5 Things to do in New Zealand

New Zealand is an absolutely stunning country, but often people don't seem to know exactly what there is to do out there. For a relatively small nation, the variety of things to do is simply amazing - a luxury holiday to New Zealand has something for everyone, whether you want culture, wildlife, history or sports! To illustrate the point, here are a handful of examples:

Wine Tasting In Marlborough

New Zealand has gone from being an upstart in the wine world, to providing some of the better modern wines. Marlborough is the sunniest spot in the country and offers the perfect climate for growing grapes and cultivating fine wines - and that's exactly what it has been doing for the past 40 years. The region is full of vineyards open to the public, and New Zealand holiday makers with a love of wine should be sure to take one of the tours. There they can soak up the atmosphere, learn about the wine manufacturing process, and, most importantly, sample the delightful beverages.

Night Time Kiwi Watching

There's only one place in the world you can see the endangered flightless bird known as the kiwi - and that's New Zealand. They have gone from being a common part of the country's ecosystem to becoming endangered due to intensive farming, deforestation and predation from stoats, ferrets and feral cats. For New Zealand holiday makers with a love of nature, there are trips out to see the nocturnal bird in its natural habitat. There's something about watching the fascinating critters scavenging for food against a night sky backdrop that makes this an unforgettable experience - and one that's unique to New Zealand.

Extreme Sports in Queensland

As well as being home of bungee jumping, Queensland is renowned as being an adventure holiday hot spot. There's plenty of choice here, with everything from white water rafting to paragliding and skiing represented - as well as the legendary bungee jumping.

Of course, if you grow a taste for bungee jumping, and find the spots around Queensland a little too tame, there's plenty of options for the more adventurous - everything from the Kawarau Brudge (43 metres to the water) to the New Zealand town observation deck (450 metres) can be leapt off, if you're daring enough. For those thrill seekers who really want to match the Queensland spirit, there's even heli-bungee - which as the name suggests is bungee jumping from a moving helicopter. Not everyone's idea of a good time, but something a little different for a New Zealand holiday!

The thrill of the gold rush at Skipper's Canyon

There was once gold in them there hills - all the way back in 1862. Now the drive down to the canyon is a treacherous treat, not made any easier by some tremendous views of the canyon itself. The rocky outcrops and impressive stones walls once fashioned by backbreaking labour, and then remains of the community of itself. Once home to thousands of miners and their families, the remnants remain here, and are best appreciated with the guided tours available to New Zealand's holiday makers. The road leading down is not open to rental cars, though many of the tours will give you the ride down on the back of a 4x4 which is the best (and safest!) way to enjoy it. Leave the tricky driving to the experts, and concentrate on the magnificent views...

International Festival of Arts in Wellington

This is a real treat for visitors who fancy a bit of culture on their luxury New Zealand holiday. The International Festival of Arts is held every other year in Wellington and is an enjoyable mix of street theatre, music, dance, comedy and film. For three weeks, there are over 100 different events taking place, ensuring that there is something for everyone, no matter what their artistic preference.

This is actually just scratching the surface of what a New Zealand holiday can offer. With attractions for families, cultural tourists, sports enthusiasts and those who just want to visit an unspoilt area of natural beauty, a trip around the world for a New Zealand holiday could be just what the doctor ordered.