Rotorua is probably New Zealand’s most famous attraction, located on the North Island, on the shores of the lake of the same name, it is part of the Taupo volcanic region, itself part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. About three hours’ drive from Auckland, Rotorua is a timely reminder of the power that lurks within the Earth’s crust, with gushing geysers and hot mud bubbling up through natural crevices that occasionally appear quite spontaneously. As well as marvelling at the planet’s very own boiler room, those of a more cultural inclination can visit the Maori village with traditional music and dance, including the haka that rugby fans are so familiar with, where you can buy handicrafts and sample a Hangi feast; delicious ethnic food cooked in the natural oven provided by the Earth. Rotorua has a sizeable town attached, nicknamed Sulphur City, so if you don’t fancy the 3-hour drive there and back from Auckland, there are plenty of motels for an overnight stay, indeed, there is so much to see and do that it is well worth spending at least a couple of days there. If you take Route 27, via Matamata, you can stop off at Hobbitton, the film set for the Lord of the Rings films which is now open to the pubic.

Moving on to the South Island for a change of scene and climate, and away from the at times bustling Rotorua, a drive to the National Parks of Te Wahipounamu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must. Fiordland, as the name implies, is a truly dramatic alpine landscape carved out by glaciers with towering waterfalls and dizzying peaks and rock formations. Te Anau is the gateway to the park, accessible on State Highway 94, from either Queenstown or Invercargill, and once you get there, put on your hiking boots and drink in that unforgettable landscape away from the cocoon of your little tin box but don’t forget to take a raincoat and umbrella as the weather can be changeable, to say the least. As well as the sheer majesty of the landscape, there is a dazzling array of unique indigenous flora and fauna to admire, with alpine vegetation scrambling up the sides of the peaks to the permanent snowline and, if you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the takahe, another flightless bird but no relation to the ubiquitous kiwi, once thought extinct but rediscovered in 1948 and now zealously protected.

Within Fiordland, Milford Sound can be reached by car, 120km on State Highway 94 from Te Anau, to marvel at the waterfalls, or if you fancy more active pursuits, go kayaking or diving or visit the deep underwater observatory, although you have to get on a boat to reach it.

As is only to be expected with such an unspoiled area of outstanding natural beauty, there is thankfully little urban sprawl, but if you want to linger a while, there are lakeside villages offering charming, simple accommodation, or if you have decided to park the car and indulge in a hike, there are hikers’ lodges in the heart of the park. Drivers should also be sure their car is in good working order and that the fuel tank is kept topped up as the roads are quite isolated, although service stations and facilities for simple jobs such as car window repairs can be found in Te Anau.

Clint Starr writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.