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Regions are presented here in order from north to south. Click here for a simple map of the regions highlighted (might be inhibited by popup blockers). Northland/Bay of Islands The home of New Zealand's first inhabitants, Northland features rolling countryside, tidal estuaries and mangroves, island-studded bays and long beaches. The climate is subtropical, with warm summers and mild winters. This region has the oldest European villages in New Zealand, and it is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed by Europeans and Maori to unite them as one nation. Auckland Located at the Southern end of the Auckland Peninsula, Auckland is the country's largest urban area and the centre of commerce and industry. It has a warm coastal climate without temperature extremes - the lowest average daily temperature is 14 degrees Celsius (57 Fahrenheit). Auckland offers beautiful beaches and a modern city environment. Bay of Plenty The Bay of Plenty was discovered around 1350 by Maori, and it was the first region they made their home. It was named in 1769 by Captain James Cook. The region features a warm climate, with winter lows around 12 degress Celsius (54 Fahrenheit). The center, Tauranga, offers an urban lifestyle at a more relaxed pace than Auckland. The region houses some of the country's most popular beaches, as well as countless orchards of mainly citrus and kiwifruit. Ruapehu Most notable in this region is Mount Ruapehu, in the Tongariro World Heritage Park, which makes up most of the region. Mount Ruapehu is an active volcano, and it has mini-eruptions every year or so. Two of New Zealand's largest ski areas are located on Mount Ruapehu. Also in the region are the Whanganui National Park and Whanganui River. Hawke's Bay Hawke's Bay Wine Country is one of three major winemaking regions in New Zealand. The area features a sunny climate, sandy beaches, fresh water lakes, and caves, as well as the Cape Kidnappers Gannet Sanctuary, which is the largest mainland colony in the world. The main city in the region, Napier, was destroyed in 1931 by an earthquake and fire and rebuilt in Art Deco style. It has one of the highest concentration of Art Deco building in the world. Nearby Hastings, destroyed in the same natural disaster, sports a Spanish mission style. Hawke's Bay Wine Country Wellington New Zealand's capital, Wellington is located on the shores of a deep harbour and surrounded by wooded hills. With over 400 restaurants, Wellington's inner city has earned the nickname "Cafe Capital of New Zealand." Also located here are the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and various national dance, drama, opera and musical groups. Wellington features a cool climate, with average high temperature in summer of 20 degrees Celsius (69 Fahrenheit) and low temperature in winter of 8 degrees Celsius (46 Fahrenheit). Nelson Named for Admiral Lord Nelson, Nelson is situated around Tasman and Golden Bays on the South Island and is surrounded by mountain ranges, giving it a Mediterranean climate. It is New Zealand's second-oldest city and is also home to 22 wineries, boosted by the climate. Winter temperatures are similar to those in Wellington, but temperatures during the summer can reach 22 degrees Celsius (71 Fahrenheit). West Coast The West Coast of the South Island stretches 600 km and is located between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea. It is well-known for its dramatic scenery, including soaring mountains, glaciers, rainforests, tranquil lakes and raging rivers. The West Coast boasts five of New Zealand's fourteen national parks and was described by Rudyard Kipling as "the last, loneliest, loveliest, exquisite apart". West Coast of the Southern Alps Christchurch Christchurch is the South Island's largest city and chief international gateway. It has all the amenities of an urban lifestyle but the pace is relaxed. It has been nicknamed "The Garden City" because of its expansive parks and public gardens. Climate is cool, with winter temperatures sometimes dropping to just above freezing. Mount Cook/Mackenzie Country Mount Cook (Aoraki in Maori) is New Zealand's highest peak at 3,754m. On one side of this mountain is the Tasman Glacier, which, at 30km, is one of the largest outside of the Himalayas. Mount Cook was first conquered in 1894 by New Zealanders Tom Fyfe, George Graham and Jack Clarke. Discover New Zealand: Mount Cook Fiordland Fiordland is renowned as a Sightseeing and Walking capital. It features waterfalls tumbling over hundreds of metres into forested valleys and glacier-carved fiords. Author Paul Theroux featured this region heavily in the chronicles of his travels in the South Pacific, The Happy Isles of Oceania. Southland/Stewart Island New Zealand's southern-most region, Southland features primeval forests, yellow sandy beaches and bird and sea life, as well as cafes, museums and historic buildings. Temperatures in Southland generally range from 1 to 18 degrees Celsius (34 to 64 Fahrenheit). Southland also features New Zealand's third island, Stewart Island, which is isolated and unspoiled. Other Regions For information on regions not featured here, please visit Tourism New Zealand Online.
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