• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GO TO EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Hong Kong HomepageExpat Living Hong Kong

Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Hong Kong.

Menu
  • Living In Hong Kong
      • Living Here
      • Where To Live
      • Schools
      • For Guys
        • school interviews Ruth BennyTips for school interviews (PODCAST)
        • Serviced apartments and places to stay in HK
        • outdoor activities18 outdoor adventures in Hong Kong
        • Townplace Soho - barProperty Watch: An urban oasis in Soho
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things To Do
      • What’s On/Calendar
      • Competitions & Offers
        • What to watch this month
        • Woman’s Hour PodcastGreat podcasts we are listening to!
        • outdoor activities18 outdoor adventures in Hong Kong
        • Mount Davis - viewHiking Ideas: A Mount Davis Meander
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Activities & Things To Do
      • Education & Enrichment
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mums & Babies
      • Podcasts
      • Kids Offers
        • school interviews Ruth BennyTips for school interviews (PODCAST)
        • School news - new schools in Hong Kong, new curriculums, new facilities and more!What’s new on the school scene?
        • Pregnancy scan image for web article on how to choose an obstetrician in Hong KongHow to choose an obstetrician
        • Baby spit upReflux in newborns: tips and treatment
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Décor
      • Readers Homes
        • Dining tables and chairs - TREEWhere to go for dining tables
        • Home news: décor, furniture & more!
        • Townplace Soho - barProperty Watch: An urban oasis in Soho
        • Top furniture finds for your home office
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Short Breaks
      • Further Afield
      • Travel News & Offers
        • Mount Davis - viewHiking Ideas: A Mount Davis Meander
        • Gorgeous waterfalls around the world
        • Travel news: Places to stay and play
        • MongoliaWomen on a Mission take on Mongolia
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Recipes & Groceries
      • Bars & Restaurants
        • Fiamma Italian restaurant - tortelliniTaste Test: Peak Italian Cuisine at Fiamma
        • Vegetarian recipe: Vietnamese rice roll with quorn mince and bolognese sauce5 meat-free meal ideas to try
        • Indian-Restarants-New-Punjab-ClubTop Indian restaurants to try
        • Fagara Aperitivo - Hong Kong restaurantsNew nibbles: where to dine this month
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • laser treatments hong kongHow to get super smooth skin
        • Tried & Tested: Body lotions we love
        • online shopping websites21 fashion websites shipping to HK
        • Mazu ResortwearFashion news: the latest launches
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Medical & Dental
      • Fitness
      • Wellness
        • Gyms in Hong Kong - best places for keeping fit8 great places to go to keep in shape
        • Pregnancy scan image for web article on how to choose an obstetrician in Hong KongHow to choose an obstetrician
        • menopause - symptoms and how to get helpManaging menopause: how to get help
        • heartAre you at risk of heart disease?
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
      • Magazine
      • Advertise With Us
        • Mar-May 2021
        • Mar-May 2021 – $36 (Usual Price $48)
        • December – February 2021
        • DEC-FEB 2020 – $36 (USUAL PRICE $48)
      • View all
    Close
Home » Travel » Further Afield » The best of New Zealand: 10 things to do on your holiday

The best of New Zealand: 10 things to do on your holiday

27 April, 2018 by Expat Living 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/the-best-of-new-zealand-10-things-to-do-on-your-holiday/

New Zealand is a fascinating country offering beautiful scenery and a diverse range of experiences. Here are some of the top picks for outdoor activities, natural sights, beautiful lodges and top-notch food and wine in the Land of the Long White Cloud from the experts at Lightfoot Travel.

White Island
White Island

What to Do: One-of-a-kind Experiences

Active Volcano Landing

New Zealand is one of the only places in the world where you can land on an active marine volcano. Fly by private helicopter over the Waiotapu Thermal Reserve – New Zealand’s most colourful volcanic area, continuing on to dormant Mount Tarawera, covered with mighty domes and craters formed during its 1886 eruption. Next, head over to White Island with an expert guide who takes you past steaming fumaroles and bubbling activity, to the edge of the Crater Lake where you can view the roaring volcanic vent known as “PJ”. As the island is protected, very few companies have concessions to land on it, thus leaving it very much untouched and that much more special.

Fly Fishing

New Zealand’s North Island, and specifically Lake Taupo, has some of the best fly fishing in the world. With streams and rivers crisscrossing the area, there is plenty to choose from to suit all levels, and lessons are available for those looking to learn a few tips and tricks to bring in the biggest fish! Helicoptering into more remote areas is also an option for the most experienced anglers. The best time for wilderness fly fishing is December through March.

Seafood & Wine Cruise

An extensive network of sea-drowned valleys off the northern tip of the South Island, the Marlborough Sounds is a strikingly beautiful region of sounds, islands and peninsulas. The best way to appreciate its size and distinctiveness is from the water, and if you’re on a cruise, why not choose one that serves up lovely wines and fresh local seafood? Marlborough is claimed by some critics to produce the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc, which pairs perfectly with the salmon, Tio Point oysters, Greenshell Mussels and Cloudy Bay clams also native to the area. This activity is particularly popular with seafood-loving Hong Kongers!

Stargazing

Pay a visit to the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve on the South Island, the southern hemisphere’s first dark sky reserve and the largest in the world. The Mackenzie Basin is renowned for having some of the clearest, darkest and most spectacular night skies in the country, and guests can take tours to out-of-town locations that are completely free of light-pollution – something that is bound to excite us city dwellers! Your expert guide will point out hidden gems in the night sky visible to the naked eye, as well as ones that can be viewed with high-quality binoculars.

golf-the-farm-at-cape-kidnappers

Golf

New Zealand is home to striking and naturally beautiful courses, and because the country’s population is fairly sparse, they tend to be largely uncrowded. Top of our list is the iconic Cape Kidnappers Golf Course, perched atop rugged cliffs with unique undulating fairways. Sister course Kauri Cliffs is also located on a cliff’s edge, with elongated routing to make the best use of the stunning sea views. Located outside Queenstown, Millbrook is another fantastic option that incorporates three 9-hole courses into a luxury lifestyle resort. The best time for golfing in New Zealand is between September and April during the warmer months.

Where to Stay: Unique Lodges & Properties

Wharekauhau Country Estate, Wairarapa

A stunning Edwardian-style lodge set amidst lakeside lawns and forested hills, Wharekauhau will take your breath away. The quality of dining is superb, as is the personalisation from staff, all led by Lodge Manager Richard Rooney. An absolutely delightful person, Richard moves this property to the top of our list all on his own.

Overnight Cruise, Doubtful Sound

Quieter and much more intimate than nearby Milford Sound, which is full of operators, Doubtful Sound is the perfect spot to spend an evening aboard a boutique cruise ship. The sound’s ancient glacier-carved fjords, deep valleys, waterfalls and craggy peaks are ideal for avid photographers, and those keen on wildlife spotting can observe dolphins, penguins, seals and sea birds.

Minaret Station, Wanaka

New Zealand’s first luxury tented lodge, Minaret Station is situated in a glacial valley in the heart of the Southern Alps. Accessible only by helicopter, the property will appeal to adventure seekers really looking for that wild outdoors experience in classic Lord of the Rings territory. The lodge features wall-to-wall sheepskin carpets, gigantic beds, and private decks with hot tubs. Hiking, wildlife-treks, private helicopter tours, jet boating and fly fishing are all activities accessible from the lodge, as well as cooking and art lessons.

Grasmere Lodge in Canterbury, New Zealand
Grasmere Lodge in Canterbury, New Zealand

Grasmere Lodge, Canterbury

A 90-minute drive from Christchurch, Grasmere Lodge is historic and charming, with only 13 rooms that are huge and rustic (Lightfoot’s style of choice!) with unrivalled alpine views. Dining is a highlight with gourmet cuisine sourced locally from around the region, and accompanied by New Zealand’s finest wines of course. But the activities here really take centre stage, with horse riding, mountain biking, clay pigeon shooting as well as tennis and croquet. Day trips to Fox Glacier and driving tours into Arthur’s Pass National Park are also available.

Matakauri Lodge, Queenstown

Because no trip to New Zealand is complete without a visit to Queenstown, naturally one of its properties had to make it on to our list. Matakauri is set against one of the most sublime backdrops in the world. Right on the breathtaking Lake Wakatipu, views from each of its suites look out to the Remarkable, Cecil and Walter Peak mountain ranges. We particularly love the amazing outdoor infinity pool!

Find out more about travelling in New Zealand from Lightfoot Travel.

Get more holiday inspiration in our Travel section.

Best boutique campsites

Inspiration for dream Asian destinations

Categories: Further Afield Travel Tags: Lightfoot Travel New Zealand Travel

You May Also Like

Mount Davis - view

Hiking Ideas: A Mount Davis Meander

Gorgeous waterfalls around the world

Top skiing destinations - Whistler, Canada

Stunning ski stays in Europe and beyond

Primary Sidebar

Expat Living Hong Kong 🇭🇰

expatlivinghk

Open
* Friday GIVEAWAY *

We have teamed up @janeeveinteriors to give one lucky winner two beautiful handmade scented candles from Jane's “Refresh Me” and “Relax Me” ranges.  Here's how to have a chance of winning:

1. Like this post
2. Follow @janeeveinteriors  on Instagram
3. Enter your details via the competitions section of our website - link in our bio.

Good Luck! 🤞🏻

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger #fridaygiveaway #giveawayhk #winwinwin #handmadehk
Open
There's so much to love in Jen and Jeff's Happy Valley flat, for the full story head over to our website, link in bio. @moftstudio 

#hongkong #discoverhongkong #hkig #hkiger #hkinteriordesign #hkinterior #balivibe
Open
Ever wondered what it is like to live in Tai Hang? EL reader Neelam Daswani @neelampurehealth gives us the lowdown. For the full story and Neelam's recommendations see our MARCH-MAY issue.

#hongkong #discoverhongkong #hkiger
Open
❤️HK❤️

#hongkong #discoverhongkong #hkig #hkiger #view
Open
* Friday GIVEAWAY *

We have teamed up @gingerjarlampco to give one lucky winner a stunning Ginger Jar Lamp worth $4,000!  Here's how to have a chance of winning:

1. Like this post
2. Follow @gingerjarlampco on Instagram
3. Enter your details via the competitions section of our website - link in our bio.

Good Luck! 🤞🏻

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger #fridaygiveaway
Open
Jo Lodder and Catherine Cormack recently set out to raise much needed funds for @stop.hk and @tails.lantau by tackling Hong Kong’s famous hiking trails over four days in March.  To find out how they got on, head over to our website to read all about it, link in bio.

#hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #hkig #hikeforfreedom #hkhiking #hkhiker #adoptdontshop #stophumantrafficking
Open
📸 @ colsimphotography

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger
#photography #photooftheday #streetphotography #streetsigns #hkstreet
Open
A chocolate overload and cute little bunnies – what’s not to like about Easter celebrations? We’ve rounded up some things to do in Hong Kong for a cracking good time over the break - check out the full article on our website - link in bio.

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger #easter #eastereggs #easterbunny
Open
Whether you're a newbie or have been here a while, our guide is sure to help you make the most of living here.  Read it for free on any device 👉 expatliving.hk/cg/ig
Open
Beaches and swimming pools are progressively re-opening 🏊‍♀️🏝👏👏

#hk #hkig #hkiger #hkbeach #hkpools
Open
*Friday Giveaway*  Win one of 50 Early Access Passes to the Affordable Online Art Fair 2021. Like this post & enter your details via the competitions section of our website - link in our bio

Good Luck! 🤞🏻

#hongkong #hkig #hk #discoverhongkong #hkiger #art #affordableart #affordableartfair #giveaway
Open
Jo Lodder and Catherine Cormack are currently on a Hike for Freedom, tackling four trails – the Maclehose, Hong Kong, Wilson and Lantau – to raise money for two organisations doing incredibly important work. @stophk - a charity that strives to put and end to human trafficking in Hong Kong and @ tails.lantau - an animal rescue organisation based on Lantau. The Hike will cover 300km and 18,600m in elevation over just four days! 

Read the full article on our homepage - link in bio - including how you can donate and follow their progress.

#hikeforfreedom #hkhiking #adoptdontshop #hongkong #hkig
Open
In our new spring issue we take a look at Jenny Perry's  impressive village house renovation in Sai Kung 🏡 there's so much to love! Check out the article for all her tips and local recommendations 👉 link in bio
Open
Read our latest Spring issue on any device for free 👉 expatliving.hk/digital/FB/

In this issue, we’ve got some of the best finds to make your home office functional and looking good. We also check out two beautifully renovated homes, get an insider’s guide to Tai Hang and discover home-decorating trends and the latest properties on the market.

There's loads more, including great Mexican food, easy recipes from our team, beauty tips and facials to try, and a look at Hong Kong’s country parks and hiking trails.

👨‍🎓 Plus, an eight-pager School Special! Everything from getting your kids IB-ready and enrichment options to great advice on battling bullies and trolls.
Open
* Friday GIVEAWAY *

We have teamed up with Assaggio to give one lucky winner a fabulous 35oz Fiorentina T-Bone Steak & Seafood Set Dinner for Four, worth $2,488!  

Featuring the 35oz Fiorentina T-Bone Steak served on a red hot sizzling iron plate with rosemary, the set dinner comes with Seafood Platter (Oyster Fine de Clair, Alaska King Crab Leg, Black Mediterranean Mussel, Veraci Clam), Kobocha Pumpkin and Tomino Cheese Soup, and Italian Black Truffle Tagliolini. 
Finally, wrap up the meal with the signature dessert trio: Tiramisu, Panna Cotta and Wild Berry Sorbet.

Sound good?

Here's how to have a chance of winning:

1. Like this post
2. Follow @miradining on Facebook
3. Enter your details via the competitions section of our website - link in our bio 

Good Luck! 🤞🏻
Open
📷 @colsimphoto we love his new collection #hongkonginmotion
Open
We are looking for readers to tell us about their area and why they love it.

We will send you some questions to answer and feature you in the Street Talk section of our print magazine and will also publish it online.

Drop us a PM with some info of where you live and we will get our team to be in touch 😊
Open
One of the many ways to enjoy HK’s waters! Head to our website for a comprehensive guide, link in bio. 📷 @ wanchaibelle
Open
Love a tasty taco, a classic plate of nachos or a frosty margarita? 

We recently road tested 3 Mexican restaurants – read the full reviews in our March magazine ✨📖 or online – link in bio.
@taqueriasupermacho 
@elmachohk
@tqmhk
Open
HK resident and award-winning artist Martin Lever recently spent 14 days in quarantine. Inspired by the mountain view, he created a stunning series of artwork, The Room 202 Project. 

What's more, Martin has teamed up with ImpactHK and is selling limited-edition digital prints – 50% of sales will  support HK's homeless.

For the full story, head to our website – link in bio.
  • COMPETITIONS & OFFERS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2021 Expat Living Hong Kong, All Rights Reserved.