Building of interested include the modernist Beehive (the executive wing of parliament), the old Government Building (one of the largest wooden building in the world), the National Library (hosing the most comprehensive of books in the country) and the Katherine Mansfield Memorials (the property, where the famous author was born in 1888).

Steward Island

New Zealand’s third largest island, Steward is an ornithologist’s delight: tuis, parakeets, kakas and bellbirds about. The kiwi, rare in both the North and South Island is common over much of this islands, particularly around beaches. A good network of walking tracks and huts exist in the northern part of the island, but the south is forgettable, being undeveloped and isolated. The people (less than 400 all up) are hardy, taciturn and suspicious of mainlanders. The weather is changeable and accommodations is basic; there are, however, excellent-value homestays on the island.