FHR promotions are only applied at checkout and expire at checkout. Participating FHR properties and benefits are subject to change. Limit one benefit package per room, per stay. Three room limit per Card Member, 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 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.
- Benefits vary by property; call Platinum Travel Service or Centurion Travel Service for details.- 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.
- Certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade; call Platinum Travel Service or Centurion Travel Service for details.
- Complimentary In-Room Wi-Fi is provided. In the case where a Property includes cost of Wi-Fi in a mandatory resort fee, the Card Member will receive a daily credit from the Property in the standard amount that the Property charges for Wi-Fi. The credit will be issued on the Card Member's final statement upon check-out.
The Hotel Collection (THC):Valid only for new THC bookings of a minimum of two consecutive nights with participating providers made through American Express Travel Online (americanexpress.com.au/travel or americanexpress.com.au/thc), Platinum Travel Service or Centurion Travel Service. Online bookings currently only available to Primary Card Members. Available 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® Platinum Card, American Express® Business Platinum Card® and American Express® Centurion Card. Excludes Gold Credit Card Members who are not also Australian Rewards Advantage, Gold or Platinum Charge Card Members. Payment must be made in full with an eligible American Express Card in the Card Member’s name. Card Member must travel on itinerary booked to be eligible for benefits described. Primary Card Member may be able to use Membership Rewards® points and the Platinum Travel Credit on the American Express Travel website or on request through Platinum Travel Service or Centurion Travel Service as payment towards THC, if the selected hotel and room type provides you the option to prepay in advance. The eligible Card Member will receive the credit as a deduction from the final hotel bill when checking out of the hotel; they will receive $1 for each eligible dollar spent up to US$100. Eligible spend includes dining, spa and resort activities. Eligible spend does not include charges for taxes, gratuities, fees and cost of room. Additional exclusions based on specific hotel restrictions may also apply (including without limitation purchases within the hotel that are unaffiliated and/or owned by third parties) - see hotel front desk for details. Credit must be used in conjunction with initial stay and cannot be carried over to another stay, is not redeemable for cash and expires at check-out. Credit is non-exchangeable and non-refundable and is applied in USD or equivalent in local currency based on exchange rate on day of arrival. Limit one credit per room, per stay. Three-room limit per Card Member 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. If an eligible Card Member cancels their room, any additional rooms will no longer qualify for benefits as the eligible Card Member must be staying at the hotel. Participating providers and benefits subject to change. Taxes, surcharges and additional fees are as supplied by the hotel at the time of reservation; however they are subject to change and will be charged as applicable at the time of settlement of your hotel account. Note that payments made in foreign currencies will be subject to a foreign currency conversion and fee at the time of payment upon departure. A one category room upgrade is based on availability and eligibility at check-in to the hotel.
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