Culture – New Zealand

Auckland 

Rated as the third most liveable city in the world, Auckland is a place where vibrant city style and spectacular landscapes go hand in hand.

The culture of Auckland encompasses the city’s artistic, culinary, literary, musical, political and social elements, and is well-known throughout the world. As New Zealand’s largest city and one of the most important in the Southern Hemisphere, Auckland has a rich and dynamic cultural life and a lengthy, multicultural history. 

Wellington

The Lonely Planet has a habit of saying things that have longevity. A few years ago it dubbed Wellington the ‘coolest little capital’, and, along with the official tagline ‘Positively Wellington’, it is a label which has seems to have stuck.

With the harbour lining the city and an absolute multitude of dining and cultural experiences, Wellington has a lot to offer visitors. As the capital of New Zealand, Wellington is where you’ll find our parliamentary buildings. But the city isn’t all politics, with plenty of cultural delights to take in too, from theatre shows to the impressive collection of art and history gathered at the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa. 

Taupo

Taupō was created nearly two thousand years ago by a volcanic eruption so big it darkened the skies in Europe and China. At some of Taupō’s beaches, swimmers and paddlers can enjoy warm, geothermal water currents. 

Just north of Taupō you’ll find New Zealand’s most visited attraction, the magnificent Huka Falls, where more than 220,000 litres of water thunder over the cliff face every second.

Rotorua

Rotorua is known for bubbling mud pools, shooting geysers and natural hot springs, as well as showcasing fascinating Māori culture. For thrill seekers, Rotorua is home to the highest commercially rafted waterfall in the world, and offers everything from bungy jumping and luging to zorbing and ziplining.