The 4WD Experience

Auckland spreads across a volcanic isthmus between two natural harbours, the Waitematā and the Manukau, and is New Zealand's largest city, a lively meeting point of Māori, Polynesian and European cultures. Known as the "City of Sails" for the countless boats that fill its bays, it greets visitors with a skyline crowned by the Sky Tower, whose panoramic deck takes in the Hauraki Gulf and its scattered volcanic cones. Discovery begins along the waterfront of Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter, where restaurants and bars overlooking the water capture the city's seafaring soul. From here Queen Street climbs toward the commercial heart, while the neighbourhoods of Ponsonby and Parnell charm with trendy cafés, art galleries and Victorian timber architecture. Auckland Domain, the city's oldest park, is home to the Auckland War Memorial Museum, a treasure trove of Māori art and culture where visitors can experience stirring traditional dance performances. Nearby, the dormant volcano of Maungawhau (Mount Eden) and the gardens of One Tree Hill offer sweeping 360-degree views across the isthmus and the ocean. The Hauraki Gulf and its islands are the other great draw: Waiheke Island, a short ferry ride away, is famed for its vineyards, golden beaches and artists' studios, while Rangitoto invites hikers across lava flows and pōhutukawa forests. Local cuisine blends Pacific flavours, the freshest seafood and fine regional wines in a relaxed, cosmopolitan setting. As the gateway to Northland and the Bay of Islands, Auckland is the perfect balance of wild nature and urban sophistication, a city where the ocean is never more than a step away.

Begin a magical journey into the fantasy universe of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, created by Tolkien and made even more famous by the New Zealand director Peter Jackson. Traveling south, you pass through the Bombay Hills, the agricultural region of Waikato, and the historic town of Cambridge. Stop at the Shire's Rest in Matamata, the green countryside where the Hobbit trilogy was set. You will see the 37 hobbit holes, the double-arched bridge, the party tree, the Green Dragon Inn, and the door of Bilbo's house; a splendid view as far as the eye can see over the hills. Rotorua holds one of New Zealand's most extraordinary landscapes, a land of bubbling geysers, hot mud pools and volcanic lakes at the centre of the North Island. Known for the unmistakable scent of sulphur that fills the air, it is the beating heart of the country's Māori culture and geothermal activity. In the areas of Te Puia and Wai-O-Tapu, visitors admire the famous Pohutu geyser and mineral terraces in surreal colours, while Māori villages offer haka dance performances, hangi feasts cooked underground and encounters with age-old traditions. Lake Rotorua and the nearby Redwoods Forest, with its towering sequoia pines, invite walks, mountain biking and canopy suspension bridges. Among geothermal wonders, ancestral culture and lush forests, Rotorua is an experience that engages every sense.

The Art Deco capital of the world, Napier was reborn after the 1931 earthquake with a complete reconstruction in the geometric, luminous style of the era, which still shapes its pastel façades today. Every February the Art Deco Festival fills the streets with 1930s costumes, cars and music. The Marine Parade waterfront accompanies strolls among palms, fountains and ocean views. Napier is the heart of the Hawke's Bay wine region, renowned for its Chardonnay and Syrah and its many wineries open to visitors. Not far away, at Cape Kidnappers, lives one of the world's largest gannet colonies. An elegant town where history, wine and sea come together.

A UNESCO World Heritage site for its natural value and Māori cultural significance, Tongariro National Park is New Zealand's oldest national park and guards three active volcanoes in the heart of the North Island: Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro itself. Its lunar landscapes of steaming craters, emerald lakes and lava fields have provided the backdrop for famous film settings. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing, considered among the most spectacular day hikes in the world, crosses volcanic saddles and thermal springs amid breathtaking scenery. In winter the slopes of Ruapehu become ski fields. Tongariro is the sacred land where fire and myth meet.

Begin a magical journey into the fantasy universe of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, created by Tolkien and made even more famous by the New Zealand director Peter Jackson. Traveling south, you pass through the Bombay Hills, the agricultural region of Waikato, and the historic town of Cambridge. Stop at the Shire's Rest in Matamata, the green countryside where the Hobbit trilogy was set. You will see the 37 hobbit holes, the double-arched bridge, the party tree, the Green Dragon Inn, and the door of Bilbo's house; a splendid view as far as the eye can see over the hills. The capital of New Zealand, Wellington stretches across the southern tip of the North Island, gathered around a spectacular bay and ringed by hills dotted with colourful houses. Lively and cosmopolitan, it is regarded as the country's cultural and creative heart, renowned for its food scene, cafés and passion for craft beer. On the waterfront stands Te Papa Tongarewa, the remarkable national museum that tells the nation's history, nature and Māori culture. The historic Wellington Cable Car climbs to the Botanic Garden and a panoramic lookout over the city, while the Cuba Street district pulses with life among vintage shops, venues and murals. The city is also a capital of cinema, home to the studios that brought The Lord of the Rings saga to life. Among culture, sea and a brisk breeze, Wellington wins visitors over with its urban energy and independent character.

Nelson stretches across the northern tip of the South Island, facing Tasman Bay, and proudly claims the title of the exact geographic centre of New Zealand. Blessed with one of the country's sunniest climates, the city combines golden beaches, a lively arts-and-crafts scene and a respected food-and-wine tradition. Above all, it is the gateway to two parks of great beauty: Abel Tasman, famed for its coastal trails between turquoise coves and forest, and the wilder, more untouched Kahurangi. The surrounding countryside, rich in orchards, vineyards and hop gardens, feeds a thriving culture of craft breweries and local produce. Nelson is the ideal destination for those seeking sun, sea, nature and fine food all in one place.

Set in a mountain basin on the South Island, ringed by pine forests and the Southern Alps, Hanmer Springs owes its fame to the thermal waters that have drawn travellers in search of relaxation for over a century. At its heart lies the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa, a complex of open-air pools fed by geothermal springs, perfect after a day outdoors. All around, the trails of Hanmer Forest Park invite walking and mountain biking, while nearby rivers offer rafting, jet boating and bungy jumping at the Waiau Ferry Bridge. In winter the small Hanmer Springs Ski Area adds an alpine note. Hanmer Springs is the perfect restorative pause between stops on a journey through southern New Zealand.

Queenstown rises on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, embraced by the jagged peaks of the Remarkables, and is widely known as New Zealand's adventure capital. The tourist heart of the South Island, it blends the energy of outdoor pursuits with the charm of a compact lakefront, where cafés, restaurants and boutiques enliven the town's streets. From here come bungee jumping on the Kawarau Bridge, cruises aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship, jet boating through the gorges, and the ski fields of Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. The Skyline Gondola climbs to Bob's Peak, offering a spectacular view over town and lake. Nearby, the picturesque gold-mining town of Arrowtown and the wineries of the Central Otago region, famous for its Pinot Noir, round out the experience. Among mountains, crystal-clear waters and adrenaline, Queenstown is a destination for every season of the year.

Franz Josef owes its fame to a rare geological spectacle: the Franz Josef Glacier, which tumbles down from the Southern Alps to within a few hundred metres of sea level, amid lush temperate rainforest. This meeting of ice and exuberant vegetation, unique in the world, forms part of the Te Wāhipounamu protected area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The small village set along the West Coast lives on adventure: guided ice walks, scenic helicopter flights landing on the snowfield, and trails leading to lookouts over the glacier's tongue. After the hikes, the village's hot pools offer relief among the ferns. A short distance away, the twin Fox Glacier completes the picture. Between age-old ice and emerald forests, Franz Josef reigns as the kingdom of adventure on the wild coast.

Begin a magical journey into the fantasy universe of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, created by Tolkien and made even more famous by the New Zealand director Peter Jackson. Traveling south, you pass through the Bombay Hills, the agricultural region of Waikato, and the historic town of Cambridge. Stop at the Shire's Rest in Matamata, the green countryside where the Hobbit trilogy was set. You will see the 37 hobbit holes, the double-arched bridge, the party tree, the Green Dragon Inn, and the door of Bilbo's house; a splendid view as far as the eye can see over the hills. At the mouth of the Grey River, on the west coast of the South Island, Greymouth is the largest town on the West Coast and an ideal starting point for exploring this wild, off-the-beaten-path region. Grown around its mining history of coal and gold, it retains a rugged, authentic character, facing the Tasman Sea. It is the terminus of the TranzAlpine, one of the world's most scenic railways, crossing gorges, beech forests and the passes of the Southern Alps. Nearby, the rock formations of the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and the rainforests offer unforgettable excursions. Between stormy seas and untamed nature, Greymouth is the rugged soul of the West Coast.

Christchurch rises across the Canterbury Plains on the east coast of the South Island, the region's largest city and long nicknamed the "Garden City" for its lush gardens and generous green spaces. Reborn with creativity after the earthquakes, it now blends a fresh spirit of street art, independent cafés and experimental architecture such as the Transitional Cathedral, the famous "Cardboard Cathedral" built from cardboard tubes. The centre unfolds along the banks of the Avon River, where punting on traditional flat-bottomed boats is a beloved pastime, leading to the Botanic Gardens and the vast Hagley Park, the city's green lung. Don't miss New Regent Street, with its pastel-coloured façades and the heritage trams that glide through it, along with the art galleries and markets that animate the revived neighbourhoods. Christchurch also makes an excellent base for exploring its surroundings: the spectacular Banks Peninsula with the French-inspired village of Akaroa, set on a bay perfect for spotting dolphins, and the celebrated TranzAlpine, a panoramic train that crosses the Southern Alps to the west coast. Between Victorian elegance and pioneering spirit, Christchurch welcomes travellers with the smile of a city that has reinvented itself.