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New Zealand Holiday Destinations

It’s Spring here in New Zealand, but last weekend had us all off to the beach to bask in the sunshine.

Us Kiwi’s get rather excited about spending time outdoors, at the beach or picnic’s with friends and family.

Around about 60% of New Zealander’s live about 5km’s to our stunning coastlines, so it makes sense that we all congregate at the beach.

If you are not familiar with New Zealand, below are some suggested beach holiday destinations:

NORTH ISLAND

• Bay of Islands -  This region is most popular for it's big game fishing, sailing, scenic cruises, sightseeing and wildlife tours The main town is Paihia which is usually packed with holidaymakers over the peak season (Dec-Feb). The small town of Russell, just a short ferry trip from Paihia is known for it's holiday homes and tourist accommodation.
• Hibiscus Coast, Auckland – Just 30 minutes north of Auckland City, the Hibiscus Coast and the Whangaparaoa Peninsula have a choice of around 15 different beaches. Each one is safe for swimming and boating. The Hibiscus Coast is on the east side of the North Island which is known for it’s calmer waters.
• The Coromandel Peninsula - The Coromandel boasts two coasts - the east and the west, each with its own stunning scenery, and is a mecca for tourism, especially eco tourism. Numerous small islands and island groups lie offshore, such as the Motukawao Islands to the northwest, the Alderman Island and Slipper Island to the southeast, and the Mercury Islands to the northeast. Coromandel is home to famous Cathedral Cove, the filming location of the opening scene of the movie Chronicals of Narnia movies, Prince Caspian.

SOUTH ISLAND

• Nelson - Nelson is a beautiful coastal city set amongst some of New Zealand's most stunning scenery, and is NZ's most sunniest city with over 2,500 sunshine hours per year. Near Golden Bay and Abel Tasman National Park, within easy reach of Picton, Blenheim and Westport, Nelson is a holiday playground and a centre of arts and culture, close to wondrous natural parks and a gateway to northern parts of the South Island.
• Dunedin - Being a coastal city, Dunedin offers stunning beaches and coastal scenery. Surfing is popular at St Clair & St Kilda Beaches, where Long Beach is popular for it’s caves and rock climbing. Dunedin is the gateway to the Otago Peninsula, famous for it’s abundance of wildlife.

These are just SOME suggestions of how to get you started exploring New Zealand. CLICK HERE to explore all New Zealand destinations.