Important cities and places to see in New Zealand

Wellington - is the capital of New Zealand, the country's second largest urban area and the most populous national capital in Oceania. It is New Zealand's political centre, housing Parliament and the head offices of all government ministries and departments, plus the bulk of the foreign diplomatic missions based in New Zealand.Wellington's compact city centre supports an arts scene, café culture and nightlife much larger than most cities of a similar size. It is a centre of New Zealand's film and theatre industry. Te Papa Tongarewa (the Museum of New Zealand), the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal New Zealand Ballet and the biennial International Festival of the Arts are all sited there.

The Waipoua Kauri Forest (North Island) – is a protected area. And duly so. For a couple of gigantic Kauri trees with a trunk perimeter of 20 metres grow there. These trees are highly precious. Using for shipbuilding in the past, they were almost wiped out.

The Pancake Rock Formation (South Island) – is another place of interest on the Western coast. As the name indicates, it looks asi f it was formed by stone pancakes.

The Fjorland National Park (South Island) – is the most beautiful place with skiing centres in the mountains similar to the High Tatras in Slovakia. Milford Sound is a fjord that writer Rudyard Kipling called the eight wonder of the world.
Auckland - is New Zealand's largest urban area with a population of just over a million people. It is the centre of commerce and industry, and is perhaps the most vibrant, bustling and multicultural city in New Zealand.

Auckland is the biggest Polynesian city in the world, and this cultural influence is reflected in many different aspects of city life. Auckland is dotted with volcanic hills, many of which were once the site of Maori pas, or fortified villages, and which currently afford great views of the city.
Rotorua - is a smallish city on the shores of Lake Rotorua. The surrounding areas are a geothermal wonderland, with geysers, boiling mud pools, and steaming craters. Rotorua is also a showcase of Maori cultural activities, a centre of tourism and a place of extraordinary natural beauty.

Christchurch - is the most attractive city in New Zealand, with extensive inner city public and private gardens and parks, the shallow Avon river meandering though the city centre, and a pedestrian oriented downtown centred on Cathedral Square. Christchurch is centred around an impressive neo-gothic Anglican Cathedral located at the heart of the city in Cathedral square. One of the older attractions hosted by Cathedral Square is the Wizard of Christchurch. One of the most famous is Canterbury University.

Queenstown - is the New Zealand destination for international visitors. It´s natural beauty changes with the seasons, the lake gleans in the summer sun, and snow clad mountains tower above the township in winter. Queenstown is a cosmopolitan haven, offering a limitless adventure, southern wine and cuisine, and breathtaking alpine scenery.

Nelson - the geographical centre of New Zealand, is a region renowned for warm sunshine, fine beaches, lakes, mountains and native forests. It is New Zealand's largest fishing port and the gateway to a major forestry and horticulture industry. Add to this the attraction of fine foods, superb wines, an innovative craft industry, spectacular scenery and traditional "Kiwi" hospitality. The journey from the city of Nelson into the western region of Golden Bay and the Abel Tasman National Park is truly spectacular.
Dunedin - is the second largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the only real "University Town" in the country.

Founded by the Scottish Free Church, the city was originally to have been called New Edinburgh. Even today, the city still retains a strong Scottish flavour; there's haggis at New Year's, a statue of Robbie Burns in the town square -- or rather the town Octogon -- and the sound of bagpipes to accompany every occasion.