New Zealand

New Zealand...called  "Aotearoa" or "Land of the Long White Cloud" by the Maoris when they first arrived over 1000 years ago, New Zealand's 2 islands offer not only Maori culture, but also world-renowned wines, golf among some of the world's most breathtaking scenery, and water sports to suit all from the most inexperienced to the most adventurous of water enthusiasts.

Although New Zealand's North and South Island are together roughly the size of Colorado, they are home to over 4 million people and a bewildering number of animal and plant species as well as a variety of landscapes, with over 1/3 of it's total area devoted to parks and nature preserves.

Where to begin?
With so many choices in such a compact space, we've put together a list of some highlights to help you decide where to start and how much time you need. But be warned...it might take a lifetime! Contact the Diva for help putting it all together.

North Island

Auckland is New Zealand's largest city, with all the sophisticated urban experiences you would expect from a metropolis. Take in the view from the top of the Sky Tower. From this perch, you can see the volcanic island of Rangitoto in the harbor, Waiheke Island with its vineyards and beach life, and grass-cloaked volcanic cones signaling the location of a Maori  fort.

Bay of Islands offers much for the adventurous traveler: a stunning setting, superb sailing, world-class game fishing and an abundance of aquatic life. It is also the historic setting of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi which joined British Law with Maori authority over this beautiful land and its culture.

Napier in Hawke's Bay combines art and nature. After a 1931 earthquake, the city was rebuilt, becoming one of the premier Art Deco centers of the world, nestled in the perfect wine country.

Rotorua rests in the geothermal heart of the North Island, where striking gardens, cobbled streets and a fascinating mix of Maori and English Tudor architecture give the city a significant point of difference. From the moment you arrive, the scent of sulfur tells you that Rotorua is different. Steam escapes from crevices in the ground, gardens bloom alongside bubbling craters and geysers shoot for the sky!

Wellington, New Zealand's capitol, is the perfect place to indulge your passions for fine wine, art, theater and creative cuisine. Absorb New Zealand culture in the many museums, galleries and shopping areas, including Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand.

South Island

Christchurch ,"the Garden City", mixes grand architecture and immaculate parks with the comforts and style of a modern city, yet, like its namesake river, the Avon, carries a flair of English atmosphere. Only two hours away is spectacular Aoraki Mount Cook, the highest point in New Zealand.

Dunedin boasts spectacular scenery and wildlife, including its own famous penguins, the rarest in the world, seals and albatross. This town also has some of the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian buildings in the southern hemisphere.

Kaikoura offers whale watching and dolphin spotting from its marine park. Sperm whales can almost always be seen off its coast.

The Sounds are a series of fiords carved into the southwestern tip of South Island where a boat cruise is a leisurely way to explore this World Heritage Area which includes Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound, which Rudyard Kipling described as "the eight wonder of the world".

Nelson on Tasman Bay is the perfect home-base to take in some of New Zealand's most beautiful geography. As the sunniest place in New Zealand, it's easy to indulge in outdoor obsessions like hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, sailing and fishing with three national parks to choose from as well as the amazing marine paradise of Marlborough Sounds. Don't forget to enjoy a glass of the local sauvignon blanc, the region's signature wine.

Queenstown, on the banks of the serpentine Lake Wakatipu and nestled beneath a mountain range aptly named "The Remarkables" showcases nature on a grand scale. Whether it's the adrenaline rush of bungee jumping which was inventedin this town or a quiet gondola ride, you'll find plenty of ways to experience this spectacular alpine scenery and luxury lifestyle.

West Coast, another World Heritage area, is a primeval land of rainforested slopes, imposing glaciers and unique formations such as Pancake Rocks and Punakiki's blowholes. Here you can watch carvers craft native Jade and Greenstone into jewelry and sculptures or take a helicopter tour over the glaciers.