Top Ten Locations
Love those lists and the magic number ten. Give
yourself a challenge. In one year, cover off the latest list, from Trip
Advisor, of top ten locations in New Zealand. Given that four of those
locations are in Otago it shouldn’t be that difficult. Book your tickets or pack
up the car. Make sure you have your host rewards card and go for it.
1.
Sky Tower - Auckland
The tallest man-made structure in New
Zealand, the Sky Tower allows for magnificent views in every direction. Glass fronted lifts, viewing platforms or if
you are into the scary stuff then SkyWalk or SkyJump. You can round off the
experience with coffee and a snack at the Sky Lounge or if it is chic and
elegant you want then The Sugar Club. Feeling like you want to be on the move
then dine at Orbit –the 360-degree revolving restaurant.
2.
Waitangi Treaty Grounds – Paihia
Move on up to Northland and beautiful
Paihia to visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. This site is where the Crown and Maori signed the Treaty
that shaped New Zealand, Aotearoa. Visit treasures such as the Treaty House,
Meeting House, Flagstaff and Ceremonial War Canoe. Guided tours are also
available.
Waitangi is about three hours drive from
Auckland and 2km from Paihia. Base yourself in Paihia and take an easy 25-minute
walk or 2-minute drive to the Treaty Grounds.
Whilst up in Northland as part of your
exploration of the Bay of Islands you should also check out Number 5 on the
list
5. Pompallier Mission and
Printery - Russell
Located only five minutes’ walk from the Russell
wharf, on the waterfront, looking out over the Bay of Islands, Pompallier
Mission is New Zealand’s only surviving pioneer printery and tannery in New
Zealand. Here French Catholics translated Church Latin into te reo Māori
at the time the country was becoming a British colony. Look back across the bay
to the Treaty Grounds.
It is highly recommended that you take the
guided tour in order to fully comprehend the influence of the Mission in the
mid1800’s.
4. Katiki
Point Lighthouse – Moeraki, Otago.
Begin your Otago road trip with a visit to
Moeraki. Wander amongst the Moeraki boulders and eat at Fleurs for fresh fish
and wonderful food. Replete and stocked up for the day drive out to the Katiki
Point Lighthouse (built in 1878) on Katiki Point Historic Reserve/Te
Raka-a-Hineatea close to the site of the old Te Raka-a-Hineatea Pa. This
is the most significant breeding site for yellow-eyed penguins/hoiho in North Otago.
Best viewing is before 9 am and after 3 pm but be sure to check on closing
times before you drive out there. You
may also see New Zealand fur seals/kekeno that haul out to rest on the rocky
platforms around Katiki Point.
3 Olveston – Dunedin
After your outdoors excursion drive down to
Dunedin for some indoors heritage experience.
Olveston is an authentic and original
historic home depicting the life of a wealthy merchant family (The Theomin’s) in
the early part of the twentieth century in Dunedin. Opened as a historic
house museum in 1967, Olveston is a time capsule as little has changed inside
the house since it was occupied as a family home, between 1906 to 1966.
Entry to Olveston is by guided tour only. Entry
to the gardens and gift shop is free.
Six 1-hour public tours commence daily at:
9.30 am, 10.45 am, 12 noon, 1.30pm, 2.45pm and 4pm. (reservations
are recommended).
And whilst you are in Dunedin check out number
seven on the list –
7.
Dunedin Railway Station
Set amidst beautifully landscaped gardens
this is one of the most photographed buildings in New Zealand. Built in
Edwardian Baroque style, architect George Troup, unusually uses an experimental
collaboration of Classical and Neo-Gothic imagery, which creates a grand and
classically regimented structure, with an assorted and asymmetric countenance.
During the city's most prosperous years
this railway station was the country's busiest, handling up to 100 trains each
day. Nowadays as well as the “goods” trains, which rumble to and from Port
Chalmers, the Taieri Gorge Rail Excursion train and the Seasider Rail Tour
depart regularly.
On Saturday mornings the popular Farmers’
Market operates in the car park (7.30-11.30am) and just along the street is the
new refurbished Toitu Museum.
After all that indoors adventure blow the
cobwebs away with a drive south to
6.
Nugget Point Lighthouse – Kaka Point - The Catlins
The Catlins is a gem of a route for
travellers prepared to deal with whatever the weather throws your way. There
are many attractions on route including Cathedral Caves, McLean Falls, Curio
Bay but do not miss taking a slightly sideways swing round by the Nuggets. Nugget
Point is one of the most distinctive landforms along the Otago coast. It's a
steep headland with a lighthouse and a scattering of rocky islets (The Nuggets)
that are home to sea lions, sooty shearwaters, shags, yellow-eyed penguins,
spoonbills and a breeding colony of gannets with the occasional elephant and
leopard seals. If you watch the water for a while, you might see Hector's
dolphins and you will certainly see fur seals playing in the water at the
bottom of the cliffs. Binoculars recommended. There is a penguin -watching hide
at Roaring Bay.
From the northern end spend some time in
Kaka Point walking along the beach and rocks. From the southern end stock up on
a coffee at Owaka and then turn off the main highway, climb up over the hill
and down into Wilsher Bay.
8. Old
St Paul’s – Wellington
Back in the North Island visit New
Zealand’s capital city with its vibrant CBD, Te Papa Museum and wharf front. Seek sanctuary and peace in Old St Paul’s, in
Wellington’s heritage precinct and enjoy the beauty of this old church built
entirely in native timber. This is a fine example of Gothic Revival architecture. The interactive exhibition ‘Read this
building’ allows you to fully engage with the glass, wood and brass story of
this church.
9.
St Faith’s Anglican Church – Rotorua
Think Rotorua and hot pools, boiling mud
and Maori culture come to mind. St Faith’s historic timber Anglican Church in Ohinemutu village
is intricately decorated with Maori carvings, tukutuku (woven panels), painted
scrollwork and stained-glass windows. One window features an etched image of
Christ wearing a Maori cloak, as he appears to walk on the waters of Lake
Rotorua. Visitors speak of the beauty and peace of Ohinemutu and St Faith’s in
particular. A living Maori village and Anglican parish, which is well worth a
visit.
10. East Cape Lighthouse –
Gisborne
Home to the first rays of dawn, the East Cape is another thread
in the New Zealand tapestry which many visitors miss because it is off the main
route. The East Cape Lighthouse stands 154m above sea level on Otiki Hill,
above East Cape and is accessed by a walking track of some 700 steps. The
reward is stunning views. A 22 kilometre, mostly unsealed no-exit road from Te
Araroa takes you to the most easterly point on mainland New Zealand. The road
clings to the eastern coastline with constant stunning views. In Te Araroa you'll find Te
Waha-o-Rerekohu—New Zealand's oldest and largest pohutukawa tree - around 600
years old.
The East Cape Lighthouse figures on other lists including 101
Must Do’s for Kiwis so make it a must do journey. The lighthouse featured on
the 1970’s Lighthouse series of postage stamps.
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