Sydney to Auckland

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At just one-hour south west of Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road, Geelong is known for its enviable position. The city’s proximity to the capital (not to mention its welcoming waterfront on Port Phillip Bay) have made the city a magnet for Merlbournian weekenders in recent years, so expect a young, hip city vibe permeating the Geelong pavements.Geelong was known as an agricultural and pastoral town in the past. During the Australian Gold Rush of the 1850, Geelong became an industrial centre becoming one of Australia’s centre points wool mills, rope works, and paper mills. Vestiges of these bygone days still stand, with the National Wool Museum and the Old Geelong Gaol imperative visits for historians. By the 1960s population stood at 100,000, although gentrification of the suburbs means that the city is now experiencing record growth, economic development and investment. The results can be seen in the vibrant waterfront precinct, the Art Deco Eastern Beach and by the number of holiday makers increasing each year.Unsurprisingly, the great outdoors takes pride of place here. Water sports and beach combing are popular, but let’s not forget that at just one hour from the You Yangs National Park and Serendip Sanctuary koala, kangaroo and other wildlife spotting is a must. This is wine country too, and the city’s surrounding region is known for some of the loveliest tasting wines in Australia. If neither koalas not cabernet is your bag, then head for the city centre for plenty of shopping options

Straddling the Derwent River at the foot of Mt. Wellington’s forested slopes, Hobart was founded as a penal settlement in 1803. It’s the second-oldest city in the country after Sydney, and it certainly rivals its mainland counterpart as Australia’s most beautiful state capital. Close-set colonial brick-and-sandstone shops and homes line the narrow, quiet streets, creating a genteel setting for this historic city of 215,000. Life revolves around the broad Derwent River port, one of the deepest harbors in the world. Here warehouses that once stored Hobart’s major exports of fruit, wool, and corn and products from the city’s former whaling fleet still stand alongside the wharf today.Hobart sparkles between Christmas and New Year’s—summer Down Under—during the annual Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race. The event dominates conversations among Hobart’s citizens, who descend on Constitution Dock to welcome the yachts and join in the boisterous festivities of the crews. The New Year also coincides with the Tastes of Tasmania Festival, when the dockside area comes alive with the best of Tasmanian food and wine on offer in numerous cafés, bars, and waterfront stalls. Otherwise, Hobart is a placid city whose nightlife is largely confined to excellent restaurants, jazz clubs, and the action at the Wrest Point Casino in Sandy Bay.The Hobart Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre hours are weekdays 8:30–5:30 and Saturday 9–5.

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Mount Wellington’s looming cloud-wisped form is an ever-present sight as you explore booming Hobart the cosmopolitan capital of Australia’s most southerly state. A former British penal colony nowadays Australia’s second-oldest city is a place to live the free and easy life. Encircled by dramatic cliffs landscaped gardens and rolling vineyards Hobart is also well stacked with cultural pursuits including museums and respected – if controversial – galleries plastering new and old art to their walls. With fresh sea breezes and a fabulous location Hobart is a creative place where you can browse the produce of local artisans in Saturday’s massive Salamanca Market – which draws visitors from all across Tasmania and beyond. Eat at waterfront restaurants or rise up Mount Wellington’s slopes to appreciate the remoteness of Hobart’s location. From this elevated platform you can look down across views of flowing forests undulating mountains and endless ocean swallowing up the city. Further away animal sanctuaries introduce you to the island’s famous inhabitants including the famous Tasmanian devil. Thirsty? Hobart has a long brewing tradition – so enjoy a refreshing ale poured from the country’s oldest brewery. The climate’s blend of generous sunshine and cool Antarctic breezes helps Hobart to produce its acclaimed wines and thick clumps of pinot noir grapes hang from vineyards dotted along the valleys nearby. Taste the wines accompanied by a platter of artisan cheese and sausage.

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Port Arthur, a historically somber UNESCO World Heritage site, sits in over 40 hectares of beautiful, landscaped grounds, close to the Tasman National Park, itself famed for its dramatic beauty.Today, Port Arthur brings the story of Australia’s colonial history to life through stories of the very people who lived here.A major site for punishing transported convicts who had further offended since deportation, many thousands of prisoners passed through the penal colony at one time or another. Throughout its history it has been a place of both torturous punishment and for some of the luckier ones, educational opportunity.Partly restored ruins of the colony and church, built with great skill by convicts in the 1830’s and the aptly named Island of the Dead, an island cemetery for convicts, are today prime attractions. This is a place jam packed with history, vividly brought to life by well informed guides and displays, it’s a moving and engrossing visit. In sharp contrast to the convicts, visitors are free to wander and explore.Turn up after dark, to look for evidence of the spookier side of Port Arthur, as part of the very popular ghost tour – Lit only by lanterns, the tour takes you through some of the most infamous buildings, quite different at nightfall. The guides will fill you in on some of the stranger goings on that have been noted in what is considered the most haunted place in Australia. The daily tourists departed, the long gone seem really quite close!

European whaling ships first called at Otago Province during the early decades of the 1800s, yielding a mixed response from the native Māori. In 1848 Dunedin was settled, and by the mid-1860s the city was the economic hub of the Otago gold rush. Dunedin’s historical wealth endures in such institutions as the University of Otago, the oldest in the country. But if any region can bring out the bird-watcher in you, this is it; the area is home to the Royal Albatross and yellow-eyed penguins.

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The south-easterly coast of New Zealand’s wild southern island is a haven for outdoor adventures with masses of raw scenic beauty and thrilling coastline. Heading the Otago Harbour Dunedin is a cosmopolitan city of culture and architectural splendour with a distinctly tartan flare.Searing bagpipes echo down the streets in the Edinburgh of the South which wears its Scottish origins proudly. Gothic revival architecture is scattered liberally including the magnificent university – with its glorious clocktower – and the city’s grand cathedral. The railway station is perhaps the pick of this city’s many artistic structures. Its glowing gardens and pretty mosaics add extra detail to the elegant gingerbread building. The melodramatic coastline of the Otago Peninsula boasts dramatic cliffs and sea-sprayed beaches as well as an abundance of animals. Explore cliffs laced with tunnels and hidden walkways to get you up close and personal with Yellow-eyed penguins. Sea lions and seals also sprawl out on windswept beaches drifting in and out of indulgent dozes. Not that Dunedin is lacking a distinctly quirky personality of its own as showcased by the event where locals race thousands of chocolate orbs down the world’s steepest street – Baldwin Street. Museums in the city tell of Chinese influences as well as the stories of early Maori settlers. Round off an active day sampling a South Island institution – an icy beer from Speight’s Brewery.

Situated almost equidistant between Christchurch and Dunedin, Timaru has oft been overlooked by those just needing to get from one city to another but more fool them! The town’s name comes from the Māori name Te Maru, meaning ‘place of shelter’ and the pretty town reveals not only stunning Middle Earth landscape and views to write home about, but an intact Victorian / Edwardian shopping precinct with many of the building being built in local volcanic bluestone. Understandably, beach life is very important here and the long ribbons of white sandy beaches and clean seas are perfect for a swimming, sunning and spoiling yourself! Voted one of New Zealand’s top 10 most loved beaches, Caroline Bay is simply a treasure. Built on the rolling hills created from the lava flows of the extinct Mt Horrible volcano, Timaru is a melting pot of culture, history, adventure and dramatic scenery. Art lovers too will not be left wanting as the city’s art gallery holds the third largest public art collection in the South Island. Walking enthusiasts will not want to miss one of the many walks along the coast or rivers that vary from short paved paths – ideal for pushchairs and wheelchairs to longer, more strenuous hikes. Well signposted and maintained, these tracks are especially beautiful in the autumn when the leaves are turning colour. And do not forget to be on the lookout for penguins, which will happily waddle alongside you some of the way!

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Named by the Maoris as Te Maru – which translates as ‘Place of Shelter’ – you’re guaranteed a warm and refreshing welcome here. The location means Timaru has understandably been adopted as something of a pitstop for road trips by many but with charming Edwardian architecture a lively port and prime fishing opportunities – there is a lot to keep you hooked. Beachside charm awaits at Caroline Bay while birds tweet and chatter in the botanical gardens where pink and purple petalled flowers unfold. The diverse museum exhibits everything from aviation history to hunting wares and whaling tusks – and the town boasts the third biggest art gallery in all of New Zealand – which is adorned with colour and creativity. Paths weave along the stunning coastline with waves washing below and seabirds soaring on the breeze. Caroline Bay’s beaches are also home to a colony of blue penguins who return to the shelter of their sandy burrows as the sun dips. If you choose to venture inland you can witness the rise of mighty Mount Cook and the glorious glaciers that spill down from its icy heights. Head to the glowing turquoise Lake Pukaki for some of the best of New Zealand’s cinematic fantasy landscapes and to immerse yourself in the mystical settings where scenes from The Hobbit films were shot. Hike the lake – surrounded by the majesty of the Southern Alps – or cycle pathways alongside scenic salmon-filled waterways.

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With pretty painted cottages, overflowing verdant balconies and street names such as Rue Lavaud and Fleur Lane, you could be forgiven for thinking that you have stepped onto the streets of Provence upon arrival in Akaroa. And yet, here you are, in New Zealand’s South Island, less than 50 kilometres from Christchurch.The French connection stems from 1838, when Captain Jean Francois Langlois acquired the land for six British pounds (and questionable circumstances) from the Maoris. He then travelled home to France in order to bring back anyone who might want to join him in his new life. However, during his travels, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed (signatories included two Akaroa Maori chiefs) and New Zealand’s first Governor, Hobson, declared sovereignty over the whole of New Zealand. Thus when Langlois and his settlers arrived back, they were faced with a choice: either return home to France or stay on. They chose the latter, and their legacy prevails.There are many stunning places on the coast of New Zealand, but none of them can quite hold a candle to Akaroa. Visually, it is stunning. Surrounded by natural wonders, the town (Maori for “Long Harbour”) stands on a peninsula formed by two volcanic cones, and is self-styled as nature’s playground. Such a moniker might seem superlative for other destinations, but not here: sheep graze almost right to the water’s edge, dolphins are regularly spotted in the many small, secluded bays and Lord of the Rings grandeur stretches as far as the eye can see.

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Lodged between high mountains and the Pacific Ocean, on New Zealand’s South Island, it is said that no two views in Kaikoura are the same. Look left, and you’ll see snow caped peaks and rolling meadows. Look right, and you’ll see seals hauling out on rugged shores. Look straight ahead and you’ll see nothing except the wide expanse of the Pacific.Kaikoura’s claim to fame is its rich abundance of marine life. Visitors have a 95% chance of spotting giant sperm whales, as well as dusky dolphins, orcas and humpback whales, regardless of whether you are travelling by boat or by air. Additionally, New Zealand Fur Seals live in the shallow waters of the town’s peninsula, and surely there can be no greater experience than swimming alongside the playful marine mammal in its natural habitat. Very little is known about the town’s Māori history, although the word “Kaikoura” translates in the Māori language as a ‘meal of crayfish’ (‘kai’ meaning ‘food’, ‘koura’ meaning ‘crayfish’). In Māori legend, the great fisherman Maui placed his foot on the Kaikoura peninsula to steady himself while he fished the North Island from the sea with his fishhook taken from his grandmother’s jaw-bone. The legend attracted Māori settlers to the coast, and several of their settlements (pa) can still be seen from the peninsula.More recently, Captain Cook discovered the region in 1770, although believed it to be an island. European settlers began a thriving whaling trade in the 1840s, which only ceased in the mid-1960s.

The population center of the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing cities. Along with its neighbor, Whakatane, this seaside city claims to be one of the country’s sunniest towns. Unlike most local towns, Tauranga doesn’t grind to a halt in the off-season, because it has one of the busiest ports in the country, and the excellent waves at the neighboring beach resort of Mount Maunganui—just across Tauranga’s harbor bridge—always draw surfers and holiday folk.

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Tauranga is New Zealand’s sunny capital – with wide sweeping beaches and surfers curling across cresting waves. Climb to the top for spectacular views of the natural harbour or take winding coastal footpaths to explore the unfolding scenery. An entry point to the vast indent of the Bay of Plenty the volcanic peak of Mount Maunganui is a fittingly dramatic welcome. Brooding geothermal energy creates spectacular natural attractions across this region while plunging waterfalls and fascinating Maori culture ensures that the Bay of Plenty has a lot to offer visitors. Said to receive New Zealand’s highest amount of sunshine the hanging kiwi citrus fruit and avocados add an exotic touch to the area’s landscape – especially around Te Puke. Vibrant teal and orange colours await at the stunning geothermal area of Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve where mud pools bubble and steam rises from the earth. There are more hot pools and some of the country’s best scenery at Lake Rotoiti – where you can kayak across the smooth surface and enter a cave that glows gentle blue with its darkened roof illuminated by glittering glow worms. Enter New Zealand’s fantasy world with a visit to some of the country’s celebrated filming spots – which have featured as doubles for JRR Tolkien’s Middle Earth’s fantasy settings. Offshore the wonderful White Island’s volcanic cone peeks from the waves and New Zealand’s most active volcano certainly knows how to put on a show belching out smoke across the water.

Auckland is called the City of Sails, and visitors flying in will see why. On the East Coast is the Waitemata Harbour—a Māori word meaning sparkling waters—which is bordered by the Hauraki Gulf, an aquatic playground peppered with small islands where many Aucklanders can be found “mucking around in boats.”Not surprisingly, Auckland has some 70,000 boats. About one in four households in Auckland has a seacraft of some kind, and there are 102 beaches within an hour’s drive; during the week many are quite empty. Even the airport is by the water; it borders the Manukau Harbour, which also takes its name from the Māori language and means solitary bird.According to Māori tradition, the Auckland isthmus was originally peopled by a race of giants and fairy folk. When Europeans arrived in the early 19th century, however, the Ngāti-Whātua tribe was firmly in control of the region. The British began negotiations with the Ngāti-Whātua in 1840 to purchase the isthmus and establish the colony’s first capital. In September of that year the British flag was hoisted to mark the township’s foundation, and Auckland remained the capital until 1865, when the seat of government was moved to Wellington. Aucklanders expected to suffer from the shift; it hurt their pride but not their pockets. As the terminal for the South Sea shipping routes, Auckland was already an established commercial center. Since then the urban sprawl has made this city of approximately 1.3 million people one of the world’s largest geographically.A couple of days in the city will reveal just how developed and sophisticated Auckland is—the Mercer City Survey 2012 saw it ranked as the third-highest city for quality of life—though those seeking a New York in the South Pacific will be disappointed. Auckland is more get-up and go-outside than get-dressed-up and go-out. That said, most shops are open daily, central bars and a few nightclubs buzz well into the wee hours, especially Thursday through Saturday, and a mix of Māori, Pacific people, Asians, and Europeans contributes to the cultural milieu. Auckland has the world’s largest single population of Pacific Islanders living outside their home countries, though many of them live outside the central parts of the city and in Manukau to the south. The Samoan language is the second most spoken in New Zealand. Most Pacific people came to New Zealand seeking a better life. When the plentiful, low-skilled work that attracted them dried up, the dream soured, and the population has suffered with poor health and education. Luckily, policies are now addressing that, and change is slowly coming. The Pacifica Festival in March is the region’s biggest cultural event, attracting thousands to Western Springs. The annual Pacific Island Secondary Schools’ Competition, also in March, sees young Pacific Islander and Asian students compete in traditional dance, drumming, and singing. This event is open to the public.At the geographical center of Auckland city is the 1,082-foot Sky Tower, a convenient landmark for those exploring on foot and some say a visible sign of the city’s naked aspiration. It has earned nicknames like the Needle and the Big Penis—a counterpoint to a poem by acclaimed New Zealand poet James K. Baxter, which refers to Rangitoto Island as a clitoris in the harbor.The Waitemata Harbour has become better known since New Zealand staged its first defense of the America’s Cup in 2000 and the successful Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in early 2009. The first regatta saw major redevelopment of the waterfront. The area, where many of the city’s most popular bars, cafés, and restaurants are located, is now known as Viaduct Basin or, more commonly, the Viaduct. A recent expansion has created another area, Wynyard Quarter, which is slowly adding restaurants.These days, Auckland is still considered too bold and brash for its own good by many Kiwis who live “south of the Bombay Hills,” the geographical divide between Auckland and the rest of New Zealand (barring Northland). “Jafa,” an acronym for “just another f—ing Aucklander,” has entered the local lexicon; there’s even a book out called Way of the Jafa: A Guide to Surviving Auckland and Aucklanders. A common complaint is that Auckland absorbs the wealth from the hard work of the rest of the country. Most Aucklanders, on the other hand, still try to shrug and see it as the parochial envy of those who live in small towns. But these internal identity squabbles aren’t your problem. You can enjoy a well-made coffee in almost any café, or take a walk on a beach—knowing that within 30 minutes’ driving time you could be cruising the spectacular harbor, playing a round at a public golf course, or even walking in subtropical forest while listening to the song of a native tûî bird.

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Known as the ‘City of Sails’, its two harbours will tempt you with waterfront walks and the chance to breathe fresh sea air deep into your lungs while absorbing spectacular views of Auckland’s grand harbour bridge’s span. Take in the true scale of Auckland’s magnificent cityscape by ascending 192 metres to the Sky Tower and looking out over the city’s gleaming silver towers which reflect on the abundant waters below. Views over the bay and adjacent islands await and you can share elegant cocktails at this dizzying height above the mingling yachts of Viaduct Harbour. Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of the area at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Set beside tranquil fountains and handsomely landscaped flowerbeds of Albert Park, the French-Renaissance building houses, New Zealand’s most extensive art collection and exhibits works from Māori and Pacific artists. New Zealand is world-renowned for its captivating natural scenery and day trips across the sparkling bays to nearby islands like Waiheke Tiritiri Matangi and Rangitoto are always tempting. Discover lava caves grape-laden vineyards and flourishing wildlife in the Hauraki Gulf’s islands. You’ll also find an exceptional 360-degree panorama over the city to the horizon beyond from the heights of ancient Mount Eden. The spectacular dormant volcano rises improbably from a city suburb and also lends its name to Eden Park – the unusual translucent stadium of New Zealand’s mighty All Blacks.