New Zealand

On nice summer days, when countless boats in the harbor offer a wonderful sight against the background... of glass and chrome, you can easily tell why Auckland is called the "city of sails". It is a lively, trendy city, also at night. Nearly one third of New Zealand's population lives here, including many Maori, the indigenous people of the country, who make Auckland the most Polynesian of all cities in New Zealand. If you want to see the beauty from above, you can do so from Sky Tower. Parnell is a popular quarter for taking a stroll. In the beautifully restored houses you find many restaurants and shops but there are also historical sights like Ewelme Cottage, St. Stephen's Chapel and Kinder House. A spectacular experience awaits you in Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World: Visitors walk through an acrylic tunnel while stingrays, sharks and turtles swim around them. In the associated Antarctic Encounter you can learn about life at the South Pole. more

The serene, beautiful garden city has a British charm to it. In the biggest city of the southern island... life is laid-back and relaxed, there are no rush hours, no huge shopping centers, no ostentatious glass and chrome façades on the new office buildings. Instead you find neo-Gothic architecture from the 19th century, numerous parks and neat residential districts. Cathedral Square with Christchurch Cathedral is the heart of the city. In front of the cathedral the Wizard delivers his performances several times a week – the elderly gentleman has turned into a living landmark of Christchurch. The Arts Centre with its little shops, studios, cafés and restaurants invites you to take a stroll. A lot is going on here at the weekend when traders set up their stalls for the Weekend Market. The Avon River runs through Christchurch and is best explored by stakboat – cozy and in proper style. Christchurch's prominent role in Antarctic research is illustrated in Canterbury Museum. more

Like in an amphitheater, rows of colorful ​​houses line up on the steep green hills, the stage being... a magnificent natural harbor, where boats of every size bob in the waves. In the city center modern skyscrapers glitter in the sun. The capital has a unique style and way of life. For a first impression you can take a cable car to Kelburn Heights from Lambton Quay, the main shopping street, or walk up Mt. Victoria. The best-known building in the government district is undoubtedly "The Beehive" – in the beehive-like rotunda, the politicians have their offices. The impressive National Museum Te Papa Tongarewa presents interesting facts about the country and its original inhabitants, the Maori. The Waterfront has turned into an attraction, with small cafés, trendy restaurants, cultural centers and a view of the modern City to Sea Bridge. In Thorndon, Wellington's oldest suburb, artists and celebrities have settled. Here you can walk in the footsteps of the famous writer Katherine Mansfield. more