Exploring Cultural New Zealand

Tauranga - the largest city in the Bay of Plenty - was once home to three Maori tribes and visual evidence of early settlement can be seen dotted around the hills surrounding the harbour.[ReadmoreMob] Today it is a vibrant and attractive modern city, with many scenic walking routes, a pretty waterfront and plenty of cafes, shops and pubs to discover and enjoy.

Captain Cook - the first European to arrive here - named this area picturesque part of the world the “Bay of Plenty” and was followed by many 19th century missionaries. In Tauranga, the Elms Mission House dates from this period and is furnished in the same way as when it was home to the Reverend Alfred Brown and his family. His four-poster bed and his desk, complete with quill pen, are on show, along with household equipment, including a hand plough.

Mount Maunganui, overlooking the town and harbour, offers spectacular views for those energetic enough to hike to the top, while at the base of the hill, the Mount Hot Pools are the only hot sea-water pools in the country – they are filled with naturally heated salt water.

Situated at the heart of New Zealand’s Marlborough region, Picton is an ideal gateway between the north and south islands. But this charming little coastal township is much more than a stop-off point for tourists and travellers, it’s a destination worth visiting, exploring and enjoying in its own right.

Nestled within Shakespeare Bay, peaceful Picton is surrounded by beautifully scenic landscapes of rolling forested hills and valleys, and turquoise waters that beg for exploration. There are spectacular walking trails, passing through coastal forests, sandy bays and peaks that present superb views of Picton and across glorious waterways nearby, while you could opt to take to the Marlborough Sounds by boat in search of native marine life. The sounds are alive with dolphins, orcas, humpback whales, penguins, various seabird species, and much more.

From Picton, the Marlborough wine region – famous for its delicious Sauvignon Blanc – is within reach too; on tour, you can visit one of the local vineyards to learn about the local tipples, how they’re produced, and of course sample some of the finest wines at source.

Well known for it's picturesque natural harbour and pretty hillsides dotted with colonial villas, Wellington is one of the world's most beautiful capital cities. It attracts visitors from around the globe who come to explore the famous setting of a host of blockbuster movies including the Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong and Avatar and sample the vibrant culture and atmosphere found within the city centre.

There's never a dull day in Wellington and thanks to the city's relatively small size, you can enjoy the diverse array of sites and attractions on offer without wasting hours travelling from place to place. Explore the abundance of boutiques, shops, fine restaurants and trendy galleries in the city, then wander the rolling hills and rugged coastline via stunning walking and hiking trails. Or if you prefer, you can always head to Oriental Bay - the inner city beach - and while away the hours on the golden sands.

The winner of several international awards as a garden city, Christchurch has some stunning parks and public spaces, including the 160-hectare city-centre Hagley Park, Botanic Gardens and delightful tree-lined avenues. It also has some fine 19th century buildings, including the home of the Canterbury Museum which includes a 19th century Christchurch street, as well as displays reflecting the city’s Maori, Pacific and European heritage.

Christchurch was built around the Anglican cathedral, which is the best-known church building in the country. In Cathedral Square there is an outdoor market where it’s possible to buy everything from bone carvings to healthcare products – and much more. In the city centre, former warehouses and factories have now been restored as boutiques, restaurants and bars. The Centre of Contemporary Art is also interesting to visit, with five galleries and over 50 exhibitions each year.

One of the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the southern hemisphere, Dunedin has such a British feel that it is affectionately known as the ‘Edinburgh of New Zealand’. The city’s charm is in its enchanting beauty – it is surrounded by dramatic hills and situated at a picturesque harbour – and in it’s rich history and culture.

As Dunedin is relatively small, and easy to explore, it doesn’t take much to become fully immersed in the delights of this place; highlights and attractions appear at every turn it seems, from gothic churches and ornate grand mansions to streets overflowing with art, shopping and culinary treats and sleepy, elegant parks. Amongst the beautiful outskirts of the city, the surrounding hinterlands and their white sand beaches, hidden coves, dramatic cliffs and sweeping plateaus await discovery too.

With your smaller ship docking at nearby Port Chalmers, gateway to Dunedin, all this and more is yours to discover and explore.

Established in 1824, Bluff is one of New Zealand’s oldest European settlements, steeped in the rich, varied history and heritage of seafaring, whaling, sealing and shipping industries that thrived here over the decades. For an insight into this fascinating past, Bluff’s Maritime Museum – with its array of interesting exhibits and displays – is a must-visit attraction.

Today, maritime industry remains an important part of life here. Bluff is a key port for ferries to and from Stewart Island, and a gateway for those embarking on an exploration of New Zealand’s Southlands. But, what Bluff is arguably best known for now is its world-famous oysters, which have been caught here since the late 1870s and are considered some of the finest and tastiest available – a claim that’s celebrated at Bluff’s iconic Food and Oyster Festival every May.

Aside from delving into deep history, and sampling delicious locally sourced seafood, you can be at one with nature during a visit to Bluff too; there are coastal walking routes to trail, spectacular landscapes to discover and picturesque waterways to sail. And, while you’re visiting, your time in Bluff isn’t complete without stopping by Stirling Point to have a photo with the famous signpost.

Located deep within New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, Dusky Sound was discovered by Captain Cook in 1773 and is one of the country’s longest, most picturesque and – with no direct road access – one of the most remote fjords. Surrounded by huge mountains, tall sea cliffs and lush flora, Dusky Sound doesn’t just look incredible, but it also serves as an important breeding ground for a diverse range of birds, especially Fiordland Penguins, which are often spotted on the shore.

Within the mesmeric still waters, varied species of seal are often spotted too - as well as dolphins and whales – so be sure to have your binoculars and camera at the ready as you glide through one of the world’s most incredible natural wonders.

Despite its name, Doubtful Sound isn’t actually a sound at all. It’s actually a very large, very beautiful fjord, one that offers incredible mountain scenery, glass-like crystal clear waters and several stunning waterfalls to gaze in awe at.

The most impressive of all the sights within the fjord are arguably Helena Falls – an incredible 600 metre waterfall that crashes down into the fjord below – and the imposing Secretary Island – the largest island of a beautiful archipelago at the ‘sea-end’ of the fjord.

Be sure to keep an eye out for native bottlenose dolphins as they swim and play in the glorious fjord waters surrounding the ship, as well as fur seals, penguins and if you’re lucky, several whale species.

This really is more than just a port of call, as the wonderful scenery has earned this region of New Zealand a reputation as a significant sightseeing destination for anyone travelling to this part of the world. James Hingston described it perfectly in 1883 - "For thousands of feet upwards the eye looks upon straight cut rocky frontages, not worn smooth by time, or by wind or water, but as sharply defined and as fresh looking in all respects as if riven asunder but yesterday by the stupendous wedges of Titanic Masons.“

Sydney, Australia is one of the world's most exciting, must-see modern cities. Home to the famous Harbour Bridge and Opera House – two of the most iconic cityscapes on Earth – the capital of New South Wales has a visual wow factor that most other cities can only dream of.

Defined by the rugged Pacific coastline that surrounds it, Sydney is a timeless, cosmopolitan metropolis that is easy to fall in love with. The imposing Darling Harbour, plus the smaller Circular Quay Port are the hubs of waterside life, with the revered Royal Botanic Garden nearby. For the more adventurous, Sydney Tower’s outdoor platform, the Skywalk, offers 360-degree views of the city and suburbs.

Compared with its Australian counterparts, Sydney is loud and brash. It has glamour and casualness in equal measure: there is a balance between the beach culture found on Bondi Beach and the fine dining and vibrant nightlife found in Kings Cross and Oxford Street.

Museums and memorials abound and include The Australian Museum, which opened in 1857 with the purpose of displaying the natural wealth of the colony, and the modern Museum of Sydney, which details the city's development. The Anzac War Memorial in Hyde Park is a public memorial dedicated to the achievement of Australia's armed forces in World War I.

The neoclassical Greek frontage of the NSW Art Gallery underlines the prominent and gregarious role art has in Sydney society. Major international exhibitions regularly arrive here and there's an outstanding permanent collection of indigenous art. And everything that’s best in contemporary Australian cuisine can be found at Circular Quay and The Rocks.

For those wanting to escape the city and go off the beaten path, the spectacular Blue Mountain or the Australian Bush offer spectacular sights and experiences. Sydney Harbour National Park protects large swathes of bushland, while Botany Bay’s history and connection to Britain is a big draw.